Risky Christmas (6 page)

“We really have to tackle breathing first. If you're not comfortable underwater you'll never be a strong swimmer.”

She glanced back at the house, noting that both girls were absorbed in the movie. Although she was trying to lead by example, and face her challenges head-on, she didn't want them to see her flailing.

“Let's start with your mouth,” he said. “Just put your lips in the water and blow. You don't even have to get your nose wet.”

Leah studied his demonstration, noting that he had a well-shaped mouth. Not too full or soft-looking. She let her lips sink below the surface and blew bubbles. When the water tickled her nose, she startled, reaching for the coping again.

He covered her hand with his, peeling it from the railing. “Stay with me,” he said, making eye contact. “You're doing fine.”

She tried to concentrate on Brian. Unfortunately, she was assaulted by the memory of kicking legs and floating rafts.

He framed her face with his other hand and touched his wet lips to hers, shocking her out of the flashback. His mouth was calm and firm and deliciously
grounding. For a split second, heat sparked between them. Then he pulled away.

“Now your nose,” he said, as if he hadn't just kissed her. “Put it in the water and exhale. As long as you don't breathe in, no water will enter your airway.”

“I can't,” she said.

“You can.”

She lifted her fingertips to her lips, which tingled with sensation. His kiss had distracted her so much that she was able to set aside her fear. Lowering her face into the water, she exhaled rapidly and rose up, victorious.

“Good,” he said, smiling. “Do it again.”

The next time was easier. She didn't sputter or choke.

“Now hold your breath and go under completely. Get your hair wet.”

Taking a deep breath, she squeezed her eyes shut and went down. Water swirled in her ears and her hair floated around her head. The feeling was intensely foreign, after years of not swimming.

Gasping and floundering, she broke the surface. “I need to get out.”

“Wait,” he said, sliding his hand around the nape of her neck. Once again, he lowered his mouth to hers, kissing her gently. She struggled, still in the grips of panic. Then his tongue heated the seam of her lips and she parted them hesitantly, letting him in. Her first thought was that he didn't taste like John. His mouth was firmer, his motions less practiced. The scrape of his jaw felt rougher.

She relaxed and slipped her arms around his shoulders, digging her fingernails into his wet skin.

He ended the kiss.

Leah blinked up at him, her heart racing. She didn't
want to swim anymore. She wanted to thread her fingers through his hair and pull his mouth back down to hers.

She turned toward the house with a guilty flush, worried that the girls had seen the kiss. But neither was paying them any attention. When she returned her gaze to Brian, his eyes were locked on her lips. She moistened them, tasting him.

“This time we'll go under together,” he said. “Hold your breath.”

He didn't give her a chance to refuse. She inhaled on reflex and clung to his neck as they submerged. It was easier with him. Safer, somehow. After they came back up, he repeated the action, over and over, until she felt comfortable.

“This is working,” she said, delighted.

Seeming pleased by her progress, he released her. “Try it on your own. Swimming is usually a solitary sport.”

She wasn't as confident without him, but she managed to sink below the surface and come back up by herself a number of times. With the biggest obstacle behind her, the rest of the lesson went quickly. She learned to tread water, glide and kick her legs. As long as they didn't move to the deep end, she could stay calm. It helped to know that she could reach the side of the pool and touch the bottom.

Brian was another secure, solid object she could depend on.

“Let's work on floating,” he said, placing his hand on the small of her back. At his urging, she reclined in the water. The position felt strange, like sleeping on the surface. “Fill your lungs with air and stick your chest out.”

Leah trembled with self-consciousness. The fabric
of her swimsuit was thin, clinging to her breasts. How could she stick her chest out?

He splayed his hand over her spine, encouraging her to arch her back. “Look up at the sky and try to relax.”

She took another breath and stared at the clouds, embarrassed. The air was cool against the front of her swimming suit, causing her nipples to pebble. Heat radiated from his fingertips and water lapped at her sides.

“Perfect,” he said, moving his hand away.

Leah was able to hold the pose for a few seconds at the most. When his gaze dragged down her chest, she lost focus. Feeling overexposed, she rounded her shoulders and sank like a stone.

Her hands and feet found no purchase as she slipped down deeper. She screamed, releasing a flurry of bubbles.

Brian grabbed her by the arm and hauled her upright. She coughed and wheezed, her mind blank with fright. “I've got you,” he said, holding her close. “Sorry about that. I guess I let go too soon.”

He stroked her hair until her fear abated. Looking up at him, she slid her hand along his sculpted triceps, shivering.

With a groan, he set her aside, putting some space between them. “I think I'd get too distracted to finish the lesson if I kissed you again.”

