Page 21 of Off Limits
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“Great class, Jane,”Zachary Norton said as he rolled up his black yoga mat.
Zach had been coming to the studio for a few weeks now. She made an effort to learn most of her clients’ names. He was a good-looking guy—chestnut hair cropped close to his head, not quite military short, but neat. Lean and toned like a runner with that easy charm some men carried without trying.
Sweat glistened on his forehead. He grabbed the hem of his damp shirt and wiped it across his face, unintentionally flashing a set of defined abs.
“Thanks, Zach. Glad you enjoyed it.” She left her mat and water bottle on the floor so she could focus on greeting her clients as they edged out of the studio.
“I used to think yoga wasn’t a workout.” He placed his rolled mat under his arm. “But you’ve proven otherwise.”
She laughed. “That’s an assumption of many. The temperature of the room helps but lengthening your body and holding that position for any length of time develops a different kind of strength.”
“So true. I’m sore in muscles I didn’t know existed.” He chuckled.
She laughed again. “I take muscle soreness as a compliment.” She winked.
Opening the studio door, she held it so that several of the clients could enter the lobby to grab their personal items. Zach waited with her.
As the last person exited, Zach turned to her. “Any chance you might be interested in grabbing a drink or a bite to eat one evening?” His cheeks flushed.
She could tell it took a lot for him to ask her out. She appreciated that. He didn’t come off like some arrogant guy who assumed every woman wanted him. He seemed genuine. Respectful. But she’d just slept with Brady last night. Her heart was still raw, the sting of disappointment too fresh. It was too fast. Too soon.
“I’m just getting out of a relationship.” Not the exact truth but also not quite a lie. “If you can give me some time, I think I’d like that in a few weeks.”
He smiled. “Take all the time you need. You say when.”
“Thank you, Zach.”
He strolled out of the studio and she let the door close for a minute so she could catch her breath. If Brady didn’t want her, at least someone did.
Chapter Eleven
Brady
Brady scrolled through the month’s report, but he could not focus at all. Despite having a meeting with investors in a couple hours, he’d read and re-read the distribution and profit numbers three times. Still nothing stuck.
