Daddy's Watching, page 3
The elevator doors opened, and Fane gestured for her to precede him. The main floor buzzed with people milling around at the end of the day. Happy laughter and a hum of conversation rang out between the employees as they made plans for the evening. Several people called their wishes for Elaine and Fane to have a good evening and she raised her hand carrying the clothing-stuffed gift bag to acknowledge their words.
Fane addressed virtually everyone by name and returned the wish for a pleasant night as they crossed the tiled floor. At the large glass doors, he stepped forward to open one. Stepping out of the building, Elaine took a deep breath of fresh air before turning toward her apartment.
When her assistant fell into step beside her, Elaine rushed to say, “You don’t have to walk with me.”
“It’s my pleasure. My destination is in the same building.”
“The yoga class?” she asked, glancing over at the handsome man. She tried not to notice the bluish highlights that appeared in his black hair under the overhead lights.
“Yes. You’ll have to go right by the gym on your way up to your apartment.”
“Oh! It’s in the gym. I’ve been in there a couple of times.” Elaine always tried to choose odd times to work out so she didn’t sweat in front of others.
“You know people won’t look at you any differently here if you take advantage of the amenities on the Edgewater campus,” Fane suggested.
“It’s different for a woman in my position,” she tried to explain.
“You worked in some crappy situations before, huh?”
Elaine stopped and turned to look at him. “That’s just how it is for a female in a supervisory position. It’s best to be distant. Otherwise, people try to take advantage of you.”
“I’m sorry. I think you’d find it’s different here. Easton Edgewater doesn’t allow those sorts of things to happen here. Perhaps you’ll decide to try interacting more personally with the staff. They’re a very supportive bunch,” Fane suggested as they approached the entrance of B tower.
“Hi, Knox!” he greeted the enormous security man with a raised hand. “You coming to yoga tonight?”
“If I can find someone to cover the desk, I’ll be there,” Knox answered with a rare smile. “Good evening, Elaine.”
“Evening, Knox. You do yoga?” The question burst from her lips before she could stop it.
Knox laughed. “Best thing I ever started. I’m not very flexible, but it helps keep me more balanced—inside my mind and out,” he confessed.
Fane paused at the desk to talk, and Elaine eased away. She’d leave the obvious friends to chat. Pressing her hand against the elevator’s electronic panel, she stared at the metal doors as an errant wish popped into her mind. It must be nice to be able to relax with everyone. As the doors opened, Elaine stepped inside, eager to escape.
Fane called, “Hold the elevator for me,” and dashed across the lobby to dart between the closing doors she hadn’t attempted to stop.
“Whoa! Just made it.” He pressed his palm against the interior panel for clearance before selecting a floor above the one that Elaine had already activated.
The two rode silently together until the doors opened for her floor. Shifting away from the wall, Elaine stopped when Fane hooked a finger in the strap of her purse. She looked up at him in surprise.
“It’s not too late. Come with me. I haven’t steered you wrong yet,” he reminded her with a devastatingly attractive smile. He didn’t seem to be aware of the power he wielded.
“I’d have to change.”
“There are locker rooms.”
“And what if these don’t fit?”
“They will. Four sisters and a mom,” he reminded her.
“I’ll fall over.”
“The teacher is excellent. He’ll never let that happen.”
“Don’t I need a mat or something?”
“Got extras in the yoga studio.”
Elaine stared at him, speechless. She searched for another reason to skip the class and could come up with nothing. Being alone in her apartment suddenly sounded so… lonely.
“I guess I could try it,” she relented.
“Good. Come on.” He pushed the close doors button and leaned back with a smile.
“I’m not always going to do what you suggest,” Elaine warned him.
“I have no doubt,” he agreed with her as the door opened on the next floor. Fane said nothing else but simply pressed his free hand on the small of her back to guide her from the elevator into the large gym.
A few people worked out on various pieces of equipment. They all called their hellos before turning back to their exercise of choice. Fane led her to the door leading into the women’s locker room.
