Breathe Me (13 page)

“Anytime. You should come over more often. It takes time to learn, but I can show you how to swim so well, the sh
arks won’t be able to get you.”

With that I laugh
ed, accidentally sputtering some water into his face. I gasped, waiting for him to dunk me, but he didn’t. He blinked the drops away, squinted and smiled. That notorious dimple in his cheek returned to tease me once more.

“Are you sure?
” I said. “I might take you down with me.” My face went serious again, and I hoped he hadn’t changed his mind.

“Oh
, I’m positive, Piper. Any chance to get you to hold onto me like this, I’ll take it.”

That was the best thing I’d ever heard
, and holding onto him as he led me into the shallows again was the one affirmation I needed to stop fighting it.

Piper

STIRRING THE ICED
tea, I watched the throngs of people pass by. Sitting outside in hundred-degree weather was a favorite thing of mine. It helped that there were misters running; otherwise I’d have had to move inside the coffee shop so I wouldn’t pass out from heat stroke.

I
was on the patio of one of Sasha’s coffee shops. I’d been able to leave work early, something about there not being enough for me to do, so I’d gotten flexed out and needed a pick-me-up. Feeling tired but still not wanting to go home, I watched the street vendors, tourists and families hurry by, doing their best to avoid the searing sun. A lot of them were reddened, flushed from the warmth and sweating under their crisp white “Vegas” T-shirts and straw hats. Some were really burnt lobster red after spending a long day at the hotel pool. The sun was intense in Vegas, more so than any other place I’d ever been. Sunscreen was an absolute must, but most of these strangers didn’t know that and were now suffering the consequences.

Why was I
there? Sasha hadn’t yet invited me there, and he wasn’t working that day—to my utter disappointment—so why was I there? Maybe he just wasn’t working at this one, I wasn’t sure. I didn’t know why I was there and couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Maybe, in some small way, I wanted to see him. I probably should’ve just caved in and called him. After the long day of listening to complaints from patients about not getting what they needed now that they were home, I was mentally drained and needed a distraction. He was a mighty fine one for that, and I couldn’t stop thinking about making love to him or clinging to him in the pool.

So
there I was, sitting by myself, listening to music on my iPhone and people watching. It was the weirdest form of therapy, but it was already helping numb up my head. The cool mist landed on my face, immediately evaporating before it could soak in. I tapped on the table, worrying about life and things the way they were. Why didn’t I just call Joss and give her an earful? But that wasn’t what I needed. I didn’t know what I needed, and that was the most frustrating thing ever. Why didn’t I know? I was almost twenty-five, I should’ve known by now. I had a college degree, my own place, a good job. What more?

I sipped the cold beverage;
it felt like a blizzard running down my throat, somewhat relieving the unrelenting heat rising from the asphalt after a day spent absorbing the sun’s warmth. It would remain this way all night long until morning. Only then would the sidewalks be cooled enough to sit on once more.

“Piper?
” Sasha’s voice echoed past the soft music in my ears. I pulled out my earphones and followed it, finding him looking curiously at me. “Wow, I didn’t know you’d be here. Why didn’t you text me? I could’ve met up with you.”

“I,
um… I didn’t know I’d be coming here. I just dropped by after work.” I cleared my throat, straightening in my chair.
Oh yay,
I thought.
Caught red-handed.
“What are you doing here?”

“This i
s my coffee shop, remember? The Cup O’ Dream Coffee Shoppe? I own it.”

I turned to read the sign, acting unconvincingly like I hadn’t remembered. “Really? Oh…
I guess I forgot.”
Yep, totally busted.
I sucked in a breath and threw him a goofy smile. Maybe I could throw him off my trail if I just acted oblivious.

He looked doubtful but went ahead and pulled out the chair across from me, plopping down, looking even more tired.

“There’s some problem with one of the machines. Guess it’s not heating up the water hot enough or something crazy like that. I’m supposed to meet the technician any minute now.” Tilting his head, he studied me, his looks darkening as he followed my gaze toward the crowd. “It’s nice, isn’t it?”

“What?”

“People watching. I sit here a lot just watching them walk by. It’s hypnotizing, like you could sit here forever and no one would know anything about you. An anonymous watcher, like a statue or gargoyle.”

I sipped the last of my iced tea, frowning that it was
empty. “Yeah, it’s relaxing in a way. Makes you wonder if all those people walking by are happy or just about as miserable or in worse shape than you’re in. Sometimes I think that and I feel better, like my life isn’t so bad at all compared to some. It could be downright dreadful.” I smiled, hoping the heat covered for my rosy cheeks.

“Let me get you another one.” He grabbed my
empty cup and shot up from the chair faster than I could protest. “Sweetened tea, right?” I barely gave him a nod before he sprinted through the doors, letting them swing back and forth in his wake.

