Smooth, Lynx.
She was obviously hesitant and here I was pushing her, though wasn’t that also my job as a personal trainer? I scanned over the class once more. The few who’d eased up on the exercise quickly returned to their previous effort under my gaze.
When my focus returned to Oakley, she gave a small smile thatcrackedthrough my chest like a whip. Then she walked over to the corner and parked her stroller alongside Jade and Ivy, my attention pinned to the tantalizing way she moved.
Fuck. Me.
“Alright, everyone, grab a resistance band and let’s do some bicep curls.” I walked over, tossing an extra band in Oakley’s direction. Cueing everyone, I tried to pay attention to the group and not this woman who, for whatever Goddess-known reason, hadn’t left my mind since I’d dropped off the casserole.
She took the band and set up her form. The way she corrected her own posture before starting made it clear to me she was no stranger to working out. However, she remained in the back and didn’t try to show off likesomeof the other group members who always wanted to be front and center. The only time she seemed to struggle was during our core work at the end when frustration curled off her curves with its pale-orange smoke.
I made my way around, correcting each person before finally kneeling next to her.
“Sorry, I’m just not as good at the core stuff anymore,” Oakley said, cheeks tinged pink. The pale-orange smog thinned out, mixing with charcoal fumes.
“You’re doing great,” I encouraged, willing my palm to my side instead of reaching out to touch her like it so desperately wanted.
She lifted her head, as if trying to listen for Aspen, and I waved her back down, giving her a thumbs up while pretending to peek over the side of the stroller. I didn’t need to. I could smell his lavender contentment from here. “He’s doing great too, Momma.”
Relief washed away some of the hesitation crowding her, filling me with a strange sense of pride. Clearing my throat, I went back to the front to lead the cooldown.
I couldn’t help but listen in when Ivy turned to Oakley and pointed to the stroller behind her. “Is he your first?”
“Yeah.”
“How old?”
“Nearly five months,” she said, smiling, sending anothercrackbeneath my ribs. The pink glow illuminating every line of her face when she talked about him could light up the night sky.
“Great job, gang!” I yelled, giving a few claps of approval. “Same time Friday for those of you who can make it.”
The class dispersed to their smaller groups as they packed up to head home.
“Why don’t you grab some coffee with us?” Ivy asked Oakley. “It’s our post-workout treat.”
She hesitated a moment before nodding. “I could definitely use some coffee.”
When they strolled toward the coffee truck, I couldn’t take my eyes off her, as if enchanted. But that was quickly stifled by the green pin-pricks emanating from her. There were so many warring emotions coursing through her at any given time that it sometimes made it hard to decipher exactly how she was feeling.
Maybe that’s part of what intrigued me so much about her.
Off. Limits.
“Lynx,” called the all too syrupy voice from behind me, this lustdrenching me in its sickly sweet aroma. “Are we still on for my private session Friday?”
“Yes, Aurora. I’ll be there at ten.”
She gave me a smile that was more predatory than pleasant. “Great. I’m looking forward to it.”
I wasn’t.
Chapter4
Oakley
My fingers fidgeted with the stroller bar as I stood in line with Ivy and Jade at Café au Luna. There was still no word from Hazel. I thought maybe she’d come home or text back while I was in class, desperate for the distraction, but nada. Nothing.
“How are you liking the neighborhood so far?” Ivy asked, picking up her witchling and rocking her back and forth in a football hold. Her little one was precious, wearing purple pajamas with tiny crescents stamped onto the fabric.
