Breathe for Me by Natalie Anderson Read Free Book Online

Never actually gets wet.”
    “Not even a toe? Does she put her hand in?”
    “Nothing.”
    This wasn’t good. He glanced at Terry. The guard was looking a little too keen at the screen for Xander’s liking.
    “And she’s always alone?” He ground out the question.
    Terry nodded.
    Somehow Terry having a secret with the sassy sweetheart bothered him. Did Terry know she was engaged? Did she flirt with all the guys? Was she that much of a tease?
    Xander’s blood rebelled at the idea. What was with his instinct? Was it that off?
    “It’s against the rules,” he snapped. “You shouldn’t let her. You don’t stop her I’ll report you.”
    “What’s gotten into you?” Terry finally tore his gaze away and spun on his chair to look at Xander.
    “She clearly has a problem. You want a drowned woman on your watch?”
    Terry shifted on his seat. His gaze sliding away from Xander’s. “I was watching over her.”
    Xander’s muscles tightened even more. “And how are you going to pull her out quick enough when you’re all the way down here?”
    “I know, but…” Terry frowned.
    “But what?” Xander growled.
    “She’s going to be disappointed.”
    And Terry didn’t want to disappoint her? Xander felt even more irritated. “She’ll get over it.”
    But Xander felt bad too. Little Miss Blue Eyes was the kind who had all the guys gunning to do things for her. To her.
    He glared at Terry. “Go fix it. Tell her she should swim half an hour before closing. Hardly anyone’s there then either. I’ll mind the desk for you.”
    Terry stared back at him. “You want me to tell her now ?”
    “Go.”
    Terry did.
    Xander stayed in position, eyes fixed to the screen. She was still by the water, rubbing her hands on her upper arms like she was cold. Other than that she was immobile. Frozen.
    He saw her spin as Terry came in. She hurriedly reached for her towel. A stupid amount of pleasure surged into his veins when he saw she didn’t look at Terry anything like the way she’d looked at him. But satisfaction turned to discomfort when he saw the impact of Terry’s words on her. Her narrow shoulders slumped, she clutched the towel closer. Even in the grainy images from the security cam he could see the distress cross her face—and the way she then proudly tried to hide it.
    Xander walked away from the screen. It wasn’t his business. She had someone in her life who ought to be supporting her. It wasn’t his problem if her fiancé was falling short.
    But it did piss him off.
     

 
     
    Chapter Five
     
     
    After being busted by the night manager Chelsea wasn’t stupid enough to try the pool on the weekend. With summer starting to sizzle, people were taking advantage of it and she didn’t want anyone around when she tried. So she spent Saturday and Sunday focused on her project, determinedly forgetting about how it had felt when ‘superman’ had held her tight. Except forgetting wasn’t quite as easy as she’d hoped. She found a spot in Central Park near a temporary art installation, armed with her camera to record people’s reactions to the piece. Every so often she zoomed in on faces. Plenty of good-looking guys wandered through Central Park. None of them made her have any insane ‘come-get-me’ sex thoughts though.
    Monday didn’t come fast enough. Work occupied her, offering a tighter brain leash than her solo weekend attempt. Plus, she figured there’d be fewer interested in the pool later in the evening. The guy had said about half an hour before lock-up would be her best chance of catching it quiet. If he watched the security cameras, he’d know she’d never actually swam. He’d know she didn’t need half an hour, only needed five or ten minutes. But she’d keep trying.
    This time. She’d get back in this time.
    If there was someone already at the pool, she’d leave. If someone arrived while she was there, she’d make an excuse and exit. No problem.
    When she peeked through the window she