Hands On by Debbi Rawlins Page A

Simone.” She gave the other woman a pointed glare, and then returned to a perky smile. “Okay, everyone has their soup. Let’s eat.”
    The silence grew awkward again, while everyone concentrated on their food until Harvey suggested Mary Jane fill them in on tomorrow’s activities.
    She demurred at first. “I thought I’d wait until dessert.”
    â€œWhy? Most of us know what we’re in for.” Harvey gave Cassie another one of those skin-prickling grins. “Maybe I should explain.”
    â€œThat’s all right.” Mary Jane quickly set down her spoon. “As most of you know, tomorrow morning we meet for our group session where we’ll discuss what we hope to accomplish during this next week.”
    Simone laughed. “I don’t think that’s the part Harvey is interested in.”
    Mary Jane gave her a warning glance. “At that time you’ll discuss issues in the marriage that have been the cause of disagreements. Every person will have the floor without any interruption, and then your spouse will have a chance to respond. Later, we’ll discuss observations of the others about how each couple communicates.”
    Great. Cassie looked at Dalton. Her only consolation was that he didn’t look any more thrilled over the exercise than she was.
    â€œAfter lunch,” Mary Jane continued, “you’ll relearn how to touch each other.”
    Cassie was damn glad she didn’t have anything in her mouth that she could’ve spit out.
    â€œNow, we’re talking,” Harvey said, and brushed up against Cassie’s leg.
    She had a good mind to give him a bruising pinch that would remind him to keep his hands to himself for the rest of the week. Dalton caught her eye and the concern in his face warmed her. He couldn’t possibly have seen Harvey’s deliberate touch but something in her expression must have alerted him. She gave him a reassuring smile, and he winked.
    Silly how the small gesture turned her to mush. Ridiculous, really, but it seemed so personal, as if shewas the only one in the room with him, as if they shared some private joke or secret. Which of course they did, making her reaction all the more silly.
    Mary Jane directed her smile at Cassie and Tom and Kathy. “Don’t pay attention to them. They like riling the newcomers. It’s their version of an initiation.”
    Tom and Kathy exchanged nervous glances.
    â€œTomorrow afternoon you’ll relearn how to touch each other,” Mary Jane said evenly. “The exercise will start with massage class.”
    Tom muttered a curse.
    Kathy coughed. “In front of everyone?”
    â€œOnly during the massage lesson. I’ll show you the Swedish version and make sure you’re doing it correctly. After that, you’ll break up and practice in private. I’ll peek in from time to time to make sure you’re staying in the spirit of the exercise.”
    Cassie held her breath. This was not what she’d signed up for. She didn’t want to touch Dalton. Well, she did, but that was the problem.
    Dalton laughed, and everyone stared at him. “Explain this spirit of the exercise.”
    â€œPleasing your partner.”
    â€œOh, goody.” Simone had managed to recover her martini and she sipped it with a bored expression. “How about if we want to please someone else’s—”
    â€œThe goal,” Mary Jane quickly continued, effectively cutting off Simone, “is to recapture the feelings you had when you first met, when you began dating and wanted nothing more than to please each other.”
    Simone let out a bored sigh. “Well, Grant, it looks as if we missed a phase.”
    Her husband didn’t so much as blink.
    â€œWhen you say you’ll be peeking in, do you mean into our rooms?” Cassie asked, and Tom and Kathy leaned forward with interest.
    â€œWherever you choose to give the massages. By the