Page 40 of It's Not PMS, It's You

“Seriously.” I stood to go back in and—

Nick stood as well. “Okay, let me just show you something you can do to relax, then you can do it when I’m not here, if you’re more comfortable with that. You’re going to use your fountain for your health.” He gestured around the yard. “I mean, that’s why you have me doing all this, so you might as well learn how to let it benefit you, health-wise. Deal?”

I nodded. “Okay, make it quick.”

“Great. Sit.”

I huffed, letting him know I didn’t appreciate being told what to do. “Are you always so pushy?”

“Only when I believe in something fiercely. Stress is like poison, but I’m going to help you.”

“I still don’t understand how you can know about stress when you work with plants and trees and fountains all day in the outdoors.”

“I’ll tell you one dayafteryou try this exercise. I’ll even close my eyes and show you how to do it.”

Who was this man?

But the gauge on my bullshit meter wasn’t even moving. I was confident he really wanted to help me. Plus, his voice was deep and sexy as hell. I kind of just wanted to hear him talk more. Still, I didn’t feel comfortable closing my eyes in front of him since I barely knew the man.

I sat back down and crossed my arms.

“Great.” He sat back down next to me. “Uncross your arms.” He chuckled. “Yes, I’m being pushy, but crossing your arms is negative energy. You want to be open to positive energy.”

I uncrossed my arms. “There. Happy?”

He nodded. “Not as happy as you’ll be when you try this, but yes, I’m happy. Okay, here’s what you’re going to do when I’m not here. When you need to disconnect and clear the stress and negative energy out of your body, sit here in front of the fountain and close your eyes like this.” He closed his eyes. “Then you’ll take a few long, slow, deep breaths in and out while listening to the water.”

Nick breathed in and out slowly, his shoulders and face completely relaxed.

I liked his confidence that he had no problem closing his eyes in front of me.

I was jealous of his eyelashes.

He was well-groomed, too. No unibrow or explosion of hair coming out of his nose and ears like some men I’d seen. He kept his hair on the shorter side, which really accentuated his strong jawline. He had a small scar on the edge of his chin, but it didn’t take away from his good looks.

I couldn’t help wondering how he got the scar.

One thing was for sure—Nick was an attractive man.

“Now, I want you toreallylisten to the fountain,” he said, his eyes still closed. “Don’t identify what you hear as water. It’s just a sound. Listen with curiosity, and then let the sound surround you, like it’s giving you a hug.”

Is he serious?

His eyes were still closed. His face was relaxed. Maybe he was.

“Any other sounds you notice around you, just let them be. The two doves on the fence, that motorcycle, the dog barking, my voice. Sounds will come and go, and that’s okay. Let them be.”

I eyed the two doves on the fence, not having noticed them until he had mentioned them.

“Focus on your breathing as you continue to listen to the water. Then, when you’re ready, open your eyes and give thanks for your moment ofme-time. And that’s it! Promise me you’ll try it some time.”

I turned to him. “I’ll promise if you tell me how you know about stress.”

“In the interest of getting you to do this exercise, I’ll tell you. But you first.”

We sat there listening to the fountain for a few seconds longer.

“I had a near-death experience,” I blurted out.