Bending Over Backwards by Samantha Hunter Read Free Book Online Page A

control of her desire and her emotions, but Leo had made her want him in a way that blew her caution and limits to smithereens. She’d given more to him in one hour than she’d given to many of her other lovers over longer time periods, and that made her wary.
    She shouldn’t give in, she knew that. She’d been down this road before. Not with the amnesia, granted, but that was all distraction. Leo was who he was—at heart, he was a player. A power broker. That didn’t change. Sooner or later, it would bear out.
    “Listen, I can give you some basic yoga instruction—at the studio—to teach you what you need to know so that you can join any class and not hurt yourself. But that’s all, Leo. That has to be it,” she said firmly, feeling sure it was the right thing to do.
    His brown eyes turned a little darker. Disappointed.
    “Okay. I guess you have your reasons.” He expelled a breath, clearly hoping she would share them.
    She wasn’t about to do that. To let him know that his old life, his shark-in-surfer’s-clothing reality, was her nightmare? The life that she’d seen destroy her family? The one that she’d fought her way back from? No way.
    “Okay, good. Let’s set up some times, and then I have to get going,” she said in her most businesslike manner. She wanted to help Leo, and maybe they could even be friends, but what happened the other night couldn’t happen again.
    That made her sad inside, but it was how it had to be.
     
     
    Leo walked into the cottage-like studio in the heart of Harwichport around six for his appointment with Jasmine.
    The place was charming and homier than he’d expected, with gleaming wood floors and brick walls that toned down what might otherwise be a harsh glare. The front was all window space, but the light was softened with bamboo shading and plants that flourished all along the ledges of the windows.
    There was a sound system in the corner, but no music; all he heard was burbling water. Investigating, he found an indoor water feature around a corner of the studio. A separate room that was labeled Meditation Cove on a wall plaque.
    He had to admit, he was a little nervous when he’d come in, but the place did have a calming atmosphere. His nerves had nothing to do with yoga, though; it was sheer anticipation of seeing Jasmine. He’d agreed to yoga lessons only, but his hopes were still that she might change her mind about them having more than that.
    “Leo, there you are. Welcome.” Jasmine spoke from behind him, and he turned to find her smiling and looking composed.
    And she was completely hot in some kind of peach-colored, gauzy bodysuit thing that destroyed his Zen in about two seconds flat.
    “Hey.” It was all he could manage in the way of a greeting while trying to not stare at how the material clung to her curves.
    The tables were clearly turned. The day before, on the beach, he’d had her flustered, blushing, and if he wasn’t mistaken, wanting.
    Now, she was on her own turf, cool and in charge.
    Both were sexy—Jasmine was sexy no matter what—though he didn’t care for his own uncertainty. He’d had too much of that in recent months. Looking around, suddenly he felt a little too out of his element.
    “Listen, you know, I think maybe you’re right,” he said. “Maybe this is a bad idea.”
    She frowned. “I see. Well, that’s your decision, of course.”
    She thought that he wasn’t interested in yoga, but only wanted to sleep with her. That this had been a ploy.
    She wasn’t entirely wrong. He did want to sleep with her—badly. But the yoga had helped, and he wanted to learn. He’d accepted her decision the day before and told himself that was that. No meant no. But his body wasn’t playing along.
    “Wait, I’m sorry. You’re right. Cold feet, I guess.”
    Her shoulders loosened, and she nodded. “Okay. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be offish, it’s just been a long day.” He noticed the traces of fatigue and the lingering