“Go in and change. There are probably some people in there already. They’ll reassure you that your clothes are perfectly appropriate. Class is in the studio, through that door. I’ll have a mat set out for you near me.”
“In the back of the class, please,” she quickly stated. Elaine didn’t want to be on display.
“Trust me.”
She looked into his deep brown eyes and hesitated. He hadn’t been wrong yet. “I’m not very good at doing that. You know, trusting people,” she whispered softly.
“I know. That’s changing.” His hand rubbed softly on her back before lifting away. “I’ll meet you inside.”
Before she could change her mind, Elaine walked through the door into the luxurious changing room. Stacks of thick, absorbent towels filled the racks by the door, along with a wide variety of toiletries available for everyone’s use. Turning a corner, she discovered three women inside.
“Ms. Rivers! Are you coming to yoga tonight?”
Elaine recognized Belinda from the tech center. The woman had impressed her frequently with her computer skills and willingness to pitch in to help. “Call me Elaine, please.”
“I’d love to. Have you met Cynthia and Sarah? Cynthia works in the cafeteria and Sarah is Edgewater’s new nurse practitioner.”
“Nice to meet you,” Sarah greeted her warmly before pulling off her scrub shirt to fold it and place it in her locker.
“Hi!” Cynthia said with a wave as she toed out of her black athletic shoes.
“Hi, ladies. I’m glad to meet you,” Elaine said smoothly before looking down at the bag in her hand and taking a chance. “I’m trying on yoga clothes for the first time. Will you tell me the truth and keep me from making a fool of myself?”
“Of course!” Belinda assured her.
“You bet,” Cynthia chimed in with a smile.
“Only if you’ll return the favor. This is my first class here, too,” Sarah added, looking a bit nervous.
“Thanks.” Elaine relaxed a bit. Turning, she opened a locker and hung her purse from a hook. She pulled the clothes from the bag and set them on the bench that ran between the rows of storage cabinets.
“Ooo! Those are beautiful,” Cynthia exclaimed. “You’re going to look great in those.”
“We’ll see,” Elaine answered, still skeptical. To her astonishment, a few minutes later, she stood comfortably dressed in her new clothes.
“You couldn’t have chosen a better size,” Sarah assured her. “And that color is so flattering.”
“Now, if I don’t fall over.” Elaine seized on the next negative thought floating in her brain.
“That’s what we all hope to avoid,” Cynthia said fervently. “Two months with no incidents.”
“You’ve been doing yoga for two months?” Elaine asked.
“No, for a couple of years. I toppled over doing half moon last time the class was working on that pose,” Cynthia explained. “It’s not any biggie if you do wobble. Everyone is fighting for balance.”
Elaine nodded skeptically as the others picked up their mats. “I’ll follow you.”
“Really, you’re going to love this,” Belinda reassured her before leading the way out the door.
Self-conscious in the form-fitting clothing, Elaine mentally thanked Fane for choosing a top with a built-in bra. At least she felt fully covered and supported.
Inside the studio, the lighting was dim. Elaine relaxed a bit more away from the stark white lights of the gym area. She hesitated, looking around for Fane.
“Hey! It all fits!” his voice celebrated as he approached from the front of the room.
At the sight of him, Elaine tried to control her reaction and hoped with every fiber of her being that she was successful. Gone were the black-rimmed glasses, revealing his mesmerizing dark eyes completely. His chiseled face was even more handsomely attractive without the distraction of the heavy frames.
Fane was dressed in form-fitting yoga clothes as well. Unable to prevent herself from scanning his body as he approached, she devoured his powerful arms and chest. Those elaborate tattoos she’d dismissed as unprofessional became completely mesmerizing on his bare skin. Her gaze dropped lower as her body reacted instantly to his appeal.
