by Ashlee Price
I give her a puzzled look.
“You know, those tiny holes. If you press the green button beside them, you can talk and he can hear you.”
I shake my head slowly. “I didn’t know that.”
I don’t even remember seeing the button.
“You have to go back and try it,” Melanie says. “You have to apologize.”
“And if he doesn’t hear me?”
“He’ll hear you,” she assures me.
“And if he doesn’t say anything?”
She shrugs. “Maybe he won’t, but I’m pretty sure he’ll let you teach him. He needs yoga. It helps him concentrate on his work and fight depression.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “He has depression?”
“He used to. Anyway, I’m sure he’ll forgive you,” Melanie says. “He’s a nice guy, Dani. Maybe too nice.”
I don’t know what that means but I don’t ask.
“Just try,” she urges.
“Okay,” I give in. “I’ll drop by his house after lunch and apologize on the machine.”
I have to admit I do want to see all those amazing items at his house again and maybe even ask him about them.
Melanie smiles. “Good.”
She gobbles up the rest of her sandwich and I take a few more sips of my coffee.
“So, all we have left to talk about is Reilly.”
“Reilly?” I feel confused.
Who’s Reilly?
“You know, that sweet guy with that big dog,” she explains.
I put my cup down. “Oh, you mean Reed.”
“Reed?” Now she looks confused.
“Yes. The guy who lives with his mother.”
“His awful mother,” Melanie remarks.
“And Vinny.”
“Who’s Vinny?”
“The dog. Great Dane, to be specific.”
“Yeah, the guy who lives with his mother and the dog and has a red yoga mat. Reilly Evans.”
I’m still confused.
“Wait. I think Reed was his screen name,” Melanie adds.
“Screen name?”
“He’s an actor. Didn’t you know? True, he’s not that famous yet like, let’s say, Kaleb Wilson, but he’s getting there. He did a few plays on Broadway and the critics loved him.”
“He’s an actor?”
Melanie’s eyes narrow. “You didn’t know?”
I shake my head.
“He didn’t tell you?”
Nope. He seems to have neglected to tell me that teensy-weensy detail.
Just then, Scott returns to our table and hands me a pair of sunglasses.
“Here. You can borrow mine.”
I look at them. “Sorry?”
He shows me his phone, which has a picture of me and Reed or Reilly or whatever his name is from the park yesterday. Below the picture, there’s a caption that says “Reilly Evans’ Girlfriend Saves His Life”.
Alright, so he is Reilly Evans.
Wait. Is that…?
I grab Scott’s phone. “Shit.”
“It’s you, isn’t it?” Scott asks.
I don’t have to answer. My name might not have been mentioned, but the picture is clear.
“What’s her?” Melanie asks curiously as she grabs the phone.
I stare at the table with eyes wide. Unbelievable.
“It is you,” Melanie says. “And that’s… You saved his life?”
“I didn’t mean to.”
“And you’re his girlfriend now?”
“No,” I answer quickly.
Am I?
Scott pushes the glasses towards me. “Like I said, you can borrow these. You need them more than I do.”
“Thanks.” I pick them up and put them on.
“Explain,” Melanie demands as she hands Scott back his phone.
I stand up. “Don’t worry. I will.”
But first, someone else has to.
~
“Is Ree… Reilly Evans home?” I ask the butler as soon as he opens the door to the house where I gave Reed—no, Reilly—his yoga lessons just the day before.
When he doesn’t answer, I push the sunglasses I’ve just remembered I’m wearing up to the top of my head.
“Ms. Hoffman?” The butler’s eyes grow wide. “I wasn’t aware you had a class with Mr. Evans today.”
“I don’t,” I admit. “I just want to talk to him.”
“Who’s that, Stuart?” I hear a woman’s voice.
As Stuart steps aside, I see a woman close to six feet tall with her dark brown hair swept back and up into an elegant bun and diamond earrings dangling from her ears. Even though she’s probably in her fifties, I can tell she used to be a beauty. No, she still is. Her cheekbones are high and her blue eyes shaped like almonds, peeking out under long lashes.
Those blue eyes go over me from head to toe, scrutinizing. I draw a deep breath and square my shoulders.
“I’m Dani Hoffman,” I introduce myself. “I’m the yoga instructor.”
“Oh?” Her eyes narrow. “I thought your class was yesterday.”
“Yes, but…”
She touches her chin. “Wait a second. You’re the woman in that picture, aren’t you?”
Shit.
“Yes,” I answer. “But it’s not what you think it is. I’m not his girlfriend.”
“No?” She steps forward, towering over me. “You look like you’ve got circles under your eyes. Didn’t get a lot of sleep last night, did you?”
A lump forms in my throat.
“Strange. It seems neither did my son,” she says.
Son?
“You wouldn’t happen to know where he disappeared to, do you?”
I swallow. “I don’t…”
“Dani?”
I turn my head at the sound of Reed’s—Reilly’s—voice and let out a sigh of relief.
“Hello.” I wave at him as I give him a weak smile.
“What are you doing here?” he asks me.
