Page 8 of The Dating Ban (Mind the Corbin Brothers #1)

Dazzled by the Warrior

Theo

Lucy shifts excitedly beside me, swinging her arms as we wait outside the coffee shop. “Do you think she’s coming?” she asks, bouncing on her toes.

“She said she was, didn’t she?” I say.

“Yeah, but sometimes grown-ups say things and then change their minds.”

I smirk. “Is that so?”

She nods seriously, as if she has years of wisdom on the subject.

I chuckle, but before I can respond, the narrow unassuming blue door next to the Kaiser’s Mug opens and a familiar blonde figure rushes out, dressed in yoga trousers and an oversized hoodie, looking slightly flustered but very much here.

Lucy lets out a small squeak of excitement. “She came!”

I glance down at her. “Told you. ”

Ivy comes to an abrupt halt when she sees us, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I almost talked myself out of this, just so you know.”

I smirk. “And yet, here you are.”

She exhales. “Here I am.”

Lucy grins up at her. “You’re gonna love it.”

Ivy gives her a sceptical look. “You sound very sure about that.”

“I am,” Lucy insists. “Daddy’s class is way harder than mine, but he’s so good.”

Ivy lifts an eyebrow at me. “Oh? So I’m about to be shown up?”

I shrug, feigning modesty. “I do have excellent balance.”

She narrows her eyes. “I feel like you’re setting me up for something.”

I grin. “Come on, let’s get going before you change your mind.”

“Does Lucy not go to school yet?” Ivy asks whilst we walk the short distance.

“No, her birthday is in May so she starts in September. Until then, the café is closed on Mondays so I can spend some time with her,” I sigh. It is sometimes scary to see how quickly Lu is growing up.

“She adores you,” Ivy says.

“Well, she has only me… and my family.”

Ivy lowers her voice when she asks, “Do you think her mum will ever come back?”

“Nope,” I shake my head, “Katherine never bonded with Lu and it was clear she didn’t want to be a mother very early on.

We weren’t in love either. We tried to make it work but, in the end, we had to call it a day.

It just was better for everyone around. She has never been in touch or sent a birthday card or anything.

Last I heard, she moved to Australia with her girlfriend. ”

“Oh,” is all Ivy says. Yeah, people generally don’t know what to say to our situation.

“Does Lucy ask after her?” Ivy asks carefully. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t—”

“Nah, it’s fine. She rarely asks after her. She’s never really known any different. She was too little when Katherine left. My brothers are always there to help and my mum would be here in a jiffy if we needed a female perspective. So, she has all the family she needs,” I shrug.

“Yes, she does.” Ivy gives my arm a gentle squeeze.

The studio is just down the road, tucked away in a quiet little side street. It’s one of those places that looks small from the outside but opens up into a surprisingly large space inside.

As soon as we step through the doors, Lucy beams and immediately bolts toward the kids’ section, where a group of tiny humans is already gathered on their mats in the far corner of the room.

“See you later, Daddy and Ivy!” she calls over her shoulder, barely looking back before diving straight into conversation with a little girl who has a stuffed rabbit perched next to her mat.

Ivy watches her go with mild amusement. “Well, she settles in fast.”

“She’s a social butterfly,” I say, scanning the room.

The adults’ class is at the other end of the studio, a calm, soft-lit space where people are already rolling out their mats, stretching, and getting ready for the class.

I gesture toward a shelf stacked with yoga mats. “Grab one from here. ”

Ivy hesitates before pulling a mat out, holding it in front of her like it might attack her. “So, what’s the protocol? Do I just… put this down and hope for the best?”

“Pretty much,” I say, setting mine down in my usual spot.

She glances around at the other people warming up. “They all look very capable.”

I smirk. “You nervous?”

She scoffs. “No. Of course not. I love humiliating myself in front of strangers.”

I chuckle. “Don’t worry. If you fall over, I’ll pretend not to see.”

She shoots me a look. “You will not.”

I place a hand over my heart. “I absolutely will.”

She sighs, shaking her head. “Why did I agree to this?”

“Because you secretly wanted to,” I say, stretching my arms overhead. “And because you want to learn from a master.”

Ivy presses her lips together, trying not to laugh. “I mean, that was a strong selling point.”

I smirk. “Come on, Ivy. Time to get bendy.”

She groans. “I already regret this.”

Before Ivy can complain further about her impending humiliation, Safiya approaches us with a warm smile.

“Good morning, Theo,” she says, her voice smooth and confident. She wears a cropped top and tight leggings as always and is the epitome of a yoga instructor.

I smile. “Morning, Safiya.”

She turns to Ivy, giving her the same friendly smile. “You must be new.”

Ivy hesitates, then nods. “Yeah, first class. Go easy on me. ”

Safiya chuckles. “Beginners are always welcome.” Then she glances at me and gives my arm a gentle squeeze. “You bringing in recruits now?”

“Just doing my part to spread the joy of yoga.”

She hums, “I always appreciate all your support.”

Ivy watches this exchange with an expression I can’t quite place.

Safiya’s eyes flick between the two of us before she smiles again. “Well, welcome, Ivy. I’ll keep an eye on you today—make sure Theo doesn’t intimidate you too much.”

Ivy forces a chuckle, but it’s slightly delayed.

“I appreciate that,” she says, shifting her grip on her mat.

Safiya gives a small nod before moving off to the front of the room, leaving us alone again.

