By the time I reach my room, my pulse is still ticked up. I should write, unpack, do anything to shake off my encounter with Duke. Instead, I fall onto the bed, staring at the ceiling, knowing sleep won’t come. Not tonight. Not after him.
downward doggone
ROXANNE
At the heightof my career, I adjusted to all time zones during my travels, and I never let jet lag slow me down. I could get off a red-eye, throw some lipstick on, and conduct an important interview or pose for a photoshoot. Now, getting out of bed in Colorado seems to be the most difficult part of my day. Especially for sunrise yoga, which Topper invited us to. Allie and Leo are over the moon because they practically live at our local studio back in New York.
Not me.
Mostly because I can’t meditate. I simply cannot. The gears of my mind are always turning. Every time I’ve tried yoga, I end up fretting about the to-do list constantly running in my brain. No amount of bamboo flute music, still poses, or deep breathing has ever gotten me to sit still and relax.
I yawn as I open my door to Leo and Allie, who have come to pick me up.
“Good morning, my love,” Allie says. “We’ve not even been here twenty-four hours, and this is easily one of my favorite places.”
“Shhhh, you might want to keep your voice down,” Leo says. “I think Rox is still dreaming.”
“Oh, of course,” Allie weaves her arm in mine and whispers. “Have I mentioned how excited I am?”
“Is it the yoga or the fact that Topper might be stretching on the mat next to you?” I ask with a grin.
“That’s a bazillion percent why I’m so excited,” Allie replies.
“Did you hear that, Leo, abazillionpercent,” I say as I turn off the TV in my room.
“I heard that. This is serious.”
The door clicks behind us when we exit. “Alison, my dear, you realize you can’t fall in love in a day.”
“Have youseenWyatt? Did you notice his calf muscles? His forearms?”
I chuckle. “No, but apparently you have and now you’re dating them.”
“We’re soulmates,” Allie insists.
I scoff. “You arenotsoulmates. There’s no such thing. You are lustmates. You think he’s good-looking, and he makes you smile, and it’s only a matter of time before we catch you with him behind the barn. This is nothing more than a summer fling.”
Allie starts down the stairs ahead of Leo and me. “You don’t think you can fall in love during a summer?”
I stop on the landing and glare at her. “No.”
She shrugs. “You say that now. You could be married by August, my friend.”
“Meanwhile, I am once again reminded why I’m happily married,” Leo says. “Y’allare exhausting.”
“Good morning, everyone!” Topper opens his arms wide when we reach the lobby. Corded muscle ripples beneath his sun-warmed skin, and there is no denying why Allie is crushing on him. He is the epitome of a good-looking, rugged, mountain man. Allie rushes right into Topper’s chest, his arms close around her,and they both giggle. I’m trying to be irritated by the display, but I can’t help but see how cute they are together. Maybe they really are soulmates.
Topper releases Allie, comments on how beautiful she looks in her yoga clothes and then finally notices that Leo and I are in the room. “Everyone ready for some quiet time in nature?”
No,I say silently to myself, but I manage to fake a smile as Topper leads us out to the sundeck. I pause because while I can’t quite bring myself to look at the woods surrounding the lodge, the sky is absolutely stunning. Thankfully, I stuck my mini notebook and pen in my tote bag before I left my room.
The dawn unfurls over the mountains like a slow-moving flame, soft pinks melting into molten gold. Light washes over the rugged peaks, making them glow with something almost sacred. The pine-dotted slopes stretch endlessly, bathed in a warm radiance that turned every sharp ridge and rolling hill into something out of a dream. Below, the lake shimmered like polished glass, reflecting the sky’s brilliance, while the crisp morning air carried the scent of sun-warmed cedar and earth—untamed, exhilarating.
Oh, that’s good.
I scribble more notes as the others take their places on the yoga mats that have been set out for us complete with towels and water bottles. Since this really isn’t my jam, I take the last mat in the corner in the back row as residents emerge from the lodge. They bid each other good morning and start stretching. The only reason I’m somewhat calm is because Duke Faraday’s sizzling, dizzying energy is absent.
I set my notebook down thinking maybe I shouldtrymeditating. Standing with my feet a foot apart, I stretch my neck, close my eyes, and take deep, purposeful breaths as the cool morning breeze gently whispers through my ponytail. For a moment, I forget where I am, forget the job, and forget the stubborn mountain man I’m being forced to deal with.
