Faking It(10)

It wasn’t a bad dive, considering I’ve never trained professionally. I didn’t black out as I hit the water, which was something. The sea was warm and calm, and clear for about six feet. I looked around desperately for her, quickly spotting her just beginning to sink into the darkness. A couple of kicks and I was able to grab her hand and haul her up to me. She floated up easily and I wrapped my arm around her slender waist, before kicking my way back up to the surface.

Another great crash beside me and I realized that Brett had dived in as well. Around us, too, the churned-up trails in the ocean indicated that Keith, Henry, and Bella had seen the commotion and raced their Waverunners full speed back to Aphrodite, and were circling. I finally broke the surface and heard the cheers from up on deck.

“Quick! Quick!” I heard Keith snapping at me, reaching down to take Misty from me. I let him drag her up onto his craft.

“I’m sorry,” I heard Misty moan, so at least I knew she was okay. “I’m fine,” she protested, as Keith slung her across the saddle in front of him. He gunned his motor and sped away from me, and I caught a glimpse of Misty’s face as they turned. She looked shaken but managed to mouth the words ‘thank you’, as Keith headed to the stern of the yacht.

Henry appeared behind me and helped me up onto the back of his Waverunner. He turned in his seat and threw his arms around me. “Give me a heart attack, why don’t you?” he moaned at me. “You don’t always have to be a hero, do you?”

“I’m sorry, buddy,” I patted his back as he hugged me. “Next girl I see drowning, I’ll leave her in the water.”

“Promise?” he smiled, turning around to drive us back to the landing platform.



Misty was escorted up the steps back to the sundeck by Keith. Brett supervised as I climbed, to make sure I hadn’t hurt myself in the dive, with Henry and a faintly amused-looking Bella. We were made to lay in loungers while the rest of the crew appeared on deck. I thought Captain Harper would be all over me, ensuring I wasn’t going to sue him, his crew, or his employers but, to his credit, he went straight over to Misty, making sure she was okay first of all. It must have felt strange to her, being laid down and fussed over by a group of half-naked girls that she was supposed to be taking care of. There was a cut on her arm where some broken glass had got her, which Sarah attended to with the first aid kit.

Brett had some first responder training as well and was very quickly able to confirm I hadn’t hurt my neck or back, or given myself a concussion when I dived into the water. As soon as Brett was done, the captain squatted down next to me.

“I want to thank you, Mr. Harcourt,” he said, very warmly and offering me a hand to shake. “Only poor captains lose shipmates. I’m grateful you prevented me from becoming a poor captain. However, please let us look out for you from now on?”

“I’ve no problem with that, sir,” I told him, shaking his hand.

Ada shook his hand too, then remained glued to my side. She praised my bravery while simultaneously cursing my foolishness, as she tried to towel me off and cover me with kisses at the same time. I asked her to go and find me a scotch, then made my way over to Misty.

“Are you okay?” I asked her, still out of breath a little.

“I’m fine, Mr. Harcourt,” she smiled weakly up at me, “but you really shouldn’t have dived in like that. You’re so brave…”

Goddamn! I cursed inwardly. I felt my chest tighten and my loins tingle as she smiled directly at me. Why is she so bewitching? Why did I dive in so quickly after her? She wasn’t in any real danger, not with calm seas and a whole crew on hand to save her. Still, she looked more stunning than ever, now. Soaking wet, vulnerable, and helpless. I couldn’t help the feelings I was having. I was physically attracted to her, sure, but it was more than that. Something inside me wanted to care for her too. It felt like there was something in her that called out to me, making me feel responsible for her and that was maybe why I’d been avoiding getting too close with her. I felt like I wanted to be with her, to love her, far more than I wanted to be with Ada. And, right then, I was afraid that both of them could tell.





Misty

While Tanya and Sarah served the evening meal up on the sundeck, I ate chicken and rice in the crew lounge. Captain Harper gave me the night off to recover from my trauma, but I insisted I’d be fine to pull the evening shift and sit up late with the guests, serving drinks and nibbles as required, until the last one went to bed. Tarquin was busy, and the deckhands had already eaten, so I sat and chewed by myself. It was bound to be a long night, but it could be an ideal opportunity to make sure I’d successfully hooked my target now.

I knew I wanted him to leap in and save me. I needed him to. Needed him to become invested in my life and wellbeing but, despite everything, I couldn’t help but feel comforted by what looked like genuine concern. I was flattered that he would risk his life to save mine but I wasn’t, repeat wasn’t, strangely drawn to the sexy way his wet shirt clung to his thick, muscled torso. Nope. Not one bit.

After dinner, Sarah left Tanya and I to serve the guests and retired. She had to be up early to prepare for breakfast and the next day. Tanya mixed drinks and flirted about, looking totally amazing in her evening uniform, an Asian-style black number that pulled tight across her slim waist to really make her heavenly butt and bust pop. And she was getting plenty of attention, not only from Paul, Henry, and D Cash, obviously, but one or two of the girls present allowed their gaze to linger on her sexy body for a little longer than was necessary.