Mia had always been obsessed with the water. At twenty-six, she was a rising star in competitive swimming, but her times had plateaued. Desperate for a breakthrough before the next national trials, she’d hired the best: Coach Jax Harlan, a former Olympic gold medalist and world-record holder in the 200-meter butterfly.
At thirty-four, Jax was a legend, tall, broad-shouldered, with the kind of lean, powerfully cut physique that came from years of brutal training. His dark hair was perpetually tousled from the water, and his piercing blue eyes seemed to see through every excuse an athlete could make.
The private training facility he owned was world-class: an Olympic-sized indoor pool with underwater cameras, adjustable currents, and a luxurious attached lounge area. Mia arrived early, her
