Beckett beckoned for Gianna to join him behind the ribbon. “Ready?”
“Let’s do this,” she grinned.
“On behalf of all of Blue Moon, I’d like to welcome Gianna Decker to our community,” Beckett announced to the crowd. “I’m sure she will be an excellent addition to our town as both a business owner and neighbor.”
The small crowd applauded enthusiastically and Gianna waved.
Beckett held up the scissors to the ribbon and captured her hand with his free one. “Together?”
She looked up at him, their gazes locked. He swore he saw a lifetime in those eyes before she winked. And together they snipped through the thick, colorful ribbon.
3
Gia watched Beckett from across the studio as he chatted with a woman in a suit and two men who looked identical except for the color of their flannel shirts.
He was certainly easy to look at. The thick, dark hair waved a bit on top. His strong jawline and high cheekbones were a classical, appealing canvas for eyes so gray they were nearly silver.
He wore the navy suit with a careless comfort, keeping the look slightly more casual by forgoing a tie and leaving the top button of his unwrinkled button-down open. The cut of the suit hinted at spectacular shoulders, a personal favorite for her.
Beckett moved with confidence, made eye contact, and paid attention. It’s too bad he was officially untouchable. Had his name been anything other than Beckett Pierce, she would have been tempted. Very tempted. But he was off limits, and even she could see disaster written all over this potential.
No, it was better to stick with her plan. Focus on her family and her business. Relationships were officially off the table for the foreseeable future until everything else was stabilized.
She couldn’t help but wonder how Beckett would react when he realized who she was.
Picking up her green smoothie, she sipped. Rainbow Berkowicz wandered over to her side. “How’s the new business checking account treating you?” she asked.
Gia grinned. All business from someone named Rainbow. Was it any wonder she already loved Blue Moon? “It’s just fine, thanks. How’s the banking industry these days?”
Rainbow launched into a dry analysis of current lending rates and what they meant for the local economy.
Willa, one of Gia’s first students in the studio, floated over to them. Her wavy blonde hair flowed down her back reaching her hips when it wasn’t secured in a thick braid. “The new paint is just gorgeous. Very peaceful,” she told Gia.
“Thanks, Willa. That’s what I was going for.” She felt a warm current rush up her spine as Beckett joined their little circle. “Are you coming to class tomorrow?” she asked Willa.
“I’ll be here. I felt as loose as water after last class,” Willa said, with a dreamy smile. “Have you taken one of Gia’s classes yet, Beckett?”
“Not yet, but I plan to,” Beckett said, with a politician’s smile.
Gia raised an eyebrow. She knew an empty platitude when she heard one and tolerated them about as well as manicured nails on a chalkboard.
“Oh, you should,” Willa nodded vigorously. “Gia is a wonderful teacher.” A chirping noise sounded from the depths of Willa’s tote bag. She dug out her cellphone. “And that’s my cue to get back to the store. Those boots won’t sell themselves! Thank you for lunch. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I’ll walk out with you,” Rainbow announced. They made their departure, leaving Gia with Beckett at her side.
“So you’d like to take a class, huh?” she asked. He may have saved her from a locked door, but little white lies were a personal pet peeve. A sin in her eyes, having lived with them for so long before. That was a major strike against him. She felt a little relief as his attractiveness dipped down to slightly more normal levels.
“Sure. Sometime,” he nodded, frowning and looking mayoral.
She wasn’t buying it and decided to call his bluff. “I don’t know, Beckett,” Gia said baring her teeth in a fake smile. “The classes can be a little intense. I wouldn’t want you to get hurt.”
He looked insulted. “I run five miles a day. I think I can handle a little stretching.”
He was cocky, but she’d take him down a notch in class. “I guess we’ll see. I promise to take it easy on you,” she said, her smile sharp as razors.
“When’s your next class?” he demanded.
“Seven tonight.”
“I’ll see you then.”
“Great,” she said smugly.
4
Beckett showed up at Half-Moon Yoga fifteen minutes early wearing gym shorts and a scowl. As soon as he’d left the ribbon cutting, he realized Gianna had manipulated him into agreeing to take a class.
It was sneaky and underhanded. Which rankled him as much as her initial suggestion that yoga would be too much for him. He didn’t like that kind of manipulation from anyone, not even a beautiful woman.