Bestselling Authors Collection 2012(103)

They returned to the cabin late that afternoon to enjoy a cup of coffee on the deck and Constantine leaned back in his chair, stacking his feet on the top railing. The cabin rested within the protective embrace of a stand of cedar trees, about fifty feet from the water. A solid two hundred yards from shore a raft teetered back and forth against the slap and drag of gentle wind-driven waves. From his current position he could look out across the shimmering blue lake to the dense forest beyond, with the Sierra Nevada mountains rising majestically in the background. It was an amazing sight, one he’d be all too happy to view on a regular basis. No wonder the Dantes loved this place. And how fortunate to have been able to acquire all the surrounding property. He couldn’t help but wonder how many years that had taken.

“It’s getting late,” Gianna commented.

Constantine kept his voice calm and nonchalant. “The sun doesn’t set for hours yet.”

“Still…” She took a final swallow of coffee and set her mug onto the glass-topped table beside her with a decisive click. “Let’s get this over with.”

Without another word, she stood and disappeared inside the cabin. He followed in time to see her vanish into the bedroom she’d staked out, and continued on to his own. Stripping off his clothes, he changed into trunks and returned to the deck.

Gianna joined him a few minutes later, wearing a pale lime-green one-piece, the color somehow intensifying the unusual shade of her eyes. The squared bodice was modest, just hinting at her generous cleavage. And she’d tied a misty drape at her waist that fell to her calves in a swirl of blues and greens. All he could think about was how quickly he could strip away that drape, followed by her swimsuit.

She shot him a questioning glance over her shoulder. “What?”

He gave her a slow, hungry smile. “Skinny. Dipping.”

She darted across the deck with a laugh, her curls bouncing against her back. “You have to catch me first.”

A short stack of steps ended at a narrow pathway leading to the stretch of beach closest to the dock and boathouse. She hurdled over the stairs in a practiced maneuver and hit the path at a dead run. The predator in him roared to life and he gave chase. He would have caught her, too, if she hadn’t frozen at the water’s edge. Her stillness had him pulling up beside her, careful not to do anything that might spook her.

“You don’t have to go in,” he reassured.

“I know, but I’ve delayed long enough,” she said grimly. She untied the drape and tossed it onto the sand in a resolute manner. “Let’s give it a try and see what happens.”

It didn’t take long. Constantine stuck right by Gianna’s side. She waded in until the water lapped around her waist. One minute she seemed perfectly normal and the next minute her breath hitched and she spun awkwardly around. Before he could sweep her from the water to safety, she tripped, plummeting beneath the surface.

He was on her within seconds, snatching her up and lifting her high in his arms. But the damage had been done. She lost it. Curling into him, she choked on the water she’d swallowed, weeping in terror. He carried her straight to the cabin and into the bathroom. He turned on the shower, the spray hard and hot. With her still in his arms, he walked into the huge mosaic tiled stall.

“I’m okay, I’m okay,” she wept.

“I know you are. We’ll just stand here, anyway, until you’re more okay.”

He lowered her onto her feet and pushed the wet hair from her eyes and simply held her tight against his chest until her shuddering sobs faded and her heartbeat calmed to a slower rate. The heat helped loosen her tight muscles and ease her trembling. Finally she tilted her head back and looked at him.

“Damn,” she whispered.

His mouth twitched. “Didn’t go the way you planned?” he asked tenderly.

She slicked the moisture from her face. “You could say that.”

“Did you really expect your phobia would disappear the minute you stepped in the water?”

“Yes,” she grumbled. “I did. It’s an irrational knee-jerk reaction. I’m not the one who drowned.”

“Clearly.”

“I’ve never even had a close call,” she continued. “There’s no logical reason for me to fear the water.”

He hated to suggest it, but given the circumstances… “Have you considered therapy?”

“No. It wasn’t until David that I was even willing to accept that I had a problem.” She reached around him to turn off the water and squeezed the water from her hair. “I want you to know this is unacceptable.”