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

strain in her expression.
    “Listen, if you’re too tired, we can reschedule. I got a lot from the class yesterday, and—”
    She put her hand up. “No, this is fine. Most days are like this. I’m used to it. You’ll be doing most of the work, anyway.”
    He saw a flash of heat in her eyes before she looked away. So maybe her thoughts weren’t completely businesslike, but Leo was determined not to take advantage. That didn’t mean he’d given up, but he had another idea in mind. Jasmine thought she knew him. For some reason, she looked at him like there was a check in the column of All Figured Out .
    So he planned to surprise her. First, he had to spend a little time with her so that he could know how to do that, exactly.
    “Come over here. You can borrow a mat for now. I could sell you one to take home, though they’re cheaper at the local discount store.”
    Leo laughed. “Some businesswoman you are,” he teased. “That’s not a great way to make a profit.”
    “It’s not all about money. I sell high-end mats. For beginners who aren’t sure yet, it’s better to spend twenty bucks or less on something that’s not a huge investment when they might quit.”
    He nodded. Her advice made sense, and told him more about her than she knew. That she looked out for her students, that she was honest, and that on some level, she also expected people to quit. To bail.
    Not only in their choice of exercise, Leo surmised.
    “I’m going to guide you through a very easy session, something that will focus on opening up your shoulders and chest, but will still give you an overall effect for your entire body.”
    He took his running shoes off and stood on the mat as she instructed, admiring her expertise. She was clearly tired, and yet she paid close, detailed attention to every move he made, correcting him without making him feel foolish.
    Leo found his focus was directed by hers—he really did want to learn this—and soon he was totally caught up in mastering the moves. Timing them with his breathing was difficult, especially when Jasmine touched him. That set his blood and pulse racing.
    “Do that sequence for a week, no more than once a day, and see how you feel,” she instructed, glancing at the clock. “Then we can move on to the next set of poses.”
    Leo frowned. “That’s all, for a week?”
    She nodded. “You don’t want to take it too fast. You’re in pretty good shape, your injury aside, but you can hurt yourself if you push too hard.” She walked away from him to turn the sign on the front door to Closed .
    She stood there, her hand on the door as if waiting for him to leave so that she could lock up. Then, out of nowhere she sagged, her knees giving slightly, her body going slack for a second before she caught herself. Leo crossed the room as if to catch her, but by the time he reached her, she seemed okay.
    Though she was very pale. The shadows under her eyes had deepened and her irises seemed bleary.
    “Have you eaten?”
    She glanced at the clock again. It was about quarter to eight. She’d spent more time with Leo than she’d intended. People still walked past on the sidewalks outside, getting ice cream and enjoying the evening in the waning sunlight.
    “Not since breakfast. I had a protein bar at lunch, but I guess my blood sugar is low.”
    He knew that breakfast for her was well over twelve hours before, considering how early she started her day.
    “Close up and let’s get you some food.”
    Her head snapped up, and she stepped away. “I’m fine, Leo. Just hungry. I need to get home and I can eat then.”
    “You can’t drive—what if you passed out again?”
    “I didn’t pass out,” she said irritably, glowering at his Oh, really? look.
    “Let’s go find something to eat. I’m hungry too. My treat—you let me stay in class this morning for free. And you made me cookies.”
    She looked like she would like to argue, but then the energy for it visibly abandoned her.
    “Okay,