Good Karma (22 page)

Five simple words, but the impact they had was
similar to receiving notice that she had just won the Publisher’s
Clearing House sweepstakes. Her heart rate ramped up, a tingle
zipped down her back, and an uncontrollable urge to send a fist
pump into the air splattered her self-control against the wall like
it had been shot with a bazooka. She barely contained the squeal
that rose from the pit of her stomach. Barely. Instead, she cleared
her throat and typed a reply.

I have yoga until 6:30 with Lisa, but will
be home after.

Yoga? At the gym we share?

After reading his text, her eyes narrowed.
Why did she get the feeling he had something up his sleeve? She
texted back.
You got a membership there?

Yes. So maybe I’ll bump into you
tonight.

She glanced into the conference room. Mark’s
face was buried in his tablet, his phone in his left hand, a grin
on his face. She typed out another text.
You’re going to the gym
tonight?

She looked up in time to see him lift his
phone as it vibrated. He read, and without acknowledging her, he
started typing.

I will now. Maybe I’ll even be in your yoga
class.

Goose bumps instantly sprang up all over her
body. How could she perform Downward-Facing Dog, Extended Puppy,
and Happy Baby Pose if he was watching her? Heaven forbid he would
set his mat behind hers.

I thought you only used the weights, she
sent back.

Afraid for me to see you in your yoga attire
performing a sun salutation that will make your perky breasts the
center of my attention?

She gasped, and when she looked up, he was
grinning wider than before, but he still wasn’t looking at her.
Were her breasts perky? She wasn’t entirely sure how to handle the
flattery.

I was more worried about my bare feet now that I
know of your foot fetish.
She fought back a giggle.

Ah, yes. There is that, isn’t there? I’m
definitely going to be in your yoga class now.

Well, if he wanted to play, she would play.
Fine. I hope you’re an advanced student, because I’m not
carrying you out when you pull a muscle.

He actually chuckled as he read her
message.

So little faith in me, but you’re right. I don’t do
yoga. You win. I’ll stay safe in the free weights.

Good idea.
She stole a glance at him
as he typed.

I think you just don’t want me staring at your
assets—and your bare feet—in class.

That stinker.
Damn right. I knew you had
ulterior motives.

Guilty. Did I mention that I’m a hot-blooded man? ;)
Now go home. It’s 5:00. I’ll see you and your assets around
6:30.

You’re bad. I’ll see you then.

She gathered her things, cast another glance
into the conference room at Mr. Sexy, then headed out.

As far as she was concerned, the day had just
started.

* * *

At six thirty, Karma rolled up her yoga mat,
put her gym shoes back on, said good night to a couple of her
classmates then headed into the bowels of the gym’s fitness area
with Lisa, Daniel, and Zach. Machines, treadmills, stair climbers,
and ellipticals crowded the floor, and the place was busy. Looked
like all of Clover had decided to get in a workout before their
Friday night dates. All the equipment and people made it hard to
find Mark.

“Do you see him?” she said to Lisa while she
stretched. As if she hadn’t already done enough stretching in yoga
class.

“No, but I’m not surprised. God, what
happened? Was there a weight lifting convention here we didn’t hear
about or what?” Lisa joined her in a stretch.

“I am dying to meet this guy,” Daniel said
beside her. “Just so I can see what all the fuss is about. You two
make him sound like Adonis.”

Zach snickered as he finished putting his
yoga gear in his duffel bag. Then he glanced up and arched one brow
as he slowly stood. “Hello. Who is
that
?”

Karma turned and looked into Mark’s
intoxicating eyes as he joined them.

“Hello.” He appraised her in your yoga pants
and tank top.

“Hi.” And there was the heat in her cheeks
again, right on schedule. She turned toward Daniel and Zach and
introduced them. “Daniel, Zach, this is Mark.”

Mark seemed to have the same effect on men as
he did on women, because both Daniel and Zach looked a little
starstruck. They took turns shaking hands.

“I’m glad to finally meet you, Daniel,” Mark
said. “Karma’s told me a lot about you, and it seems I have you to
thank for allowing me to meet her in the first place.”

