Her heart ached, and she stamped down on the feeling.This was the man who had destroyed her.He would leave in a couple of days when the wreck had been properly documented.This was not the time to open her heart again.
She couldn’t go through that again.
The barrel shifted beside her, and she followed it to the surface.
Chapter 14
Oliver hauled on the rope, pulling the barrel to the surface, hating the fact Dot was down there without a scuba tank.It was an impressive feat, but one that made him deeply uncomfortable.His lungs burned from the exertion and the fact he was holding his breath too.He exhaled and sucked in another breath as both Dot and the barrel surfaced.
Dot removed her dive gloves and started the engine.The sun kissed the horizon and was sinking rapidly now.Around them more coral was above the water.
Crap.
“Ah, Dot, we’ve got a problem.”He pointed to the coral and then scanned the shore of the nearest island.Yeah, definitely low tide.
Dot swore.“Why would anyone put a barrel here when it’s not accessible all the time?”
“They might not have realised.”He climbed onto the bow to get a higher vantage point.
“Can you see a path?”
He shook his head.“It looks pretty shallow.Hand me my mask and I’ll check.”Part of him wanted to say there was no way out, so they would be stuck here together until the tide turned, but he respected Dot’s time.She had to get these barrels back to town.
He jumped in and circled the area, searching for a spot to get them over the reef without damaging it.The boat sat lower in the water now the barrels were on board, and he didn’t like to think how many drugs were inside.
“Anything?”Dot called.
“No.”He swam back to the boat.“We need another foot of water.”
Dot swore.“High tide isn’t until midnight.”
Five hours away.He could use this to his advantage.
She radioed the station and reported the situation.Then she radioed Sam.“We won’t be back until later.We’re stuck in a coral atoll until the tide rises.”
“Will the tender get you out?”
Dot glanced at Oliver.
“Only if you want to leave the barrels behind.”An option he hoped she wouldn’t take.
Her struggle was real, before she said, “No, but thanks for the offer.”She shifted away, peering over the edge as if trying to make the tide rise.
This was the perfect opportunity for them to talk.He needed to discover whether he could fix his mistake.His heart pounding, he cleared his throat and said, “Dot, can we talk about us?”
“There is no us.”Her voice was raw, but it gave him hope.She felt something.
“That’s my fault.I realise that now.”Nerves danced a drum solo in his stomach.“I’m so sorry.I was young and idiotic, and only thought about what I wanted.”
She flinched, but didn’t look at him, busying herself by digging through her backpack and bringing out a towel and her clothes to get out of her wet bathers.“It doesn’t matter.”
“Yes, it does.”He clenched his hands to stop himself from touching her.She needed the distance.“You were the love of my life.It broke my heart when you stopped taking my calls and responding to my emails.”He sighed.“I should have realised that I hurt you.I should have stopped for a second and thought about how you felt, rather than making it all about me.”
“It’s in the past.”She moved to the back of the boat, examining the barrels.
A tremor in her voice made him step forward and reach out, but he didn’t touch her.Dot hated to show her vulnerability to anyone.“Is there any way I can fix it for the future?”
She stiffened, tension creating a force field around her as a no-go zone.Finally she said, “What would be the point?I live here.You live in Perth.”