The view kept getting better. Fane’s shorts clung to the defined muscles in his thighs. She tore her eyes away from the package between them to note that his ink continued down his legs as well. An irresistible desire to trace the patterns with her fingertip, or better, her tongue, came over her. She ripped her eyes from his powerful calves to look at him in disbelief. In his dress clothes, he was obviously in shape, but she’d never dreamed…
When he reached her side, Fane leaned in slightly to whisper, “Told you so!”
When she looked at him blankly, trying to pull her thoughts together to figure out what he meant, Fane added, “I told you everything would fit.”
“You did,” she admitted, grasping frantically at the control needed to have a normal conversation with Fane. Unable to avoid the corners of her mouth tilting up in amusement, she knew she was smiling as his teasing words registered in her mind to remind her this devastating hunk was her fun-loving administrative assistant.
“Come on. Your mat’s up here.” Fane took her hand to lead Elaine to the mat at the corner of the front row. Others had already settled into a spot or were rolling out their mats.
“Where is your mat?” she asked, looking for another empty mat.
“I’m up there.” Fane pointed to the mat that sat at the front of the room with a few items arranged in arms’ reach.
“You’re the teacher?” she squeaked.
“I promise not to make you fall over. Take a seat on your mat. We’ll get started soon.”
Fane ran a hand down her arm before he walked away to greet the others coming in. Elaine had to admit the picture he presented walking away was as arousing as the front view. Maybe.
Tearing her gaze from his toned butt, she looked around quickly before following the example of those around her and settling cross-legged on her mat. Elaine focused on her mat and tried to quiet her mind. This seemed like the place to do that.
“Hi, Ms. Rivers.” The woman on the next mat leaned over slightly to greet her.
“Hi. Tammy, isn’t it? You work in the pharmacy?”
“I do and you’re almost right. I’m Tess. My mom liked an old movie featuring a Contessa. She hates that I go by my nickname.”
Fane saved Elaine from having to apologize for bobbling her name by beginning the class. “All right, everyone. Settle in and begin to breathe. Close your eyes and allow all the worries of the day to disappear.”
His low, melodic voice compelled her to follow his directions. Squeezing her eyelids shut, Elaine tried to follow his directions. Deep inhale and exhale. Quiet filled the dimly lit space, except for the audible rasping breath of some around her. Permeating the room, Elaine’s flow of oxygen synced itself to the example surrounding her.
Sitting there quietly for a few moments, Elaine wondered how many people fell asleep just sitting there. A flurry of quiet movement made her open her eyes and look over her shoulder. Sharon knelt to unroll her mat next to Knox in the back row. She watched him discreetly help straighten Sharon’s mat before patting her knee when the CEO’s former executive assistant took a seat on the padding.
Fane moved to stand next to Elaine, drawing her attention, and she remembered she was supposed to have her eyes closed. Elaine slammed her eyelids shut again as she twisted back to face the front. She could feel the heat of his body radiating toward her. Inhaling, Elaine savored the scent that had surrounded Fane all day. Clean, masculine scent—no cologne or heavily perfumed body wash.
She shifted on her mat, feeling herself become wet. Elaine tried to force her mind to focus on something other than him.
“Let’s begin to move,” Fane instructed, moving away to stand on his mat. “Shift forward to tabletop.”
Dropping athletically to his hands and knees, Fane demonstrated the posture. He led the class through a series of movements limbering up their spines.
Surely I’m not wet enough that they can see, am I? Elaine peeked behind her to see if the person behind her was looking at her display. She turned back around and met Fane’s puzzled expression.
“Sorry!” she mouthed.
It’s dark. No one can tell.
His slow movements intensified. The class rose to their feet to follow Fane’s directions, flowing from one pose to another in a long, drawn-out procession. What seemed like very easy positions to hold caused sweat to bead on her brow as they held still for several minutes. Her muscles trembled under the effort and Elaine welcomed Fane’s touch that shifted her slightly into the correct alignment. His adjustments didn’t make anything easier, but they did feel better. Her snug clothing fit the practice perfectly. Even when in an upside-down vee called downward dog, her shirt remained in place and her pants didn’t sag.
