Page 56 of Too Much In Common
“That sounds very nice. I wonder if I’d like swimming all day instead of flying?” Her voice came out husky.
“Hold your breath.” It was all the warning he gave her before they submerged.
His kiss was not unexpected, though it felt weird as the water pulled at her, trying to separate them. Desperately, she maintained the kiss. There was something sensual about fighting the pull of nature to cling to Chris. She adjusted her hands so one was behind his head and the other at the base of his neck, afraid if the kiss were to end, she would gasp and drown. Not likely; Chris would protect her.
He tightened his arms around her and brought them both to the surface. Now that the water no longer tried to separate them, his lips moved over hers without the fear of separation. Tian wrapped a leg around his to hold herself steady.
She’d never kissed in a pool before. This was the kiss that should have been on her bucket list that she didn’t know about. Anything higher than triple platinum?
Chris ended the kiss and rested his forehead against hers, his hands still framing her face. They both drew ragged breaths.
Above their heads, a speaker crackled. “Congratulations. You were underwater long enough to set off the electronic lifeguard. Considering the way you were giving mouth to mouth, we will not be sending security.”
Chris glared at the security camera. “Javier!”
Laughter boomed over the speaker.
Another voice spoke, “The judges are giving you a 4.8 for synchronized swimming. It would have been lower, but they are impressed—” With a pop the speaker switched off.
Tian released her hold on Chris. “I forget they are always watching. Is there really an electronic lifeguard?”
“First time I’ve heard of it. But Colin Ogilvie is always inventing things... No telling what he might be testing.”
She rolled her eyes. “That was an embarrassing end to a kiss.”
Chris took her hand and tugged her into swimming to the side of the pool. “I thought kissing underwater would be different. I guess I am not meant to be a merman after all.”
“It was fun to try. Even if we had your roommate and who-knows-all watching?” Tian turned to the camera and made a face. “Way to ruin a workout, Javier!”
“I doubt he’s listening. I’m not sure this room is mic’d.”
“Next time I see him, I’ll make sure he’s listening. I have a few choice words for him. I am not fond of voyeurs.”
Chris pulled himself out of the pool and sat on the edge. He’d make an impressive merman. “Done?”
Tian swam to the ladder to climb out. “I’d better go finish that laundry. And schedule my class with Hastings.”
A mother and three children entered through the locker rooms. It took a moment for Tian to recognize Candace Ogilvie.
Dana carried an assortment of pull noodles. “Leaving?”
Tian wrapped her beach towel around her, tucking in the end to leave her hands free. “Yes, the pool is all yours.”
The oldest boy stopped to high five Chris before jumping into the pool. Dana followed.
Candace set a pile of towels on the bench next to Tian’s bag. “Have you met our children? The tall one is Porter. He is seven. Pollyanna is five, and Peter is three. I never thought I would be a mother, let alone have three children at once.”
“I haven’t met them.” She’d heard Candace discuss them in vague terms on her podcast. An acquaintance who’d lost her battle with cancer had asked Candace to take them when she died. On the Podcast, she referred to them as Hewey, Dewey, and Lewey to protect their identities.
Candace whistled. All three children stopped playing. “Kids, say hi to Miss Johnson. She’s a pilot.”
“You fly planes?”
“Are they big?”
“Did you fly the one Mom was on?” the children talked over each other.
“Yes, to all three questions.”