The raw desire in his voice gave her a feminine thrill. She liked knowing that he was tempted by her.

“Let's try one more time. I'll keep my hand underneath you.”

She lay back again, aware that his eyes were on her body. Focusing on the heat smoldering between them, instead of her anxiety, she looked up at the sky and kept her spine straight, holding the position as long as
she could. His hand fell away from her but she knew he was there if she needed him.

“Good,” he said, a smile stretching across his face. “I knew you could do it.”

They practiced floating until she got the hang of it. When the lesson was over, she felt proud of herself. She hadn't mastered any of the skills, but she hadn't given up, either. Her anxiety wasn't preventing her from learning.

Someday she might be able to swim in the ocean.

“Thank you,” she said to Brian, giving him an impulsive hug. “You're a great teacher.”

He shrugged off the compliment. “It's nothing. I just love the water.”

She lifted her hand to his cheek, enjoying the grain of his beard stubble against her palm. His eyelids grew heavy as she brushed her lips over his, very tenderly. “My kids aren't watching us, are they?”

He looked at the house. “No.”

Threading her fingers through his wet hair, she deepened the kiss, flicking her tongue against his. Groaning, he pinned her against the side of the pool and plundered her mouth, his hands skimming down her body. She pressed her breasts to his chest and wrapped her legs around his waist, squirming for more. He cupped her bottom with his big hands, fitting his erection against the cleft of her sex.

She gasped into his mouth, going still.

He broke the kiss, panting. “Too much?”

If Mandy and Alyssa weren't close by, she might have let him continue. Her body was aching for his touch, her nipples tightly beaded.

“Sorry,” he said, releasing her. “I got a little carried away.”

She pushed herself out of the pool, sitting on the edge. He studied the clingy fabric of her swimsuit as water streamed down her skin. Her chest rose and fell with every breath. “Don't be sorry,” she said. “I liked it.”

He tore his gaze away from her. “Damned heated pool.”

Laughing, she raked a hand through her hair. “I should check on the girls.”

“I'll stay here.”

She smiled apologetically, realizing he needed a moment to recover. It was flattering to be lusted after by a man like him. “You're cute.”

He groaned, sinking under the surface.

Still laughing, she rose to her feet and walked into the house, feeling happier than she had in a long time.

B
rian settled in a lounge chair, watching Leah and the girls splash in the water.

Mandy and Alyssa had wanted to swim again after the movie. They'd both squealed with excitement when Leah said she'd join them in the pool. As the sun crept lower in the sky, Mandy did a creative water ballet while Alyssa jumped off the edge, over and over again, into her mother's arms.

He couldn't stop staring at her.

The first time he'd seen Leah up close, she'd been frantic and accusatory, and he'd still thought her beautiful. Right now, she was breathtaking. Her blue eyes sparkled with affection as she smiled at her daughters. She hugged Alyssa to her chest and spun her around in the water, making her squeal out loud.

When she caught his gaze, she mouthed
thank you.

Brian's chest tightened with emotion and he glanced
away, trying to hold himself together. It seemed impossible that a woman like her would want to hang out with him. She'd shared a painful piece of her past and trusted him with her safety in the water. Not only that, she'd let him kiss her. She'd kissed him back.

Leah was a great mom and a lovely, sensual woman. He couldn't believe she was here in his swimming pool, thanking
him.

The pleasure was all his.

He tried not to think about the sweetness of her mouth or the feel of her body against his. The sun was still warm, making his muscles languid. Getting his desire under control after the swimming lesson had required a superhuman effort.

“Let's dry off,” Leah said, helping Alyssa up the stairs. “We don't want to outwear our welcome.”

Brian wouldn't have minded if they moved in. Not only was Leah irresistible, but her girls were special in their own right. Alyssa was a cute little imp and Mandy had a quiet grace that reminded him of Leah. Both were dark-eyed, presumably like their father, and had hair that was a richer brown than Leah's.

It disturbed him to know that her husband had been dragged down by gambling. He'd always been bothered by men who took their families for granted. Maybe because he'd never had one of his own. He'd have cherished the gift.

Leah rubbed the girls dry with towels and wrapped them both up, sitting them down on the opposite lounge chair. She grabbed her Thermos of lemonade and poured them each a plastic cup. When caring for her daughters, she was poised and sometimes stern, but never harsh. Brian studied her slender form while her back was turned, noting that she was curvier than
her loose clothes suggested. She had shapely hips and a pert bottom. The wet fabric of her swimsuit left little to the imagination.

He tore his gaze away, contemplating another dip in the pool. Unfortunately, the water wasn't any colder than the air.

