TONY: Slow Burn (Raging Fire Book 1) by Kallypso Masters (the false prince TXT) 📕

Right after his appointment with Lisa, Tony scheduled his introductory scuba session for the following Monday morning. He showed up at the dive shop, signed some paperwork, and was fitted for the equipment needed for the Try Scuba session. He and two other students were transported by van to a local gym.

The instructor assembled everyone’s equipment poolside and donned his own gear. In the shallow end of the pool, the instructor had them form a semicircle and began the session. Tony listened intently then donned his mask and regulator, bent over at the waist, and submerged his face under water. He took his first tentative breaths through the regulator. It was similar to the one he used fighting fires. Once the newbie divers were comfortable with simply breathing, the instructor demonstrated how to clear their masks when water got inside it. Unlike one of the other students, Tony didn’t panic because he knew he wasn’t breathing through his nose any longer. Soon they moved to the deep end of the pool where Tony learned how to ascend and descend using the buoyancy control device.

Damn! He hadn’t had this much fun since…he couldn’t remember when.

The first experience intrigued him enough that, when he returned to the dive shop, he signed up for the Try Scuba diving in a nearby lake on Thursday.

At his session with Lisa that afternoon, he didn’t tell her that he’d already experienced his introductory diving lesson. First, he wanted to get out on the lake and make sure he could continue with the dive lessons without having an episode. Tony hadn’t been in deep water since the swift-water disaster. He’d always loved to swim and knew that the lake would be nothing like the river. While not overly worried, he also didn’t want to embarrass himself then have to tell her about it.

On Thursday, he went scuba diving in the lake with the instructor who took him down to twenty feet. Exhilarated, Tony went through a few new skills to become more familiar with the equipment. The water down here was colder than at the surface. Would he be able to dive much when the weather became colder? All the more reason to get in as many lessons as he could afford this summer.

At this depth, he marveled that he could see fish swimming around him as clear as day. Watching them meander by relaxed him even more. Suddenly, the screams he’d been hearing in his head for the past few weeks became muted by the steady rhythm of his breathing through the regulator. The bubbles floated toward the surface as if taking all of his troubles with them.

He couldn’t wait to talk to Lisa that afternoon. He might even tell Carm about it when he saw her Sunday but wasn’t sure he was ready to share yet, for some reason.

Sitting across from Lisa in her office later that day, he tried to describe the experience.

“The sense of peace I feel under water is incredible. The sound of the regulator makes all the noises in my head disappear for a while.”

“Wonderful! I’ve heard that from others who have tried it too.”

“I think scuba will be good for me, so I’ve signed up for the next open-water course.”

“I can see you’ve taken to diving like a fish to water.” She groaned. “Pardon my pun.” She became serious again. “But remember that you can benefit from your time spent in the water even without becoming a certified diver.”

“Yeah, but…” Tony glanced down sheepishly, uncertain if he wanted to mention Carm to Lisa yet. Oh, what the hell? “There’s this woman…” He grinned with a shrug. “She dives too.”

“I see.” She raised her eyebrows and was probably reading more into it than was there, but he didn’t protest her assumptions.

“Not that I’m doing this just because she likes to dive. But I would like to dive with her someday.”

“It’s always good to have goals for the future, but try to stay in the moment when you dive. Experience all that’s around you, focus on your breathing, and practice relaxing your body and letting go of your tension.”

Tony nodded. Diving was the best therapy for him at the moment.

He couldn’t wait to see the expression on Carm’s face when she found out he was learning to scuba dive.

Thoughts about finding something else they might enjoy doing together made him smile and gave him one more thing to look forward to.

Chapter Fifteen

Carm packed snacks and water bottles for them, having told Tony to just show up in his hiking gear and not worry about anything. She was used to filling backpacks with supplies for resort guests on her treks.

He’d texted this morning when he set out for Aspen that he was up for whatever hike she’d like. She’d chosen the Ute Trail in part for its beautiful vistas but also for its degree of difficulty. She rarely found anyone who could keep up with her hiking and wanted to do more than take a leisurely stroll on a moderate trail.

As she zipped up the compartment of the second bag, the doorbell sounded. Tony was a little early this time, but that was fine with her. If they chose to hike back down the trail rather than take a gondola ride, they’d need as much time as they could get.

After confirming it was Tony on the other side of the door, she opened it and smiled. His body filled the doorway. His polyester hiking shirt hugged his chest and biceps like a second skin. The sight of him sent a tingle through her, but she reminded herself that they had plans to hike today. There might be something more tonight, but she’d deal with that if—or when?—the time came. If she was going to hike this trail without making a fool of herself, she needed to keep her mind off carnal thoughts right now.

Tony made a quick pit stop in her powder room before they