“Well, it wasn’t all my doing.” Daniel
wrapped his arm around Zach’s waist. The gesture seemed as much a
reassurance to Zach as it was a way of bringing him into the
discussion. “If Zach hadn’t gotten sick, I never would have taken
Karma to the benefit.”

Mark bowed his head toward Zach. “Well, thank
you for being sick…I guess.” He laughed and flashed Karma a glance
before turning his attention back to Zach. “I hope it wasn’t too
serious, though. You look fine now.”

Zach practically swooned. “Oh yes, I’m fine.
Thank you. It was just a touch of food poisoning.”

Mark frowned. “Oh, I’m sorry. That’s never
fun.”

The three men talked among themselves a
moment, and Lisa caught Karma’s eye with a smile so wide she was
beaming. It was clear how much Lisa liked Mark.

The five of them chatted a couple more
minutes, and then Karma turned toward Mark and said playfully, “So,
what are you doing here?”

“Admiring the view.” He winked, and Karma’s
face burned.

The devil.

“And that’s our cue to leave,” Lisa said,
glancing between Daniel and Zach. “Now that we know Karma’s in good
hands, our work here is done.” She patted Karma on the shoulder.
“Go forth and have fun, my child.”

“I’ll call you later,” Karma said.

Lisa looked from Karma to Mark. “Make sure
she does
not
call me later, okay? The girl needs to get her
priorities straight.” She gave Karma a pointed look.

“I’ll see what I can do.” Mark met Karma’s
gaze. “You heard the lady. No calling her tonight. You’re stuck
with me
all
evening.”

She liked how that sounded.

“Care to take a walk with me to cool down?”
he said once her friends were gone.

“Sure.” She followed him out, dropped her bag
in her car, and met him at the entrance to the trail that
surrounded the property, which, at one time, had been a combination
of farmland and wooded terrain. Now it served as a large
recreational park.

It was almost seven o’clock, but the sun was
still hanging on, well above the horizon.

A spring storm had rumbled through after
lunch, leaving cool, crisp air in its wake, and now a breeze flowed
out of the northwest as the remaining clouds cleared. Karma zipped
up her hoodie against the slight chill in the air. Thin banks of
high clouds striped the sky to the north and west, creating the
start of what promised to be an impressive sunset, and moisture
glistened the blades of fresh, young foliage that painted the
landscape bright green. Puddles of water dotted the pavement.

In spring, Clover lived up to its namesake.
With its dense foliage and the conservation of green space, the
city of Clover transformed into an emerald paradise every May.

“I call this the perfect night,” she said. A
gentle gust lifted the tendrils of hair that had fallen out of her
ponytail.

“What makes it perfect?”

She held out her hands. “It’s the perfect
temperature. Not too cold, not too hot. Cool enough for a jacket,
but not cold. And there’s a nice breeze that makes everything feel
alive. Makes me feel like I’m on the beach or something…just
without the water, except after it rains, of course.” She gestured
toward a puddle. “But that doesn’t count. And who doesn’t love a
sky that gorgeous.” She pointed toward the peach-colored clouds
that would eventually turn deep orange as the sun crept lower.
“Perfect.” As if she had just described the definition of the
word.

“I see what you mean.” He walked alongside
her, both of them silent for a bit, enjoying the evening. Then he
said, “What happened to you today? At work? You disappeared for a
while.”

Karma’s gaze dropped to the pavement. She had
hoped what had happened with Jolene wouldn’t come up tonight, but
no such luck. “It was nothing.” She sighed. “I just had a little
run-in with Jolene that upset me, but I’m better now.” She darted a
cautious glance at him. “Jo and I go way back. I knew her in
school, and we haven’t had the smoothest history.”

Mark gave a slow, single nod. “I see. But
everything got worked out?” He lifted his eyebrows
questioningly.

“I wouldn’t necessarily say that.” She smiled
sheepishly. “But Lisa took me to lunch and helped give me some
perspective.”

“Well, I’m glad.” He slid his hand into hers,
weaving their fingers around one another. The gesture made Karma’s
heart do a little flip. “Lisa seems like a good friend.”

“She is. The best.”

About a quarter mile into their walk, they
came to the ornate terra-cotta bridge that was the highlight of the
trail around the property. It bowed above a gurgling creek, which
had been fed by the earlier rain.

