Page 17 of Phoenix Rising

“Are you familiar with the practice of yoga?”

“My wife is, but I’m not,” Reese answered, tossing his arm over Audria’s shoulders and drawing her close. Yogi Vishnu, however, didn’t take his eyes off Reese. He was beginning to feel uncomfortable with the intense scrutiny.

“Well, it won’t be too hard. This is an introductory course, so I will provide guidance.”

“You don’t do that anyway?” What was the purpose of paying an instructor when he didn’t instruct?

“No. In my advanced Bikram classes, the students know the moves.”

“Ah.” Whatever. Reese didn’t plan on doing it long enough to know the difference between downward dog and tree pose. Yeah, he’d researched some of the terms so he wouldn’t look like a complete loser in front of Audria.

“Come. I have a place for you in the front. It will be easier to watch the movements since you are a novice.”

“Oh, no, we’re good back here. Someone with more skill can claim those spots.”

“Nonsense.”

Reese tossed Audria a look, clearly requesting help. He didn’t know what he was doing and wanted to stay in the back where he’d be relatively unseen. Instead of coming to his rescue, she smiled and followed Yogi Vishnu, forcing him to do so as well since he was still holding on to her. They navigated around mats already placed in neat rows. The man pointed to two right in the front, one turquoise and the other a deep green. Reese stepped on the emerald one, dropped his gym bag on the floor, and plotted revenge on Audria for refusing to bail him out.

He suddenly realized the entire front wall was covered in mirrors. Great. He’d have a front-row seat as he made a whopping fool of himself.

Reese hoped the class was small, but to his chagrin, the room filled until each mat was occupied. Yogi Vishnu welcomed everyone and gave a brief rundown of what would happen. He talked about the power and strength of the human form and the importance of centering, balance, and harmony in body and mind. He demonstrated a few moves before instructing everyone to breathe from the diaphragm. Yogi Vishnu pushed a button on a remote, switching the music to an up-tempo beat, and started the session.

For the first couple of poses, Reese kept up. He might not have flowed from one to another like Yogi Vishnu or Audria, but he managed okay. It was hard to focus on himself when his gaze kept straying to Audria. She was a natural, and watching her contort her body was a serious turn-on. He’d never understood the phrase “poetry in motion” before. He did now.

Reese had already soaked his T-shirt, and they’d just started. The moves got trickier, the music louder, and the sweat more profuse. He was not enjoying this at all. He’d rather play a game of pickup basketball or flag football. Anything would be preferable to trying these moves he couldn’t grasp.

“Here, move your hips this way.”

Reese was glad to have Audria’s help until he looked over and realized she hadn’t moved. Those hands on his body belonged to Yogi Vishnu.

He jumped and fell out of the position he’d been trying to hold, landing on his back like an upended turtle. He tried to right himself without more humiliation. “Got it. Thanks.”

Reese knew without looking that Audria was laughing. A peek confirmed it. He plotted more revenge against her, like kissing that smirk off her face. No, that wasn’t good. He was hot enough as it was without adding raging lust into the mix.

After fourteen hours of torture—or that’s how long it seemed to Reese—Yogi Vishnu began the cool-down portion. Reese hoped to hell that meant they’d crank the air conditioning because he couldn’t breathe.

Finally,finally, the agony was over. Everyone clapped for the intense workout, but Reese was too busy chugging from a water bottle. He had to admit, he might’ve enjoyed it a little without the crazy heat. Then again, probably not. Give him a set of weights and a bench any day.

He’d just recapped his bottle when Yogi Vishnu approached. His long hair was slicked back from sweat, and his tunic was drenched, rendering it practically transparent, yet his smile was wide. “You did well, Ross.” He slapped Reese on the back. “I can tell you will learn the moves in no time. I do hope you’ll be back for more classes.”

Reese tossed an arm over Audria’s shoulder and drew her close again. She was his shield. “We have several activities planned for our vacation, but we’ll try to fit more in.”

“That would be lovely. I look forward to seeing you again. Nice to meet you. Namaste.”

“Namaste,” he repeated dutifully.

Reese tossed his towel in a bin and followed Audria out the door. It was almost a shock to the system when cold air washed over them. They detoured into separate locker rooms, and he took a quick shower to wash off the sweat before dressing. While he waited for Audria, he wandered around, looking for anything that might have piqued Paige’s interest. He glanced into a room and stopped abruptly. Yogi Vishnu was talking with another man, who looked out of place in a fitness studio. He wore saggy jeans with frayed hems dragging the floor, a gray hoodie, and a backward baseball cap. A sweatshirt in this heat?

On a hunch, Reese took out his phone, slumped against the wall, and started to record. Yogi Vishnu handed something to the man, who, in turn, passed something back. They were too stealthy for Reese to see what exchanged hands, but he had a pretty good idea.

As if feeling eyes on him, Yogi Vishnu suddenly spun around. Reese pretended to be talking on speakerphone and averted his gaze. A peek told him the yogi’s attention was back on his friend.

The out-of-place man hitched up his pants and turned to leave. Reese needed to follow him and willed Audria to appear from the locker room. By some divine intervention, she’d heard him because there she was.

“What’s up?”

The man strutted past them and pushed out the door.

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