Page 27 of Seeking Stars
"C'mon, Ana. I'll be there the whole time. We'll take it slow. You can't study how to swim in the ocean in books. You have to experience it, and I can be your lifeguard on duty."
He gave her a smile, turning on the charm with ease. She didn't say anything; her lips pressed together and her hands clutched the things they held.
"Okay, hey," he said, resting a hand on her shoulder. It was the first time he reached out to touch her. He looked at his hand on her warm brown skin as he continued talking. "I won't push, so if you tell me you don't want to then we don't have to… but I'd love it if you'd let me teach you how to swim in the waves."
She looked up and stared at him, frowning. He didn't take away his hand. He could almost see the thought click into place. He knew she'd agreed even before she said it out loud.
***
Ana went into her room and searched her things for her bikini. Her stomach rolled with nerves at the prospect of swimming in the waves with Liam, so much so that it took her until she was free of her bra to realize that she'd be half naked in front of him to do so.
Her movements jerked, body frozen for a heartbeat, two, before she resolutely finished the task. She prepared for the swim, finding her towel and slathering sunscreen all over, and filling in the cracks already weakening the structure of her mental safe. She was here for work, dammit. She had to control this. She would. His looks or whatever he'd think of hers would not be a factor in this.
She steeled her backbone and walked out of her room. She found Liam on the deck, wearing only his swim shorts, and applying sunscreen on his chest.
"Ready?" he asked.
She gulped and tore her eyes away from his defined muscles, bringing her attention to the camera set up. She placed it on the railing looking out into the water, framing a wide shot of the beach.
"I don't know about that, but let's do it anyway," she replied. Seemed he wouldn't make it easy on her to avoid thinking of how gorgeous he was, or how much her hormones wanted to delight in him.
They left their towels hanging next to the camera and made their way to the water. They stopped when soft waves reached below her knees.
The sound here seemed to be just as loud as when they were on the deck. Cold water rushed around her calves, and Liam stood next to her, within easy reach.
"How much further should we go?" She gazed at the water bathing her lower legs, then up to the horizon.
"We should go a bit further. Not much we can do until at least your knees are underwater. We'll probably practice breaking the waves with your hips first."
"Okay." She hoped he wouldn't keep talking about her body.
She tried to take a step forward; she knew her feet had sunk in the sand a bit as they stood there, but was unprepared for how it changed her balance. She stumbled.
He must have been paying attention; his hand shot forward to support her back. She glanced at him, trying to contain her irritation at herself. Ignoring the feel of his broad palm on her skin. Again.
She huffed. "From one to ten, how out of place do I look, and why is it ten?"
"You're fine," he lied. She raised an eyebrow. He let go of her back and offered her his hand. "Let me help?"
She looked at it, hesitating, and not only because they were in the water.
"C'mon. It'll be fine." He waved his hand between them and, with a flourish, offered it again. "I promise I know what I'm doing."
She let out a long-suffering breath and took his hand. "Promise you won't make fun of me if I fall."
"I'll try my hardest."
He led her deeper into the water. She gasped the first time white water crushed into her, cold mist raining on her skin.
He smiled at the sound. "You're okay. Always look at the waves. Prepare for what's coming. You can meet it with your side, jump over, or dive under."
"You make it sound like I'm playing a contact sport." She looked at the coming waves with suspicion. She barely registered that she grabbed Liam's hand more strongly.
"In a way you are, I guess. But it's fun and refreshing."
"I'm still waiting to see the fun part," she grumbled.
He laughed, a deep and happy sound, and something in her relaxed. "God, Ana. I didn't know you had this side to you. So grumpy."
