The fact that the yoga studio just so happens to be at the gym owned by the Ruxton Police Department might make that difficult.
***
“His truck isn’t here. Relax. Him and Ben are probably patrolling,” Mia says as we walk through the gym, her eyes on me while I scan the line of treadmills.
“You couldn’t take a yoga class at another gym?”
“Not when I can go here for free.”
She opens the door to the small studio and I walk in behind her, looking around the room and counting seven very distinct pregnant bellies.
I gesture in front of me. “Really? Two or three? Am I seriously about to attend a pregnancy yoga class?”
She sets her water bottle and small towel down on the bench along the back wall, kicking her flip-flops off and pushing them underneath. “There’s other non-pregnant women here, but yes, things are modified for those of us who are no longer able to see our feet.” She points to the far side of the room. “There’s two mats available next to each other. Let’s grab those.”
“Or,” I counter, planting my ass on the bench and pulling out the phone tucked into my sports bra, “I could sit here and play Fruit Ninja while you learn exercises to prevent pre-term labor.” I’m yanked off the bench and nearly lose my phone in the process. “Jesus! All right.”
I tuck my phone away as we reach the two empty mats. Mia begins stretching out her back, twisting from side to side as I stand there, not feeling any sort of activity that involves moving.
“Can I just sit and watch? We can still talk.”
“Not in my class you won’t be.”
I turn my head, connecting with the steel-blue eyes of the man standing to Mia’s left. If his accent didn’t cause my jaw to nearly hit the mat, the sight of him as he steps in front of us does.
Sweet baby Jesus in a basket.
He’s all long, lean muscle, which is on full display thanks to his decision to not wear a shirt. He has tanned skin, and a sweet smile that hits me when I finally pry my eyes off his damn fine body.
“Mason, hi. How are you?”
He looks back to Mia, but gives me one last glance before he answers. “I’m good, Mia. But more importantly, how are you?” He holds a hand out to her belly, inches away. “May I?”
“Of course. Go ahead.”
I don’t know what to do, so I just stand there, gawking at this sexy-as-fuck Aussie while he rubs his hand across my best friend’s belly. He’s wearing the cutest expression, a mix between fascination and wonderment, as his blond, wavy hair falls out from where it was tucked behind his ear.
“He’s kicking,” he says, moving his hand along the side closest to me. “I think he’s ready for class.”
Mia laughs, hitching her thumb in the direction of me as he straightens up and drops his hand. “Yeah, but this one? Not so much.”
“What?” I ask, sounding shocked by her accusation. “I’m so ready for class. I fucking love yoga. Let’s do this.”
The gorgeous Aussie rubs along his jaw, looking amused, as Mia laughs at my obvious lie.
“Mason, this is my sister in-law, Tessa, and apparently, she fucking loves yoga, all of a sudden.”
He steps closer to me and extends his hand. “Hi, Tessa. I’m excited to have you in my class today.”
My eyes widen as I realize what he’s just said. “Are you teaching? You?”
Oh, hell yes.
He smiles, dropping his hand from mine, and that’s the only response I get before he walks in between the other mats toward the front of the room.
“Holy shit,” I utter under my breath as the room continues to fill, and that’s when I notice the alarming number of women filing in. Herds of them, dressed in cleavage-baring tops and pants that leave zero to the imagination in the snatch department. These ladies are in it to win it, and none of them look like they give a damn about yoga.
“What the hell? I’ve been struggling with getting over Luke for the past year, and you’ve been hiding this guy from me? How long have you known him?” I whisper, eyeing up my competition as two bimbos claim the mats in front of us and obstruct my view entirely.
“This is only my forth class,” Mia replies. “And up until last week, I thought he was gay. I mean, what guy teaches yoga?”
“So he’s straight?” I ask, standing on my toes to see above the Barbie in front of me.
“Ex-girlfriend straight.”
I turn to her with my mischievous grin, leaning closer as the noise level in the room dies down. “Well in that case, I’d love to show him my Down Under.”
She throws her head back and we both crack up, gaining the attention of practically everyone in the room.
Mason steps to the center, smirking at the two of us. “Ladies, are we ready?”
