Chapter 2
Juliet didn’t sleep much that night because she was worried about Ryder Pace pursuing her. He knew all the tricks of the trade of seduction and she knew none. She didn’t want to know any. Damn it.
Now, at work, she was tired. Dismissing thoughts of him, she crossed to the whiteboard up front and wrote the list of what props were needed for each student.
Then she straightened up the bolsters and blocks and soon, people started to arrive.
They’d left their jackets and bags in the closet right outside the room.
As they came in, she said, “Put your mats anywhere and sit down on them. They’d been told to provide their own mats.
When Ryder entered, her heart skipped a beat. Damn it! He came. “Good morning, Juliet.”
“Good morning, Ryder.”
She caught a whiff of his sexy scent as he headed to the back of the room. At least he’d be far away. He rolled out a deep blue mat and sat down.
She fixed her gaze on the others. It was nice to see some familiar faces.
When everyone settled, she stood up front.
“Welcome to beginner’s yoga. Your forms indicate that a few of you have had training before but still see yourselves as beginners.
If you were in one of my classes, you know to check the white board for what you need that particular day.
” She held up a bolster and identified its name.
Did the same with a strap and block. “You can grab these now.”
There was chatter and a few people stopped to talk to her.
Ryder took his turn to get the props and her gaze strayed to him.
His outfit sported an expensive logo on both the biker-like shorts and matching top.
They were navy and she’d bet they brought the color out in his blue eyes.
His hair was a sandy blonde. Like hers. And they shared the same birthday.
“When you get back to your mat, sit down on it cross legged. For the men, if that isn’t possible today, it will be in the future but for now sit in any comfortable position. I’m going to demonstrate the lotus position.”
There was a low rumble of conversations as they returned to their mats but they all quieted when they sat down.
“We’re going to start out with pranayama, the Sanskrit word for breathing. Having the right breath when you execute a pose, even if it’s a seated one, is more important and more difficult to achieve than the form itself.”
People seemed confused.
“Questions?”
“Why is breathing more important than the poses?” a new student asked.
“First off, breathing regulates the nervous system so it’s calming. Second, it deepens the physical poses. It also acts as the bridge between movement and awareness, activating the parasympathetic system to promote relaxation, release tension, and prevent injury by ensuring structural alignment.”
“Well, that’s a mouthful.” This came from the back of the class by you-know-who. Then, “Oh, man. Did I say that out loud?”
The women in class chuckled. They’d already been checking him out.
“I guess it is. Do I need to simplify it for you? Or anyone?”
“No, I’m sorry. I caught the gist.” Damn, if he didn’t sound sincere.
“Then let’s breathe together. First, watch me.” She closed her eyes. “I’m going to breathe in slowly through my nostrils then exhale even slower.” She performed that twice then opened her eyes. “Make sure your breath comes from your diaphragm, goes to your chest, then your nostrils.”
They practiced breathing for two minutes. “I hope you have it down now. I won’t spend minutes practicing this every class but we will practice how to implement it in the poses.”
She checked the time. “Let’s learn a couple today.”
First, she introduced them to warrior one and next to child’s pose. She repeated both and the third time walked around to make individual adjustments. She ignored Ryder, though. He’d sat cross-legged easily, then did the other poses correctly.
I do a strict regimen for fitness with cardio, weights and diet. Looks like it paid off in flexibility, too.
They ended the class lying down and breathing, and after a few minutes, she pinged her little chimes signaling the end of class. “Thanks for a good class, everyone. Please put the props away as you leave.”
In the back of the studio, a group of women surrounded Ryder. Of course they did. He was one attractive male specimen. She turned around and stepped outside so she didn’t have to watch them.
Why on earth was she so stirred up by him?
He was the last one out. “Good class, Juliet.”
“Was it? You made me nervous.”
A slow sexy smile. “What does that tell you?”
“I don’t know.”
“I’ll quit yoga if you go on a date with me.”
“The answer’s still no.”
“All right, see you in two days.”
Exasperated, Juliet cleaned up her room and walked out into the juice bar to get a drink.
“Hey, Juliet.”
She turned. “Robert. Hello. What are you doing here?”
“Getting some water. I’m joining Heath Elsworth’s Men’s Health Class.”
“Ah. I hope it goes well.” She started away.
“Juliet?” She turned back.
“Would you by chance be free for dinner tonight?”
Robert Blake worked at Agape Physical Therapy, the place she went to whenever she’d overdone her classes or once when she sprained her ankle.
