Every Single Thing About You: A “Tuck Yes” Love Story - Book 3 Hopkins, Faleena (good books to read for adults .txt) 📖

my students, opening my arms in body and spirit. “Welcome to Sorrento! You’ve had a long journey, so settle in. Rest. Take a nap if you’d like to get ahead of the jet lag. Here is our schedule, and remember that you don’t have to participate in all of these meditations and practice sessions. I’ve scheduled you plenty of time to explore Italy on your own, but if you find you’d like to have more, this is your time. Take your freedom and fly.” I hand Josh the last flyer, mine. I didn’t bring extras. “We’ll meet downstairs for an early dinner. Afterward you’ll have some free time. Before bed our night practice will begin. Try not to skip tonight’s practice. It will help you sleep better, I promise. I planned ahead. Thank you for trusting me with your experience. I will see you all at dinner.”

With rooms spread out on three floors, we aren’t the only guests in Villa Crawford. A few from my group choose the stairs, happily chatting away about how much they’ve looked forward to this journey. The others wait for a small elevator that only holds four or so, plus suitcases.

Josh hangs back with me, noting quietly, “Red nail polish, huh? You usually go for unusual colors.”

I grab his arm, digging said fingernails in it, and drag him into an event room to our left that must have been the late author’s sitting room where he entertained his guests. A young woman pauses dusting bookshelves to say, “Mi scusi, room is closed.”

My gaze locks onto the Bay of Naples outside glass doors. “Then we’ll go there! Come on, Josh.”

“Hang on a second.” He flips around, disappears, and returns with our suitcases, setting them against wood walls just inside the door.

“We’re in a hotel run by nuns. I think they were safe.”

Over the sexiest smile he cocks an eyebrow. “Maybe the only one who isn’t safe is me.”

Chapter 16

Not charmed even a little, she huffs and heads outside through double doors surrounded by beveled windows that showcase a spectacular view.

I follow at a much slower pace, watching Tempest move in a way I’ve never let myself before.

Billowing at the hem from her speed, the sundress shows me a glimpse of anklets I’ve grown to fantasize about playing with. Rolling up and down her skin. Biting.

I could get lost in her body’s curves, the wide slope of pissed-off hips, generous breasts that taunted me during the class I stumbled into, bouncing and heaving with anger. I bet if I kissed her right now, she’d fight me.

Would she yield to me, too?

The idea of that has kept my mind busy during a nonstop flight and a hired car ride, but not once did I consider how angry this would make Tempest. But I dug myself into this hole. I have to seduce my way out of it.

The Bay of Naples stretches blue in both directions, breeze coming off the water cool as I come to stand beside her at the stone ledge, calm gaze a contrast to her seething glare.

“What are you doing here?”

“Nice cover in there, acting like you knew I was coming.”

“Josh!”

“What?”

“You know what!”

“Fill me in.”

Crossing her arms, Tempest goes silently livid. As we stare at each other my head cocks and I inwardly note that her beauty is heightened by anger. Or maybe it’s just that she’s powerful right now, not taking my shit, and that power I’ve seen flash in her often is what makes her so compelling. Leah was a soft and gentle woman. She was safety. Tempest is challenge. Right when I needed one to remind me who I am.

“Am I supposed to be saying something?”

Light brown eyes go wide, pupils pulsing. “Are you supposed to be saying something?!!”

“Yeah.”

Whispering in disbelief, “This man is crazy,” she spins around and grabs her head, locking eyes with me as her arms drop.

Dragging a hand through my hair I avert my gaze to the water. “This is an incredible view. Look at it.”

“I’m looking at something far more incredible and that’s at a man who hates me enough to ruin my retreat!”

My eyes narrow as they lock with hers. “You think I hate you?”

“Tell me this is a joke.” She spins around, craning her neck. “Are Zia and Christina going to pop out and scream, Surprise?”

“Do you hate me, Tempest?” She looks at me, confused. After a few seconds of no answer I calmly reassure her, “I didn’t come here to ruin anything. I came here to build something.”

Turning to the bay, she rubs her nose’s bridge with two knuckles. “Yes, I know you’ve been getting your life back on track again. I’m happy you are, I am.” Dropping her hand and staring at the bay, she mutters, “That must’ve been one helluva yoga class I taught to have you show up here without warning me.” Sighing, she eyes me from profile. “Well, you’re here now. My students think you’re supposed to be. Guess I’m stuck with you.” Inside, my chest feels the hit, but on the outside I remain passive. Patient. Even as she points at me and growls, “If you do anything to bring me down or make me look bad I will kick you out of here, understand?”

I absorb her warning, but not without refuting its merit. “It wasn’t my intention to ever bring you down.”

“Well you have, many times.”

“I’m sorry I ever did that.”

Tempest blinks, taken aback and hugging herself like she needs comforting. It’s at this moment that I realize how much damage I’ve done.

“You’re sorry?”

I take a step closer on a sincere. “I’m very sorry.”

She squeezes her eyes shut a moment. “I don’t understand you, and I’m tired.” Shaking her head like she’d rather be thinking of anything else, Tempest stares at me. “So much has been put into my first retreat. I can tell you don’t understand or you wouldn’t have shown up like this. I just want