Page 79 of After You

“You found out all about my dating history and God knows what else without even asking. Do you really think that I haven’t heard about the acupuncture and massage and stretching you’ve been doing at the diner and bakery and the Come Again and down at thepark?”

Hannah swallowed. She’d really been trying not to step on his toes. But dammit, people were coming to her with questions, and she was not only qualified to answer them, but she was passionate about what she did. “I haven’t done any acupuncture in any public places,” she said. Sticking a needle in Kade’s arm at the bar the other night didn’t count. She might have done one—or four—treatments in people’s homes, but that’s not what they were talking about. And he probably knew about it anyway.

“But you’ve done some massage,” Kyle said. “And given lots of advice.”

She shrugged. “Completely conservative suggestions. And I always encourage them to talk about it with their physician.”

“That’s strange that it seems whenever I walk up on a conversation in a public place in the last several days, all talking stops,” Kyle said dryly.

Hope laughed. “Well, everyone is taking your kissing as a recommendation, Dr. Ames.”

“Our kissing?” Hannah asked.

“I heard you were heating up the kitchen at the Come Again,” Hope confirmed.

Well, so much for sliding around the corner. Hannah felt her cheeks heat and decided to just not think about who had seen what in that kitchen. Other than Kyle of course. And thinking about what he had seen—and touched—her cheeks got even hotter.

“I already owe you thanks,” Hope went on. “And now I’m going to hound you until you can work on me,” Hope said. “Please look around and let me give you some things as a thank-you.” Hope waved toward her shelves and the little round tables she had set up throughout the shop that held various displays.

“Oh, that’s not—” Hannah started.

“I insist,” Hope interrupted. “Really.”

“Well…” Hannah looked at Kyle. “I was thinking about some lavender, chamomile, orange and ylang-ylang.”

“Someone needs to relax a little?” Hope asked, moving toward her shelves.

“He does,” Hannah confirmed.

“Who?” Kyle asked, frowning slightly. “Kade?”

“You. I was going to sneak into your room at Ty’s and spray it on your sheets and pillows,” Hannah toldhim.

He grabbed her wrist as she started to follow Hope. “If you’re sneaking into my room and doing anything to my sheets and pillows, you better be naked and planning to stay for a while.”

The tingly yes please feeling tickled through her and she gave him a smile. “I don’t know if I’ll sneak in naked, but I can get that way quickly once I’m through thedoor.”

His eyes darkened and he said, “Or you can just start the night in there with me and there will be no need for sneaking.”

“Even better. I—”

“I think these would combine nicely with this oil,” Hope said from across the shop, clearly not realizing she was interrupting.

Hannah gave Kyle a wink and joined the other woman near the chamomileoil.

They talked shop for a few minutes until Kyle came up next to her again and asked, “Would this be good for yourneck?”

She looked at the little bottle he held, then up at him. “Yes. How did you knowthat?”

“She has little cards all over that talk about the benefits of each oil and stuff,” he said, glancing around the room. “It’s amazing that all of these things can do all ofthat.”

Hannah grinned and shared a look with Hope. It was always fun to bring in someone new to the world of essential oils and aromatherapy and the other natural, healing things she’d spent the last three years on. She’d just learned that Hope had pretty much grown up around all of this, and that her shop reminded her a lot of one her mother had owned in Sedona.

“That would be great for her neck,” Hope confirmed. “But it’s best if it’s mixed in an oil and applied by someoneelse.”

Hannah caught the twinkle in Hope’s eye. “Oh, yes, that’s true. No problem. Kade’s done this a lot of times.”

“Yeah, well, too bad Kade’s not going to be seeing you for a while,” Kyle said. He handed the bottle of oil to Hope. “We’ll take it. Mix it up however it needs to be to help Hannah.”

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