Page 18 of Beyond The Barre

“Come on, slow coach,” Hamish called from farther up the path and waved for him to catch up. Linc slid his phone in his back pocket, readjusted his grip on his golf bag, and followed his friend to find their balls. If he had ruined his chance with Scarlett, then maybe there was no changing her mind.

Then again, maybe there was something he could do to make up for it.

Scarlett dismissed her senior students and walked over to get her water bottle from the table. She took a deep drink before waking up her phone. There was a message from Linc—the first in two days.

She read his apology for the way he left things after their date. He wanted to make it up to her.

Scarlett had spent the last two days trying not to think about Linc, keeping busy with classes and exercising even more often. She had even gone to her first yoga class this morning and had found it surprisingly calming. Chloe, the teacher, had been lovely and welcoming. The beginners’ class had been a small group of mostly older women, but Chloe had talked them through each pose and shown them how to modify it for their ability. At the end, they had laid down on their mats in Savasana and relaxed to gentle meditation music. When Scarlett had come up from the position she had felt more energised and positive—ready to face the day.

Before leaving, she’d had a long talk to Chloe and booked in for regular sessions.

Scarlett rolled her head and shoulders as her next group of students skipped into the studio. She wasn’t quite ready to deal with Linc just yet.

Linc stared through the glass window pane at the frozen vegetables in the supermarket. The cool air blowing against him was refreshing after the humid warmth of the day outside. What was he looking for? He rubbed his palm over his face, his brain still clouded with thoughts of Scarlett and how, after almost a week and several texts, she still hadn’t responded to him. He would have to accept the fact that he was being ghosted—an experience that was entirely new to him. Instead of focusing on it, he had thrown himself into work. Since the opening, he had been kept busy with bookings, and everyone was raving about how great the place was. Write-ups in the local papers and on social media had all been positive, and people were even coming up the Sunshine Coast just to visit. He should be focusing on his success, but he really just wanted to share it with Scarlett. To see her lovely smile.

He grabbed a bag of frozen fries from the freezer and closed the door, watching as it instantly fogged over. Putting the bag in his trolly, he turned his gaze forward and started pushing. He wanted to be finished the shopping so he could finally go home, have a quick meal, and get some sleep.

He sensed her presence before he saw her.

With a shopping basket in one hand, she was dressed in three-quarter-length black leggings and a light blue T-shirt which was tied at the waist. The smallest glimmer of white skin showed which, of course, was the first thing he saw. His blood pulsed harder through his body as his hands ached to touch her. To see if her skin was as pale everywhere on her body as it was around her hips

She stopped walking as their eyes met across the aisle.

“Hi,” she finally said. “How are you?”

“Yeah, good. And you?” He hated how awkward he sounded.

“Busy.” She shrugged and took a tentative step, clearly eager to flee at the first opening.

“I, ah, wanted to say sorry for the other day.” He rushed his words, wanting to get them out before anyone overheard him and they became the number-one topic of community gossip. “I’m sorry I left so quickly. It was rude of me.”

Her eyes rounded. “It was rather abrupt. I thought I’d done something wrong.

He left his trolly and moved closer to her. He caught a whiff of her floral-scented body spray and almost lost control. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t want to rush things with you. I wanted to take it slow and didn’t trust myself to do that.”

“Really?” Her grey eyes looked deeply into his, and he felt like she could see right into his soul. Vulnerability was not one of his strong points, and he knew it would take some effort to break down those well-built walls.

“I’d really like to take you out again.” His voice was hoarse and quiet.

She took her time before answering with a nod. “Okay.”

His heart lifted in his chest. “Great. I’ll, um, text you and set something up.”

She smiled, presumably at his sudden awkwardness.

“I’ll look forward to it,” she replied before moving past him to continue down the aisle. He turned and watched her go. Her long legs and perfect bottom provided some very nice entertainment.

He would have to think of something really good for their next date

He didn’t want to screw this chance up again.

CHAPTER 8

It was a sticky, hot day when Linc picked Scarlett up and drove her the short distance to Gardners Falls. He parked as close to the falls as he could, although, judging from the cars, it would be a popular spot today. Apart from the school pool in town, this was the only spot to swim during the warm summer months.

Linc gathered the Esky and bag from the car and led Scarlett down to the waterhole.

“Oh, wow,” she exclaimed as the river came in to view. The current was gentle and the water almost perfectly clear as it weaved around rocks. Vegetation grew on the high cliffs beyond.

---