“It’s time for our peak pose. We are going to begin working on Crow.”
Several groans echoed around her. Elaine looked around apprehensively. A whisper of a notification sounded from the back corner of the room. Someone’s phone had just buzzed. Her gaze fixed on Sharon as the former admin shifted off her mat.
Rolling it clumsily, Sharon looked up to call a soft, “Sorry!” to the class before flipping it over in a messy bundle and standing. Her hand closed on Knox’s shoulder briefly when he moved to rise as well. The large man nodded and stilled on his mat.
Fane spoke, drawing everyone’s attention back to the front of the room as he launched into an explanation of the pose, almost covering the soft closing sound of the door. Elaine focused on Fane’s words as he walked the class through the steps to achieve the arm balance.
As she watched, Fane moved from a squat with his hands braced on the floor to lifting his feet. His weight balanced on his widely spread fingers as his shins pressed into the backs of his arms. He hovered with his toes off the floor as he spoke of using one’s core to achieve the pose.
Elaine looked at him and nodded her acceptance of the challenge. She’d not reached her position in Edgewater Industries by taking the easy route. If he could do this, so could she.
Immediately, she threw her body into the position and fell forward, only catching herself at the last moment with a hasty preventative move of her hand before her face. What? He’d made it look so easy. She tried again, and this time caught herself on one forearm.
“Stop trying to force the pose, Elaine. This takes practice. Most students attempt Crow numerous times before their mind and body connect to make it possible,” Fane warned her in a soft, intimate tone.
“Let’s get the first step down.” He walked her through the beginning steps and left her to practice lifting her hips with her core muscles instead of trying to brute force balance herself with her arms.
Continuing to practice doggedly, Elaine was determined to master the position. She glanced around herself to assess everyone else’s progress. Sarah’s face was red and covered with sweat. As she watched, Elaine saw Sarah lift one foot from the floor before collapsing back down on the mat.
“I did it! I got one foot up!” she announced triumphantly.
Those around her paused in their attempts to celebrate with her. They encouraged her to try again. This time Fane stood behind her as she repeated the exciting success.
“That’s it! You’re getting it. Remember to squeeze your knees in tight to support you. That second foot will wave in the air soon,” he encouraged and laughed kindly as Sarah collapsed to the mat. “And breathe. You can’t stop breathing.”
“I’ll remember that someday,” Sarah gasped.
Elaine kept at it until Fane circled back around and smoothed a hand over her back. She looked up at him, frustrated. “I can’t get it.”
“You’re exhausted. Stop for now. Give yourself some time to learn more and it will be possible,” he counseled.
“I don’t give up,” she said, shaking her head.
“You’re not giving up. You’re waiting to practice another day.”
Looking around, she noticed many people sitting patiently on their mats while the last few participants tried Crow again. Elaine shifted to sit cross-legged. She watched Fane resume his spot on his mat.
He led them through the last stretches of class to corpse pose. As everyone relaxed on their mat, Elaine struggled to keep herself awake. A few random snores and snorts attested to others facing a similar challenge. Tilting her head up, she met Fane’s gaze as he sat monitoring the class. A warm feeling filled her abdomen—not arousal, but a sentiment of being cared for. Fane watched over her. She liked it a lot.
Chapter 5
The participants had rolled their mats up after class had ended, speaking softly to each other. While Fane was busy chatting with class members, she’d retrieved her business clothes from the locker. Not able to face changing out of the stretchy yoga gear for the tailored outfit, Elaine draped her office attire over her arm and emerged from the locker room.
Fane waited for her, lounging against the adjacent wall. The snug yoga clothes highlighted his athletic build even more in the brighter light. He pushed away and fell into step next to her.
They walked in silence to the elevator. As they waited for a car to arrive, she commented, “Class was interesting. I didn’t expect that you would be the teacher.”
