Page 73 of Hello Tease

I tried not to be bothered by the reminder of all the experiences she got to have with another man. We’d create memories of our own. “Not Knox Madigan,” I countered.

“True,” she replied. She held up a thin black band. “You even got me a hair tie? Thanks, babe.” She lifted to her tiptoes to kiss my cheek.

And even though I loved the newness of everything happening between us, I had to admit I loved how easily she called me babe, how customary it seemed to have those lips on my cheek.

“Any time.” I settled my hand low on her waist, right above the swell of her delicious ass, and walked with her toward the outdoor area where they held the goat yoga within a fenced-in wooden area. There was a woman at a folding table near the entrance, checking in couples.

We fell into line, and I read off our names.

“Gotcha,” she said, marking us off the list with a flourish. “Bathrooms are in the shop. We’re starting in ten minutes.”

“Thanks,” Larkin said sweetly, and then we turned back toward the metal shop building, weaving past the wrought iron tables set up outside for the dinner we’d have after yoga. “Gosh, it is so pretty here. I never thought myself a country girl, but the longer I spend in Cottonwood Falls, the more I think how nice it would be to have my own little place in the country where I can watch the kids play barefoot outside, explore, really get their hands dirty. Somewhere I could see forever.”

I rubbed my hand over her back. “There has to be a front porch then, so you could sit and take in that view. And a porch swing.”

She looked up at me, her blue eyes full of admiration. “As long as there’s room enough on the porch swing for two.”

We reached the shop building, and she pushed through the door like she hadn’t just made me the happiest I’d ever been with just a few words. Once inside, we went into the bathroom, changing into our workout clothes. I wished I could have spent more time admiring her body without clothes on, but damn...

“Have I mentioned how I know there’s a God?” I asked her.

She gave me a curious look as she worked her hair into a ponytail. “I don’t think so?”

“It’s those pants,” I replied.

She huffed out a laugh, letting her hands and ponytail fall. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Do a spin,” I told her, guiding her shoulders so I could look at her juicy ass. “Should get on my knees and worship dat ass.”

“Oh my gosh!” She laughed and gave me a shove, but I reached for her hands, taking her with me. I backed up to the blank restroom wall, and she stood chest to chest with me, looking up at me.

“You are sexy as hell, Larkin,” I told her, not a hint of a joke in my voice. “I’m so lucky to be here with you.”

Her eyes searched mine, looking for the truth, and when she found it, she pressed a kiss to my lips. Before I could get carried away, she pulled back and said, “Now let’s go see those goats!”

41

LARKIN

We steppedinto the pen with about fifteen other people just in time for the class to start.

When I was with Seth, I would have been nervous to be around so many attractive women in fitted clothing. He had a wandering eye, and I just wrote it off as being a man thing. But Knox never let his eyes stray to another woman.

He held my hand, making me feel like the only girl in the world as we set out our mats and chatted while waiting for the event to begin.

A pretty lady wearing bright pink tights and a matching pink sports bra stepped to the front of the yoga pen and began speaking. “Welcome to goat yoga at Minnicks Ranch!”

Everyone there began clapping, especially me. This was so special and new, and I couldn’t wait to share it with Knox. Couldn’t wait to tell the kids about it!

“Don’t worry about taking pictures because my assistant will be walking around with her camera taking pictures of everyone. She’ll edit and send them out while you’re enjoying dinner.”

A younger girl, maybe still in high school, with a camera held around her neck with a pretty strap gave us a wave.

The instructor, who said her name was Penny, talked us through what to expect and what to do if a goat went rogue or did something we didn’t like. “Just start shaking, like this.” She shimmied her shoulders, making her full breasts wiggle.

I looked to Knox, fully expecting him to be gawking at her. Instead, he was grinning at me, shimmying his shoulders. “Come on, Larkin. Shimmy.”

I let out a relieved, happy laugh and shook my shoulders.

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