After they were dry, Leah took the girls inside for a bathroom break. Brian put his shirt on and followed her, wishing they could stay for dinner. Although they'd already spent most of the day together, he was reluctant to part ways.

He'd been using the house as a vacation rental, so the fridge was empty. When Leah reappeared with her daughters, fully clothed, he got a better idea. “Why don't we stop at a restaurant on the way home? My treat.”

Her brows, which were a shade lighter than her hair, drew together. “You don't have to take us out.”

“I want to. Besides, you provided lunch.”

She waved a hand in the air. “Just sandwiches.”

They were gourmet-delicious, like everything else she made. “There's a steak house down the street.”

“Sounds expensive.”

“Not really. It's a family place, very casual.” He glanced down at his old T-shirt and board shorts, realizing he should change. “I have some jeans upstairs. And we can take my SUV, if you'd like. It's parked in the garage.”

She gave him an incredulous look. “This is your house?”

He glanced around, nodding.

“What about the place next door to me?”

“I own that, too.”

“You said you dig ditches.”

“Yeah, well. They don't dig themselves.”

She rummaged through her beach bag, finding her keys. “We'll have dinner at home. Are you ready to go?”

Brian could have driven himself, but it would be a hassle to keep two vehicles at the fixer-upper. He opened the door for Leah and the girls, locking it behind him.

It was clear that Leah was upset about something. He had no idea what, and he wasn't going to press her for details in front of the kids. Alyssa hopped and skipped down the sidewalk, unaware of the tension, but Mandy's mouth was downturned as she climbed into her car seat. She knew her mother's mood had changed.

For the next ten minutes, Brian wondered where he'd gone wrong. Maybe Leah was sick of his company. It had been a long day. Maybe she felt guilty for making out with him in the swimming pool. She was a fairly recent widow. Her husband didn't deserve her loyalty, from what Brian could tell, but even if he'd been a great guy, Leah was a young, beautiful woman. Who would expect her to grieve forever?

Disturbed by the sudden chill between them, he stared out the window in silence. They were falling into an unhealthy pattern. Whenever he got too close, she retreated. That wasn't working for him.

He hoped he'd get the chance to talk to her in private. If she refused to see him again, he'd be crushed. In a short time, he'd become completely infatuated with her. The emotional connection had snuck up him.

Why hadn't he been more guarded?

He knew better than to lose his head over woman who wasn't interested in getting involved. She'd been distant all week. Then, last night and today, she'd
opened up again, sharing intimate personal details. Those moments had encouraged him.

The way she'd responded to his kiss had also encouraged him. He hadn't imagined her moaning and digging her nails into his back.

Damn it.

When they arrived on Surfrider Way, he helped Alyssa out of her car seat and carried Leah's beach bag to the front step. She ushered the girls inside and paused in the doorway to disengage a security alarm. “Go wash up for dinner.”

“Is Brian going to eat with us?” Mandy asked.

“We'll see,” Leah said, obviously meaning no. They raced down the hallway and she stepped back outside with him, closing the door behind her.

He waited for her to speak.

“You lied to me,” she said.

“What?”

“You pretended you were poor.” She gestured at his beat-up truck and faded T-shirt, as if they were evidence of his deception. “Your hands feel like sandpaper!”

Brian flushed at the criticism. He wasn't ashamed of his calluses, his work truck or his worn clothes. They were part of who he was. Success hadn't erased his past or softened his rough edges. “I haven't told you any lies.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “I asked if you'd done work at that house, and you spoke as if the owner wasn't you.”

“That was a joke,” he said, raking his hand through his hair. “I didn't mean to give you the wrong impression, and I wasn't trying to hide anything. I thought it was kind of cute that you didn't realize the house was mine.”

“Cute?” Her expression was skeptical.

“Yeah. I liked that you were interested in me, not my finances.”

“I felt sorry for you!”

Ouch.
He looked away, shaking his head. “Sympathy is the last thing I want from a woman.”

“You deliberately misled me.”

“The hell I did,” he said, lowering his voice. “You made assumptions based on my appearance and the type of work I do. Maybe you're used to men who brag about money and drive flashy cars. That's not me. I
like
getting my hands dirty. At the end of the day, they wash as clean as anyone else's.”

She opened her mouth to reply, and then closed it.

“You seem bothered by the fact that I make a comfortable living. Did you feel safer, thinking you were above me?”

When her eyes filled with tears, he knew he'd crossed the line. He also thought he'd hit the nail on the head. But it wasn't like him to argue with a woman, and he cared about this one. Although she'd insulted him and called him a liar, he still wanted her. Those harsh words didn't seem as important as the kisses they'd shared or the meaningful glances they'd exchanged.

What did he care if she'd preferred him as a bum?

