“People never give city girls enough credit. It’s not about where you come from. It’s about how eager you are to learn something new. Do you want to learn something new?”
“Is there a choice with you?” she asked coyly.
“We don’t have to do this at all if you don’t want to.”
“I do want to,” she said. “Teach me how this works.”
Ash helped her position the snorkel between her lips before she bit down onto it. He placed the goggles on her face, then adjusted the tension so it suctioned against her face. The tension wouldn’t only keep the goggles from leaking, but it would keep her snorkel upright, so it wouldn’t dip into the water. That way, she could go three feet under and still be able to breathe.
“Now, practice breathing solely through your mouth,” Ash said.
And immediately, Kallie breathed through her nose.
“See? This is why we practice. A dead Kallie is no good.”
She giggled into the snorkel and the sound made her laugh even harder. Ash smiled along with her as they sat on the edge of the boat. He grabbed her feet and continued to coach her on her breathing while he slipped her feet into flippers. His touch was gentle and his hand was guiding. Kallie enjoyed how patient he was with her. He didn’t get upset or frustrated at how many times he had to readjust the flippers to get them comfortable on her feet.
James would have.
“Okay, how do those feel?” he asked.
Kallie nodded and drew in a deep breath through her mouth.
“Perfect!” Ash exclaimed. “Keep practicing your breathing while I get my gear on.”
Kallie’s eyes followed him as he went to go slip on his fins. She cocked her head and studied his form as he bent over and adjusted the tabs. He was phenomenal. A beautiful body surrounding a patient, loving soul. Her heart slammed against her chest and she drew in a deep breath through her mouth, realizing she wasn’t breathing as she studied him.
What was this man doing to her?
After a little more practicing, Kallie felt comfortable enough to get into the ocean. Ash held tightly onto her waist, and she melted into his presence. He coached her through placing her head under the water and practicing her breathing, telling her
he’d be there the entire time to help her. She dipped down a few times, each time going a little lower. Until she was three feet below the top of the ocean and could still breathe okay.
She resurfaced with a smile on her face and two thumbs-up for the beautiful man in front of her.
“Perfect. Ready to go see the reef?” he asked.
“Oh yes. Lead the way.”
“Okay. Follow me. And let the fins do all the work. Don’t kick with your ankles, kick with your thighs. Like a mermaid.”
“Got it.”
Kallie dipped underwater behind Ash and soon she was gliding like a sea creature underneath the water. The coral reef boasted all kinds of colors and magnificently exotic fish. Every once in a while, Ash would tap her on the shoulder and point out a sea creature moving from its camouflaged state. The entire world below the water was colorful and filled with delight. Kallie got brave and held her breath, then sank lower into the coral reef, and started swimming around it.
She emerged and spit the seawater out of her mouth, then dumped it out of her snorkel.
She went back under several times, each time getting a little deeper and a little farther than the last. She took Ash’s hand and they swam together, watching all the angelfish, rainbow fish, and the small octopuses. She rolled with the waves and felt Ash wrap his arms around her more than once, and the entire time was filled with a magic she’d never experienced before.
She emerged, tangled in Ash’s arms, and their lips crashed together as the sun started to sink below the horizon.
“Care for some dinner?” he asked.
“I think I’ve worked up an appetite,” Kallie said.
“Me too. How does a nice crab salad sound?”
“You can make a crab salad?”