“Take your shoes off then just stay still and I’ll work my way over.” Shoes might hamper her ability to kick her way up to the surface.
She reached down and moved her legs then said, “Done.” Water swirled around her breasts.
He was terrified of losing her. “Give me the bag.”
“No.”
“We were doing so well,” he deadpanned. “I’ll give it back as soon as we reach the surface.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “I know you will, but you’ll be busy making everything else work.”
“I’m a strong swimmer. I can handle it.” The sound of sloshing water stirred.
“Don’t drown. Nothing in that bag is worth losing you.” She handed the shoulder bag over.
He swallowed down his fear and hoped he was worthy of her faith. He slipped the long strap around his neck to let the bag hang in front of him and kicked off his shoes. Then he rolled over the console, pulling his legs through the water dragging at him and shoved his airbag aside. Twisting to get his right knee on the console for support, he stretched his arm past her and clamped the armrest on her door. He flailed his right hand in the water until he felt the driver seat and clutched it.
It was imperative for him to be as close as possible to open the door and push her out first.
Now he was face-to-face with her, inches apart. They had maybe thirty or forty seconds to wait. Her gray eyes were wide but filled with trust.
So different than when they’d first met in the basement of that mansion.
A thought hit him. “You can swim, right?”
“Are you serious?” Her eyebrows tucked together over the bridge of her nose. That pretty gaze narrowed with insult. “I may not have experience escaping sinking cars, but Idohave basic abilities.”
He grinned at her confidence. So damn hot.
Water climbed up to his neck.
“What is so funny, Sam?”
“You.” He leaned in and kissed her quickly, just enough to get her mind off drowning. Her lips parted and met his, kissing him with the same determination she did everything else.
Hallene did nothing halfway.
Water splashed his chin. He said, “Get ready, babe. When I bump your left arm, take the deepest breath you’ve ever drawn in your life.”
Her eyes blinked fast with renewed awareness. She looked around, but she gave him a quick nod as she pushed her body up to keep her mouth and nose above the water closing in on the ceiling.
His heart battered his chest.
He couldn’t fuck this up. Couldn’t lose this woman.
The second he went to draw his last breath, he bumped her arm and waited.
Nitro would be screaming at him to keep moving.
Not until Hallene drew in that deep breath.
She sucked air and her face disappeared into the water.
Sam inhaled, then shoved his knee on the console, reached for the door handle, and opened the door. He kicked it open, using his knee to hold him in place.
Hallene had moved to leave but not fast enough for him.
He grabbed her around the waist and pushed her out.
