Page 18 of Impossible Thrills

More water floated around her nostrils. Her muscles tightened. What if her mask filled up before Nick came? She didn’t want to clear it this far underwater and risk doing it wrong and getting even more water in her nose and even her eyes. The water would suffocate her and she’d surely drown.

Hays gave her a thumbs up. She stared at him. Should she return it so he wouldn’t make her clear her mask?

Chills pricked at her skin as she felt water creep around the edges of her nose. She was going to sneeze or cry or hyperventilate. Hays turned her to face him and gestured for her to clear her mask.

She shook her head. No way.

He kept motioning, and she closed her eyes so she wouldn’t have to look at him.

Please let Nick come fast, she prayed.

If he didn’t, she’d die down here.

Chapter

Six

Nick chafed impatiently, ready to get to Darcy and confused as heck by that kiss. What had he been thinking? It had been impulsive like he’d said, but he hadn’t done it only to distract her from the stress of going underwater. He’d loved every second of that beautiful connection.

How was he going to keep any kind of emotional distance after one sweet touch of her lips had upended his entire world?

Focus.

Raoul had given them each a knife and weight. He tucked the knife up the sleeve of his wetsuit and held the weight. He preferred to dive with a weighted belt, but the producers probably wanted it to look more dramatic. He was also used to diving in the chillier waters off Long Island or Dana Point not the balmy Caribbean but the temperature wouldn’t affect him much with one dive.

He glanced at Jagger. They were both perched near the edge of the boat, ready to dive. What kind of tricks would the man pull to win? Nick was growing to like Jagger and Hays. Jagger had said he felt badly taking money away from the children, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t compete viciously. He was on the show for Shawn and Mercedes, and he’d fulfill the role they asked him to. Plus he was one of those men who was so fiercely competitive it just wasn’t in his makeup not to win.

Aiden had beaten him. Of course Aiden had. That made Nick smile.

Light flashed from down in the water.

“Vámanos,” Raoul called out.

Nick leaped out of the boat, angling his body down. He sliced into the water, the weight stretched out in front, clasped between his hands. He worried Jagger would try to shove him or grab him or some kind of trick, but the man simply angled down with strong, precise kicks, his body undulating like a merman.

That was the trick, Nick realized. Jagger had been getting in his head making him worry and be more cautious and prepared for underhanded ploys, but he just planned on being faster.

Nick kicked harder than ever and felt his lungs constrict and the pressure grow in his sinuses as they got deeper. He wiggled his jaw and swallowed, but no way was he slowing to plug his nose, blow out, and ease the pressure that way.

He could see Darcy, Hays, and Paul straight below them. He was creeping up on Jagger, almost even with him.

Jagger hip-checked him. With the water’s resistance it only threw him slightly to the side, but it did slow his progress. The man darted down toward Darcy. Nick held the weight with one hand and grabbed at Jagger’s foot, yanking him up.

Jagger elbowed him in the gut, and his breath rushed out too fast. He could see Darcy’s eyes were wide, panicked. She was plugging her nose with one hand and holding onto her mask with the other, which made no sense.

He shoved the weight into Jagger’s thigh, pushing the man away. He had a foot of space and he took it, diving straight for Darcy’s ankle, dropping the weight on the ocean floor, grabbing the rope attached to the anchor and yanking his knife out. He sawed at the rope, his oxygen dangerously low. He was lightheaded, and spots appeared in his vision. His chest felt like a boa constrictor was squeezing him.

Jagger was coming at him with the weight. Was he going to knock him away from Darcy?

Darcy released her grip on her face mask and shoved Jagger away with both hands, preventing him from grabbing Nick. Jagger hadn’t seen it coming, which had made the move effective. Nick almost laughed, but that would take more precious oxygen.

Jagger was coming. Like a black shark zooming toward its prey.

Nick sawed at the rope. Almost through.

Jagger grabbed his suit from behind and tried to rip him away. Nick dropped the knife and clung to the rope with both hands. Jagger’s grip on him didn’t relax, and no way was he letting go. The rope splintered and gave in his hands, and Jagger dragged both him and Darcy away from the ocean floor.

Darcy was flipped upside down, being dragged up by the rope around her ankle. Jagger must’ve seen that and realized the fight was over and Nick had reached Darcy first and mostly cut her free. He thankfully released both of them.

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