Free Flee From Evil by Connie Almony

before she realized her own worth had decreased in the process.
    His gaze rolled down the back of her as she led him through the hall, noticing the way her black, stretchy pants clung to her legs. What would it be like to … ? He shook his head. Focus Perkins. The money. That was what he was here for. But—
    “The addition will start right about here.” She pointed to the wall. “And attach to this bedroom.” Then she gestured to an open door.
    Kevin nodded. Whatever you say, lady.
    “Something simple.Windows on each side.” Cassandra turned and put her palms on her hips. “You can do it for the price we talked about, right?”
    “Sure.” It didn’t matter the cost, he’d drain her wallet anyhow. Not sure which way to choose. What was her greatest vulnerability? Scanning the bedroom, he stopped at the pictures next to her bed. Her little family. How cute. His lip curled. Hmmmm. Ideas were beginning to form, but maybe those were too complicated. He’d look around for a simple hit-n-run method first, but if that wasn’t possible, he knew what his hail-mary pass would be.
    “So when can you begin?”
    “I’ll have the supplies here on Wednesday morning. I can start soon after that.”
     
    ~*~
     
    Waterlogged. That’s how Sophie felt watching Tibo bounce and splash in the shallow end of the pool. The chlorinated soup swirled around her with the movement of the crowd dancing within it, swaying Sophie like a strawberry-banana smoothie whipping in a blender. She could feel the heat of the sun, baking her nose and shoulders as she tried to maintain her footing.
    Where was Sky? He said he was off work today, and planned to be here. Could she really count on the promise of a guy she barely knew?
    Sophie scanned the patches of grass surrounding the concrete walkway. Old ladies stuffed into bathing suits that should be illegal in their lack of fabric, kids chasing after friends with water guns. Mothers screaming across the water to one child dunking another. All this interrupted by short, shrill whistles from the lifeguard warning a swimmer on the brink.
    “What ya lookin’ for, Soph?” Sky’s voice had a rumble that rained warmth down her back. She turned, only to get lost in those golden brown eyes that almost matched his tan. His blond hair seemed kissed by the sun.
    “Hi Sky.” Sophie resisted the urge to note the poetry of that phrase.
    He sat at the edge of the pool then lowered himself into the water next to her, biceps bulging as he did. Did it suddenly get colder? She shivered.
    His eyes seemed to travel the length of her, caressing her in a way she kind of liked. “You’re not even wet, yet.”
    She pointed to her brother, twirling in the water. “I’m watching Tibo.”
    His smile made her bones noodley. “You can do that wet.” A wave of water erupted as he pushed it with his large hands.
    Bracing herself against the cold, she screamed.
    He laughed.
    “Okay, you’re asking for it.” She scooped a handful of water and let him have it.
    He wrapped his strong arm around her waist and plunged her beneath the waves.
    “Aaaaa—blub-blub-blub,” was all Sophie could say until she straightened out of the deep, tugged at the front of her bathing suit to make sure all parts were covered, and sucked in a big breath.
    “You look good wet.” His full lips nudged up on one side. “I like the new bathing suit.”
    Smoothing strands of hair from her face, she made a check for Tibo.
    Sky nodded to the side. “He’s right there. Still circling.”
    The thought of all those circles made Sophie dizzy. Oh wait, it was Sky who did that to her.
    Sky swooshed through the water toward her brother. “Hey, little man.” Tibo’s grin was uncontainable as Sky lifted him and twirled him around, making giant, circular waves.
    Sophie’s breath caught as she feared Sky would throw him into the deep. But he didn’t. He seemed to sense that Tibo didn’t possess the same survival instinct as normal kids, and would