Chapter 24
NATHAN
I walk out of my private penthouse elevator and toward my limousine. “Good morning, Jenkins.”
“Good morning, Mr. Hart.” He opens the door; I climb in and get settled before pulling out my work bag.
I roll my shoulders to release the tension. This is the way I begin every day and I know I have exactly one hour to prepare for the day ahead.
I enjoyed Arianna’s surprise walk on the beach yesterday, but what surprised me even more was when she told me that she was seriously thinking about us , which made me feel more settled than the beach walk did.
Part of me wants her to say yes to going all in and the other part of me is fucking petrified. Our dinner date was incredible, and I want more of those, more nights, days, every millisecond in between.
Fuck fun, I want it all.
Twenty minutes later the car stops, Jenkins jumps out, and the next thing I know he’s opening my door to let me out.
I lean forward and look out of the opened door, not familiar with my surroundings.
“Where are we?” I ask, puzzled as to why we are sitting outside what looks like a dance studio.
“Your first appointment of the day, sir.”
I pull out my phone and check my online schedule to discover a blocked-out chunk of time and all it says is Private Appointment .
“Ms. Donovan is waiting inside, sir.”
I curse under my breath and step onto the sidewalk.
“What is this place?” I mutter to myself, squinting my gaze to protect my eyes from the dazzling sun and surveying the building that looks like a giant glass box.
What the hell has Arianna got planned for me?
“See you in an hour, sir.” He closes the car door behind me as I walk up to the entrance then enter the building.
“Morning, Nathan.” Arianna skips toward me, sounding chirpy, wearing yoga gear. “How are you this morning?” she asks.
“I was fine until five minutes ago. What am I doing here?” My voice is gruff and impatient.
“Yoga.”
“Yoga?” I’m not doing yoga.
“Yes. Good for your heart, increases your flexibility, reduces blood pressure, helps you sleep better, and reduces stress.” She claps her hands together, delight radiating out of her.
Is she joking? I don’t have time for this Zen shit first thing in the morning.
“Go.” She thrusts a gym bag into my arms, which I’m assuming is full of gym clothes. I hope none of it fits so I can get the fuck out of here.
“Changing rooms are in there.” Grabbing my hand, she leads me to them.
“Arianna, I have a closing statement to prepare.” I’m not doing this.
“You don’t. Court was cancelled until late next week. In,” she urges, pushing open the door. “No excuses.”
“Arianna,” I grit through my teeth.
“You said to book things that will help you relax. This is one of them. It’ll be fun.” Spinning around, she walks away with a light bounce in her step. “See you in there. Two minutes.” Her voice is full of cheer. Then she’s gone.
What the fuck is happening right now?
“Hey, man, class is about to start.” A broad hipster-looking guy flies out of the changing room and disappears down the hall in the same direction Arianna did.
“Fucking man bun,” I mutter and consider my options. “Fuck it.” If yoga will help to promote a better sleeping pattern for me, then I suppose I could give it a try.
Within minutes I’m changed and in my new gym clothes, which sadly fit. Surprisingly, the shorts are much comfier than my tennis shorts and I quite like them.
I enter the room and I’m hit with three things all at once.
People. Lots of them.
Arianna. Who looks fuckable in those pink yoga pants.
And goats. Dozens of the hairy fuckers.
“I already registered you with the instructor,” Arianna informs me as I try to pick my jaw up from the floor.
“Goats,” is the only word I form.
“It’s goat yoga.”
“Goat yoga?” What the fuck is that?
This is not what I was thinking when I asked her to help me find ways to relax. I feel tenser than a rubber band about to snap.
Stretching her arms out as if embracing the moment, she replies, “The goats improve mood and connect you to nature. It’s fun.”
“Fun?” My idea of fun was more along the lines of stripping Arianna naked then have her coming all over my tongue.
“Yes, fun. Lots of it.”
A cheerful-looking woman at the front of class beckons me to her. “Mr. Hart, I saved you a spot up front.”
I bet she fucking has. A tugging sensation pulls at my shorts and when I look down, I discover a goat gnawing at the hem of my new shorts.
“He likes you,” Arianna says as the goat proceeds to shit on the floor.
Arianna sucks her lips into her mouth, and I can tell she’s sensing how uncomfortable I am and loving every fucking minute of this.
“You’re with me.” The instructor appears and ushers me away. Drags me, more like.
“Have fun .” Arianna gives me a finger wave, opening the door as if she’s leaving. “See you soon.” Where the hell is she going?
“You’ll pay for this.” I look back over my shoulder.
“Relax, Nathan.”
And then she’s gone.
What the hell was I thinking asking her to book ways to help me relax?
I think I hired a mistress of mischief, not a secretary.
Eli
*goat emoji* *poop emoji*
Me
Mature of you.
Cole
*laughing emoji*
Max
If you don’t marry Arianna, I will. Fucking epic.
Mom
*goat emoji* *poop emoji*
Me
Not you too.
Mom
I wish I had been there to see your face.