Love's Tangled Web by Donna Taylor

Chapter 172

Chapter 172

“I’d rather die than stay here!” Ellie yelled back at Alex, stepping cautiously back.

Standing by the ocean, Alex watched in disbelief as Ellie retreated into the deeper waters. His brows furrowed, his blood boiled. “Ellie, don’t think you can scare me like this!”

Ellie continued to stare at him defiantly, retreating further until the water reached her knees.

Alex, fuming with anger, spun in place, pointed at her and shouted, “You’re standing in a spot where even a frog wouldn’t drown–if you want to die, just walk in!”

With tears brimming, Ellie gritted her teeth and kept backing away.

Watching from the beach as the water crept up to her thighs, then her waist, Alex cursed under his breath, “So damn stubborn!”

Ellie focused on Alex, analyzing his every expression. Biting her lip, she closed her eyes and pressed on farther into the

water.

That summer, she nearly drowned after falling into a chemical waste pool while trying to save someone. From that day on, she developed a deep–rooted fear of water–especially deep water.

her name, but before she could

she found herself in Alex’s arms. Panicking, she clutched desperately

he carried her to shallower water. He set her down, looking at her pale face that was scarier than death

released her, pretending to toss her back into the water. Ellie gasped, wrapping her

to throw her in; he just wanted to startle her, quickly pulling her back to safety. Looking down at her, Ellie hung on

to die, you’re coming with me,” Ellie gasped, trying to calm her racing heart.

you,” Alex remarked, the tension within him easing as he carried her toward the

Alex to hold her all the way back to the house. She glanced up at him; he seemed in

Alex. Men were as hard to read as the deep blue sea–one moment all calm, the next a storm. In the bedroom upstairs, Alex stepped out of the bathroom, wearing nothing but

bed, wrapped in her blanket like a quail, her eyes glued to him. He

“can we talk?”

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Chapter 172

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watched Ellie’s pale face and lowered his voice. “Why do you have to acknowledge