“Oh, yeah,” I reply, as Mia struggles to control her hysterics. “I’m so ready.”
I watch as his smile twists into a full-blown grin. “Excellent. Let’s get started.”
***
“Well, it’s official,” I say, before taking a swig of Mia’s water bottle. I wipe my mouth with the back of my wrist as she studies me, holding her hands out and motioning for me to finish. “I’m a major fan of yoga.”
She grabs her bottle out of my hands. “Told you you’d be thanking me for the invite.”
I look up to the front of the class where a group of women have surrounded Mason. He lifts his head to me, smiles, and says something to the group before breaking away from them.
“He’s coming over here,” Mia says, nudging me in my side. “Are you going to give him your number?”
My thoughts immediately go to Luke, and I’m suddenly flooded with uncertainty. Why? This is exactly what I need. I’ve spent the past hour eye-fucking Mason across the room, letting him help me into positions I didn’t really need help getting into, and not once did I feel guilty about what I was doing. But now?
I don’t have time to clear my head, or wipe the sweat off myself before he reaches us with his quick strides.
“Did you ladies enjoy the class?” he asks, looking between the two of us but letting his gaze linger on me. He’s still shirtless, his muscles now gleaming with a fine sheen of sweat. An hour ago, this would’ve done something for me. I would’ve come up with at least ten different scenarios involving me, him, and a yoga mat. But now, I’m finding myself wondering why his skin isn’t covered in tattoos.
“It was great, right, Tessa?” Mia looks over at me, tapping her finger on the arm crossed over her chest as she waits expectantly for my agreement.
I nod, letting a ghost of a smile touch my lips. “It was.”
He steps closer to me. “Good. I’m glad to hear that. Does that mean you’ll be coming back?”
I swallow, looking over at Mia who’s nodding at me like a lunatic. “Umm, I don’t…
“‘Cause if not, I’d really like to get your number,” he interrupts, pulling his phone out of his shorts. “You aren’t seeing anybody right now, are you?”
“Nope,” Mia answers, smiling at the two of us. “She’s very single.”
Mason looks from her to me. “Yeah?”
***
“His truck isn’t here. Relax. Him and Ben are probably patrolling,” Mia says as we walk through the gym, her eyes on me while I scan the line of treadmills.
“You couldn’t take a yoga class at another gym?”
“Not when I can go here for free.”
She opens the door to the small studio and I walk in behind her, looking around the room and counting seven very distinct pregnant bellies.
I gesture in front of me. “Really? Two or three? Am I seriously about to attend a pregnancy yoga class?”
She sets her water bottle and small towel down on the bench along the back wall, kicking her flip-flops off and pushing them underneath. “There’s other non-pregnant women here, but yes, things are modified for those of us who are no longer able to see our feet.” She points to the far side of the room. “There’s two mats available next to each other. Let’s grab those.”
“Or,” I counter, planting my ass on the bench and pulling out the phone tucked into my sports bra, “I could sit here and play Fruit Ninja while you learn exercises to prevent pre-term labor.” I’m yanked off the bench and nearly lose my phone in the process. “Jesus! All right.”
I tuck my phone away as we reach the two empty mats. Mia begins stretching out her back, twisting from side to side as I stand there, not feeling any sort of activity that involves moving.
“Can I just sit and watch? We can still talk.”
“Not in my class you won’t be.”
I turn my head, connecting with the steel-blue eyes of the man standing to Mia’s left. If his accent didn’t cause my jaw to nearly hit the mat, the sight of him as he steps in front of us does.
Sweet baby Jesus in a basket.
He’s all long, lean muscle, which is on full display thanks to his decision to not wear a shirt. He has tanned skin, and a sweet smile that hits me when I finally pry my eyes off his damn fine body.
“Mason, hi. How are you?”
He looks back to Mia, but gives me one last glance before he answers. “I’m good, Mia. But more importantly, how are you?” He holds a hand out to her belly, inches away. “May I?”
“Of course. Go ahead.”
