Page 71 of Yours for the Taking (Falling For A Rose)

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They couldn’t stop stealing looksat once another—batting eyelashes from Carla; winks and lip nibbles from Jacob. They were at Earthworks pottery, a studio that taught classes on how to mold innovative designs from clay.

Sitting side by side, they half-listened to the instructor, distracted by the newfound love in their relationship.

“We gine use water tuh shape dis clay wid de wheel in front uh you. Leh we start by getting we hands real dirty an’ wet.”

Their minds shifted, and they peeked at one another and smirked when she said “dirty an’ wet.” But that was about all Carla could understand of the instructor’s Bajan.

Seeing the confusion on her face, the instructor asked, “You prefer me to speak Amurcan English?”

“If you’re willing.” Carla pressed her hands together, as if to plead.

The instructor smiled and nodded. “No problem. We here at Earthworks are used to the tourist needing a li’l help, eh?”

“Thank God. Now I don’t feel like a total klutz.”

“No. No.”

Carla glanced at Jacob, and he winked as the instructor continued with their lesson.

“If your clay isn’t centered, your pottery will not turn out shaped like any pot you’ve ever seen before.”

They laughed softly.

“It takes a little while, but if you’ve got some time to spend with me today, I’m going to whip you two into shape.

Whip.

Jacob and Carla glanced at each other again. A smirk on his face, a blush on hers.

The instructor regarded them both. “You’ll be professionals by the time I’m through with you.”

They nodded.

“First, take a piece of clay and use your hands to make your pieces into wedged balls.”

Balls.

They peeked at one another again and smirked, then back to the instructor.

“Are you two newlyweds?”

Their hands stopped moving, eyes wide and heartbeats matching in spirited enthusiasm, unbeknownst to one another.

The instructor looked back and forth between them.

“We are…” Carla began, but Jacob finished, “In love.”

They turned their eyes to each other, and Carla was warm all over, feeling as if she were living in a fairy tale.

“Yes,” she agreed. “We’re in newly-love.”

Jacob’s gorgeous mouth spread into an awestruck smile. “I like it. Newly-love.”

The instructor smirked. “You two are cute together. Very cute.”

Their smiles extended, and it was Carla who dropped his gaze to look back at the instructor first.

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