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Kade laughed, a booming sound that echoed in the hallway. “I don’t plan on wearing the pants. I’ll be there to teach.”
“Well…damn,” Asha said, disappointed. “And here I was going to offer to teach some yoga for you at the camp if I could see that butt in a pair of those pants,” she teased.
“I’ve never seen you do yoga. I’ll wear the football pants if I can see you in a pair of those yoga pants,” Kade said hopefully.
Asha lifted a brow. “I don’t even own a pair of them.”
“I’ll get you some in every color,” Kade replied eagerly.
She swatted him on the arm playfully. “My neighbors were Indian and practiced both yoga and meditation. I learned from a very early age from them. I haven’t done it for a while, but like you, I still have the knowledge here.” She put a finger to her forehead.
“Believe it or not, I think yoga is incredibly beneficial for a football player. I did some yoga pre-season and during the off-season. It helped me maintain my range of motion and flexibility,” Kade told her with a wink. “I’d still love to watch you do it.”
“For your information, I usually do it when I’m alone and in my underwear or naked,” she informed him innocently.
“Scratch the yoga pants. I’ll go forthatin a private viewing,” he told her with an evil grin. “And I’ll take you up on the offer to teach basic yoga to the kids, but I’m getting you a baggy pair of sweats for that. I don’t want my fellow players who are helping out to be checking out your ass. Football players can be horny bastards.”
Asha rolled her eyes at him, amused that he seemed to think that every man would look at her with lust in his eyes like he did. Honestly, no other man looked at her the way Kade did. “You’ll be a great teacher,” she told him truthfully, knowing that he’d also make a great father. He was a protective alpha male, but he also had such patience and kindness.
“Thanks,” Kade replied, lowering his forehead to hers. “So much confidence in my abilities?”
“Yes,” she answered quickly and adamantly. Really, she didn’t think there was anything Kade couldn’t do if he wanted to do it. He had a stubborn tenacity that would always make him succeed.
“Have I told you today how amazing I think you are?” Kade asked her huskily.
Asha’s heart skipped a beat. His low baritone was sincere, and he obviously did think she was exceptional, for some unknown reason. Somehow, it made Asha feel lighter, more carefree. “Nope. You haven’t.”
“Then let me tell you now. Asha…you’re an incredible woman,myincredible woman.” He leaned down and kissed her then, a kiss that was slow and languorous, making her feel valued and treasured. It was sensual, but it was an embrace that wasn’t meant to arouse. It was a sharing of emotions, a kiss of communication and intimacy.
It left Asha smiling, her feet still not on the ground for a very long time after she opened her apartment door and disappeared inside alone.
“It looks incredible,” Tate Colter told Asha as he stared at the finished wall in his apartment. “It looks even better than I thought it would. I wish…” He trailed off, his comment unfinished.
Asha looked at Tate curiously, wondering what he was going to say. She’d finished his wall completely today, putting the finishing touches into the scene. “You wish what?”
Tate shook his head. “Nothing. I forgot what I was going to say.”
Asha knew he was lying, but she didn’t push. She and Tate had become pretty good friends in a short period of time, but she wasn’t comfortable enough to pry. “I enjoyed doing it.” She tilted her head, examining the old fire engine and other equipment she’d put in the painting. “How did you become interested in antique fire equipment?” she asked curiously.
“I was a volunteer firefighter for a while in Colorado. I got interested in some of the old fire equipment,” Tate answered smoothly, turning his back to her and moving into the kitchen. “You want to stay for dinner?”
Tate had gotten his cast removed and Asha could appreciate the rock-hard ass and Tate’s solid, muscular build. He was incredibly handsome, and she could admire him in an aesthetic sort of way, with hair almost lighter than Kade’s and gray eyes that could almost appear to be looking into one’s soul. But as gorgeous as he was, Tate did absolutely nothing for her. It was as if her body only reacted and came to life for one man. “Can’t. I have a dinner date. Kade’s taking me to a fondue place for dinner tonight.”
“Sissy food,” Tate called back in a teasing voice. “I was willing to make steaks.”
“It was my choice,” Asha told Tate indignantly. “I heard about it from one of the women in my art class, and I wanted to try it.”
She’d just started her classes this week, and they were pretty basic, but she enjoyed every moment of them. She could finally put terms to her techniques and the teacher was an incredible artist. Asha knew she could eventually learn plenty of new things from her, and she was eager to absorb knowledge.
Kade had spoiled her rotten from the moment she’d seen him again during that horrible confrontation with her foster parents three weeks ago. They’d been to Disneyworld, and she’d squealed with delight through every ride. In fact, he’d probably taken her to every tourist attraction in Florida, but he always seemed to come up with something new every time she saw him. Usually, there wasn’t a day that passed without her seeing him. And they texted like teenagers, sending flirty and seductive messages back and forth like two people completely…in love.
Asha sighed and picked up her purse, ready to go back to her own apartment and get ready for Kade to take her to dinner.
“You going out with that guy who wears the atrocious shirts?” Tate asked as he walked back into the living room. “I saw him coming out of the elevator yesterday. Gotta be something wrong with a guy who dresses like that.”
“I happen to love his shirts,” Asha answered defensively and honestly. “They’re colorful, bright, and gorgeous.”Just like him!
“They’re nasty,” Tate grumbled, shaking his head.