“With your guidance, love, I’m sure these couples felt their bonds strengthen,” Locust placed a hand on Shane’s arm for dramatic effect. “I know I always do when we do this.” They exchanged a quick kiss and then turned their attention back to the class.
“This concludes the first couple’s session of your program. Namaste,” Shane said as he and Locust clasped their hands in a prayer pose and bowed.
“Jackie?” Antonio reached for her, but she side-stepped his touch. If he touched her, and that weird thing happened again…well, she wanted no part of it. She had to get out of there.
Before Jackie could make a run for it, Shane and Locust approached them, moving slowly like something from a horror movie, wide smiles plastered on their faces.
“We just wanted to ask you two if you enjoyed the session,” said Shane.
“Yes, you seemed very spiritually locked in,” Locust added.
Antonio gave his usual charming smile. “It was pretty intense, but I think we got something out of it. What do you think, Jackie?”
Jackie couldn’t even look in Antonio’s direction.
“We’ll be taking a quick five-minute break before we move into our next session in the adjacent gardens,” Shane said before taking Locust’s hand and moving to speak to another couple. “See you beauties soon.”
Antonio turned to face Jackie. “Those two are…yeah…” was all he could say.
Jackie folded her arms over her chest. Yeah, they weresomethingalright. She turned to get some fresh air, but Antonio caught her hand from behind. Instantly, she felt those tingles again, all the way up her arm and into her chest. If she didn’t know any better, she’d be worried this was a heart attack.
“Jackie, I think we need to talk about what happened back there. Did you feel—”
Jackie stared up at Antonio. The pulse of electricity intensified, making her lose all sense of reality. She closed her eyes again and all at once, memories of their connection rushed back to her.
Before Jackie knew it, Locust was ringing a gong. “Your break is over. Let’s move into our second session. Follow us to the Zen gardens.”
Quickly, Antonio and Jackie released their hands. The gong was still sounding, its vibrations filling the outdoor space. Jackie said a quick prayer of thanks. She had never been more grateful to be saved by the bell.
CHAPTER 19
Shane and Locust stood at the front of the garden. They were still barefoot with Locust wearing her undercover designer-yet-shabby-chic, but somehow, they had managed a costume change in the span of the short break. Now they matched each other in pastel lavender and grays. Antonio tried his best to pay attention to whatever Shane was saying as he introduced the session, but it was impossible. All he could think about was those sparks he’d felt during partner breathwork. It was clear Jackie had felt something too. As they sat on the mats, she couldn’t even look in his direction.
Locust struck a bell several times with a small mallet; the sounds were otherworldly. “Hello beloveds. As Shane mentioned, this session is about mindful communication.”
Oh, we are going to fail at this one. Big time, Antonio thought. Trying to get Jackie to communicate with him, laryngitis or not, was like pulling teeth from a lion.
“Yes,” Shane wrapped his arm around Locust. “Building upon the tools and techniques we learned in the breathwork session, we will focus on exercises to improve active listening and nonviolent communication.”
“Hah!” Antonio laughed aloud before he could stop himself. Jackie? Nonviolent? That was like asking a bed bug not to bite you. Shane and Locust stared at him, looking confused. “Sorry,” he said as he swallowed another laugh.
