HANDLE WITH CARE (The Ludzecky Sisters Book 5) Read Online Free Page B

time.”
    She shifted from one foot to the other. “No need.” She glanced at the clock, made with the hands going around a wooden Buddha. “But you’re a half hour early.”
    “Am I?” Hell was he that anxious to get here? “I didn’t realize. Maybe I can just warm up. You don’t have to entertain me.”
    “No, that’sokay. I can work with you alone for a bit. Come on in.”
    He entered the studio and was hit by a smell he remembered from church. He breathed it in. “What’s that?”
    “It’s cedar-wood incense. Used to combat stress and tension, which can interfere with healing.”
    “Cool.”
    “I’ll get the props.” She started to the side of the room.
    “Sofia?” She turned. “I just wanted to say that I readthe notice downstairs. And saw the women leaving. What a great thing to do for cancer patients. I admire you for thinking of it.” More than he could express.
    “It’s important to give back.” She retrieved the props, and when he picked a spot, she knelt down with them. He sat on the mat. “Shall we start with some gentle openers? I’m afraid that you’ve lost any ground you gained last time in flexibility.These routines have to be kept up to stay loose.”
    He tried not to be arrogant, but he took pride in knowing he was going to surprise her.
    “Now sit cross-legged.” For a sec, she focused on his position. “Not bad. I recall your knees being more up in the air.”
    “Oh, yeah?” he said innocently.
    After that pose, she said, “Lie down on your back, knees bent and out to the sides. Now,remember this was hard for you. Don’t overdo.”
    He used to hate this pose. It had been painful. He laid back and separated his knees. No aches. And his legs went down farther.
    Again, a surprised expression from the teacher. “All right, stay in that position for a couple of minutes. Close your eyes for
pranayama
. Breathe in and out.”
    Having practiced her
prana
-thing, too, he knew hecould do this. However, instead of concentrating on his breathing, his mind went back to the class he’d just seen. The women without hair. The notice. It took a few minutes for things to click: relief from the
discomfort and fatigue we all feel from treatments…it’s important to give back…I’m more than just my hair…I was sick during high school.
    All of his pride, his foolish belief that he’ddone something special by getting more limber, evaporated when the realization hit him. This calm, upbeat and very sweet woman was a cancer survivor.
    And that meant something to him.
    o0o
    Sofia laughed softly at the class’s protest when she suggested half-moon. All but Max Walker. Right after warm-ups and openers, he suddenly seemed distracted. As if something had happenedto him in the interim, which was impossible. She’d ask him about it after the session.
    “To those new to the class, this may be above your pay grade, so to speak. I’ll modify it after everyone else starts.” When they got in position, she walked over to Max, the only newbie. He was glaring at the others. “I’ll never be able to do that one, no matter how much I practice.”
    Ah, so that wasit. That’s why he hadn’t come back to class. He’d been waiting until he got better. Sofia just didn’t understand competition. She had at one time, when she danced, but after her cancer, those things had no meaning in her life. But hell, she liked that he hadn’t forgotten about yoga. And her.
    Focusing on him, she said evenly, “What you need to do is stand facing the wall, put your right handon it. Step back until your torso is parallel to the floor.” She touched his back to make sure he had the correct curve, and his muscles leapt. “Now raise your leg.”
    “Shit, I can’t get it up far enough.”
    The devil in her came out and she whispered close to his ear, “I think I’ll ignore that statement.” He chuckled. She took hold of his leg. “Just ease it up a bit. Keep it bent. There,now that’s