They swarmed around the man, the older ones flapping excitedly, while Binx and one of the Annes sidled up to him with flirty eyes.
“What made you decide to shave it off?” Monica asked.
He shrugged, and his eyes met Uma’s before he got even redder and looked away. “Needed a change, I guess.”
“Come on, let’s get back to work, ladies.” Jessie clapped and pulled everyone back to the mat. “Look at Uma. She’s the only serious one here tonight. You ladies are pathetic.”
Ivan caught her gaze briefly before she turned to concentrate on Jessie.
The practical part of the class was a nightmare, of course. When Steve arrived and the women all lined up against the men, Uma’s skin immediately went up in such a fierce, prickly blush, her discomfort must have been obvious. With half the class’s eyes on her, she faced off against Ivan and was satisfied to see that he looked as awkward as she did.
Head bent in preparation for the breakaway, he whispered, “You okay?”
She nodded.
“Just took off,” he said through a shy, little smile.
It was adorable. How the hell was she supposed to resist this man? “Had to get to work,” she whispered.
He touched her, and rather than shove her attacker away, Uma spent an inappropriate moment leaning into him. Finally, he nudged her shoulder, and she went through the motions, pushing, twisting, and following through. But, oh, she didn’t want to. Despite her decision to avoid him—for his own good, she reminded herself—she wanted nothing more than to let him wrap her in his arms again, to sink into his strength and heat.
It was the curiosity shining in Binx’s eyes that finally woke Uma up to how she must look: like one of his damn cats trying to get a good rub in.
After a couple of times through, Ivan moved on to his next victim. He got back around to her right after, cutting in before she could be paired up with Steve. This time,helingered inappropriately, and it was all she could do to push out of his stranglehold.
For the rest of class, she ignored him, looking everywhere but at that beautiful face.
“I think Ive’s face needs celebratin’,” Binx called after Jessie had wrapped up.
Uma hung back while the women crowded excitedly around Ivan yet again. “Anyone wanna head over to the Nookie?”
“You don’t seem impressed,” Jessie said, indicating the rabid swarm around her brother.
“It was just a beard,” Uma said with as little inflection as possible. Unfortunately, Ivan chose that moment to look up at her over the women’s heads. Their eyes met, and she shivered.
A glance at Jessie showed her eyes flicking curiously between them.
“Hmm” was all the woman said before pulling on her coat and heading to the desk to grab something. Uma made a run for the door.
“You goin’, Uma?” Ivan’s voice stopped her.
“Where?”
“Over to the Nook for a cold one before headin’ home.”
“Oh, no, I don’t—”
Jessie came up beside her. “Come on. I’ll buy you a drink.” She put an arm around Uma’s shoulders and steered her out the door. “Get a move on, ladies. You can molest my brother outside or at the Nook, but you can’t do it here. Out!”
The women spilled out onto the sidewalk and meandered down the block to the Nook. Once inside, Jessie leaned close and asked, “What’s your poison?”
“Whatever you’re having’s fine.”
The other woman swaggered confidently to the bar, drawing the eyes of nearly every guy there. Jessie was tall, loose-limbed…confident. Her perfection highlighted Uma’s deficiencies.
And the woman could defend herself. That was maybe the most attractive thing about her. She had an “I’m gonna kick your ass, and you’re gonna love it” kind of thing going—a Quentin Tarantino heroine, ready to fend off hordes of attackers beautifully. She’d even look good in a yellow jumpsuit.
The bartender, Rory, said something to Jessie, and her back stiffened.What’s going on there?
