"What's the plan for tonight?" Serena inquired, behind the counter avoiding the schedule from next month that needed to be complete by tomorrow.

"The plan.." Aleena paused to pull the oversize collegiate t-shirt on and let it fall down her body as if it was a dress. "...is to take a hot bath, fix a heavy dinner...pasta or something and then read until I fall asleep." She nodded with a gratified smile. She was exhausted.

She was thirty-five going on thirty-six in less than a year. Her body no longer had the rebound that it hailed from her early twenties to stay out all night, have a couple of drinks, and work a full day. She even yawned during the wine down portion of the last session. There was no amount of matcha that was going to compensate for two hours and fifteen minutes of sleep.

"Really?" Serena toyed with the iPad pencil.

"Really, bitch." Aleena chuckled, ignoring her shorts rolling back up. She was too tired to care. The steady trickle of people filling in for the five-thirty yoga class with Brandi would just get a full view of thighs and a sliver of ass.

She wondered when she started to care about modesty. Maybe it was after her twenty-eight years of life when her mom gave her a lecture about a Proverbs 31 woman. Or it could've been when her mother-in-law gave her leather mini-skirt a look of disgust and told her, 'You're someone's wife now. Dress like it.' As time progressed so did the hem of her garments and the amount of fabric she wore grew. The shorts she currently had on weren't even hers. She no longer owned anything that short anymore. She forgot how much of herself she surrendered for her relationship status. She went to the school of Manny Santos and missed wearing whatever she wanted.

"I forgot to ask how you feel about working on Sunday?" Serena read her blank expression and added more details. "Felipe will be recovering from getting his wisdom teeth pulled. I have that family dinner, Brandi has class. You're the only person available."

"I'll handle it. It's what bosses do."

Serena nodded in agreement.

"My beautiful Aleena." The masculine British voice called Aleena and Serena's attention. Aleena turned around fully to take in the man and remembered events from last night that caused her heart to beat slightly faster. "I have something for you."

"Thank you." Aleena expressed, claiming her cell from him. "You remembered where

"I remembered everything you told me last night." He extended his hand to Serena. "I'm Apollo. How are you?"

"Like the god."

"Yes," He smiled as if it was something he regularly responded to. "But I'm just a man." His eyes skated down Aleena's body then back up. "Trying to be yours."

Serena harked, eyes widening, "I'll finish this in the office."

"You don't have to." Aleena insisted.

"Call me when you get home." Serena informed heading to the back.

Aleena turned back to the man who was still peering at her. She was greeted with a coy smirk. "I can drive you."

"Wow." She took a step back. "You really did remember everything we talked about last night."

He leaned in and whispered in her ear, "I even remember those things you didn't say." He pulled back but kept his body in her space. "We should repeat that."

"I don't even know your last name."

"Galanis." He offered. "What else do you need to know?"

She thought as she stared at him in chocolate trousers that covered muscular thighs she stood between last night after swimming to the side of the pool. Then took in the cream polo that sheathed the chiseled torso her tongue glided down.

"How long are you in town?"

He stroked her jaw with one of the fingers that toyed with her last night. "However long you want me to stay."

Aleena clutched his hand pulling it away from her face trying hard not to smile, "Apollo. Apollo. Apollo." She ran her thumb over his knuckles. "You're dangerous."

"Not to you." He matched her smile. "You sure you don't want me to drive you home."

"I am." She affirmed. "I love the walk."

"To think and reset your mind." He repeated what she told him about the benefit of living close to the studio. "I put my number in your phone."

She looked at him oddly and he continued. "You gave me the code to order food."

She nodded remembering the hunger that hit her after swimming and craving tacos.

"After you call your friend. Call me." He softly kissed her on the cheek. "I won't be able to rest until I know my girl is safe."

"I'm not your girl." She corrected.

"Hmm," He sounded as if it was a negation before strutting out the studio leaving a trail of cinnamon and vanilla in his wake having her craving there was a chill in the October air so she could lay in front of a roaring fire in lace.

Aleena shook the image out of her head, grabbed her bag and left the studio going the other way needed a walk more today than any other.

Apollo Galanis Inspiration

My knowledge of Greek inspiration is limited so if you have any suggestions it be appreciated.