Chapter 24
CHAPTER 24
Suddenly Single—What a Trip!
D ear Trixie,
It’s Sandy again! I’m home from the cruise, and I just had to share the latest. My first date with Tom on land was fantastic, and we’ve been seeing each other just about every night since. But wait, there’s more! My ex came crawling back, begging for another chance. If I hadn’t met Tom, I might have taken that louse back and fallen into the same destructive patterns. Instead, I thanked him for being such a donkey and sent him on his way.
Gotta run, got a hot date with my dream man, Tom!
Sincerely,Thrilled and Thriving Sandy
Dear Thrilled and Thriving Sandy,
Oh, Sandy, what a wonderful update! It sounds like things are sailing smoothly in your love life.
Kudos to you for recognizing your worth and not falling back into old, destructive patterns with your ex. It takes strength and self-awareness to break free and move forward, and you’ve done it beautifully.
Tom sounds like a dream, and I’m thrilled to hear that your connection has only grown stronger since returning home. Enjoy every moment with your new man and cherish the fresh start you’ve both found together.
Life has a funny way of bringing us exactly what we need when we’re open to it. Keep embracing this exciting chapter with Tom, and don’t look back.
Wishing you continued happiness and many more wonderful dates with your dream beau!
XOXO Trixie
As soon as Bess, Nettie, and I get back to land, Wes and Ransom are waiting for us with grins that could rival the sun.
“You made it back in one piece,” Wes says, folding his arms over his chest. “We had a bet going that at least one of you might be missing out in sea.”
“My money was on you, Nettie.” Ransom gives a quick wink her way.
“Sorry to let you down, boys,” Nettie grouses. “But this one stole my thunder.” She hitches a thumb toward Bess.
“I rode a dolphin’s back for at least a half hour.” Bess sighs with a dreamy look on her face. “And I was responsible enough not to let him lead me off to China.” She shoots Nettie a look as she says it.
Nettie is quick to wave off the slight. “That’s because you have no sense of adventure.”
“Speaking of adventures—” Wes nods their way. “We thought you ladies might enjoy a trip to the lost island of Atlantis. How about some snorkeling?”
“Snorkeling?” Nettie perks up. “I was hoping for a nap, but I suppose another shot at hitching a ride to watery depths of the sea sounds better.” She turns and gives Bess the stink eye. “And I might get to do it on the back of a whale. Eat your tiny dolphin-loving heart out.”
“And here I thought you’d be hoping for a massage by a cabana boy,” Bess says, adjusting her hat.
Nettie smirks. “I can multitask when I have to.”
I turn to Ransom, who looks tall, dark, and brooding—and have I mentioned lethally handsome with his sun-kissed skin and sea-blue eyes. That would explain why six different groups of women are craning their necks this way and fanning themselves.
“Lost island of Atlantis, huh?” I hike up to steal a kiss off his lips, but he beats me to it. “Should I pull out my Indiana Jones hat and whip?”
Ransom’s lips curl a notch. “Just your snorkel and a sense of adventure. We can talk about the proverbial whip later.”
“Who said it was proverbial?” I tease.
His lips curve with a dark smile that lets me know he more than approves.
We make our way to a small boat they’ve hired, and soon enough, we’re skimming over the sparkling turquoise waters again. The ride is smooth, the sun is warm, and the company is perfect.
We approach our destination, and soon enough we’re escorted to what looks to be a secluded spot.
“Here we are, ladies and gents,” Wes says as he hands out the masks, snorkels, and fins. “Atlantis—or at least the part that didn’t sink. And for the record, the area we’re in now is also part of a resort, so all you see may not be as authentic as one would hope, but if we swim out a bit we’ll be able to see some large mysterious stone blocks—some as wide as ten to thirteen feet, whose origins are indeed a mystery to this day.”
Bess rolls her eyes. “Wes, every island we’ve been to this week has had a lost city of Atlantis on their itinerary of things to do.”
“That’s because it’s a marketing ploy,” Nettie says, not missing a beat. “Next, they’ll be selling us Atlantis-themed sunscreen.”
“I’d buy that,” I huff. “Especially if it keeps you safe from the sun and perhaps a few mythical creatures of the deep.”
“Mythical creatures of the deep?” Nettie’s entire countenance lights up. And in less than three seconds she jumps overboard and most likely begins the hunt for said mythical creatures.
“I’ll go after her,” Wes says with a sigh as he, too, jumps in.
Bess groans as she heads for the ladder, “And I’d better make sure Nettie doesn’t offer the captain up as a sacrifice to the creatures of the deep.” She turns my way. “We really need to watch what we say around her.”
I nod before turning to my handsome fiancé. “I read a little about this excursion this morning in the Seabreeze Newsletter and it sounded fascinating. I’m so glad we’re doing it,” I say as Ransom helps me get to the ladder before I lower myself into the water. And seconds later he’s right by my side.
