Everly laughed and patted his biceps. “So those twelve texts demanding to know where I was and that I was okay were just, what? Butt-dials?”
Beck grunted some semblance of a nonanswer before turning and stalking off, Everly’s laugh directed at his retreating form.
I may have been new to town and didn’t know all the ins and outs of the residents and their varied relationships, but there was no denying something was going on there. “What’s that all about?”
“What? That?” Everly pointed to Beck’s retreating form then shrugged. “Beck being Beck.”
“Why do you care what’s going on with them?” Brady asked, a hard edge to his voice that was ever-present around me.
“Oh good, I see you brought your bad attitude to class so we can work through that with some deep breathing.” I grinned at him, gesturing toward the makeshift gate. “You’re wasting time, Sheriff.”
“Aren’t we waiting for the rest of your class?”
“We’re here!” Mabel called, waving her hand wildly as she hurried down the path, three other gray-haired ladies trailing after her, all wearing spandex. “Save me a mat, would you? I just need to do a quick intro.”
She fumbled with her phone before holding it out in front of her, her back to me as she spoke to the screen.
“Seriously?” Brady said as he held open the gate for the other newcomers to enter in front of him. “I don’t think yoga necessitates a Facebook Live, Mabel.”
I snorted, knowing full well how much he loathed the older woman’s penchant for getting in the way of official business with her special brand of reporting. And let me tell you, I was here for it.
“It’sgoatyoga, thank you very much.” Mabel sniffed, sliding her phone into her pocket. “Besides, I thought you’d be all for a Live that showcases more of your family’s resort. Am I wrong?”
Brady grumbled something under his breath that sounded a lot likenosy old woman is going to be the death of me, but before I could call him on it, he stepped into the enclosure and shut the makeshift gate behind him. With his eyes tracking the erratic movements of the baby goats, he strolled straight for a mat at the back, but I shook my head before he got settled.
“Not so fast, Sheriff. I saved you a spot. Right up front.” I gestured to the mat directly in front of me.
Brady’s eyes locked with mine, and that ever-present zing of awareness shot through me, turning my nipples to hard points against my thin top. Okay, so this maybe wasn’t my best idea, but there was no way I was going to let him slack off at the back of the class. Not with what I’d given up for this deal.
“Show us how it’s done, Sheriff!” Mabel called, her friends clapping their encouragement. “I promise to only take video of you if it’s flattering. But considering what you’re working with, I don’t think that’s going to be a problem. You know that video I made of you directing traffic with your derrière pointed my direction still holds the record for highest views, right? Imagine what a video of you doing yoga will accomplish! Probably, you should take your shirt off. The classes will be booked out for months.”
“That sounds like averyinteresting video, Mabel,” I said. “I guess I know what I’ll be doing tonight.”
He shot me a look that saiddon’t you dare, and I just grinned in response, settling into place at the front even as the goats roamed around, eating grass—and hair—or burrowing in for cuddles. “Thanks for coming, everyone. How many of you have taken a yoga class before?”
Only one hand rose—Everly’s—though I wasn’t surprised.
I nodded and settled onto my mat in Sukhasana and gestured for everyone to do the same. “This class will be a fun one to start with. If you’re looking for something a bit more structured, be sure to stop by the main inn and grab a schedule from Addison for the standard classes I run.”
With that, I began the class, guiding them through their practice and walking around to help correct poses when needed. While older, Mabel and her friends were surprisingly limber and able to do most of the poses with little direction from me—because of all the sex, she’d stated with a wink.
Brady had just grunted at that—whether from Mabel’s statement or the goats that flocked to him, I wasn’t sure. He definitely needed the most help of this group. The guy was a mess, though that wasn’t a surprise, considering he looked more like an Avenger than he did a yogi.
I squatted next to him as he attempted a balancing table pose, and I tipped my head until I could meet his eyes. “Need some help, Sheriff?”
“I’m fine,” he grumbled, even as two goats pounced on his back, a third attempting to jump up as well.
“Actually, you’re getting a little droopy. Do you mind?” I held up my hands and gestured to his core.
He grunted. “Can’t get any worse.”
I wasn’t so sure about that, but I slid my hand between the goats to press a palm on his back, the other on his abs—abs I could’ve gone my whole life without knowing how hard and solid they were. How hot his skin was under my touch. Why the hell had I offered to help him hold this pose?
Right. Because it was my job. A job I needed to focus on.
“If these goats weren’t on me—”
“You’d still have this problem.” I smiled, though it died on my lips when he turned his face toward mine, our noses so close I could feel his breath sweep across my mouth. When he was quiet like this, just his gorgeous green gaze boring into me and enough electricity between us to power a small country, it was easy to forget our differences and why I absolutely should not close the distance between us and remind myself what he tasted like.
