When Tansy was satisfied from that angle, they changed trees and did it again.
And again.
When they climbed down, he was exhausted and exhilarated. Watching Tansy in perfectionist mode was fun and more of a turn-on than he’d expected.
“Time for a break, Tans.”
“What? Why?”
He rolled his eyes. “Because you’ve been at it for hours, and both your body and brain could probably use a break.”
She turned to him with eyes full of mischief. “What kind of break are you thinking about?”
He hadn’t been thinking about sex, well, no more than usual, but now he was.
His phone rang, and they both sighed. He pulled it out. “I have to take it or they’ll worry. Hey, Joe, what’s up?”
“Hey. I’m here with Marcus and Troy. We’re installing those new security beams at the sawmill. Got a minute to answer some questions?”
Tansy laughed softly and moved toward the dock. At the end, she started the stretches that would flow into her Tai Chi routine.
She’d used the dock once or twice before, but like her runs to the fort, she varied her routine. No matter where she was, she was a joy to watch. He watched her fluid movements while he figured out the logistics with Joe and the others.
Tansy suddenly went limp and collapsed to the dock.
Sam cried out and ran to her.
A scuba diver raised himself up high enough to slap a breathing apparatus over Tansy’s mouth and then pulled her into the water with him.
By the time Sam got to the end of the dock, there wasn’t even a ripple left to say where they’d gone.
Public Enemy #1
Water slammed into Tansy’s face, and she woke, choking to catch a breath.
Confusion and pain filled her.
She tried to wipe the water from her face, but her arms wouldn’t move.
Another blast of water had her spluttering. She wasn’t in the ocean being slammed by waves because there was no buoyancy.
Where was she?
Why couldn’t she move her arms or legs?
Panic raced through her, but she could hear Sam’s voice in her head, telling her to focus and to breathe. From the first, he’d been able to teach her to find her center, to help her focus, to get her to breathe through the panic.
Sam.
Where was Sam?
He’d been on the phone.
Tansy forced her eyes open but didn’t see Sam. Instead, she faced a bright spotlight shining right in her face.
She tried to move her hands and feet again, but she was still stuck. Why was she stuck?
The fog that filled her brain receded with each calming breath, with each echo of Sam’s voice leading her through the breathing and the routines.