Bait

by Kasi Blake

Van probably wouldn’t be home until late, leaving Nick with a whole day to kill. He invited Bay-Lee to join him for a round of yoga and meditation. Keeping an eye on her would be easier if they were in the same room. Jordan and Mike were off somewhere catching up, so they wouldn’t disturb them. Nick scheduled the room for an hour to show her how to meditate effectively.

  “Hands like this.” He pushed her palms together and manipulated them in front of her chest. Feet flat on the ground, legs spread apart, she kept her back and neck straight. He said, “Close your eyes. Now take a deep breath and release it slowly.”

  She followed his instructions without hesitation. He took a moment to study her delicate features. Problem was there was more than a pretty face here. Strength, energy, and pure determination oozed from her every pore. His gaze drifted to her mouth. He could kiss her now, check for a connection that travels deeper than the physical.

  “How am I doing?” she asked.

  “Good.” He forced his mind back to business. “But no talking. Just breathe.”

  “Bossy.”

  He circled around, checking her from every possible angle. Pretty? No. She was beautiful and becoming more irresistible by the minute, major trouble. “I do this every day to clear my head. What do you think?”

  “It’s okay. My way of relaxing is better.”

  “We’ve only just started. You need to do it for a while to get the full benefit.”

  “Later,” she said. “I tried your way and now I want you to try mine. Picture your happy place.”

  “I don’t have a happy place.” It was sad but true. He hated the look of pity in her eyes and wished he’d said something else.

  “Then you can borrow mine,” Bay-Lee said with a shrug. “Close your eyes.” When he didn’t immediately comply, she pushed his chest with two fingers. “Come on. I tried it your way. Now picture a beautiful sailboat and it’s in the middle of a calm blue sea. Feel the warmth of the sun on your face and the mild rocking of the boat beneath your feet. Waves break against the side. Sea spray gives you an unexpected shower. There are no monsters here, and time doesn’t matter.”

  His eyes drifted shut, and he pictured the boat as she described it. An unexpected smile touched his mouth as he wondered out loud. “Are you with me?”

  “Sure. I’m standing right behind you. Turn around.”

  In his imagination he looked for Bay-Lee. She squinted at him in the bright sunlight, looking more beautiful than he’d ever seen her. He imagined her in the appropriate clothing. His eyes drifted down her body and he said, “Cute shorts.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Nice tan,” he added, openly flirting with her. “Is it an all over tan?”

  “Damn!” The loud urgency in her voice caught him off guard. His eyes popped open, and he found her gathering her belongings. Trying to simultaneously breathe and speak, she said, “I forgot I was supposed to meet Gavin ten minutes ago. I’m late.”

  Nick’s blood pressure shot up. The idea of Gavin with Bay-Lee was not acceptable. A muscle in his jaw throbbed to life. “We’re working. You can’t blow this off for a date. Where’s your sense of duty?”

  “It’s not my fault you were late getting here. I have to go.”

  She headed for the door, not giving him time to argue so he followed her out. She gave him a dirty look but didn’t ask why he was hot on her tail.