Page 99 of Healer's Call

She’s laughing as water runs down her face. “I messed it up.”

“No kidding,” Sabrina laughs.

“I want a redo,” Sara demands and swims over to the side. I follow them over to the side. When I get to the edge of the pool, I grab the sides of the ladder and pull myself up on the first step. I’m about halfway out of the water when I see him. “Mav,” I say breathlessly.

He gives me a soft smile, the one I’m pretty sure nobody but me gets to see. He’s obviously not dressed for the pool party; he must have just gotten back from his mission. He looks like it anyway in the black t-shirt that hugs his biceps and the cargo pants and black boots that make up the rest of his intimidating outfit. I’m completely tongue-tied. Oblivious to my distress, hereaches out a hand and pulls me up and out of the pool. He towers over me, and it feels weird to be in a swimsuit while he’s fully dressed.

“You’re not dressed for the pool.” I blurt out the first thing that comes to my mind.

He gives me his trademark smirk. “No. I just got back.”

“Did everything go okay?”

“We ran some leads down. Nothing concrete yet.”

Whether or not more happened, I know he won’t say anything right now. It's supposed to be a pool party, so I give him a bright smile. “Well, I’m glad you’re back now. Are you going to get changed so you can come swim?”

He glances at the pool. “I’m not the swimming type. My wolf prefers dry land, and we have that in common.” A tiny bit of disappointment fills me, but I push it down. "But you go swim; have fun. I’ll be around.”

I nod. “Yeah, I was swimming with Sara and Sabrina.”

“I saw.” His lips turn up into the hint of a smile.

I’m not really sure how it happens. One minute, I’m standing there talking to him. The next moment, Mav is shoved forward. Everything happens in slow motion. He stumbles into me, and I fall backward, unable to hold his weight. Strong arms wrap around me, and then the water comes rushing over my head.

Chapter 46

Rose

Without the chance to prepare and plug my nose or even take a breath, I suck in a gulp of water. We’re a tangle of limbs and clothes, and I panic because I can’t get to the top. Strong arms push me to the surface, and I suck in oxygen and immediately cough up water. Those same arms push me to the side of the pool, and I pull myself up on my elbows and try to stop choking on the water I swallowed.

“You okay?” a deep voice asks right next to me. I turn my head and see Maverick right next to me at the edge. I nod, unable to stop coughing. He pushes me over to the ladder and supports me as I climb out of the pool. Once I’m on the side of the pool, I bend over and cough up the rest of the water and try to clear my lungs. I stand up as Mav comes out of the pool. I bite my lip at the sight of him. I don’t know how in the world he managed to not drown on the bottom of the pool wearing those heavy boots and cargo pants. He looks so funny climbing out of the pool, fully dressed for combat. I laugh; I can’t help it. It just sneaks out of me. At the sound, his head jerks up; and his dark eyes meet mine. His eyebrows rise. “You think this is funny?”

I shake my head, but it’s negated by the laugh that sneaks out. “I’m sorry,” I say. “You’re just dripping everywhere, and you just looked hilarious climbing out of the pool in all...that.” I motion to his outfit. He stalks toward me, and I take a step backwards. There’s a gleam in his eyes that I don’t like. At all. “Mav, let’s not be hasty,” I say as I take another step backwards. “Just remember, it wasn’t me that pushed you in.”

“Oh, I know; and I plan on tracking them down, believe me. But you...you laughed.” He stalks towards me, and I realize I’m in big trouble. I turn to run, but he’s on me in less than two steps. He picks me up.

“Mav! Put me down!” I yell.

“Oh, I plan on it.” He gives me a look, and I see the devilish look in his eyes. “Plug your nose and take a breath.” That’s the last thing he says before I’m suddenly flying through the air. I feel like I’m in the air forever before I finally crash into the pool. At least this time, I have my nose plugged and a lungful of air. When I come up out of the water, I turn myself around until the beta is in my gaze.

“You are in so much trouble!” I shout out as I swim across the pool.

“Get him, Rose!” somebody shouts from across the pool, but I don’t take my eyes off him. He watches me as I climb out of the pool and stalk towards him. His eyes are dark when I finally stand in front of him.

“What are you going to do, Healer?” he asks in a low voice.

I stare up at him with absolutely no idea what to do to get him back. There’s no way I can get him in the pool by myself. “That wasn’t nice,” I say, poking him in the chest. “And I’m going to get you back, Beta.”

His eyes dance. “Is that right, Healer?”

“Yes, Beta!”

He leans close. “I’m looking forward to it.” His words are spoken right against my ear, and I can’t fight the shudder that runs through my body. “Did you eat yet?” he asks suddenly.

“No, but I’m starving after swimming.”

“Let’s go get some food.” He puts his hand on my lower back and guides me over to the food.

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