I guess
ed I wasn’t the only nervous one. That fact alone made me relax a bit, slumping in my chair and sighing. He was definitely not the same guy I’d dated in college. I quite liked this version of him. Memories of our night together brought a smile to my face. I must’ve looked quite insane sitting there grinning like a fool.

“Here,” h
e said as he hurried back, placing a new icy drink in front of me. One small gesture and I was happy as can be. Maybe it was just the small things that mattered.

“Thanks
.” I leaned back and waited for him to either tend to his machinery issues or chat some more. I really didn’t want him to go. Even sitting in uncomfortable silence was better than nothing. He was more addictive than caffeine.

“No problem. I’m glad you like
d it. My own special tea blends.” He held his own in his other hand, slipping back down onto the chair. “Listen, I’m glad you’re here. I’ve got to ask you something.”

“
Sure, what’s up?” I raised an eyebrow, hoping that whatever it was, it wasn’t something I couldn’t do.

“Can you babysit tomorrow? I know you’re off
, and I’m usually off, but my store manager quit last night, had to up and move to Colorado to join some nudist colony or something crazy like that, so I have to man the store tomorrow. It’s short notice, I know, but my babysitter can’t do it, she’s busy with family this weekend.” It was his turn to shift and squirm in his chair, his foot tapping madly on the concrete.

“
Um… sure. Okay.” I managed to not spit out my drink as I listened, already amused by the problems he had to deal with. No wonder he was always tired. I sat up, leaning my elbows on the table. “But I don’t know what he likes, what he eats. I rarely babysat when I was younger.”

“You’ll do fine. H
e likes you, that’s a huge plus. I’ll bring some of his favorite movies and games. He eats most anything, but I can bring food, too. I can’t thank you enough.”

I pasted a smile across my face. What
had I just signed up for? “It’s nothing. I kinda like the kid.”

Sasha jumped up from the chair and surprised me with a tight hug. I let him linger, his cologne
reaching my nostrils like pleasant aromatherapy. I was definitely more than relaxed now, and I didn’t want to let go.

“Do you want anything else? I can bring you a muffin or something else to drink.” He was kneeling, playing with my fingers as he waited for me to answer.

Yes, could I have a Sasha to go, please?

“Oh no, that’s okay. I’m goo
d. Listen, I’m heading home, but text me any details. Work was a killer today, and I think I’ll just relax the rest of the night.”

He laced his fingers through mine before fli
cking his eyes up to meet my gaze. “Sounds good. I’ll see you later then.” With that, he leaned forward and let his lips brush against mine before hopping up and disappearing into the store.

My h
and reached up, touching my warm lips and still feeling the hum of his kiss against them. Now that was a feeling I could definitely take more of. Sighing, I scooped up my purse and what was left of my drink and made my way out into the rush of people.

THE KEYS TAPPED
against the ceramic mug I had set on a table near the door. I peered around my apartment. It didn’t quite feel like the same place I’d left that morning. Maybe it was just my exhaustion, maybe it was Sasha on my mind every moment of my day now. I couldn’t shake it, but something mysterious about him made me want to know more now. He’d never mentioned his kid before he unceremoniously showed up with him. What else could he be hiding? What lingered under those sky-blue eyes that seemed to hide more secrets than I did?

It was disturbing. I could
usually read people really well, but Sasha? He was a puzzle that needed solving, but the infinite possibilities made my head spin. Nothing intrigued me more than a challenge, and he was definitely it. Besides, his sexy body sang to me to embrace it with every part of mine, and I was having a hard time staying away from that. It made me wondered how hard of a puzzle I was to solve.

I dropped my purse on the couch and kicked off my flats. My legs ached from running around the hospital
all day, meeting patients being discharged and organizing home care. It wasn’t that it was hard work or that I hated it. I just wasn’t into the hospital life anymore, for it was tedious and almost thankless with long hours. It was time for something more, something bigger and better. Well, maybe not bigger or better, but definitely different.

The cushions felt heavenly as I sank back, letting them engulf me as I closed my eyes. What else would I do? Where would I go if I left my job? I had some savings that could be used to do what I like
d for over a year, but it was risky. What if, at the end of the year, I wasn’t anywhere close to being where I needed to be? It was paralyzing, and I could see how easy it was for people to continue on in their dull, pointless jobs without ever fulfilling any dreams they might’ve had. Fear was an obnoxious thing which sucked the living breath out of your dreams.

What Sasha had said about not realizing my dreams and aspirations had struck a chord. I needed to get moving b
efore time slipped away again. I had to figure out how to get what I really wanted before it was too late. After this was all over with Sasha, that would be my goal. The faster it was all over, the faster I could move on with my life.

But s
omething told me my plans would never go the way I wanted.
Be careful what you wish for,
I thought, sighing.