Diving In (Open Door Love Story) by Stacey Wallace Benefiel Read Free Book Online Page B

flip?”
    “I could get you some floaties for your le—”
    “Go!”
    Gabe rolls his upper body hard to the right, away from me, and his legs slip out of my grasp. The weight of them falling catches him off balance and he lets go of the kickboard. It pops out of the water as his upper body falls under.
    That day at the Chandlers’ knees me in the gut and my body moves without hesitation. I’m down, underneath Gabe in an instant, looping my arm over his chest and under his chin. But this time he shrugs off my help and pushes himself to the surface with his arms.
    I come up smiling at him treading water, but he’s not smiling back.
    “What?” I ask, kind of knowing what but hoping I’m being extra sensitive.
    “Did we test for lifeguarding at the same time or something and I don’t remember it?”
    I should say yeah, that’s it.
    “No,” I answer, unable to stand one more lie. “Why?”
    Gabe shakes his head like he’s got water in his ears or he’s trying to jog his memory. “Weird. I just had some crazy déjà vu. Except the water was all murky and I could see your brown hair floating all around my head and feel your arm on my neck.”
    I run my hand over my head, my hair tucked neatly under my swimming cap. “That is weird.”
    “Wow,” he says, seeming to brush off the memory. “Treading water is a lot more tiring when you can’t use your legs.”
    “You gonna let me help you now?” I ask, lunging toward the kickboard floating a few feet away.
    “Yes, please.”
    “No problem.” I give him the board and then man his legs, pushing him back to the pool edge.
    “Maybe the stairs at the shallow end would work better for getting out?” he suggests.
    I steer him to the wide steps. “Good call.”
    Gabe ditches the kickboard a little more gracefully this time and then takes hold of the railing that halves the steps. He pulls his body out of the pool like this for as long as he can before switching to his hand walking, leg dragging method.
    “Grab my chair for me, will ya?”
    “Sure.” I walk past him and go to push his chair, but the brakes are on. “Uh, this thing no go.”
    He snorts and shakes his head. “I think it’s rad that you’re even less mechanically inclined than I am.”
    I roll my eyes at him. “I’m sure you do and I’m also sure you can sit over there for three hours or just tell me how to unlock the brakes.”
    “Jeez! Touchy subject?”
    “Obviously.”
    “Push in and then pull up.”
    I get them unlocked after a few tries and wheel the chair over to him.
    “Can you help me get in?” He holds his arms out to me and I straddle his legs, squat down, and wrap my arms around his chest.
    “Count of three?” I ask.
    “One, two, three,” he counts off.
    I hoist him up high enough for him to get his hands on the edge of his seat, but when I start to let go, the chair begins to roll backwards. Gabe’s eyes meet mine. “Brakes?” he says and then we’re falling and I’m sitting on top of him, his pelvis pushed right up against my crotch and things are decidedly working at this moment.
    Gabe looks down between my legs. “More, or less embarrassing than when you grabbed my junk?”
    I feel my nipples peak and make no effort to get off of him. Gabe’s gaze travels from where our bodies are touching to my mouth. I can feel the heat of his wanting me in that look and goosebumps break out all over me in a shiver of pleasure.
    This is what it means to desire someone.
    I forget all the rules I’m supposed to abide by, all the ‘no’s, all the why I ‘shouldn’t’s. I ignore the rough concrete of the pool deck digging into my knees. Gabe brushes the curled fingertips of his right hand lightly up my arm.
    “Brynn?” he asks.
    I lean over, placing my hands on either side of his head, and lower my mouth to his in answer.
     

     
    Chapter Eight
     
     
     
    “You’re telling him tonight? First thing?” Gabe asks as he plants soft kisses along my collarbone, the tip of