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"Yes … no, I guess not It’s no big deal I’d rather not do it is all"

"Why not?"

She shrugged "I like the beach and everything, but I’ood swimmer and--"

"It’ll help, babe"

"Sauet back to ood, and I don’t want to putinto the water It’s not a big deal"

He went still, preparing an argu hi ht you liked it"

"Generally I do, especially when you say it in that sexy tone of voice One look into your eyes and I’m ready to dive into the deep end of the pool"

"Good, that’s what I want to hear"

"But not when it sounds like you’re disappointed in me Then it sounds like a chastisement"

"You’re afraid?" He suspected that was the case

Her beautiful eyes looked up at him "I’ot in the pool with you?"

Her eyes widened, as if she wasn’t sure she’d heard him correctly "You’d do that?"

"If it would help you, of course"

She appeared stunned "I … I don’t know"

"If you’re worried about getting in, I’ll lift you so you won’t have to climb down the steps"

"It isn’t that"

"Then what’s the proble happened, didn’t it?"

She sighed and after a ht and the son of a faht it was funny I thought I was going to drown I’ve been uncomfortable in water ever since It’s silly, I know"

"It isn’t silly" Sahtened her, but if he everBeth

"It’s tiot over this, isn’t it?"

"You can do this, Beth"

"You’ll come in with me the first time?"

"Said I would, didn’t I? I’ll come more than once if you need ht his heart would quit beating What she didn’t knoas that he’d be willing to walk over hot coals if she asked it of hi She was that i trouble

Chapter 14

Beth

Beth was convinced it was ainto the pool for her physical therapy This phobia of being in the water was completely irrational It wasn’t like sorab her, and hold her head underwater She wasn’t a kid any longer