My body obeys without my mind engaging in thought. I blink my eyes open and find myself sitting on my mat, facing Sunny’s exotic figure. I’m entranced by the chain of butterflies tattooed around her upper arm.
She says some bullshit closing stuff and leads the class through another om and the whole time I just sit and watch her. Trying to figure out what about this human is so damn intriguing to me.
So intriguing she’s dangerous. She’s going to pull me off my mission-that’s something I just can’t allow. I resolve to get my ass up off the mat and get the hell out of there, but Sunny’s musical voice becomes another invitation.
“Thank you all for joining us tonight. La Cantina has food and drink specials for you all, so if you’d like to stick around and socialize, I’d love to have you. Namaste.”
Oh, fuck no.
Of course pretty boy is going to stick around. That’s why he’s so into rooftop yoga. He gets to watch Sunny in her yoga pants and stay for drinks with her. It’s like a fucking date to him.
Sure enough, the guy wears a huge smile as he tucks his rolled up mat under his arm and goes to stand beside her.
I skip the rolling the mat part and crumple it in my fist as I stalk over.
Sunny turns her attention to me, but it’s with disapproval. “Thanks, Titus,” she says drily, taking the mat from my clenched fist.
I growl a low warning in pretty boy’s direction.
He responds by moving closer to Sunny. “Ready for a drink?”
To my satisfaction, she inches away. “I’ll be there in a bit.” She turns her bright face in my direction. “Titus, are you joining us?”
Pretty boy deflates.
My wolf loves it. And my plans to walk away disintegrate. “Yeah. Okay.” My voice sounds rusty. I clear it. “Sounds good.”
She tugs her hair out of the ponytail that was high on one side of her head and lets her long blonde hair cascade down over her shoulders. “Then let’s go.”
Sunny
I DON’T KNOW what possessed me to invite Titus for cocktails. This isn’t his crowd. Definitely isn’t his scene. But I guess I’m not willing to say goodbye yet. Not when being near him lights my whole body up like a Christmas pole. I mean tree.
I take his hand and lead him into the restaurant. I don’t know why I grabbed his hand-maybe to send a message to Chas, whose attention is getting way too annoying. Maybe it’s to send a message to Titus that I’m still interested.
Either way, it’s too intimate of a gesture. The air between us charges. He chokes on a breath. My nipples go taut.
Chas looks back and takes it in, expression falling.
Titus growls like a wild beast.
It’s Animal Kingdom weird and hot as hell.
I slide into the giant circular booth seat where Adele, Charlie, Sadie, Chas and a few other random yogis are gathered and scoot over to make room for Titus.
He frowns, like he’s not sure how he got here. Or why he even followed me.
That always seems to be his reaction to me, though. Like he can’t stand me but at the same time, he’s too attracted to me to leave. I think he might be pissed over the way I left, too. I’m definitely catching remonstrance. Along with a whole six-pack of judgment.
But I’m used to that. I’ve been too much for men-for most people-my whole life.
That’s what I like about Taos. Crazy is the norm here. I fit right in.
“Class was great today, Sunny.” Sadie, the little kindergarten teacher, beams at me.
“Yeah, it was great,” Charlie echoes. “I felt a little lightheaded towards the end, but that’s because I’m on an all-liquid diet.” The waitress sets down water for all of us, and places a tall brew in front of Charlie. The postmistress must have ordered at the bar as soon as she got here.
“So you’re drinking beer?” Adele arches a brow. Charlie gulps her drink and licks her lips. Sadie’s eyes widen.
“No, it’s cider.” Charlie sets the glass down with a thump. “Don’t give me that look. It’s practically fruit.”
Adele shakes her head, looking poised and put-together as always. Even after class, her glossy brown curls are perfect. She turns to Titus. “Hi, I’m Adele, I don’t think we’ve met.” My friend leans across the table and offers her hand to Titus.
He surges up like he wants to stand, bumps the table and sloshes the pitcher of ice water our server left.
I don’t usually get jealous or insecure, but an unpleasant tug squeezes my solar plexus. My girlfriends are so much younger and cuter than I am. Sadie is Foxfire’s age and here I am with gray mixing into the blonde of my hair, making it appear lighter than it really is.
“This is Titus, my son-in-law’s father,” I explain as everyone starts offering their name and hand to him.
“Are you up here to visit Sunny?” Sadie asks, her dimples making her appear even younger. She is the town’s most favorite teacher, and it’s easy to see why. Sweet and beautiful and seemingly innocent, she’s almost too perfect. Every parent tries to get their kindergartener in her classroom. I hear the principal made a strict “no request rule” after parents were resorting to camping out in her office trying to convince her.
Titus shifts uncomfortably in his seat. “Actually, I didn’t know she was up here. We ran into each other today at the gorge bridge.”
Sadie turns her smile up a watt. “Lucky you,” she breathes.
I almost snort. I doubt Titus shares that sentiment.