He wasn’t her therapist, but they met there and talked frequently.
He was dark-haired and dark-eyed and physically fit.
Why not? She was free because her dad signed the boys up for karate class and was taking them tonight.
“You know, Robert. I’d like that.”
“Then I’ll see you in about an hour and a half.”
Take that, Ryder Pace.
* * *
Black and Blue was an upscale restaurant in Rockford. White cloths spread across each table along with black napkins. The dim lighting created a hushed atmosphere. Juliet arrived on time to meet Robert in the reception area.
They were shown to a table down a few stairs and off to the right. When they were seated, a waiter came over immediately. “Hello, I’m Benjamin and I’ll be your server tonight.”
They greeted the handsome young man with a beard and a great smile. “May I get you cocktails?” he asked.
“I’ll have a glass of white wine.”
Robert ordered red.
“So, how are those boys of yours?” Divorced, he had sons too.
“Busy. They’re at karate right now. My dad signed them up and takes them to and from.”
“It’s nice that he does that. Are you close to your parents?”
“Very.”
“Me, too.”
“How was the Men’s Health Class?”
“Great, as always. Heath had interesting activities to start a discussion of intimacy. At first some people felt uncomfortable but Heath has a way of ploughing through that.”
“He’s very good at what he does.”
“Yeah. I like him.” Robert watched her. Then he said, “I like you too, Juliet.”
Oh. “Back at ya.”
“And you look lovely tonight.”
“Thank you.”
She’d showered and dressed in a one-piece rust colored outfit that she kept at the collective in case she wanted to go out right from work.
They talked about their jobs as they enjoyed their drinks. Then they both ordered salmon glazed with crabmeat sauce and jasmine rice with peas. They discussed their boys some more and the state of the world. Juliet was enjoying the evening.
But just as their plates were cleared a group passed by the table. One person stopped. “Go on, ahead guys. I’ll see you in two weeks.”
Ryder Pace stared down at her with fire in those blue eyes. “Hello, Juliet.
“Ryder.”
He looked at Robert. “I’m Ryder Pace.”
Robert stood and shook his hand. “I recognized you from the news. I’m Robert Blake.”
Ryder transferred his gaze to her. “Juliet, would you mind stepping out to the porch with me?”
“Um…”
“Please.”
“All right.” She stood. “I’ll be right back, Robert.”
With a sinking feeling inside, she walked ahead of him onto a closed porch with stuffed couches. He pulled her to the side. “You have a date with someone else.”
“I do.”
“You wouldn’t go out with me, but you will with another guy. Is it serious?”
“No, we’re…wait a second, I don’t have to explain myself to you.”
She rubbed her arms as if it was cold out here. The enclosed porch was meant for spring and summer.
“You’re chilled.” He took off his suitcoat and put it around her shoulders. It was like being held by him. His scent filled her head again. “I don’t need…”
He tipped her chin. “Do you like him better than me?”
“Ryder, I don’t know you.”
“You could.” He stepped even closer. “I want to see you, Juliet.”
She stepped back. “Ryder, you’re bordering on harassment.”
His eyes widened. Then his mouth came down on hers. Pleasure exploded inside her. She saw stars behind lids that had closed without her conscious consent. He didn’t touch her anywhere else, but he didn’t have to, in order to put his mark on her.
Abruptly, he drew away. “Think about that, Juliet. And for the record, I’ve never ever been accused of harassing a woman. I’m horrified you’d think that of me. So I won’t pursue you anymore and I’ll drop out of your yoga class. If you want to see me again, the next move is up to you.”
He eased his suitcoat off her shoulders and walked out the door.
* * *
Ryder strode to his Lexus and got inside. He was thrown by seeing Juliet with another man. That’s why his hands were shaking. And the harassment comment? Fuck it! He was done with her.
Eventually, he calmed down enough to drive. He sped off toward his house. Thoughts crept in. Was he really done with her? Could he get her out of his mind?
Of course he could! He had a full life with friends, women, businesses and…other pursuits. He didn’t need an ordinary female who rebuffed him starkly. He didn’t!
* * *
The next day, Juliet went into work early to get her yoga room set up.
A guard walked her in, which was getting old, as Heath had said.
Sighing, she stopped at her office. She had some paperwork to finish before her first class.
She was checking to see who had or hadn’t paid in full for the current sessions and saw that one of the women owed money.
Her gaze snagged on Ryder’s name. She stared at it for a long time, then slammed the book shut.