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“Good morning,” I say with a big smile. “Welcome to Lotus. Is this your first time in?”
He pauses next to the check-in counter and narrows his eyes at me for a moment. Then he nods. “First time in. I’ve taken a few Pilates classes before, though.”
“Well, let’s get you signed in.”
I stand next to the iPad stand on the counter. Ben walks over and stands right next to me. I sneak a glance down at my shoulder and see only a millimeter of space between our bodies. Wild electricity jumps the gap from his skin to mine and sends chills down my spine.
When I look back up, he’s watching me. The intensity of that stare takes my breath away and I shift uncomfortably, needing to dispel the feelings I now have swirling around in my belly. I do have a class to teach, after all.
“I’m glad you came.”
He smiles, and I melt a bit more. “I couldn't miss your first class.”
He definitely could have, but he didn’t. Somehow he found out about my new job and my first class all on his own and took it upon himself to show up here. The stark evidence of him thinking about me—caring about me—threatens to derail me once more.
I’ve got to get this under control.
“You have to behave yourself in there, okay? It’s really important that this goes well.”
His smile turns sly. “I’ll be the perfect student.”
I don’t want to look away from those dark eyes, but the iPad screen catches my eye as it falls asleep. I jump and turn my focus to waking it back up and getting him signed in. I grab a mat, band, and ball for him without meeting his gaze full-on again. I do let my hands graze his gently as I pass the items over, and instantly regret it.
I’m going to be hot and bothered all class long.
This class is nothing like the punishing workout routine I put him through on Faraday. I try not to follow his body for the entire class but spread my attention throughout my students.
After class, he files out of the room with the rest of them, and I have to force myself not to chase him down the hallway.
Patience, Victoria.
I’m putting away the mats and sweeping the floor when Sandra comes to find me. “Your boyfriend’s waiting for you in the lobby. If you want to head out, I can take care of the sweeping.”
My eyes go wide, but I snatch back my composure quickly. If there was ever a time to be professional, it’s here at this job. “My boyfriend?”
“Ben? I was just chatting with him about the class. Sounds like he’s going to start coming regularly. I recommended that he try out a few of our more challenging classes, considering his fitness level, but I’m not sure I convinced him.”
I can feel my blush burning my entire face. “Oh, yeah. He does like coming to my classes.”
Sandra smiles at me conspiratorially. “That man is a catch, girl. Let me know if he’s got any single friends. I’d jump on a double date anytime.”
I grin and nod, happy that this woman seems to trust me enough to offer personal information about her life. I might have just made my first female friend here in this giant city.
“I got all the mats and props put away, and I did this whole side of the room already,” I say, gesturing to the area I swept.
Sandra takes the broom from me and mimes sweeping me out of the studio. “Go on then.”
Ben’s sitting in a chair in the lobby area when I emerge with my bag and sweatshirt. “Hey.”
He looks up from his phone, pocketing it when he sees me. “Hey.”
I put my hands on my hips and cock my head, tossing him a sly smile. “Sandra, my trainer, thinks you’re my boyfriend.”
I want the joke to lighten the tension a bit, to take the edge off my big, scary feelings of uncertainty.
But he doesn’t laugh. “I told her as much.”
My mouth opens and hangs there for too long of a moment before I catch myself and snap it closed. “What do you mean, you told her as much?”
