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She turned wide eyes to him.
“What is it?”
“I don’t… I don’t like water.”
He frowned.“It’s just a tub.”
She shook her head.“Not to me,” she blurted.
His frown intensified.“Do you want to leave?”
“No.I love this place.”
“Aside from the water.”
She tried for a shrug.“As long as you don’t expect me to swim in the pool or take a bath with you, I think I’ll be okay.”
His eyes dimmed with disappointment, and he walked her back inside the house.The rest of the tour was conducted in a subdued manner.Each time they neared his pool or the fountain, he glanced anxiously at her.
Bethany knew she’d grown pale by the time they entered the bespoke kitchen.He led her to one of the large islands and pulled out a stool for her.Pouring a glass of mineral water, he set it in front of her.
“How long have you had a fear of water?”
She shrugged.“I don’t remember when it started exactly.But I nearly drowned when I was younger.Twice.Once by accident.And the other time…”
His eyes narrowed.“Someone deliberately tried to drown you?”
She nodded.
“Who?”he breathed in that quietly dangerous way she’d come to denote as fury.She’d heard the same note in his voice when she’d talked about Chris.
The power behind it sent a shiver over her skin.As cowardly as it was, she wanted the atmosphere gone.“It doesn’t matter, Zach.I don’t want to talk about?—”
“Who was it, Bethany?”
She passed a hand over her nape to soothe the anxiety rushing through her.“Our neighbor’s son.He was a little older than me and used to come over to swim in our pool when he was home from college.I was fourteen at the time and he… he used to watch me.”She shrugged.“I kinda had a little crush on him.But I never thought…”
“He would return the crush?”
“Yes.Anyway, one day he tried to kiss me.Things got a little heavy.I tried to get him to stop.He got angry.”
“And he tried to fucking drown you?Where were your parents?”His nostrils were pinched, and his eyes were a dark, furious grey.
“They were next door with his parents.It all happened so fast.”
“It only takes seconds, Bethany.”His eyes grew stormier.“Did you tell your parents?”
“No.”
“Surely they must have wondered why you didn’t swim anymore?”
She shrugged again.“I think they assumed my old fear had come back.It’s not a big deal, Zach?—”
“It is to me.”Cradling her face in his large palms, he tilted her head and looked deep into her eyes.“You’ve suffered two near-death experiences and contended with that asshole of an ex too.It may not be much to you, but it’s a fucking big deal to me.Tell me how to make it better,” he said.
Her heart lurched.“Zach, you don’t need to,” she replied.
“I do.So many things could’ve kept you from me.I will take away all of your fears, Bethany.Each and every one of them.Or fucking die trying.”