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we walked out of Lotus House hand-in-hand down the street to the Rainy Day café like any normal couple.
    I had no idea when I’d requested to observe his class that I’d be holding hands with my ultimate crush about to go on a lunch date.
    Lord, help me not make a fool out of myself.
    DASH
    Coree, the strawberry-blond owner, took our order. She grinned when we entered holding hands. Instead of letting Amber go, I held on. I don’t know what had come over me, but I didn’t want to let her go. The more I touched her, the more I wanted to be near her and have her energy wash over mine.
    Most of the time, I felt drained after a Tantric couples’ class. Probably because when I’m working with an assistant, it’s a one hundred percent hands off situation. Typically, I try my best to discourage any potential romantic feelings, even though that’s what often happens. It’s the nature of the subject matter. Tantra, in general, embodies coming together, being closer in all things. Breathing, physical form, mental connection…everything a person wants with their mate. Only with Amber, I wasn’t pushing back against my natural inclination toward unity, I found myself moving toward it…with her. Her energy radiated like a soft glow around her body, giving off an almost supernatural resource that, in turn, energized and baffled me in equal measure. I’d not had this type of response to any assistant or other woman before.
    “Hiya, Dash. You’re looking spunky as usual.” Coree smiled. The freckles across the bridge of her nose seemed sharper today.
    I grinned and leaned against the edge of the counter. When I got closer to Coree, Amber’s hand tightened infinitesimally as if she was pulling me back. I chanced a glance at my little bird. She was biting her lip and doing her best to look nonchalant, but I knew better. Jealousy was not a hard emotion to recognize. A man only had to look at the object of his affection while he talked up another lovely woman to see it. A carnal burst of excitement zipped through my chest and squeezed around my heart. I liked seeing Amber jealous. It gave me hope. Hope for more.
    Intending to put Amber back into the comfortable place we’d been, I lifted up our clasped hands, brought hers close to my face, and kissed the inside of her wrist. She gasped the moment my lips touched her pale wrist, and gooseflesh rose across the skin of her arm. Just as I’d suspected. As much bravado as Ms. Doctor herself tried to put off, she was not unaffected by my touch.
    “Just taking my assistant out to lunch after the start of a new workshop. Amber, this is Coree, one of the owners of Rainy Day.” I didn’t mention it, but I’d actually dated Coree for a few months last year. Aside from great sex, we had zero in common, which led to a mutual breakup. Now we were good friends.
    Coree pursed her lips. “Uh-huh,” she said and then furrowed her brows. “Don’t I know you?” she asked Amber.
    Amber nodded. “I’ve been in here a few times with my best friend, Genevieve. She works at Lotus House with Dash.”
    Coree scratched her head and tugged at her high ponytail. “Right, right. Well, it’s good to see you looking so happy, Dash. I want that for you,” Coree said in a tone that left absolutely no doubt as to the nature of our previous relationship. Then she placed one of her hands over the one I had on the counter and squeezed.
    On that note, Amber yanked her hand back and held them in front of her. “Can we order?” she said, her tone more prickly than a porcupine.
    Coree’s eyes widened. “Of course. Sorry. Here I was chattering away when you probably have a date to get back to. Sorry, D. You want your favorite? My ham and Swiss on rye?”
    I winced. Of course she’d know my favorite because I’d told her many times when we dated that it was incredible. I couldn’t get enough of it. “Sure. Thanks, Coree. Amber?”
    She glanced up at the board with the day’s specials. Her jaw was