At his questioning look, she said, “Oh! Sorry. Lucy. Lucy Carter.”
Cody nodded. “Right. Seth Carter’s baby sister,” he enunciated to Heath.
The other dark-haired giant who had brown eyes so light in color they might have been amber or gold, had been quiet up until then. He chuckled and said, “Hey, don’t you have an appointment with Seth this week, Heath? Yeah, now he’s gonna tattoo Daffy Duck with a hard-on or some fucked-up shit on your ass for messing with his baby sister.”
Heath clasped his hands and begged good-naturedly. “Sorry, sweet Lucy. Teasing is a part of my charm. We’re here to watch out for you ladies, not to be entertained. Although I think you’d do an admirable job.” He paused for a second and then asked speculatively, “Do you belly dance?”
All conversation ceased at the feminine sound of a throat being cleared. “Are you three harassing my friend?”
Lucy turned to Camilla, who looked fantastic in her slinky black yoga pants and halter top. Her little baby bump barely showed above the low waist of the pants and Lucy was awed that she had the chutzpah to dress so sexily when she was three months pregnant. Lucy imagined that if she ever got pregnant with twins her big ol’ belly would pop out the day after she tested positive and just get bigger and bigger until they had to cut doors wider for her. She felt like a giant next to the petite temptress. Her self-esteem went into a full nosedive at that mental image.
“No, boss,” Heath replied, “We were just inquiring if she knew how to belly dance, that’s all.”
Camilla turned a sympathetic smile to all three men. “She hasn’t shown up yet, guys, but that could change. You never know. Come on, Lucy. Don’t you worry about the bears. They’ll behave.” Camilla hooked an arm through Lucy’s and drew her away as she blew an imaginary kiss, which Heath caught between his teeth, and she giggled at their antics.
“Ben and Quinten don’t get all possessive of you with those three hot hunks hanging around?”
Camilla shook her head. “Not too much anymore. They know that the bears will keep me safe. And Cody, Heath, and Spencer know that I love Ben and Quinten with all my heart. It works for us now. And you should see what mother hens they’ve become with me pregnant. They walk me to and from my car every day.”
“That’s sweet, and very safety-conscious of them.”
“No, Lucy. They literally walk me—like hold on to me—out to my car and help me in and out. You’d think I was carrying royalty or something. When they finally find their woman, I hope she’s attention-starved because they have a lot to give. If you weren’t already taken, I’d sic them on you, sweetie. I wondered if you’d ever make it to a class. You doing okay?”
Lucy shrugged as she walked, but Camilla put her hand on Lucy’s forearm and stopped their progress halfway across the room. “What’s up?” The concern in her eyes was genuine.
“I had to make myself come in tonight. I feel…”
“You feel what?”
“Uncoordinated. I brought my heels and the other stuff the girls suggested but honestly? I’m afraid I’m gonna kill myself in those things. I can hardly walk across the room without feeling out of balance and ungainly.”
“Out of tune with your body?” At Lucy’s nod, she continued. “Did you ever do what I suggested? Taking a weekend just for yourself and going bare, and maybe playing a little.”
“I tried. I kept checking and rechecking to make sure that the blinds and curtains were completely closed. I felt so self-conscious, I wound up putting on my robe without even thinking about it by noon the first day.”
Camilla smiled and nodded. “Maybe a whole weekend was too much. Try going a whole evening. Lay around and watch movies to distract yourself. Or clean house. You’re a massage therapist so you know how important it is to stay in balance. How often do you go for a massage?”
Lucy scoffed. “I think you can guess the answer to that question.”
Empathy showed in Camilla’s eyes. “Never?”
“It’s been a while. Since I was in school. I came to Divine, found work, and I like staying busy, I’m just needing a little something, I guess. I hope this class is it.”
“You enjoy making people feel better. Let me do the work for a little while. Don’t think of this class as a workout. Think of it as a stress reliever and relaxation aid. Just take it easy for tonight and try to get the feel for what we’re doing. Leave the heels in your bag for now and stay barefoot.”
I can do this. I can do this.