Brazen (Brazen #1)(15)

The water wasn’t her enemy. She was.

She bit her lip and forced herself the last few feet. As she reached out to grip the rail, Seth grabbed her wrist. He hauled her out of the water and set her down on the hot concrete.

In an instant, she found herself folded in his arms. He held her so tight against his chest, that for a moment, she couldn’t breathe.

“Don’t ever scare me like that again,” he said gruffly.

She smiled and relaxed into his arms. She’d done it. She’d survived it. It had been scary as hell, but she felt lighter. Like she’d shed an unbearable weight. Her act of defiance gave her a freedom she hadn’t felt in many years.

Seth pulled her away. His jeans and T-shirt were soaked, which reminded her that she’d jumped in fully clothed. She glanced down her dripping body at the thin tank top clinging to her body, outlining every curve and swell. The dark shadow of her ni**les was visible, and she could feel his gaze raking up and down her chest.

“What were you thinking?” He gripped her shoulders and gave her a little shake. His fear had evidently worn off, and now anger had replaced it.

She stared unblinkingly at him. His blue eyes blazed with ill-disguised fury. And fear.

“I’m sorry if I scared you,” she murmured. “But I had to do it. I’m tired of letting him win.”

“Niña!” Carmen cried out as she hurried across the patio, a long towel billowing in her wake. “Have you gone loco?”

In a few quick movements, Jasmine was completely wrapped in the big towel, and Carmen just as quickly herded her back toward the sliding glass doors, clucking the entire way.

Jasmine chanced a look over her shoulder as she stepped inside. Seth was still standing there, his damp shirt clinging to his hard chest. His gaze locked with hers, and his expression became brooding.

“A new beginning,” Jasmine whispered. “I can’t be that little girl anymore.”

“What did you say, niña?”

Jasmine shook her head. “Nothing, mamacita. Nothing at all.”

“Go upstairs and get some dry clothing on. Then come back down so I can feed you.”

Jasmine smiled, but obeyed. She walked to the stairs and trudged slowly up, a sense of victory flashing brightly in her mind.

Chapter Six

Seth didn’t bother going up to change his clothes. They’d dry quickly. Though he was supposed to be meeting the wildlife biologist out on the north hundred, he went in search of Zane instead.

God almighty, when he’d walked into the house after his breakfast meeting and heard Carmen’s shriek and then seen where Jasmine was, he’d damn near had a heart attack. He knew yesterday’s incident had a profound effect on Jasmine, but now he wondered just how deeply she was wounded.

He found Zane in the utility shed gassing up the four wheelers. He didn’t waste time with a greeting. He went straight to the point.

“What the f**k went on with Jasmine last night?” he demanded.

Zane stiffened and turned around, his expression glacial.

Seth held up his hand. “I don’t mean physically. I want to know what happened to send her to your room. Was she upset? Did she talk to you?”

Zane folded his arms over his chest and leaned back against the four wheeler. “Why do you want to know?”

Seth related what had just happened. “She said she was tired of him winning, and I don’t know what the f**k that means. But I thought you might.”

Zane’s hand clenched and unclenched. His entire body was tense, and anger rolled off him in waves. “Son of a bitch,” he muttered.

“What?” Seth demanded.

As Seth listened to Zane recount the events of the night before, his jaw got tighter and tighter until his entire neck ached.

Zane ran a hand through his long hair and shook his head. “She really jumped in the pool?”

Seth nodded grimly. “Yeah, she did. Scared the shit out of me. She just didn’t look all there. I mean she was there, in the pool, but she didn’t look or act like she had a clue where she really was.”

“It took a lot of guts to do what she did,” Zane said quietly. “You know how terrified she is of the water.”

“Yeah, I do.”

They stared at each for another long moment. There was a lot unsaid, but Seth didn’t want to pursue it any further. The last thing he wanted was for Jasmine to become a bone of contention between them.

“I’ve got to go meet Brad,” Seth finally said. “I think I’ll ask Jasmine if she wants to go. It might do her good to get out for a while.”

Zane nodded in agreement, but he stared at Seth a little too intuitively for his comfort.

Seth strode out of the shed and headed toward the house. When he walked into the kitchen, he found Carmen hovering over Jasmine while she ate.

“I’m heading out to the north hundred to meet Brad. You want to go?” he asked.

Jasmine looked up at him, her eyes lacking the haunted shadows of earlier. They were bright and clear. Shone a luminous green.

“Do I have time to run up and get my camera?”

He nodded. “Of course. And finish eating. I’ll wait.”

Jasmine gulped down the remainder of her food and shoved her plate forward. She gave Carmen a quick hug then raced upstairs to retrieve her camera. Seth wasn’t avoiding her entirely. Granted he used to extend regular invitations like this, and she used to tag along behind him like a lovesick puppy, but she knew he was seeing her differently. He never seemed to be so uncomfortable around her.