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It was during our talk of uilty for lying to Ryker I lied to him when I told him I was only interested in his abilities and what he could do for the Cold Fury because of my analysis of the numbers I boiled him down to numbers and lied because I didn’t want to ever admit to him I felt a bit of a kindred pull

I know exactly what it’s like to have sooalie and then lose it all I know this because the reason I have a silver old frohteen is because I le puck escaped my clutches, and the entire teaold, and we had to listen to the Canadian national antheled Banner"

It is because of that experience that I understand Ryker and his motivations this season better than any other person except perhaps Ryker hiuilt and o and pride were all validated by hia session today I hold this class--Flexibility with Yoga--twice a week in a rented studio I’ve been doing yoga since I was about fourteen and there hasn’t been any other exercise or workout plan that has oalie When you’re in the net, you depend first and foremost on your reflexes, but then your body had better be ready to bend and stretch to accooalie had better be prepared to go down into a full split if need be to catch a dribbling biscuit on the ice After I stopped playing hockey, I stuck with the regimen and even trained to be an instructor It’sme connected to the world outside a, he just looked at me with one eyebrow cocked skeptically For the first tis that Ryker felt shouldn’t be shared by both woht lose testosterone if he did yoga

I assured him that no one would question his uys in the class When he still looked doubtful, I realized just how e

"I get it," I said with a shrug of my shoulders as I stood up froh a full workout I’ll give you a pass"

Sparks sizzled in his eyes and I had to practically bite h when he stood up fro you throay, Big Bang I’ll be there"

And then he left

Just left, although he did say, "Catch you later" over his shoulder I didn’t knohether to be incensed by his lack of professionalism toward me as the GM or charmed by his co Bang?

"You’re wearing a groove in that sidewalk the way you’re pacing back and forth," I hear from my left and my head snaps that way "Tooslung over his shoulder He’s wearing a pair of red workout shorts and a dark gray sweatshirt, which is all that’s really needed because Decembers in the Carolinas are pretty hts actually dissipate as I take hiht flutter in my belly when I notice his eyes quickly rake overalwaysparticularly sexy with -sleeved fitted workout top, my hair pulled back into a very short ponytail essentially to keep it out of my eyes I don’t have an ounce of makeup on and for some weird reason, I’ ive hiht you were chickening out"

"Never," is all he says as he reaches for the glass door and holds it open for ine his eyes are pinned to ods for keeping it firm and nicely rounded

Once in the studio, I do a quick count and see we’re almost full at twelve students I put hts so I can focus on the funda over near the wall and grab a mat," I tell Ryker as I point him in the direction "Lose the shoes and socks"

I purposely givebut one large reet a few of the students as they unroll their mats and make small talk, and then sneak a quick peek in the reflection at Ryker He’s shown no hesitation in co to the front of the class, a testament to his confidence, and I see he removed not only his shoes and socks, but his sweatshirt too, leaving behind a s to every muscle in his chest and abdoht beside Melissa Graves, blond, big-chested recent divorcée who once confided inthis class to keep herself lie She gave e to ot it then, and as she introduces herself to Ryker, I get it now Her eyes are hungry as she eats hi a lock of hair And is that…did she?