Chapter 1 #2
But as she glanced up, she saw a bright orange lifebuoy bobbing in front of her. She did as the voice had commanded and then held on for dear life. Soon she was gliding through the water once more, this time without her own quivering arms doing the work.
She felt like crying with relief.
“Are you okay?” the voice asked, and Mia glanced up to see the man holding the other side of the orange ring, treading water now as he watched her.
Mia blinked away the salty water, surely she had to be seeing things. Or she was having one of those moments where she was experiencing some kind of hero worship—because she was apparently being saved by the more gorgeous man in the world.
“Yup,” Mia managed, struggling to make sense of this apparition as he began to swim them to safety. Because that was what he had to be. Some man-angel come to earth just to save her. And then he’d disappear the same way he’d appeared.
His dark hair was cut short, but even with the water weighing it down, she could see it had a distinct wave.
His eyes were hazel, the blue of the ocean making them appear more green than brown.
And his nose was the cutest she’d ever seen.
Or maybe it was the fact that nothing else about him could be described as cute that made his nose stand out as adorable all the more.
His skin was smooth. Mia itched to run her fingers over his muscled arms that cut through the water… she was officially losing it.
The man whipped through the water again with purpose. She noticed they weren’t heading back the way she’d come but swimming parallel to the shore.
That was what she’d forgotten in her panic. She shouldn’t fight the current. Thankfully this lifeguard knew what he was doing.
They stayed on that route for a bit before he turned toward the shore, pulling Mia behind him.
What had she done? She wasn’t the type of woman who got pulled out by the current. She knew better than this. Yet, here she was.
Her face began to flame red. Not only from sun exposure—she should have thought to lather on the sunscreen she’d left in the car—but with the realization that she’d had to be rescued.
She closed her eyes in annoyance at herself, but her eyes flew open as her feet finally hit sand. They’d made it.
She trudged forward, still holding onto the lifebuoy, as they made their way out of the water.
“Thank you,” she managed before she collapsed back on the sand, relief filling her nearly as much as exhaustion.
“No worries,” the man responded, and she felt a warm hand on her arm. “Can you sit up?”
Mia nodded, not wanting to keep this lifeguard from his job any longer than she already had.
Relief and exhaustion both began to ebb away, mortification filling it’s place.
Not only had she been stupid enough to let the current carry her away, it just had to be the best looking man on the planet to save her.
Though, she guessed, that could also be viewed as a plus.
Mia pushed off her elbows so she could sit up, the man’s hand going to her back to help lift her from the sand.
“I’ll be fine. You don’t have to stay with me,” Mia said as she locked eyes with those hazel wonders.
That stunning display of tropical scenery she’d been in awe of just minutes before now came in second place to the sight in front of her. She would now and forever more think of this man as Hot Lifeguard.
“I’ll stay until I make sure you’re okay,” Hot Lifeguard replied.
Mia nodded, grateful for the support even if she was supremely embarrassed.
They sat in silence for a few minutes before he spoke once more. “Did you miss the signs?”
Mia looked at him with wide eyes.
“There are signs with yellow flags along the beach.” Hot Lifeguard pointed to the sign nearest them, but Mia could see there were more of them dotting the beach. She squinted to see that the sign read, strong current.
“Oh,” she said as she realized she had indeed missed those signs.
That wasn’t like her at all. The only thing that could explain it was that she’d been mesmerized by the view of the ocean.
Though the yellow flag really was hard to miss.
“I’m sorry,” she added when she realized what an idiot she’d been.
Hot Lifeguard nodded and Mia felt tempted to ask for his name. She’d promised herself that with this move to Maui she was going to put herself out there. Make friends.
Friends being the key word. After her divorce, she didn’t want more than friendship. Because more than that would be as dangerous as the current that had just carried her away.
And looking at Hot Lifeguard in front of her, she felt nothing friendly towards him so she didn’t ask his name.
Probably for the best, anyway. Though she felt nothing but admiration and adoration toward him, he surely thought she was a class-A idiot. Not the best foundation for a friendship.
“Are you breathing okay? Did you take in any water?” Hot Lifeguard asked.
Mia shook her head.
“Then you should be fine. But if you’re feeling any shortness of breath or really anything out of the ordinary, seek medical help right away,” Hot Lifeguard instructed.
Mia nodded, and then he stood.
He was leaving. Mia didn’t want him to, but it was surely for the best. He’d forget her while she’d never forget him.
Instead, she’d measure every other man she met in the future to this one.
No one would measure up…this lifeguard was actually the perfect man-deterrent.
Too bad she hadn’t met him before her ex.
Hot Lifeguard walked away, and Mia sighed as she took in the back of him. Shorts slung low on his hips, it was hard to decide which view was better, his eyes or him walking away.
She watched until he climbed the nearby lifeguard stand, another sight she’d failed to notice when she’d first arrived at the beach.
She really had been a blind fool.
Mia stood, brushing sand off of her backside as she walked in the opposite direction toward her clothing and her car.
Well, that was one way to start her life on Maui. Probably not the best, but remembering the fear she’d felt when she thought her life was ending, she knew it wasn’t the worst. Embarrassment was far better than the alternative.
Yes, she’d made a fool of herself in front of Hot Lifeguard, and she would have to recount the whole story to Natalie, but other than that, no one had to know. Her embarrassment would be hers and hers alone.
Because what were the odds that she’d ever see Hot Lifeguard again?