Page 63 of The Bodyguard

He laughed.

“Seriously, Sawyer. I feel like I’m high right now.”

He kept laughing and shook his head. “Have you ever done drugs?”

“Nope.” She held onto her hat but tipped her head back for a moment. “But this has to be the feeling people chase after. Because, oh my God. I feel like I could fly.” She tossed her bag and flip-flops out of the reach of the waves. “Get in the water with me.” She untied the cover-up from her hip and flung the garment onto the sand; then she threw her hat like a Frisbee into the vicinity of her discarded clothes.

Angela headed toward the water, casting another big and beautiful smile over her shoulder. “Don’t be a scaredy cat, Spider-Man. Come on.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

A lightness floated inside Angela’s chest. Adrenaline painted the ocean and sky vivid blues and made her feel invincible. Her heartbeat and thoughts were still too fast. She hadn’t been kidding. This experience must be what flying high, completely untouchable, was like.

The ocean was cold. The waves pulled back, but Angela was deep enough that the water covered her knees. She held out her arms as if to soak in all the warmth the world had to offer.

Another wave rolled toward her. Sawyer splashed as he ran into the water. The rolling wave crested, churning sand on its path. Sawyer scooped her as a wave hit. Laughing, Angela hooked her arm around his neck and squealed through the roaring onslaught of cold salt water.

Farther out, another wave formed. Sawyer cradled her to his chest and plunged deeper into the water.

“It’s coming.” She kicked her legs and waited until the last moment to bury her face in his neck.

His laughter and roaring water surrounded her. He waited until the last second before turning their backs to the wave. Her wet hair clung to her cheeks. The salt burned her eyes. But she didn’t care as he jumped the waves and dodged seaweed.

“Are you used to the water yet?” he asked.

“Nope.” Every time the water retreated, the wind blew over her skin. She held out her arm. “Goose bumps.”

“Then we have to go deeper.” He carried her until the water lapped at his chest. “Past the waves.”

Water pulled around them. “Sawyer…” He carried her until it reached his shoulders. “How deep are we?”

Angela kicked her legs again and tried to stand. The water covered her face. She pushed off the smooth sand and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I can’t stand here.”

“But are you warmer?”

She considered. “Yes.”

His handsome grin made her insides wriggle. “Then mission accomplished.”

“If I let go, I’m going to drown.”

He laughed. “You know how to swim.” But his hands found the backs of her thighs and wrapped her legs around his waist.

The heavy thud of her heart drummed louder than Mother Nature. The crystal-clear adrenaline high that had her rollicking with laughter had been replaced with a heavy feeling in her lungs and arms, a sensation so wonderful and terrifying that she was certain she might drown if Sawyer weren’t there to hold her up. Then again, Sawyer was the reason she couldn’t breathe.

This man was her friend. Her protector. Her bodyguard. She shouldn’t have a loopy, lightheaded desire to be this close, craving more. And the way he watched her made Angela’s stomach hit the sea floor and roll like a pummeling wave.

She should say something. Laugh. Joke. Hell, disappear under the cold water. But she couldn’t. His damp hair clung to his temples. Rivulets of salt water slid down his skin.

They were so close and not moving—until his palms skimmed over her thighs and ass and slid up her back. Angela could see her chest rise and fall in the water. Her breaths were too deep, but the oxygen wasn’t clearing her sun-kissed brain fog.

“You okay?” he asked.

She had to swallow before her voice allowed a small “yes.”

His forehead dipped to hers. His breath tickled her cheeks, and with her eyes closed, she felt his heartbeat thunder in his chest just like hers.

Angela opened her eyes. He was watching her. This close, she could see the flecks of ice blue in his irises. Her mouthwatered for his, and she tilted her head as if too quick a move would change everything.

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