“The beach. There are loads of people waving to us from the beach.” He held the binoculars up to his eyes. “I’m sure I can see your husband, Mrs Lucas.”
Gemma snatched the binoculars from Ludo. The lenses refused to focus correctly, and all she saw was a bleary image of the distant crowd. She twirled the dial around in her finger until she had a clearer image. The remote figures, sharply defined, jumped back at her. The powerful binoculars easily picked out Jason in his wet suit standing next to Lubinsky. The pair were deep in conversation with a uniformed man. Above the beach, nearly lost in the crowds, the blue flashing lights of emergency vehicles. Scanning around, she could see children milling around and a few adults.
Jason appeared unharmed. The nausea didn’t vanish immediately. She didn’t know what had happened. She sat on a sun bed, her legs shaking.
Ludo took the binoculars back. “Wasn’t engine failure. Kevin has got the boat up and running.” He gave a bemused shrug.
“I thought I saw an ambulance.” She bit down on her lip. He looked okay, didn’t he?
“Yes. I can see the provincial police, too. The captain is edging Sublime in closer. It looks like Kevin is going out on the motor launch with Nick. They’ll have your husband shortly.” Reaching down, he briefly patted her shoulder.
An eternity passed, at least to Gemma. The motor launch drifting in the shallows, but Jason remained on the beach. She had to wait nearly another hour before he waded out and got into the boat. Heading down to the main deck, she found McKenzie on the bridge, talking on a radio to Kevin.
“What’s been going on?” she asked
“Turns out your husband and Leo have become local heroes. They came into this bay to swim and found some local kids mucking about. They kept their distance, not wanting to risk hitting them with the boat, and then one of the kids got into serious difficulties. Completely out of his depth. Your husband and Leo dived in and kept the boy above the surface. The powerboat drifted away from them, so they swam to shore with the laddie. The police and ambulance were called.”
“Is the boy all right?” Gemma was amazed at the events that had transpired while she lounged about on the sundeck.
“It would appear. Swallowed loads of seawater, so they’ll take him to hospital as a precaution. Looks like the locals are impressed. Turns out the boy is the local mayor’s son.” The captain turned his attention to position Sublime ready to receive the launch boat.
Gemma paced by the railings as the launch drew alongside. Jason sprang out of the boat.
“Babe. Don’t cry. I’m fine.” He embraced her trembling body. “We’ve only been gone two hours, not a lifetime.”
“It felt like a lifetime. You said an hour. Then we saw the empty powerboat. Jason, my heart almost gave out.” She shivered against his warm wetsuit. Standing in the sun on the beach had dried him off.
“We had to wait for the yacht to catch up with us. We were sure McKenzie would spot the powerboat, she had drifted almost out of the cove altogether.” He released her from his clutches.
“Look, I have to speak to McKenzie. Go back up and wait for me. I won’t be long. For one thing, I’m sick of this bloody wetsuit.” He gave her a little nudge, encouraging her to let go.
Jason stood in the stateroom and, with Enrique’s help, peeled away the wetsuit. Gemma watched from the bed with her knees drawn up to her chin.
“We’re making good speed. The winds have been in our favour. We are on course for arriving in Croatia.” Jason pulled the T-shirt over his head.
Gemma didn’t fancy eating. She wanted his touch. However, Jason was hungry and ordered food over the intercom. She guessed a strenuous swim to rescue a terrified child had increased his appetite.
“How old was he?”
“Thirteen. Strong currents. Very deceptive. Even I had to swim hard to make it to shore. Leo and I took it in turns to drag him along.”
“I’m really proud of you, Jason.”
“It was…” He hesitated, glancing out the window to the shoreline, then gave a tiny shrug. “Right place at the right time.”
“Would he have died if you weren’t there?”
“Yes.”
“Are you all right?” She touched his hand.
“Yes, babe. Thanks for asking. I’m fine. Unexpected excitement.” He stretched out in the chair, hands tucked behind his head. The cove lay before them, visible through the panoramic window. He didn’t speak further about the adventure.
***
Water dripped from the bath tap. A multitude of glinting bubbles danced about, catching the light, popping with the slightest movement. Gemma leant on Jason’s chest, and he ran his fingers down her belly, resting them on her lap. His fingers then slipped under her bottom and gave her buttock cheeks a momentary squeeze, separating them to allow the water to cleanse her. She groaned—his hands felt sensual and strong. The next place his hands wandered to was her ragged hair, strewn about her face and knotted by sweat.
“Do you want to me to wash your hair?”