Free One Night With the Billionaire (Men of the Zodiac) by Sarah Ballance Page A

take some practice. If you start to panic, just lift your head, spit out the tube, and breathe the old-fashioned way. When you’re ready, blow out the snorkel and get back to it.”
    He waited while she practiced clearing the tube. “Think I’ve got it.”
    “Just remember it’s a little harder when you’re not expecting it. Ready to swim?” His gaze skated lower. Her breasts, her abdomen…her muscles tightened with need.
    Oh, dear God . They’d finally fallen into companionable conversation—one not seething with sexual overtones—and he had to go and look at her like that. “Ready,” she managed to choke.
    “We’re headed for those shadows under the water,” he said, pointing off to the right. “You practice breathing with your face in the water, and I’ll stay up here so I can see if you get into any trouble.”
    Pathetic, the way her heart melted at that. He’d give the same direction to anyone, of course, but her insides had taken it personally and gone to mush. Still, she managed to make it from point A to point B without sucking in a lungful of water, though the memory of the softness and warmth of his lips on hers made CPR sound all kinds of tempting.
    Get. A. Grip .
    There was nothing between them but a past acquaintance. She wanted to go home to DC. She belonged in DC. And he must have everything he ever wanted here in the world he’d created for himself—a world that would absolutely never include her. He’d made that clear.
    “There will a lot of fish and plant life around this reef,” he said. “Move slowly and try to keep your feet up—the less you disturb the sand and water, the more you’ll be able to see.” He pointed to a school of fish visible from the surface. “From here, they look like Queen Angelfish. They’re blue and yellow and at the right angle appear to glow.”
    “Wow,” she said, impressed. She had him pegged for knowing one socket from another, but tropical fish?
    “Don’t be so surprised,” he said with a wry grin. “It’s probably the only one I know. Quintessential tourist favorite and soon on a souvenir near you. Neil is trying to teach me a few others, but I get so caught in the view, I forget to label things.” He laughed. “Too much like school.”
    “So why are you out here teaching me?”
    He looked at her for a minute before he spoke. Then, softly, “Because it’s nice to have someone to share it with.”
    Grip. Gone .
    She almost cried. Honest to goodness cried, standing there shoulder-deep in the glorious Caribbean with the bad boy she’d always wanted—one who owned a lethal combination of sweet and sexy like he’d invented it. Everything he did was a seduction, but he was so gracious. So humble. He had the world at his fingertips, but when he looked at her, she felt like she was his world. And that was a dangerous feeling. He wasn’t hers, but already he’d made her feel what no man before him had.
    Then again, that’s probably why his high school car had had a revolving back door. The man had seduction down to a science.
    Shit .
    She blinked back the burn of tears, grateful she could blame the water and he’d never be the wiser. Still, she looked away, at least until the lump faded from her throat.
    “That came out wrong,” he said. “It’s just nice to have a familiar face here, and such a beautiful one at that.”
    Yep, he had the player thing down. And she’d been played enough. She was done.
    “You okay?” He stood watching her, concern etching his forehead.
    “I think I’m going be.”
    He gave her an odd look, but she didn’t care. She was a long way from being okay in the truest sense of the word, but she’d get there. “So what’s next?”
    “You and me, babe. Let’s go see if we know our fish.”

Chapter Eight
    N erves tattered Zoe’s spine two days later as she approached the pool. It was the same one she’d passed upon her initial arrival, only now it was very much alive. Laughter drifted on the waves