Catch My Breath by Lynn Montagano Page A

Everyone loves the beach. Alastair and Kevin talked shop for several minutes, so I strolled around the plane. In a word, it was huge. Avoiding coach with screaming kids and cramped spaces was a tempting idea.
    “What do you think?” Alastair’s velvety voice cut through the air.
    “It’s not that dodgy.” I grinned.
    “I’m glad you approve. It’s all yours if you want to use it.”
    “I don’t deserve your generosity.”
    When I looked into his eyes, they darkened. He grabbed my shoulders and brought our foreheads together. “Jesus Lia, just accept the gift,” he whispered.
    I froze. Even after all the bullshit I spouted off in the car, he still wanted to do this for me?
    "If I agree to this, I'll be in your debt for, well, probably forever. I can't accept it, Alastair. I just can't."
    I glanced at the gleaming white plane and sighed.
    “Consider it, then? The crew knows to be ready if they're needed. You don't have to give me an answer now."
    At some point, I had to believe that not every guy was a substandard human.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    I curled up on the bed, snuggling into the pillows. Alastair was in the kitchen making us some tea. The floor creaked in the hallway as he made his way into the bedroom. The wooden tray he carried held the mugs along with milk, honey and sugar.
    "I'm not sure how you take your tea, so I brought in everything."
    “It’s fine with just honey." I sat up and criss-crossed my legs.
    Alastair squeezed a teaspoonful of honey into one of the mugs. He blew on the steaming drink and handed it to me carefully before sitting on the edge of the bed. We sipped in silence for a few minutes. The atmosphere in the room was heavy. Not uncomfortable, but certainly tinged with a level of uncertainty. A familiar pain began to grow and spread through my chest, suffocating me. For no good reason, my fingertips and toes turned into ice cubes. A distinct crushing sensation prevented any air from getting into my lungs properly.
    “Hey,” he whispered, noticing the change. “What’s wrong?”
    I sat as stiff as a board, clasping my hands around the mug until the knuckles turned white. Of all the times to have a panic attack, this had to be the worst.
    “I’m fine.”
    “You are not fine,” he admonished, taking the mug. “Your hands are freezing and you’re pale.”
    My heart pounded, frantically trying to escape. I couldn’t look at Alastair, not when I was in this state. Only the touch of his skin on mine kept me from going off the deep end. Closing my eyes, I focused on the warmth and softness of his hand on my cheek. It soothed me in a way I never expected.
    The mattress jostled as he repositioned himself. Pulling me into his chest, he wrapped his arms around me, holding me tightly. I slid my arms around his waist, wanting to stay like this for the rest of the day. I wasn’t even aware that he’d been whispering to me until his breath tickled my ear. Being surrounded by the feel and scent of him tamed my furious heart. I sighed heavily, nuzzling into his shirt.
    “Your heartbeat slowed down,” he said, unwrapping me from his embrace. I opened my eyes, stunned to see clear, bright emerald irises focused on me.
    “How do you know?”
    “I could feel it.” He put my hand on his chest. “Right here. Hammering away like a scared rabbit.”
    That little grin could melt the polar ice caps. I smiled, feeling my cheeks heat up.
    “I’ve made you smile. That’s a good sign.”
    “Don’t push your luck, Holden,” I grinned, pushing him back gently.
    “Feisty.”
    He pressed a small kiss to the corner of my mouth. The gentleness surprised me, making my brain go fuzzy.
    “I have to go finish up some work. You can stay here and rest if you want, or roam around the house.”
    "Work? On a Sunday? I take it this isn’t one of your free weekends?”
    “Not quite as free as last weekend, no. We have some investors coming in tomorrow and I have to do a presentation. It won't take me long, I