How did she know?It was just a feeling, really, but the Connor she spent time with alone from the bakery seemed more open than the Connor shared with friends.
Aspen wasn’t looking to turn psychologist on him, but with every day that passed, she found herself wanting to be part of his world.Tohelphim.
“...Down to plank, and hold...”her instructor guided the class.
Aspen slowly lowered herself toward the floor, suspending herself by the palms of her hands and toes, just a few inches above her mat.Who was Aspen kidding?Part of his world?For all of the pep talks she’d given herself over the past months, years really, about not having time for anything but her business, she knew in her heart she wanted Connor in her life as much as she needed her business to succeed.
It was odd, really.She dated at times, but nothing serious.So why did this massive man with his untamed, feral personality to match his wild hair and powerful body have Aspen longing for something other than her nighttime gameshow routine?
Although she would address Mia’s sneakiness to attend the ruse of a girls’ night out, Aspen loved every single moment of the evening.The easy banter among teammates and friends brought delight to Aspen’s heart to have the opportunity to join them.
Wolfe’s under-the-table ministrations revved her body like a racecar engine before the start of the Daytona 500.Aspen’s inner self welcomed the opportunity for evenings like that in the future.
While she relished spending time with the group, Connor especially, she’d keep the gem of her own personal discovery hidden behind her own curtain, a la TheWizard of Oz.While the pieces of her Connor-puzzle were slowly coming together, she had no clue how he was trekking at the moment.
Sure, their physical connection was explosive.Their endless banter and the genuine fun they shared in each other’s presence was something unique in Aspen’s experience.Amazing.
So where did they stand?Were they on the precipice of embarking on a potential relationship?Was it just sex or were they peeling back the layers of emotions like the proverbial onion together?
That thought brought Aspen back to her earlier conundrum.
“Now Cobra...”
Aspen released the plank position to rest on the floor, then slowly arched her back and pushed up on her hands while her hips and legs pressed flush against her yoga mat.
What a whirlwind her life had become this summer.If someone would have told Aspen that she would have landed a big catering gig, had dinner with an entirely new group of people, and experienced multiple orgasms via Connor’s beyond capable body, she would have called them all kinds of crazy.
Aspen’s life never felt dull, that was certain.But if all went well over the course of the next several months, she’d increase her revenue stream, have some flexibility to make a dent in the loan, and create opportunities to invest in her bakery’s future so her shop would truly feel like her own.Aspen thought she’d develop to the point she could tell her parents to enjoy their retirement and quit attempting to operate the bakery from afar.
Maybe she’d continue to grow this effervescent connection she seemed to be building with Connor.
She smiled at that thought as she turned on her back for her favorite part of yoga: Savasana.In this pose, she literally rested on the mat while focusing on her breathing and completely relaxing her body.The icing on the cupcake?The instructor worked her way around the class and performed some energy-moving-voodoo with her fingertips across the faces and shoulders of the class.Aspen wasn’t sure what in the hell the Savasana did, all she knew was she nearly fell asleep every time the relaxation technique was performed making her as limp as an overcooked linguine noodle.
“Namaste,” the instructor’s gentle voice washed over the room.
Aspen was pretty sure she was out like a light as evidence by the little bit of drool at the corner of her mouth.She brushed the back of her hand across her lips, then held her hands together as if she were praying.
“Namaste.”
***
THIRTY MINUTES LATER, Aspen returned to her apartment and was a bit disappointed that Connor was no longer in the space.She didn’t expect him to stay while she worked and played in the morning, but the thought of him being at her apartment when she got home made her stomach clench in excitement.
It was early afternoon, and while Aspen wanted nothing more than to take a nap to complete the process she started during yoga, she had to get some things in order in the bakery before the Monday morning rush.
Solo in her bakery, the classical music on her Spotify paused momentarily to indicate she received a text message.She didn’t think she was much of a classical music girl, but it was something Connor played while he worked around her shop.Because he donated his time and talents, she didn’t want to dictate the music tracks.As time went on, she found that she really began to like the soothing strings of the various composers he selected to form her playlist.
You’d think with all of his band-themed shirts that Connor would play rock all the time, but he continued to surprise her.
Aspen loved the barely-there smile he offered her when she said she liked the Tchaikovsky piece with the cannons and bells at the end of it.
Speak of the devil.Connor, not Tchaikovsky, was texting her.
Connor: Gonna make another run at getting your AC to run.You around?
Aspen nibbled at her lip, excitement coursing through her at the fact she’d get to see him again, and maybe build off of the magic they started last night.
Aspen: Yup.Come on by.