Mark stopped and looked over the railing at
the rushing water below. “I haven’t had a chance to talk to you
since Tuesday. How have you been?”

“Good.” She shyly averted her gaze, worried
he would see in her eyes all the torrid thoughts she’d had about
him the past few days, or that she had read every single Truth or
Dare card from their game and pondered how she would have answered
the questions that hadn’t been asked. Of course, the dares from the
game had fed her fantasies. There were quite a few she hoped they
could try someday.

“I know I laid a lot on you,” he said, “and
we haven’t seen each other for a couple of days. Do you have any
more questions?”

She looked at him and realized she did. “Just
one.”

“Okay.”

“Why me?”

They began walking again, leaving the
romantic bridge behind.

“Why not you?” His voice massaged the
syllables the way his fingers took that moment to twine more
securely between hers.

She thought about that for a second then
laughed when she couldn’t come up with an answer. “I don’t know. I
guess I’m just not used to attractive men asking me out. I’m more
the girl guys like to hang out with, be friends with, but not
date.”

He squeezed her hand. “Being friends with a
man is the perfect stepping-stone toward something more
meaningful.”

She laughed. “So far, that hasn’t
happened.”

“Why do you think that is?”

Mark seemed to like asking her questions that
made her think, even when it sounded like he already knew the
answer. She got the impression he would make an excellent teacher,
because he had a way of making you figure things out without coming
right out and telling you what the answers were.

She considered his question then said,
“Because until a couple of weeks ago, I didn’t look or act like I
wanted more?” She inflected as if asking a question instead of
answering one. Just the way she’d done in school when she was
called on in class. Maybe Mark really was a teacher.

He smiled but didn’t speak.

“I wasn’t putting out the right signals,” she
said, elaborating. “I’ve enabled men to think that being friends
was enough. That I would always be there…as a friend. I put my
personal feelings aside to make
them
comfortable.
Aaaannd...I didn’t take into consideration that men are visual
creatures. I thought that if they really liked me I wouldn’t have
to change my appearance. But…”

“Yes?”

“Men
are
visual. They see the wrapping
paper before they see what’s in the package.”

He barked out a laugh. “That’s a great
analogy.”

“Is it true?”

After a short pause in which he seemed to
think about it, he said, “More or less. You’re right. Men are very
visual. Even I noticed your dress and how you looked before I
noticed the little nuances of your character. And I like to think
of myself as someone who looks past appearances at the person
inside.” He shrugged. “I guess I’m not as unique as I’d like to
think.”

“Oh, you’re unique,” Karma said with a
giggle.

He glanced at her. “So are you.” He spoke
with such conviction that she stopped laughing.

She bit her bottom lip and averted her gaze.
“I guess I’ve always just seen myself as average.” Lisa’s words at
lunch still echoed in her thoughts, about how men saw her
differently now. She still couldn’t wrap her mind around the idea
that maybe she wasn’t so average after all.

“Average is underrated.”

“Most men would disagree with you.”

“I’m not like most men.” He squeezed her
hand. “And I happen to think you’re not average at all. In fact, I
think you’re pretty extraordinary.”

The trail led them into a grove of tall, full
trees.

Karma gazed up at the bright-green canopy.
“Before I met you, I would never have considered myself your
type.”

“And what do you think is ‘my type’?”

“Oh, modelesque, tall, blond, beautiful—”

Mark stopped so suddenly that what she was
about to say caught in her throat. He backed her against the trunk
of a silver maple hidden in the shadows and took her face in his
hands, gazing intently into her eyes. “Karma, you are all those
things…and more.”

“But—”

“Ssshh.” He let go of her face, took her
hand, and settled it between his legs.

Her eyes popped open and she sucked in her
breath. He was hard. Not fully erect, but definitely hard. Because
of her? Did simply being with her arouse him that much?

“I can assure you, you
are
my type.”
He held her hand against him for several seconds, revealing nothing
in his expression except the gravitas of sincerity. Dignified and
intense, his eyes searched hers for any doubt she didn’t believe
him. His gaze dropped to her mouth. “You…are…my…type. Are we clear
on that?” He arched one brow as the corner of his mouth lifted
seductively.