Page 29 of The Bodyguard

The pool water rumbled behind her as someone jumped in. She hoped they would stay out of her way. Angela threw every ounce of her power into her stroke. Her biceps burned. Every kick hit harder than the last. Her breaths came with every other stroke, not nearly giving her enough oxygen for what she needed.

The other swimmer fell in line beside her. They were too close, and she would have panicked if she hadn’t realized who was by her side. Sawyer.

She faltered, pushing her head up with a gasping breath. He stood easily and held out his arm. She grabbed hold of him,still trying to catch her breath as he walked them toward the shallower end of the pool.

Angela pulled back her goggles and wiped her face. “What are you doing here?”

His blond hair was dark against his forehead. Sawyer raked the tousled strands back and took a few steps toward the shallower water. “You look like you’re trying to kick the pool’s ass.”

Her feet found purchase on the pool floor. The water bobbed at her chin. Angela half stood there, half treaded water. “More or less. It’s far more legal than strangling my ex.”

They moved to the side of the pool. “I thought you might be waiting out Jared,” Sawyer said.

“That too.” She hooked her elbow over the concrete edge and rested her head on her tired arm. The water came midway up his chest, lapping against well-cut muscles. Rivulets fell down his shoulders, gliding on their mad dash to the pool. Sawyer extended his arms so that his hands skimmed over the top of the water. He made small waves, back and forth, as he studied her.

“Do you think Jared will come around?” she asked.

Sawyer’s jaw tensed before he drew in a chest-expanding breath and let it out as though unconvinced of what to say. “I think he’ll weigh the risks and make the right decision.”

She pushed off the wall and half floated, half walked to deeper water.

“So the ex is on your mind.” His eyebrows rose. “The breakup is a good thing, right?” Sawyer asked as if he knew there was more to the marriage-proposal breakup.

Embarrassment curled down the length of her spine. Sawyer would never call a woman frigid. However, she couldn’t imagine any woman who received his intense attention would be able to resist. There was more to him than six-packs and sex appeal. He had the most easy-going, trusting demeanorshe’d ever met for someone who jumped out of helicopters or ambushed enemy tangos for a living.

“It’s a very good thing,” she agreed.

Sawyer sank under the water and swam a wide circle around her. When he surfaced, water dribbled down his face. “Do you want me to find Jane? Chelsea or Amanda or someone?”

“Why?”

His shoulders bunched. “Girl talk or something?”

Angela laughed and splashed water at him. “I don’t want to stress them out and make this a big deal.”

“You want me to go and let you finish your pool massacre?”

She laughed again and shook her head. “I can’t believe he expected me to go along with this stunt. I mean, can you imagine proposing to someone? That’s wild to begin with.”

His face skewed.

“But suggesting marriage like that? It’s essentially a business proposal. Could you imagine me saying, ‘Yeah, this is a great idea’?”

“Absolutely not.”

She flicked the water and glared. Paul had called her frigid. Humiliation took the gusto out of her anger. In a softened voice, she asked, “That’s insane, right?”

His eyes narrowed. “But that’s not what’s bothering you, is it?”

She hid her embarrassment and splashed him once more instead of answering.

Sawyer played with the water in front of him, reaching out and running his hands just under the surface. “Was he surprised when you said no?”

“Defensive.”

“Huh.” He crossed his arms. “Why?”

Warmth curled up her neck, and ashamed, she looked at the empty pool deck. She didn’t want to share Paul’s accusation.If Sawyer knew how long it had been since she and Paul were intimate, he might agree and would probably judge. Not because Sawyer was anything like Paul, but what kind of person stayed in a dead relationship and did nothing about it?

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