“I'm sorry,” he said, lifting his hand to her face.

She turned her head to the side, shying away from his touch. “I'm sorry, too.” Murmuring goodbye, she went into the house and shut the door behind her.

 

Leah felt awful about what she'd said to Brian.

She knew she'd overreacted to the news that he wasn't destitute. Her scathing comments had obviously hurt his pride. The worst part was that he'd been right.
She was mad at him for keeping secrets, but what bothered her most was the newly leveled playing field. She
had
felt superior to him. When she'd thought Brian was poor, using him for protection seemed like fair game. She wasn't opposed to having a casual fling with a down-on-his-luck surfer. He wasn't appropriate for a serious relationship, so there was no danger of getting attached.

Now that she knew Brian was long-term material, she had to be more careful about getting emotionally involved. To her dismay, she already felt attached. She didn't know what she'd do if the Witness Protection Program relocated her again. If Mariano Felix was really on her trail, she could kiss Brian goodbye.

It was better to keep her distance and protect her heart.

Mandy and Alyssa went to bed early, exhausted from the long day in the sun. Leah took a bath that didn't calm her. Belting a robe around her waist, she walked up and down the hall, wringing her hands.

To hell with it. She had to talk to him.

Rushing back to her bedroom, she threw off the robe and rifled through her underwear drawer, choosing a black lace bra and matching panties. She'd never had the opportunity to wear the set before. It wasn't a good idea to wear it now.

She was tempting fate, for sure.

Ignoring her niggling conscience, she put on the lingerie, along with a pair of low-rise jeans and a slinky, scoop-necked top. It was New Year's Eve. If a woman couldn't dress sexy on an adult holiday, when could she?

She applied a touch of eye makeup and shimmery lip gloss, throwing caution to the wind. Slipping into ballet
flats, she fluffed her damp hair, which had been dyed several shades darker than her natural honey-blonde.

Preparing food was therapeutic for her, so she made a plate of snacks to fit the occasion. Cheese, crackers, olives.

That done, she headed out the door, cutting across the lawn to Brian's house before she could change her mind.

She raised her hand to knock on the screen door. He was standing at the kitchen counter, frowning at a stack of papers. Building plans, she supposed. His features were illuminated by the glow of an overhead lamp.

He turned his head at the sound of her arrival, his dark brows lifting in surprise. Abandoning his plans, he strode toward her, opening the door. His eyes skimmed down her body in a slow visual caress. “Leah.”

“I'm sorry,” she said, her stomach fluttering. “I overreacted. I do that a lot.”

He leaned against the doorjamb, smiling easily. “It's okay. I kind of like that about you.”

“You're kidding.”

“No. It's better to overreact than not care about anything.”

He was being kind—and she appreciated it. “The girls are sleeping and I can't leave them alone for long. Would you like to come over?”

His gaze darkened. “Yes.”

“Just to talk,” she blurted.

With a low laugh, he nodded. “I'll be there in a minute.”

She stepped away from the front door, careful not to trip on the uneven sidewalk. “See you then.”

While she waited for him to join her, she tidied up the kitchen and set the cheese plate on the coffee table.
Although it was an evening for spirits, she didn't have any alcohol in the house, not even cooking wine.

Luckily, Brian brought his own. He arrived on her doorstep with two bottles of beer. “Is this all right?”

“Perfect,” she said, waving him in and locking up behind him. She went to the kitchen, grabbing the bottle opener from the silverware drawer. He did the honors for them both, acting the gentleman.

“Cheers,” he said, clinking his bottle against hers.

Leah followed his lead, taking a small sip. Normally she would have poured her beer into a glass but she didn't want him to think she was a snob. She was afraid she'd already given him that impression.

“Have a seat,” she said, leading him to the couch. “I made some snacks.”

He sat down beside her, glancing at the cheese plate. The reminder that she'd refused his dinner invitation hung in the air between them.

She cleared her throat. “I wanted to explain myself.”

“You don't have to.”

Taking another sip, she set aside her beer. “I'm sorry I accused you of lying. You didn't do anything wrong. It's just that John used to take us out to dinner a lot, even when we were drowning in debt. He hid the truth about our finances and pretended everything was fine until it was too late.”

He was quiet for a moment. “I don't like being compared to your husband.”

Leah cringed, thrusting her hands in her hair. “I'm not saying this right. I think I connected to the two situations in my mind, and judged you unfairly based on his mistakes. Does that make sense?”

He gave her an assessing look. “Yes.”

“I'm sorry if I offended you. I guess I have…trust issues.”

“I understand.”

“Do you?”

“Of course. You think I don't have issues, after the childhood I had? You trigger some of my old wounds, too.”

“What do you mean?”