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“Never.” He smiled to himself.
“Well, I think Pilates is up next. I have a class tomorrow before I head to the boutique.”
“Don’t push yourself too hard, okay?”
“Mmm-hmm. I guess you wouldn’t want to come with me?”
“What?” He heard her laughing. “I’ll stick to jogging. Maybe you could meet me one morning.”
“I’ll think about it, Mr. Parsons. Although, I don’t think I’m ready for that.”
Her sweet voice made his hopes kindle. “Seriously, Leah, if you ever want to hang out, I’m here.”
“I’m game. As long as it involves a chocolate muffin.”
“I’ll bring you one. Though, we’ll have to work it off later.”
Leah laughed.
****
The burning sensation in Leah’s abs made her want to plop back on her floral-patterned yoga mat. Holding a plank compared to sharp claws tearing into her skin. Despite her body twitching, she held herself up. This is insane. Her core shook as the instructor did the final countdown and sweat slid down her face. At the instructor’s bidding, Leah rested feeling the sore aftereffects in her abs.
“Wow,” she gasped.
“I know. That was intense,” the girl next to her responded.
Leah gave a faint smile to Kimberly, who was face down on her emerald green yoga mat. When she’d first come to the class, Kimberly shared that she had wanted to lose her baby weight. Leah watched as the new mother raised herself up on shaky arms.
“Are you okay, Kim?” Leah dabbed the sweat from her forehead.
Kim’s hand clutched her midsection. “That was insane.”
“I didn’t know Joanna’s class was this intense. This is for beginners,” Celeste said. She was Albert Tate’s niece, who owned the deli in town.
Leah took a gulp of water from her water bottle. “So, ladies… same time tomorrow?”
Kim nodded. “I’ll be here.”
Joanna clapped her hands as she addressed the class. “Great job, everyone. Remember, each time you work out, you’ll get better and stronger. I’m a firm believer it’s not about being a certain size, but being the best version of you. See you tomorrow.”
Leah and the rest of the ladies rolled up their yoga mats. On the way out, Leah met a few more classmates including Mikayla and Antonia. She waved goodbye to them all as she stepped outside the door. She lifted her chin to the cloud-filled sky, noting how dark it was outside. The town’s streets were wet, but since it was misting, she figured she could dash for her car. Then Leah stopped in her tracks. I forgot my umbrella.
She darted back inside the fitness studio but collided with Craig Parker, the owner of the building. She instinctively grabbed his strong forearms, as she aimed to stay on her feet and not tumble to the floor.
Craig’s storm blue eyes gazed into Leah’s. “Are you okay?”
She straightened up, adjusting the strapped yoga mat on her back. She cleared her throat. “I’m fine, Craig. Sorry I didn’t see you there. I left my—”
Craig held up a purple umbrella. “This it?”
Leah reached for it, her fingers brushing against Craig’s ivory skin. “Thank you.” She looked out the window once more. “I think I better go before I get caught in this rain.”
“Any chance you may be free tonight?”
Leah’s lips parted, utterly shocked. “Craig? Are you…?”
He folded his muscular arms across his chest. “Asking you out? Yes.”
