“Apologies,” I said, offering a quick smile. “Let’s start some cool-down exercises.”
I finished the session with a mixture of groans and claps, the guests filtering out with gratitude and goodbyes. I grabbed mywater bottle, gulping it down, but it did nothing to cool the heat still simmering beneath my skin.
As I turned to head back to my quarters, I nearly collided with Naima. She wore a loose soft pink linen dress, the fabric brushing her curves, and a thin gold chain holding a reddish purple almost fuscia crystal pendant hung from her delicate neck. Her thick hair was pulled up into a messy bun, a few frizzy curls escaping to frame her face.
“Hey,” she said, her voice soft but guarded.
“Hey.” I stepped back, giving her space, though every part of me wanted to close the distance.
“About last night?—”
“I don’t regret it.” The words came out quicker than I intended. “I mean... I don’t want you to think I did that lightly.”
Her lips parted, but before she could respond, my phone rang. I pulled it from my pocket, my father’s name flashing across the screen. Shit.
“I have to take this,” I said, hating the way her expression fell. “I’m sorry.”
She nodded before a tight smile that didn’t reach her eyes followed. “Of course. I’ll, uh, see you around.”
She slipped past me, her scent lingering—lavender and something sweeter, something purely her. I wanted to reach for her, pull her back, but the phone kept ringing, a sharp, relentless reminder of reality.
I swiped to answer. “Yeah?”
“Two weeks, Lennox.” My father’s voice was a low growl. “You should have a report by now.”
“I’m working on it.”
“Working on it? I sent you there to evaluate, not take a vacation.”
My jaw tightened. “The place needs work. The grounds are well-kept, but the equipment is outdated. They offer great experiences, but the financials might not add up.”
“Might not?” His sigh was a sharp exhale. “I need concrete answers. Are they a viable investment or not?”
I hesitated. The truth was, if my father saw the books, he’d shut this place down in a heartbeat. The Three Bears Retreat wasn’t a cash cow—it was a sanctuary. A place where people healed. Where I was healing, too.
“I need more time,” I said finally.
“Time isn’t something I give freely, son. I want answers. Soon.”
The line went dead, leaving a hollow echo in its wake but instead of worrying about my father, I knew I needed to find Naima. I needed to explain, to make her see that last night had meant something. And then I could begin to figure out what the hell I was going to do about this place.
Because the thought of watching my father tear it apart, of seeing that light dim in Naima’s eyes—it made me feel like the worst kind of asshole.
11
NAIMA
Islammed the shower handle to the left, the water scorching against my skin. I scrubbed harder than necessary, as if the loofah could scrape away the frustration simmering beneath my skin. How dare he? How dare Lennox brush me off so easily after what we shared?
I’d gone through the motions all day, guiding guests through yoga poses, and offering meditative breaths, but my own were shallow and uneven. Every inhale was filled with the scent of him. Every exhale carried a memory of his tongue against my skin, the way he’d devoured me in the kitchen.
"Damn it." I muttered, pressing my forehead against the cool tiles. My nipples, traitorous as ever, tightened painfully against the onslaught of hot water. They weren’t mad at him at all. No. They wanted more of him.
I shut off the water and stepped out, grabbing my towel and wrapping it tightly around my body. I slathered myself in shea butter, the rich, warm scent of vanilla and amber filling the small bathroom. It was my favorite blend—comforting and relaxing. But today, it did nothing to soothe me.
A hard knock at the door jolted me and I wondered who it could be. Dinner wasn’t for another hour. Tasha was probably in the kitchen, working her magic.
I opened the door and froze. Lennox stood there, broad and solid, looking every bit as delicious as he had earlier. His eyes searched mine— his looking tortured.
