Page 100 of Make Me Dream of You

Wood’s parents live in a gated community up in the hills overlooking Seattle and Puget Sound amongst other multi-million-dollar properties. Noah and Wood’s mothers were sisters, and, from what I can tell, came from an average, middle-class background. But Wood’s dad apparently comes from “old money.”

“Don’t worry, they’re vacationing in Italy right now.” Noah puts the car into park in front of a house with flat roof lines and endless planes of glass walls, half of it seeming to jut out over the hillside like it’s floating.

He holds my hand as he keys in a code on their fancy security system and then walks me through the house and out to the back where a crystal blue pool stretches the length of the house, the far edge disappearing into nothing but air as the landscape drops off to the valley below.

“Ready?” Noah takes off his shirt and tosses it to one of the pool lounge chairs.

I nod.

The sun reflects off the pool water and onto his inked skin as he backs into the pool and beckons me to join him.

I take a deep breath and take off my cover-up then step into the pool. My heart picking up speed a little, remembering the last time I tried to swim.

Noah dunks his entire body in the water, coming up and shaking water from his hair before slicking it back.

Fuck, but he’s gorgeous.

And he’s with me.

At least for the moment.

Shaking that thought, I go to Noah’s arms, standing where the water is at waist height. The water is cool but comfortable.

He looks down at me as he places his hands on my hips, sun blazing behind him, water dripping from his hair.

“I’m nervous,” I whisper.

He tightens his fingers into my hips and kisses my forehead. “This is important. I’ve got you. I won’t let anything happen. I need you to be safe.”

“I trust you.”

He gives me a tighter squeeze when I say it, his eyes saying even more.

“First, we’re going to work on your back float,” he says.

“I know how to float.”

Sort of.

“Great. Show me.”

CHAPTER 18

NOAH

“Don’t let go.” Livvy closes her eyes. The sun is golden on her skin, gleaming off the pool, water droplets sparkling on her body.

“I won’t let go. I’m right here.” I’m barely touching her back with my fingertips as she floats in front of me.

It took quite a few tries before she relaxed enough to do it.

I drop my fingers away.

“See, you’re doing it! All by yourself.”

Her eyes snap open and she sinks, splashing and thrashing under the water until she finds her bearings and pops back up.

“You let go!”

---