I don’t know what to do, so I just stand there, gawking at this sexy-as-fuck Aussie while he rubs his hand across my best friend’s belly. He’s wearing the cutest expression, a mix between fascination and wonderment, as his blond, wavy hair falls out from where it was tucked behind his ear.
“He’s kicking,” he says, moving his hand along the side closest to me. “I think he’s ready for class.”
Mia laughs, hitching her thumb in the direction of me as he straightens up and drops his hand. “Yeah, but this one? Not so much.”
“What?” I ask, sounding shocked by her accusation. “I’m so ready for class. I fucking love yoga. Let’s do this.”
The gorgeous Aussie rubs along his jaw, looking amused, as Mia laughs at my obvious lie.
“Mason, this is my sister in-law, Tessa, and apparently, she fucking loves yoga, all of a sudden.”
He steps closer to me and extends his hand. “Hi, Tessa. I’m excited to have you in my class today.”
My eyes widen as I realize what he’s just said. “Are you teaching? You?”
Oh, hell yes.
He smiles, dropping his hand from mine, and that’s the only response I get before he walks in between the other mats toward the front of the room.
“Holy shit,” I utter under my breath as the room continues to fill, and that’s when I notice the alarming number of women filing in. Herds of them, dressed in cleavage-baring tops and pants that leave zero to the imagination in the snatch department. These ladies are in it to win it, and none of them look like they give a damn about yoga.
“What the hell? I’ve been struggling with getting over Luke for the past year, and you’ve been hiding this guy from me? How long have you known him?” I whisper, eyeing up my competition as two bimbos claim the mats in front of us and obstruct my view entirely.
“This is only my forth class,” Mia replies. “And up until last week, I thought he was gay. I mean, what guy teaches yoga?”
“So he’s straight?” I ask, standing on my toes to see above the Barbie in front of me.
“Ex-girlfriend straight.”
I turn to her with my mischievous grin, leaning closer as the noise level in the room dies down. “Well in that case, I’d love to show him my Down Under.”
She throws her head back and we both crack up, gaining the attention of practically everyone in the room.
Mason steps to the center, smirking at the two of us. “Ladies, are we ready?”
“Oh, yeah,” I reply, as Mia struggles to control her hysterics. “I’m so ready.”
I watch as his smile twists into a full-blown grin. “Excellent. Let’s get started.”
***
“Well, it’s official,” I say, before taking a swig of Mia’s water bottle. I wipe my mouth with the back of my wrist as she studies me, holding her hands out and motioning for me to finish. “I’m a major fan of yoga.”
She grabs her bottle out of my hands. “Told you you’d be thanking me for the invite.”
I look up to the front of the class where a group of women have surrounded Mason. He lifts his head to me, smiles, and says something to the group before breaking away from them.
“He’s coming over here,” Mia says, nudging me in my side. “Are you going to give him your number?”
My thoughts immediately go to Luke, and I’m suddenly flooded with uncertainty. Why? This is exactly what I need. I’ve spent the past hour eye-fucking Mason across the room, letting him help me into positions I didn’t really need help getting into, and not once did I feel guilty about what I was doing. But now?
I don’t have time to clear my head, or wipe the sweat off myself before he reaches us with his quick strides.
“Did you ladies enjoy the class?” he asks, looking between the two of us but letting his gaze linger on me. He’s still shirtless, his muscles now gleaming with a fine sheen of sweat. An hour ago, this would’ve done something for me. I would’ve come up with at least ten different scenarios involving me, him, and a yoga mat. But now, I’m finding myself wondering why his skin isn’t covered in tattoos.
“It was great, right, Tessa?” Mia looks over at me, tapping her finger on the arm crossed over her chest as she waits expectantly for my agreement.
I nod, letting a ghost of a smile touch my lips. “It was.”
He steps closer to me. “Good. I’m glad to hear that. Does that mean you’ll be coming back?”
I swallow, looking over at Mia who’s nodding at me like a lunatic. “Umm, I don’t…
“‘Cause if not, I’d really like to get your number,” he interrupts, pulling his phone out of his shorts. “You aren’t seeing anybody right now, are you?”
“Nope,” Mia answers, smiling at the two of us. “She’s very single.”
Mason looks from her to me. “Yeah?”
