Free His Surprise Son by WENDY WARREN Page B

snow just above the pool area was not lost on her.
    “We’ll take it as slow as you want.” His voice was coaxing as he led her into the water, the shock of cold offset by the warmth of his hand and his eyes.
    First, he held her around the waist while he taught her to trust her body to float. The delicious sensation of water slipping between their skin distracted her from fear, and eventually she didn’t know what was more buoyant, her mood or her body, as she realized the water was supporting her. Their legs tangled happily as he moved them into the deeper area and taught her to tread water.
    He helped her to float on her back and to feel comfortable submerging her head, every word, every gesture, gentle and encouraging. Then, when she was so relaxed she thought she could stay in the pool forever, Nate made magic. Having her hold his shoulders, her body resting on his back, he plunged them both beneath the surface, giving her the experience of swimming underwater. She felt like a mermaid! Never before had she realized that trust could feel so exhilarating or that safety in another person’s care was such a gift.
    When they resurfaced, she was laughing, and so was he. “You did it,” he said. “You’re a water baby.”
    “‘Baby’ is right.” She giggled, pleased and embarrassed by his obvious pride in her. “I only did what most five-year-olds can do.”
    “I don’t know too many five-year-olds who can swim and rock a bikini,” he pointed out, fire in his eyes and an intoxicating huskiness in his voice. “And you are definitely, definitely doing both.”
    Delight filled every nook and cranny of Izzy’s body.
    Holding on to the side of the pool, she and Nate grinned at each other. One of his arms curved around her, his hand on her back. And then, as if the lapping water were nudging them, they moved closer until her legs rested on his hips and both his arms were around her. They weren’t two bodies anymore. The water and the wonder created the illusion that they were one. Or maybe, Izzy imagined dreamily, less than one; it was as if they moved inside a single cell.
    As their lips met and their chests touched, she felt Nate’s heart beat with hers. For hers. Suddenly, she couldn’t think anymore and, for once in her life, felt no need to. With every word, every action, he made her feel important, special exactly as she was.
    Lingeringly, as if they had all the time in the world, they spoke by touch and in kisses—soft and sweet, warm and deep, a language that, tonight, was all theirs and theirs alone. Izzy knew that loving Nate had changed her. She would never, ever be the same again.
    She would never, ever want to be.
    * * *
    Anticipating getting Izzy’s voice mail after several rings, Nate was vacillating between leaving a message and hanging up when finally the ringing stopped, and a tired voice answered, “Hello.”
    Concerned momentarily that he’d woken Izzy up, he checked the digital clock by his bed in his room at the inn: eight thirty. “It’s Nate. Did I wake you up?”
    There was a pause. “No.”
    “Are you home?”
    Another pause. “Yes.”
    “You busy?”
    He thought he heard a soft sigh. “No.”
    He stared at the mug of coffee on his end table. Fourth cup of caffeine since he’d left her today. He was never going to sleep tonight, but he craved the taste of coffee when his mind wouldn’t settle, and at the moment every one of his thoughts felt like a speeding train.
    Izzy had already told him to get lost, hadn’t she? Get lost was closure.
    Problem was, he seemed not to want to let it go, and the dog-with-a-bone feeling persisted. It didn’t feel half-bad. For the past couple of years, he hadn’t cared enough about anything to fight his way upstream.
    When Julianne, his now ex-wife, had suggested they separate, she’d said, “We have a pleasant relationship, Nate. A nice life. But there’s not much passion, is there?” She’d said it gently, clearly not looking to