Guess I just want more than something that comes easily.
“Oy, I know when not to take what is being offered, brah.”
“Oh, do you mean like that redhead betty from Texas?”
Tossing his head back, he barks out a laugh. That redheadwould not leave him alone last summer. He wound up pretending he was dating my sister to get her to leave him alone. No one messes with my sister Brenna, so it worked, but she warned him not to do something so stupid again.
Chuckling with him as he recalls that craziness, I shake my head. He will grow up someday, I suppose. It won’t be today, I can tell. Glancing out towards the beach, I consider our schedule for today. Summer has just started so soon we will have dozens of clients a day. We’re hoping another good summer will set us up to open a surf shop that will keep us open year-round.
Just as I get lost in dreams about the shop, I spot something bright on the shoreline. Bright purple watercolor on a banging body with curves for days holds my gaze. Wanting a better look, I paddle closer to the shore. Jesus, those thick, powerful thighs and that round ass are insane.
“Jesus, do you see that?” I mutter to Brody before thinking better of calling his attention to her. No way does he need to look at her. Why I think that of a woman I just saw for the first time, I have no idea. We dig the same sort of babes through and this one, this one, is going to beall mine.
Paddling faster as she wades into the water, my heart rate kickS up. Not because of the paddling, but because of how she plays in the water, splashing it on herself. Why is it so erotic? Why am I getting hard in my wetsuit as I watch her laugh and frolic in the ocean?
Hundreds of beautiful women come to the shore during the summer in Sunset Springs. They come to get tan, to get drunk, or to get laid. Most of them never get in the water or wonder about the creatures that call it home. Sitting on my board watching her fall back in the water, laughing at herself as she sinks beneath the crystal-clear waters, I am laughing along with her.
My board surges forward as a huge wave crashes down on me, knocking me off the board. Coming up sputtering, I seethe telltale swirls in the water of the undertow rippling towards shore. I think only of the woman in the pretty purple suit frolicking in the water. Letting my board float towards Brody, I dive into the water, heading towards her.
“Brody,” I shout back even as I cut through the waves, “Go get Dixon, tell him to wait for me. I need to get to her!”
Brody does not hesitate. Diving into the waves, he heads for shore as I head towards the pier. Each time I surface, I look for that purple suit. Each time I do not see it, another twist of panic hits my chest. By the time I get to where I saw her splashing a few moments ago, I dive under the water.
Seeing purple, I kick my feet and push as hard as I can. I get to her, scooping her up as she twists away from the powerful undertow. I hook my arms around her torso and launch us up to the surface. It might be one of the most difficult swims of my life. I do not stop kicking. I will not give up.
Getting to the shore, I am all but dragging her with me. Lying her down, I gaze down at her for a moment, something twisting in my chest. I am afraid I was too late. Too distracted by how pretty she was. I was wrong about that, anyway. This woman is not pretty, she is...stunning.
“Hey, baby, I need you to breathe for me,” I whisper, placing my hands on her chest.
Going to work on compressions, I check her pulse and listen for her breathing. My movements grow panicked when I hear nothing. Feel nothing. Just as I am about to lose it and ask where the hell Dixon, the lifeguard, is, she sputters and turns to her side. Grasping her gently, I rub her back as she coughs up water and drags gasping breaths of air into her lungs.
“There she is,” I whisper gently as she falls back onto the sand.
Staring up at me with the prettiest violet eyes I have ever seen, she smiles. For a moment, the crashing waves, the shoutsof onlookers, the entire world fades away. It is silly, of course. Not the time or place for it. But it is there as I stare back at her and I cannot ignore it.
“Hi. I... I swear I know how to swim,” she sputters, cheeks flushing pink as her breath saws out of her roughly.
“I believe you do, babe. Do not move,” I tell her softly, pressing her down on the sand. “They want to check on you. Can you do that? Lie still while Dixon here does his job.”
“Yes. Who is Dixon?” She murmurs, staring up at me with eyes full of trust I am not sure I deserve.
“A lifeguard. Best on the beach,” I tell her as he comes to kneel beside me. Reaching out, he checks her for wounds or broken ribs from the CPR. I ignore how his hands on her make me uncomfortable. It’s silly, of course. Heisthe best on the beach and will be sure she is alright.
“Did you...did you save me?” Her voice calls to me, her hand reaching up to touch my face.
Rocked by the emotion that hits me as she stares up at me with those big eyes, her touch burning my skin, I nod. My chest twists up again as I take her hand, intending to set it aside so I can get out of the way. Her eyes flare with panic as her hand curls around my neck, tugging me closer.
“Don’t leave me. Please....I am scared.”
“I won’t leave your side. I am going to the hospital with you,” I announce, shooting Dixon a glare as he frowns.
Smiling, she nods as he checks her over, mentioning contusions and a possible concussion. I move out of his way, but she won’t let me get too far. Not that I want to. Sitting there holding her hand, brushing her wet hair back from her face, I am on edge but doing my best to hide it.
“Do I have to go to a hospital? “
“Yes, babe, you do,” I answer before he can. “Need to get that pretty head checked out, yeah? I promise to stay with youevery minute.”
Nodding at me, she beams a huge smile that wraps itself tight around my heart. It’s still thundering in my chest as she sits up, pressing herself close to me. I bend, scooping her up, waving off the stretcher. Striding towards the waiting ambulance, I smile down at her as she stares up at me with soft eyes.