“My question exactly,” the woman says.
“Dani, this is my mother, Jacqueline Evans.”
I bow my head slightly. “Pleasure to meet you.”
I turn to Reilly. “Can we talk?”
He hesitates for a second but nods. “Come with me.”
I follow him to the yoga room and he closes the door as soon as we’re both inside.
“Is this about the pictures?” he asks.
Before I can answer, he turns his back to me and slaps his forehead.
“I should have known someone was watching. Someone’s always watching.”
“Well, that’s because you’re famous, isn’t it?” I tell him. “Though I suppose I’m the only one who didn’t know about it.”
He turns to face me. “I’m sorry, Dani. I should have told you.”
“Yes, you should have,” I tell him.
“It just felt so nice being with someone who treated me like I was any other human being,” Reilly says. “I was afraid that if you knew, you’d…”
“Ask for your autograph?” I finish his sentence. “Worship you like a god?”
He shrugs. “Something along those lines.”
I fold my arms over my chest. “Or maybe you thought I wouldn’t have sex with you if you told me.”
“Of course not.” He places his hands on my arms. “I never even planned on having sex with you.”
I lift my eyebrows.
“Don’t get me wrong. I find you attractive. Very attractive. And very flexible.”
I roll my eyes.
“And a very good dancer, which is probably why I couldn’t hold back. You just… swept me away.”
I point a finger at my chest. “I swept you away?”
Reilly steps back. “Anyway, I’m sorry about last night.”
“You’re sorry?”
“Like I said, it shouldn’t have happened. I should have controlled myself.”
I raise my hands. “Back up for a second. You’re regretting having sex w
ith me? Is that why you haven’t called?”
“I’m at an important juncture in my career right now, Dani,” he explains. “I can’t be in a relationship. I mean, look at what those pictures are already doing to me, and they’re not even real.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Let me get this straight. You don’t want to be in a relationship but you had sex with me?”
Reilly shrugs.
“Unbelievable.” I lift my hands and let them fall to my sides.
And to think that for many moments last night, I thought we had something special. Am I so naive?
“I’m sorry, Dani,” Reilly says.
“Sorry? Reed, I mean Reilly, I trusted you. I genuinely liked you and I trusted you. Heck, I gave up my virginity for you.”
His bluish-green eyes grow wide. “You what?”
“And I saved your life,” I remind him.
“I’m sorry, Dani.” He reaches for my hand. “I really am.”
I pull it away.
“Listen, it’s not like I don’t care about you. I do. It’s just that I really can’t have a relationship right now.”
I let out a deep breath as I look up to the ceiling.
“But we can still be friends,” Reilly says. “And we can still be dance.”
I look at him. “Dance?”
“Have sex,” he explains. “If you want. After all, after how amazing last night was, it would be a shame not to.”
I put my hands on my hips. “So you want me to be your sex friend?”
“I’m saying we can be friends… with benefits.”
Really? That’s all we can be?
I lost my virginity to someone who only wants to use me for sex?
Sure, the sex was great, but I want something more, and I honestly thought we could have more. That’s why I agreed to it.
I slap my forehead. I am such a fool.
I turn on my heel and head towards the door.
“Dani?”
I open the door and walk out.
“Dani!”
I pass Stuart on my way to the front door, and he races ahead to open it for me. I leave without a backward glance, fuming.
How could someone who seemed so sweet turn out to be such a jerk?
When I get to my car, I hit my hands on the steering wheel and then let my head fall on it.
Stupid. How could I have been so stupid?
I should have known who he was. And I shouldn’t have trusted him.
I grit my teeth. Grrr.
It’s too late now, though. What’s done is done. I’ll just have to live with it somehow.
My phone beeps and I pick it up.
The message is from Melanie.
Did you talk to Reilly? What did he say? Keep me in the loop, okay?
I frown. I don’t really feel like talking to anyone about it right now.
A few seconds later, my phone beeps again and a new message appears from Melanie.
Don’t forget to apologize to Nate.
I put my phone down and let out a deep breath.
Right. I still have to pass by Nate’s house.
I don’t really feel like doing that, either, but I have to, and I might as well get it over with so I can go home and sulk with a pint of Chunky Monkey.
I start the engine of my car.
Let’s do this.
~
How am I supposed to do this again? I wonder as I stare at the machine beside Noah’s gate.
Right. Press the green button—I do that—and talk.
Now, if only I knew what to say.
I did have an apology ready yesterday, but that seems to have expired already.
“Um… hello?”
No answer.
I press the button again and speak louder.
“Hi there, Noah. It is Noah, right?”
Still no answer.
“This is Danielle Hoffman. Dani. I was here yesterday. I’m sure you remember, because I was very rude and unprofessional. I promise it won’t happen again, and I was wondering if you could give me another chance to be your yoga…”
I stop as the red light on the machine turns yellow. At the same time, the gate opens with a click.
Okay.
Taking a deep breath, I push the gate open and step inside.
I guess this means Noah wants to talk.
