Page 38 of Sassy Love
Lamont shifts beside me with a sigh.
I guess sitting still isn’t her thing.
“What next?” she asks.
“Simply breathe,” Manuel says, “Feel every sensation you can. Listen to every single sound. Taste the air?—”
“How on earth am I supposed totastethe air?” she says, annoyance lacing her tone.
I open my eyes. She’s tense, rigid, and sitting upright. Her eyes are pressed shut, her face scrunched like she’s in pain. I guess it takes effort to stay that sassy every minute of the day.
“You can simply concentrate on other senses, if you wish,” Manuel offers.
“Fine.” She relaxes slightly, her hands coming to rest on her knees, still curled into fists.
I suppress the smile that wants out at seeing her like this.
“Close your eyes, Mr. Lawson,” Manuel says.
Lamont’s eyes fly open and her face sours. “You need a Polaroid? Close your fucking eyes.”
Now I can’t help the laughter that spills from my lips. My shoulders shake with the hearty chuckle that runs away with me. This woman is always on, even when she’s supposed to be powering down. It’s impressive.
It must be exhausting for her.
“Stop laughing. You’re supposed to be taking this seriously, remember?”
I let my laughter peter before choking out, “Sure, I remember.”
Her brows lower. “Your eyes are still open.”
I flatten the remnants of my smile and let my eyelids fall.
“Better,” she whispers.
Those two syllables send shivers over my skin like they caressed their way over my body.
I tilt my head, trying to analyze what the hell that’s about.
“Now settle your mind by counting backward from one hundred,” Manuel says softly.
Hauling in a lungful that stretches my chest, I start.One hundred, ninety-nine, ninety-eight, ninety-sev?—
“I’m sorry, how long will this take?” Lamont snaps.
I open my eyes to find her glaring at Manuel, who now grips the clipboard like a shield to his body.
Smart man.
“This session runs for an hour, Miss Carlie.”
I school back the wince that automatically twists my face as he calls her by her first name.
And . . . he just got stupid.
But her face relaxes slightly. “Thank you, Manuel.”
Well, fuck.
