Page 23 of Taken As Collateral

I try to float but find my lower body sinking.

“Engage your core muscles,” he tells me, putting his hand beneath the small of my back to push me up.

In addition to not swimming a lot, I also don’t work out a lot. I’m lucky enough to have some natural athletic ability. I used to like to climb stuff, going beyond jungle gyms and trees to scaling sides of buildings. It helps in my line of work.

Following Rafe’s instructions, I’m able to keep my body up a little longer.

“Don’t fight the water,” he tells me. “It wants to lift you up.”

“It does?”

“If you believe it.”

“That’s the catch then.”

He moves me into deeper waters, which I think is supposed to help with my buoyancy. Maybe. But I like shallow better.

“Try it again,” he orders.

I manage to float a little but then have to tread water. Where’s the damn bottom of the pool? I want to be back on the steps. I feel myself dipping lower.

Rafe catches me around the waist. Without thinking, I hold onto him. He draws me close and our bodies are practically touching. My lips are inches from his.

That’s when I realize I’m in trouble in more ways than one.

CHAPTER NINE

The world collapsesinto the small space between us. My pulse has quickened. All I can think about is how close my body is to Rafe’s. He could kiss me if he wanted to, and I sort of think that he does.

But he doesn’t. Instead, he pulls me into waters shallow enough for me to stand.

“You can serve lunch out here,” he says.

I realize there’s a woman in her early thirties standing on the pool deck.

“Yes, Mr. Lee,” she replies. “Anything else, Mr. Lee?”

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