Page 23 of Unbound Boxset

CHAPTER NINE

There was going to be trouble.

Ariel watched the young Missy with her lover and took a deep breath.

Over the past week, she noticed Missy getting a little too attached to Grant, but Ariel decided to let him work it out and not interfere. She trusted him and knew his intentions were honorable. She also trusted his business instincts and knew he’d make the right decision.

Except tonight was Tombstone time. High Noon. Ariel was about to stake her turf and Grant was going to have to deal with it.

Things had changed between them. After their night together, a new connection between them had formed. Ariel was trying to sift through the realization she loved him, and the knowledge she’d be moving to Chicago. Their celebration dinner had been rescheduled due to a work emergency, so they were finally meeting tonight after class.

Tonight, she’d tell him everything.

But right now, Ariel had to deal with some peer jealousy. She’d just joined the intermediate students and was feeling her way through the group dynamics, going deeper into her practice. Missy was one of the students. She had been deliberately cold toward Ariel, her gaze continuously roving her body as if comparing and judging her inferior. Missy was an excellent student and far in her practices; her asanas were graceful to watch and she usually served as a model to the others.

Because of her status, Missy spent more time with Grant than the others. She spoke with him in low, intimate whispers and always placed a hand on his arm. Or grabbed his hand when she laughed as if she had no idea she was doing it. She watched Missy go in and out of his private office as if she had a personal key, and Ariel knew Grant allowed it because he was training her to serve as a mentor to the others.

She watched Missy from under heavily lidded eyes. The studio was cleaned up and the students had been counseled. There was no reason for her to remain, yet Missy hung around. Ariel wanted to urge the girl to leave, but kept silent.

She respected Grant’s decision to keep their relationship a secret, and she didn’t want Missy to discover the truth. Suspecting was a whole different ball game from confirming, and Grant didn’t need any conflict right now.

The willowy blonde plastered herself to Grant’s side as she listened to him speak. She wore a skimpy halter top that emphasized her heavy breasts, and her Lycra pants left nothing to the imagination. She had pulled the clip out of her hair, and Ariel spotted heavy makeup on her face, not appropriate for a workout.

Ariel shook her head. Grant was the only man to ever see her both vulnerable and unpolished. Stringy hair, wet from sweat. Makeup run off her face. Arms shaking with exertion and a trucker’s mouth when she couldn’t hold a pose. Sometimes tears when she held a posture long enough to break through some emotional barriers. Not to mention her trouble with keeping up her pedicures, which were always exposed with everyone’s feet bare in class. Yet, Missy seemed polished and manicured and perfumed and…ready for action.

Ariel smothered a laugh at the thought and decided to break up the party.

She reached the couple and enjoyed the spark of warmth that lit Grant’s eyes when he spotted her. “Are you almost ready to go?” she asked casually.

“Absolutely,” he said. “Missy, I would dedicate more time to your meditation. You seem like you’re ready for a breakthrough.”

“I am. I was hoping we could discuss a few things.” Missy raised an eyebrow in her direction. “Would you mind if I stole Grant for a bit longer?”

Grant opened his mouth but Ariel interrupted. “I’m sorry, Missy, we were going to catch a bite.” She smiled in apology. “I’m starving from that workout. Can you catch up with him later?”

Missy took a small side step until she was flush against Grant. “Oh, that’s so nice you’re getting something to eat. Can I join you? Would love to discuss the practices more, and maybe Ariel can learn a few more things. I know she’s new.”

Silence descended.

Ariel waited for Grant to make a decision. A standoff had officially been called. If Missy joined them, it would solidify their relationship as friends, and there would be no romantic dinner. But if he did say something, Missy would know the truth and expose their secret.

Missy looked up at Grant with expectation. Ariel waited patiently for her lover to choose.

Grant smiled warmly at Missy; a mentor, a teacher, a friend. “I’m sorry, Missy, I’m taking Ariel out to dinner to celebrate something very special. I made reservations so we won’t be able to have you join us tonight.” He squeezed her hand in reassurance. “But I’ll see you tomorrow during morning class and we’ll have plenty of time to discuss it.”

Without hesitation, Grant took Missy’s elbow and led her to the door. “Have a great night.”

The blonde literally gaped at the obvious dismissal, and Ariel spotted a disturbing mix of envy and resolve. She tossed her hair, said something else to Grant, and disappeared.

“Ready?” he asked. “Do you want to use the bathroom to change first or shall I?”

She stared at him and realized he had chosen her.

“You told her.”

He waved his hand in dismissal and raked his hair back from his forehead. “Yeah, I thought it was time. She suspected anyway.”

“What if she tells the other students?” Ariel pressed. “I don’t think she was too happy knowing you were dating me.”