“I’m glad you’re happy about it,” he says, pulling me in and I wrap my arms and legs around him for a second. “Initially, we were going to take you out to the wild dolphins ourselves, but once Tinsley let us know where you went, we went with plan B.”
“The crazy thing is, I wanted to do both. So technically, you’re making all of my dreams come true.”
“That’s what I’m in the business of from here on out.” His lips curve a notch and a naughty gleam takes over those baby blues of his.
“Why, Detective, you’ve already made all my dreams come true.” We share a steamy kiss before pulling down our masks and diving down toward all things mythological.
The spot we’ve landed in is about a forty-five-minute boat ride out in open waters where they’ve created an underwater playground designed to look like the mythical ruins of—well, you guessed it, Atlantis. It’s all ancient Greek statues and crumbling columns, surrounded by glorious coral reefs teeming with colorful fish.
From what little I know, the legend of Atlantis is about an advanced civilization that vanished into the sea, and while I’m pretty sure this version is courtesy of an ambitious tourism board, I’m game for a little underwater fantasy.
According to the Seabreeze Newsletter , we’ll get to snorkel around the submerged structures, feed the fish, and maybe even spot a dolphin friend of mine again. It sounds like the perfect way to end our stay in Bimini. Plus, any excuse to swoon over Ransom in swim trunks is fine by me.
The sound of bubbles fills my ears as the water gets a touch cooler the deeper we swim. Ransom takes me by the hand as we begin our adventure. No sooner do we swim out a few feet than it feels as if we’ve entered another world. Everywhere you look there’s something to see, something larger than life, covered in algae, but that still holds the shape of architecture from an era far away. The colors are bright and the coral reefs are filled with life. Fish of every shape, size, and hue dart around us, and I can’t help but be mesmerized.
We catch up with Wes, Bess, and Nettie, and soon we’re traveling as a group.
Wes and Ransom take turns diving down and pointing out various sea creatures while the four of us share more than a few thumbs up in appreciation.
Nettie pulls Bess toward a treasure chest opened with what looks like jewels spilling from it and Wes follows along, most likely to make sure Nettie doesn’t pilfer the loot.
Ransom and I swim toward what looks like a field of large stone blocks lying over the ocean floor and I’m lost in the beauty of it all when I spot something out of the corner of my eye—a sleek, dark shape moving quickly. My heart skips a beat.
All I see is a long gray body, white belly, beady eyes, and a dorsal fin that I learned to fear when I saw the movie Jaws for the very first time—and it just so happens to be coming straight for me.
Before I can think, Ransom pulls me hard to his chest. And before I know it, he’s kicking us away from the shark at hand with strokes so powerful he could propel us all the way to New Zealand if need be.
I spot Wes taking both Bess and Nettie and leading them toward the surface, away from the predator at hand as well.
Ransom and I surface near the boat with both of us pulling off our snorkels and gasping for air.
“It’s gone,” Ransom says as he pulls me close once again. “You’re safe.” His heart drums against mine and it’s clear we were more than jolted by the sight. “It was a reef shark,” he says as we pull off our masks. “Most sharks need to move to propel water through their gills as a means to breathe. But reef sharks can buccal pump through their gills—by way of opening their mouths and thrusting water over their gills. That way they can spring at you right from a resting position—and that’s exactly what happened.” He rubs my back as he says it and I’m thankful he didn’t choose this moment to give my ribs a slight pinch instead. I would have screamed my head off.
“Thank you for getting me out of Dodge because without your help I couldn’t have dodged a thing and would most likely be missing a limb right now. You can be my bodyguard anytime.”
A dull laugh rumbles through him. “At your service, forever.”
Wes, Bess, and Nettie swim this way, and soon we’re all swimming back to the boat. Suffice it to say, we’ve had enough excitement for one day.
“That was close!” Bess says, in a panic. “I thought we were going to lose you, Trixie.”
“Lose me? Never.” I try to sound calm, but my voice shakes despite my efforts. “Besides, I had my knight in shining swim trunks to save me.”
Nettie snorts. “If that’s the case, I’m snorkeling with Ransom next time. Wes, you’re officially demoted to sidekick.”
Wes laughs. “Sidekick? I’ll have you know, I’m the star of this show. Baxter here is my understudy.”
Ransom shakes his head. “I’ve wondered what delusions keep you going.”
Back on the boat, we all collapse into our seats, adrenaline still coursing through our veins. Ransom keeps his arm around me, and I lean against him, feeling grateful and more than a little swoony.
“Thanks for saving me,” I whisper, looking up at him.
“Always,” he says softly, brushing a stray lock of hair from my face. “Always.”
I steal a kiss from Ransom and he reciprocates with a kiss that makes me feel like the luckiest woman alive.
Atlantis may be a myth, but the way I feel about Ransom Baxter is as real as it gets. And I wouldn’t trade it for all the treasure in the world.