Enlightened (Love and Light Series) Read Free

her chest to her finger tips, using slow breaths to empty her mind one exhale at a time. Jeremy shifted his weight.
     “That tingles.”
    “Shhh, almost done.” When the electric ants started to bite her hands, they scurried out her fingertips and into his back, leaving behind a ghostly tingle.
    “Whoa,” Jeremy barked.
    Loti lifted her hands with a satisfied nod and strode toward the front of the group, encouraging the class to lower into child’s pose.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~
    After class, as everyone chit-chatted and packed up, Jeremy strolled up, tugging his gray hoodie over his head. A big hug from another student snapped her attention away from him, and Loti closed her eyes to steady herself, but couldn’t help stealing another glance at Jeremy. When he winked with an amused smile, her stomach fluttered. He inched closer, claiming his turn.
    “That was pretty cool.” His more gray than blue eyes twinkled.
    Disarmed by the genuine admiration in his voice, Loti smiled in surprise. Knock it off; what do you think you’re doing? She tamped the smile down a notch.
     “You can do that anytime you want.” Jeremy laughed as he patted her arm.
    Loti’s sigh wobbled as she shook her head. “You kill me, Jeremy. That’s so inappropriate.”
    “Ah, come on. You know you love it,” he said with a big, fat bird-eating grin.
    Biting her lip to heel a disloyal grin, she leaned away from the handsome, young man, wrapping her arms around her stomach.
    “So,” Jeremy’s tone sobered. “I guess we won’t see you for a while.” He crossed his own arms over his chest, his grin faltering.
     “Why, Jeremy, I didn’t think you cared.” She winked then slapped a hand to her eye.
    Jeremy’s grin bordered on a smirk bordered on a smirk, while her throat tightened. Life had become so somber that she couldn’t remember the last time she’d been even remotely playful. She was so absorbed in navigating the dark and stormy waters since David’s diagnosis that the thought of fun, much less flirting, was little more than a theory.
    “You will come back, won’t you?” Another student appeared beside Jeremy.
    “I plan on it.” Relief mixed with disappointment as Loti turned her attention to the younger woman who had practiced with Loti since the studio opened four years ago.
    “Good,” she said. “You’re my favorite yoga teacher. No one measures up.”
     “That’s sweet, but I don’t do anything different.” Loti waved off the uncomfortable compliment, fingering her lip with the other hand.
    Jeremy chuckled. “Don’t be so humble. Who else maxes out the studio?” He waved a hand at all the people lining up behind him.
    Frowning, she took a moment to glance around at the line forming behind Jeremy. That was odd. Most folks packed up and left right away. Oh, a few would hang around chatting with her while she closed up the studio, but never like this.
    “Loti, what in the hell do you think you’re doing?”
    She jerked her head around and forced a rigid smile at the older woman who had her fists jammed to her bony hips.
    “I’m so sorry. What’s wrong?” Loti’s eyes flared.
    “Don’t give me that.” She flapped a bird-like hand in Loti’s face and whined, “What am I supposed to do now? I can’t stand any of the other instructors.”
    Loti sighed and clasped her hands over her heart, her smile softening a bit. “I’m so sorry, Charlaigne. Really, I am, but I’ve got to take some time off.”
    Charlaigne’s hands drooped to her side as she shifted her weight from foot to foot. “Well, I guess, but first Peter, now you.”
    Loti had no idea what to say, so she peered around her at the people lining up. Of course Charlaigne would complain; Charlaigne always complained about something, but that didn’t change the fact that she spoke to Loti’s self-doubt—that she was being selfish. Her eyes flitted around the room as she fought the urge to apologize.
    “Charlaigne, knock it off. You know why.”