Lydia wasn’t terribly late, and there were only a few guests waiting in the event hall where they held classes and the weekly fancy dress dances.

She apologized sincerely and hastened to roll out her yoga mat. The music was waiting for her in the disc player, and she took the guests through a series of stretches and warm-ups automatically.

The time they spent silently holding each pose was agonizing. She kept remembering Wrench’s reluctant proposal to marry, and his scowling resignation. She also kept remembering how he’d felt, moving inside of her, and the way he smelled, and the way his hands felt in the small of her back.

“Let’s ease into child’s pose,” she squeaked, not remembering for a moment what she usually did next. “Extend your arms, palms down, and let your forehead rest on the mat. Feel your back relax and soften as you stretch. Allow the tension in your shoulders to leave your body through your arms, into the floor.”

Her tension wasn’t going anywhere.

After they had held that for a count that Lydia forgot to keep, she took them through increasingly challenging poses, automatically talking about centering and embracing the day.

After the session broke up and she said her final namastes, she remained, cross-legged in the empty hall, trying to find the peace that she had espoused.

“I keep swearing to myself that I’m going to get up early enough to actually catch this class one of these days.”

Lydia opened her eyes to find Laura, dressed in workout wear. She had a cup of coffee in each hand and a sly smile on her face.

Lydia sighed as Laura took a seat opposite her, and accepted the coffee she offered.

“You don’t look as happy as I expected,” Laura said candidly. “Are you wishing you’d taken Tex up on that offer to tip Wrench into the pool?”

“A little,” Lydia said wryly, sipping her coffee. It was sweet and creamy.

“What did he do?” Laura demanded.

For a blinding moment, Lydia could only remember how he’d taken her on the massage table, setting every nerve on fire. “He proposed,” she said, attempting to leash her body’s reaction.

Laura squealed. “Ooo! You go, girl! And you said yes?”

“It was the most awful proposal I’ve ever even heard of,” Lydia said frankly. “He made it sound like the worst kind of torture. Like he had to make a proper woman of me or something. ‘I guess I gotta,’ he said.”

Laura nearly spit out her coffee. “‘I gotta?’ He said that?”

“He said he’d get someone to pick up a ring, like it was some grocery order from the mainland,” Lydia snarled.

Laura gaped at her. “What did you say?”

“I told him, ‘Screw you.’” Lydia rubbed her forehead. “I was late for class already and just left.”

“That’s kinder than I would have been,” Laura sniffed. “What a jerk.”

“He’s not a jerk,” Lydia said, surprising even herself with her quick defense. “He’s just… just…” she floundered. “He’s trying,” she said achingly.

Laura reached out and took her hand. Lydia squeezed back. “He’s not what I expected,” she confessed. “I had my mate built up in my mind. He was this… ideal. And Wrench… Warren…”

“He’s not ideal,” Laura said sympathetically.

Even though she’d been thinking the same thing, Lydia had to restrain herself from hissing defensively, and her swan flared strong wings in protest. “He’s so handsome,” she protested. “And when he kisses me, it’s all the magic I could ask for.”

Laura grinned wickedly. “A good lover is a good start,” she suggested.

“But is it too much to ask for a little wooing?” Lydia couldn’t help complaining. “I mean, maybe I’m not going to get him to write poetry for me, but could he pick me flowers, or tell me I’m pretty or anything.” She gave a windy sigh and slumped forward over her knees. “I sound like a whiny teenager.”

“It will work out,” Laura promised. “He’s your mate, and you’re perfect for each other.”

He’s perfect, Lydia’s swan agreed serenely.

Lydia drew in a deep breath, turning her fold into a deliberate stretch. “You’re right,” she agreed. “I just have to have faith that we’ll get where we’re going, and I won’t strangle him on the way there. I’m too old for silly girl dreams, anyway.”

“I wouldn’t give up on those dreams just yet,” Laura said with a knowing smile. “He might surprise you!”

“Speaking of surprise,” Lydia said, glad of another subject to distract herself with. “When is Jenny leaving? I’d like to see if I can get her flight numbers so I can coordinate Ally’s flights.”

“The charter comes in mid morning,” Laura said, rising as Lydia did. “She’s packing now, I think.”

“I’ll go catch her now,” Lydia said, then stopped. “Or maybe just a little later.” She knew unerringly that Wrench was also at The Den right now, and she wanted nothing less than to run into him and let everyone witness their ridiculous awkwardness. “After breakfast.”