His gaze slid back to hers. “I think that’s enough for one day. I need to get back to work.”

“Of course. Thank you for taking the time to teach me. I can do it by myself from now on.”

He frowned. “You can’t do that.”

“I’ll stay in the shallow end, but I need to practice.”

“Tell me when you’re going to practice. I’ll make sure I’m here.”

“You’re busy. You don’t want to—”

“Damn it, Emily! The purpose of this exercise is to increase your confidence around water, and that’s not going to happen if you’re on your own, so just say yes.”

“Yes. Tomorrow,” she murmured. “Same time. But you don’t seem very happy about it.”

“I’m happy.”

“Ryan, you’re speaking through your teeth, and you can’t wait to get out of this pool.”

“Because you’re standing next to me in a swimsuit that looks like something from a porn movie.”

She stared at him, her heart pounding. “You said—I thought—”

“What did you think?”

“That you weren’t interested. That this was all too complicated for you. That—” she hesitated “—that I’m not your type. I don’t know enough about sex. I—I’m not exciting enough.”

There was a long pause.

The only sound was the soft lap of water against the side of the pool and her own breathing.

“If you were any more exciting I’d need medical attention.”

Her stomach dropped, but this time the feeling had nothing to do with fear.

The air was punctuated by a tension as unfamiliar and alien to her as the swimming.

“I thought… Then why—”

“Because you don’t want what I’m offering.”

“How can you possibly know what I want when you haven’t asked me?”

His gaze held hers, and in that single moment the world consisted of the two of them and nothing else.

How could a single look be so arousing?

How could he do this to her?

“Emily—” He cradled the side of her face in his hand, stroking her cheek with his thumb as he looked down at her as if he was making a decision about something.

She was terrified he was going to change his mind. Walk away as he had the night before.

Instead, he lowered his head with a slow inevitability that made her wonder if anyone had ever died of anticipation.

His mouth brushed over hers with unhurried, skilled deliberation, the gentleness at odds with the leashed strength of his body. His eyes looked darker than usual, almost drowsy, clouded with emotions she found impossible to read.