Page 75 of Friends With Benefits

Sela smiled. “I’m sorry again. Please, think about it. I don’t want you to go.”

The kids were running around the studio, balls of energy bouncing off the walls, rolling around on the floor mats and giggling and yelling. Kerri grinned, couldn’t help but feel energized by their joyful exuberance.

Kerri focused herself and soon the kids sat quietly, practicing their “balloon breath”. She took them through the fun poses, the class louder and more active than her adult classes. They did the cobra snake, hissing enthusiastically, the elephant, making nasal roaring noises, and the fish, popping their lips in exaggerated fish kisses. Kerri laughed and made the noises along with them.

She was opening and closing her mouth in huge fishy kisses when she happened to look up to see Mitch standing at the door, watching through the window. He was leaning against the door frame, arms crossed across his broad chest, smiling faintly, and her heart gave a little bump at the sight of him. She closed her mouth abruptly, mildly embarrassed, then refocused herself on the class.

The children lay down for the shavasana, arms at their sides, eyes closed, and Kerri laid there quietly herself, keeping an eye out for anyone who might not be so relaxed. That would be her, actually. Knowing Mitch was watching her was testing her ability to focus inward and harmonize mind, body and spirit. Okay, it shot that ability all to hell.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Mitch grinned as he watched Kerri’s lush little mouth popping like a fish. The kids were all doing it too, and it was hilarious. Kerri rose to correct one little girl’s posture with a gentle hand on her back, then surveyed everyone else to ensure they were doing the pose correctly. She smiled at the kids with genuine affection, and something grabbed at his gut.

She would be a great mother. You could just tell she really loved kids and was so comfortable with them, down on the floor with them, joining them in their goofy antics and laughing.

When they were finished, he watched with charmed amusement as many of the kids ran up to Kerri for a hug before they left. Mitch became aware of all the mothers in the hall around him, waiting for their children to come bursting out.

“Isn’t it amazing how the yoga calms them down?” one mother said to another.

“Oh, yeah.” She nodded vigorously. “There is such a difference in Rachel’s ability to focus lately. Kerri’s so good with them.”

He glanced at them, then back at Kerri with a warm feeling of pride. When the room emptied, he stepped in and closed the door behind him. Kerri was picking up mats and cushions.

“Hi,” he said.

She looked up at him solemnly. “Hi. What are you doing here?”

He didn’t answer right away but started helping her put things away. “Can we talk?” he asked.

“About what?”

“About us.”

“I don’t know.” She pushed her hair off her face. She looked tired and a bit drawn, but still stunningly beautiful. “I’m a bit overloaded at the moment.”

“How come?”

She looked back at him, her gaze steady but wary. “Stuff.”

He rolled his lips in. “Please. I need to talk to you. You won’t take my calls, and you’ve been avoiding me. We have to talk.”

She gave a tiny nod and led the way through the side door of the studio into her office. She took the seat on the other side of the desk, out of touching range, damn it. His hands ached to feel her, his body needed her.

He sat down, feeling stiff as a plank compared to her easy grace.

“So talk,” she invited in a cool and uninviting tone.

Now he was there and actually had her attention, the words evaporated. He swallowed. “Kerri, I was wrong…” he began.

“Holy shit!” she exclaimed, startling him. He lifted his gaze to her. She had a look of exaggerated astonishment on her face. “Are you okay? I don’t think I’ve ever heard those words come out of your mouth before.”

He scowled. “You’re not making this any easier.”

“Why should I?” she muttered.

He dragged in a deep breath. “I love you, Kerri. I want to be with you, and most of all, I don’t want anyone else to be with you. You think you need a husband? Fine, then—it’s going to be me.”

She stared at him, her mouth gaping open. She snapped it shut.

---