Page 16 of Phoenix Rising

“Do you remember what name she used?”

Appolonia’s perfectly tweezed brows scrunched. “You don’t know your own cousin’s name?”

“Of course, I do, but she, uh, likes to use aliases when she travels.” He sent Audria the stink eye at her snort.

“Oh, I see. I think her name was Candy, no Mandy.” Another toss of her head. “Penelope. No, Rhonda.”

Okay, that was helpful, not at all.

“Joyce?” Appolonia grimaced. “I’m good with faces, not names. Sorry. I meet so many people throughout the day.”

“Not a problem,” Reese said, though it would’ve been a help to know what Paige was going by. “Did she pay with a credit card?”

Appolonia held up her hands in a “sorry” gesture. “I don’t remember. We do offer a discount on a second class if you want to go ahead and sign up for it now. It’s a really sweet deal.”

Hell, he didn’t want to take this one. “We’ll see how it goes this morning.”

Appolonia laughed. “I understand. It’s a tough session.” She pushed up from her chair. “Follow me.”

Judging by her svelte figure, displayed in a light blue spandex top and pants, she partook in the classes often. Audria noticed his perusal and muttered, “Pig,” under her breath. He chuckled. Nothing wrong with appreciating the female form, in his opinion. It wasn’t as if he would or wanted to act on it.

Appolonia opened the door and then stood back so they could enter. Reese almost dug in his heels. The lobby was cool and refreshing, but it felt as if he’d walked outside again. His forehead already glistened with a layer of moisture. The air was scented with incense, probably to mute the sweat stink. Colorful mats were placed on the floor in straight lines, with fluffy white towels rolled up on each one. A handful of people were mingling as nature sounds filled the studio.

A man who had to be Yogi Vishnu leaned against the wall. Long, black hair was brushed back from his face, and he wore a flowing white tunic and what looked like the pants M.C. Hammer wore in hisU Can’t Touch Thisvideo, again in white. He was chatting with two perky blondes in sports bras and bike shorts, who hung on his every word. Yogi groupies. Who knew there was such a thing?

Audria removed her shirt, revealing a sports bra like the other women wore. All the blood in Reese’s body rushed south, and he was afraid his desire for her would soon be evident for all to see. She wasn’t overly endowed but perfectly proportioned, with impressive feminine muscle tone and smooth skin. She had the body of a triathlete. He couldn’t seem to focus.

“Oof.”

“Reese.”

He rubbed his side where Audria had elbowed him. “What?”

“Didn’t you hear me?”

“No.”

“I said get ready. It’s showtime.”

He glanced up to see Yogi Vishnu gliding their way. With those pants, it had to be hard to walk. “Right.” He was here to do a job, not lust after his partner. Easier said than done.

“Namaste,” the yogi greeted with his hands clasped before him and a bow of his head.

Was Reese supposed to return the gesture? He had no idea about proper yoga etiquette, so he chose not to. In his head, he heard Aragon’s voice fromThe Lord of the Ringswhen he’d said to the hobbits, “My friends, you bow to no one.”

“Namaste,” Audria repeated with a slight dip of her head.

“Welcome.” White teeth contrasted against swarthy skin as the man gifted them with a wide grin. “I am Yogi Vishnu.”

“I’m Ross Green, and this is my wife, Amy.”

“This is your first time here.”

“It is.”

“You are very fit.”

Reese was prepared to agree with him until he realized the man was checking outhisbody, not Audria’s. He wasn’t wearing anything too revealing, a black muscle T-shirt and mesh shorts, yet he felt stripped naked.

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