I stretch my arms over my head, not thinking much of it, but when I glance at Ivy, she’s frowning slightly.

“You alright?” I ask.

She blinks, shaking her head a little, as if snapping herself out of something. “Yeah! Yep. Totally fine.”

I tilt my head. “You sure? You looked—”

“Fine,” she cuts in quickly, forcing a too-bright smile. “Just… mentally preparing for my inevitable public disgrace.”

I chuckle. “You’ll be okay.”

She exhales and unrolls her mat, but there’s something slightly off about her expression. Her lips are pressed together like she’s holding something back, and her eyes keep flicking toward where Safiya is now setting up at the front of the room.

Then, very casually, she says, “So… Safiya seems nice.”

I nod. “Yeah, she’s great. Really good instructor. ”

Ivy hums. “Hmm. And she clearly enjoys your company.”

I glance at her, frowning slightly. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

She gives me an innocent look. “Oh, nothing. Just that she was very happy to see you.”

I shrug. “She’s friendly.” The thought of Safiya being interested in me is laughable. I think she is even dating the guy who owns the yoga studio.

Ivy raises an eyebrow. “Theo, she was flirting with you.”

I snort. “What? No, she wasn’t.”

She lets out a laugh, shaking her head. “Oh my God, you’re one of those.”

I cross my arms. “One of what?”

“The oblivious ones! The ones who have beautiful women flirting with them and just do not see it.”

I scoff. “I think I’d know if someone was flirting with me.” Of course I would. It’s just been a while since… come to think of it, I’m not quite sure when a woman last flirted with me. I need to get out more.

She snorts. “Would you, though?”

“Yes!” I insist.

“Okay, let’s examine the evidence. The way she smiled at you?

That was flirting.” She holds up one finger.

“The way she praised you? Flirting.” A second finger joins the first one.

“And the way she kept glancing between the two of us, as if checking if I was a threat? Definitely flirting,” she grins triumphantly holding up three fingers as prove of her absurd theory.

I shake my head, utterly unconvinced. “You’re reading into things. ”

Ivy sighs dramatically, looking to the ceiling pleading for patience. “Wow. Men really do live in a different reality.”

I smirk. “Or maybe you see things that aren’t there.”

She rolls her eyes. “Sure, Theo. Keep telling yourself that.”

I chuckle, “Well, even if she was flirting—which she wasn’t—I wouldn’t have noticed because I was too busy making sure you didn’t back out.”

Ivy scoffs. “Oh, please. I was totally committed.”

Just as Safiya is about to start the class, a little voice rings out from across the studio.

“Daddy! Ivy!”

I turn toward the kids’ section, where Lucy is standing on her mat, arms flailing enthusiastically. When she sees she has our attention, she gives us a giant, proud wave.

Ivy waves back. “Looking good, Lu!”

Lucy beams, then immediately flops into what I assume is her version of a stretch .

I shake my head, chuckling, as Safiya claps her hands to gather our attention.

“Alright, let’s start in Tadasana—Mountain Pose.”

Ivy follows my lead, straightening up, feet firmly grounded, arms relaxed at her sides. She exhales slowly, looking surprisingly serious about this whole thing.

“Nice,” I say quietly.

She flicks me a glance. “Don’t patronise me, Theo. I can stand just fine on two feet.”

I chuckle. “Impressive stuff.”

She gives me a withering look before Safiya moves on.

“Now let’s shift into Vrksasana—Tree Pose. Find your balance, press one foot to your calf or thigh, and focus on a fixed point.”

I smoothly lift my foot and press it against my thigh, hands in prayer position. Ivy, to her credit, does the same—wobbling slightly but keeping herself upright.

She grits her teeth. “I swear if you say anything—”

“Nothing at all,” I say innocently, though I can’t hide my grin.

She narrows her eyes at me but stays focused, determined to not fall on her face.

“Now,” Safiya says, moving to the next exercise, “I want everyone to line up along the wall. Place one foot against it, so we can work on our Virabhadrasana II—Warrior Pose.”

We all move into place, and I find myself directly opposite Ivy as we stretch into position.

And that’s when it happens.

Her eyes meet mine.

I don’t know how long we stand there like that, close to the wall, staring at each other. Her lips part slightly, her breath steady but just a little shallow, and something shifts in the air between us.

The studio fades away. The sounds of breathing, shifting mats, and even Safiya’s instructions blur into the background.

I don’t know what it is—maybe it’s the focus, the way her eyes soften as she holds my gaze, or the ridiculous fact that we’re locked in some kind of accidental yoga standoff.

But I don’t look away.

And neither does she.

Somewhere in the distance, I hear a voice.

“Hello, you.”

It’s faint. Barely noticeable.

“Hello?”

Ivy doesn’t react. Neither do I .

“Hello?”

Still nothing.

Then, on the fourth repeat, someone behind me clears their throat.

“I think she means you,” a man laughs.

Ivy blinks rapidly and whips her head around, realising that she is the only one facing away from the instructor.

The entire class is turned the opposite direction, all watching Safiya.

And Ivy?

Ivy has been staring directly at me.

Her face goes bright red. “Oh. Right. That makes sense.”

“Lost in the moment?” I whisper. I can’t help myself. My heart is still racing and somehow, I am willing her to just give me a sign that this was also… something to her just like it was to me.

She glares at me, mortified. “Psst.”

I grin, shifting effortlessly into the next pose.

Best. Yoga class. Ever.