But I was alive. My whole body shook at what the alternative could’ve been—death. Or was I shaking because I was cold? It didn’t really matter. The point was, I was alive to feel it all.
“It… it wasn’t my t… time… t… t…to go,” I stuttered as my teeth chattered.
“What’s that?” He leaned down, putting his face to mine. “What’d you say, Red?” He rubbed my thigh.
I couldn’t see his face from behind me, but something in his voice soothed me. If he looked half as sexy as he sounded, I would be mortified. I must have looked awful.
“It wasn’t… my time… to die.”
“No, sweetheart, it wasn’t. Can you sit up for me? I need to check you over. You have a bruise on the back of your left shoulder from where the surfboard hit you. I want to check your head.”
“Who… are you? A doc… tor?”
He belly laughed. The pleasant sound turned my bones to noodles as it rumbled rhythmically through my body. “No, but my parents would have loved it if I was. I’m Leo, a lifeguard here at Santa Monica Beach.” He gently helped me sit up, supporting my body as I leaned against his broad, muscly chest. He was built like a brick wall.
I felt lightheaded, being in his arms. The beach wobbled and I closed my eyes. Instinctively I grabbed for something, someone. It wasn’t Laney’s hand I was holding anymore; it was the lifeguard’s.
“How do you feel?” His buttery-smooth voice poured over me.
“Like I’ve been run over… by a surfboard.” I lifted my head to finally see his face and nearly toppled over, but he held me firmly against him.
A smile stretched across his tan, handsome face. White, shiny teeth greeted me. “Yeah, that about sums it up. The dude feels like crap for plowing into you too. He didn’t see you until it was too late. Said you splashed out of the water like Ariel inThe Little Mermaid. You’ve got hair just like hers.” His fingers touched the ends of my long, red hair. A shudder of something went through me.
I screwed up my face. “I hate that movie.”
He laughed again. “What? Why?”
“Kids teased me, calling me Ariel. They’d ask if I gave my voice to the Sea Witch so I could be a human.”
His blue,blueeyes sparkled like the ocean. “Kids suck.”
“Yeah.”
He cupped one side of my face in his hand and studied my eyes. “Tell me where you hurt.”
A sob oddly bubbled out of me as the magnitude of the situation hit me. I could have died. Drowned.
“Aw, babe.” Laney put her hand on my shoulder. “Come here.” She opened her arms to me.
“I got her.” He tugged me closer to his bare chest. I was surrounded by muscles and warmth. He smelled of the ocean and cucumbers. “Let it out, Red. Just let it out.”
And I did. I didn’t know this man, but something about him made me feel safe. Must have been due to my near-death experience.
When I calmed, I pulled back. “Thank you for saving my life. But I’m fine.” I looked for Laney. “We should go if we’re gonna… you know.” I jerked my head toward the Ferris wheel.
“What? Meet up with your boyfriends… or husbands?”
I slowly turned my head toward the lifeguard. What was his name again? His brow was furrowed, almost like he was disappointed or something. His blond, wavy hair was messy on the top of his head. I had the urge to run my fingers through it. Weird.
“No, we don’t have either. We just have things to do. Thanks again.” I went to stand up and wobbled a little. Mr. Lifeguard steadied me.
“What kind of things? My shift had just ended when your friend came screaming for help, with the dude carrying you to my tower.”
I blinked at him as a swell of butterflies woke in my stomach. He was holding my hand again. I really liked the feel of his thumb rubbing the top of it.
“Um, can I cut in here for a sec?” Laney took my hand out of his. “I just need a sec with her, okay?”
“Yeah. Sure.” Mr. Lifeguard let go of me.