Chapter Ten
Noah
I guess this means she’s done running away, I think as I go down the stairs to meet Dani.
I would have chased after her yesterday, but I was caught unaware, too. Besides, I didn’t have any clothes on.
By the time I calmed down, Dani was long gone and I realized I didn’t know how to reach her. Even if I had, I don’t think I would have had the courage to call her, which is why I’m glad she decided to come back. In spite of everything, I still want to pursue yoga.
The front door opens and Dani steps in. I stop on the stairs, enthralled. Yesterday, I was barely able to take a look at her because I didn’t have my glasses on and because of everything that happened. Now I can see her clearly, as vividly as if she’s one of the characters I’ve brought to life myself.
Her hair, gold and red like the sun’s descent, draws my attention first. I could mix a dozen paints and still fail to get its exact shade, and what makes it even more interesting is how it glows. It’s like fire, flickering one moment and blazing brightly the next.
As she looks up, I stare into her eyes, which remind me of the lacquered walnut floor of my childhood home, dark brown and with a gleam of their own.
Her thin lips curve into a smile. “Hello.”
I push my glasses up the bridge of my nose and go down the remaining steps. “Hello.”
I pause at the last step, noting how she looks even more stunning up close.
There may be a few strands of her auburn hair out of place and a sheen of sweat on her forehead. She may just be in a loose gray shirt, black leggings and sneakers. She may not be wearing any makeup. But she’s a beauty, so much so it makes my heart ache.
After all, she’s the kind of woman I can never capture through mere words or strokes of a paintbrush.
She’s the kind of woman I can never have.
“Dani,” she introduces herself as she stretches out her hand.
“Noah,” I say my name and shake her hand.
“It’s good to see you clothed,” Dani says. “Not that you didn’t look good without clothes on.”
The heat inside my head surfaces on my cheeks.
“Scratch that. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry. That was clumsy and careless of me.”
My eyebrows crease slightly. Usually, I’m the one who’s clumsy and careless. I definitely didn’t take her for someone who would be.
She scratches the back of her neck. “Anyway, I’m sorry about yesterday. That was even more clumsy and careless of me. And stupid. And just rude.”
She looks away, a hue of pink on her cheeks. Is she blushing?
“It’s fine,” I tell her. “Let’s just forget it.”
“Yup. I was hoping you’d say that. Consider it wiped from my memory.” She brushes her fingers across her forehead. “There. It’s a clean slate. A blank canvas. We can make a fresh start.”
“Yeah,” I agree. “Though I don’t think we can have a class right now.” I rub the back of my neck. “I’m not feeling too well.”
I woke up with a headache this morning and it hasn’t quite left. My eyes feel tired as well.
“Oh.”
“But it’s nothing serious,” I assure her.
“Well, I actually wasn’t thinking of having a class right now…” She steps forward. “You do look a little red.”
To my surprise, she places her hand on my forehead.
“You’re a little warm. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I tell her. “I’m just tired.”
“Or maybe you spent too much time in the hot tub yesterday.”
I look at her.
&nb
sp; “Sorry.” She touches her forehead. “There. That’s out of the recycle bin.”
Just then, a wave of dizziness comes over me and I wobble.
“Whoa.” Dani supports me before I stumble. “Maybe you should go back to bed.”
“Yeah,” I agree.
I turn around and start walking upstairs, but I’m still lightheaded and so I end up crawling.
“On second thought, maybe I’ll help you,” Dani says.
She grabs my arm and places it around her neck while placing her arm around my waist.
“You don’t have to,” I tell her.
“I think I do.” She helps me up one step, then another. “When was the last time you ate a healthy meal?”
“Um…”
She stops. “You don’t remember?”
“Does pizza count?”
Dani sighs. “Come on. I’ll get you to bed and whip something up for you. You must have some ingredients lying around in the kitchen, right?”
~
“Correct that,” Dani says when she enters my bedroom half an hour later with a tray. “Your kitchen would make any cook weep.”
I sit up on the bed and reach for my glasses. “You really didn’t have to prepare anything.”
“Well, I can’t just let you die. Part of my duty as your yoga instructor is looking after your health.”
She shoves the pile of books off my bedside table and sets the tray down.
“Thankfully, I found a can of mushroom soup in your pantry and some frozen carrots that were still good in your chiller. And some cheese. It’s not a meal, but it’s better than those bags of chips, cookies and candy bars I found lying everywhere.”
She found them?
“And look what else I found?” She picks up a bottle cap with a pill on it. “Tylenol. It turns out you had a bottle in that drawer with the can opener.”
“Sorry,” I mumble as I try not to blush with embarrassment. “I’m not very good at organizing things.”
“I already figured that out, so I did a bit of the organizing myself.” She sits on the edge of the bed. “I hope you don’t mind.”
She did?
“Okay.”
“And I also washed the dishes in your sink. I couldn’t just leave them there.”
Now I’m really embarrassed. “You really shouldn’t have.”
She leans back on her arms. “Have you ever thought of getting a housekeeper?”
I shake my head. “I don’t really like the idea of having a stranger in my house.”