Oh God. She needed air.
More saltwater filled her mouth. It went down her throat, and she tried to let out one final scream.
As she struggled to make a sound, she suddenly felt strong arms wrapping around her waist. Then she felt herself being pulled against something hard, so she attempted to break free, even as she realized she was being pulled to the surface.
She shut her eyes and groaned as her body hit the sand. Bright sunlight scorched her vision, making it impossible to see.
“It’s okay, Hannah,” a deep voice said. “It’s me, Drew.”
Coughing like crazy, she tried to make sense of his words, but all she could hear was the distant cry of seagulls and the sound of water in her ears.
She was alive. Alive.
Sucking in fresh air, she opened her eyes and scraped her feet against the sand. She sat up and tried to stand to her feet, but her knees gave out within seconds.
“Got you,” Drew said, lifting her up and into his arms. He smiled at her, and she smiled back, thinking that she was finally about to get her first kiss from the boy who starred in all of her dreams.
Still smiling, she tilted her head up and opened her mouth.
Then she vomited.
Oh my god... She expected him to drop her to the ground immediately, but he didn’t. He looked like he was about to laugh.
“I’m so sorry, Drew,” she croaked. “I didn’t mean to...”
“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “It’s only water.”
He carried her away from the shore and laid her down on a towel. As she lay there, his dark green eyes searched hers. With his full lips and chiseled cheekbones, he was definitely the most handsome boy she’d ever seen.
“Are you okay?” he asked, placing a hand against her forehead.
No, I’m not okay... Hannah honestly wanted to cry right now, but she refused to give in to the tears. Besides, there was no way she ever could let Drew see her cry. He already thought she was “just a kid.”
Instead, she nodded weakly. “Please don’t tell my grandparents that I was swimming alone. Please.”
“I won’t.” He handed her a water bottle and helped her sit up. “You need to drink this. I know it might sound crazy with all the water you just... um...got rid of, but trust me.”
Hannah’s cheeks heated at the reminder, but she drank the entire bottle. As the two of them sat in silence, the realization of what Drew had done slowly set in and her heart fluttered against her chest. He’d rescued her. He had saved her from dying.
He was her hero. If she hadn’t already been in love with him, then she would have fallen right that second.
“What made you go out there by yourself?” he asked, his tone sharp. His dark green eyes were no longer filled with concern. They were narrowed with anger. “That was pretty stupid, Hannah.”
Embarrassment flooded her body, burning worse than the salt water had in her lungs. For a moment, her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth.
“Are you going to answer my question?” Drew was still glaring at her.
“I wanted to play with the dolphins,” she said. Great. Now she really sounded like a kid. A really stupid kid.
His mouth lifted at one corner. “It’s not safe to go swimming by yourself, especially as little as you are.”
Though Hannah knew it was true about her size, it hurt to hear about it from Drew. “I’m not little,” she protested.
“Yes, you are.” Drew cocked his head to one side. “It’s a good thing, though.”
Wide-eyed, she gazed at him in disbelief. “How is it a good thing?”
“Because you’re strong. You put up a hell of a fight when I grabbed you. If you were any bigger, I would have drowned right along with you.”
She thought that might be a compliment, but she wasn’t sure. “Well, one day, I’ll be tall and pretty like Alexis George.”
“Alexis George?” He eyed her for a second. “Why do you want to be like her?”
Hannah froze. She should have slapped herself silly right then.
Water trickled down her forehead and dripped off her nose. The wind blew, and she shivered under the light breeze.
She let out a sigh and debated whether to tell him the truth or offer up a well-concocted lie. She knew that Drew liked how pretty and tall Alexis George was. She’d seen him kiss her, and she’d seen them hanging out together when they thought no one was looking.
Yeah, she was a snoop, but so what? She was collecting vital information.
She settled on a half-truth and shrugged. “Boys like girls who look like Alexis.” The older girls had boobs, curves, and long, pretty blonde hair. Hannah had none of those things, and her hair was the color of a log that had been sitting in the sun for years. “Ash-blonde” as her grandmother called it.
“Dirty like ashes,” Alexis had sneered once.
“Yeah, most boys do like girls like that,” Drew finally agreed.
She blinked. “I can’t believe you actually agreed with me.”
His lips twisted into a smile. “There’s no reason to lie.”
“I guess.” She grumbled, wishing he had lied. She watched as he sat beside her, stretching out his long legs. They were tan all the way down to his toes.
“Doesn’t matter, though,” he said. “ When you get older, you’re going to look way better than all the Alexis Georges out there.”
Cheeks heating, she rolled her eyes. “So much for ‘no reason to lie’...You’re lying to me right now.”
“I’d never lie to you, Hannah.”
“Really?” she whispered.
“Never. You’re one of the only people here who doesn’t treat me any differently.” He ran a hand through his thick, wavy hair. “You’ve never wanted anything from me either.”
Confused, she sat all the way up. “Why would I?” Except, she did want one thing from him. Okay, two things. A kiss and for him to look at her like she was Alexis George.
“My dad’s money.”
She frowned. “Oh, that.”
Everyone whispered about Drew’s family and how much money they had. Everything from the candy-coated designer cars that lined the driveways of their numerous businesses, to the fact that the “Montgomery” name was etched onto almost every brick building in this touristy town. They owned almost everything in sight, including the resort where Hannah’s grandparents worked. Heck, there were rumors that they were attempting to buy almost every building on the coast of North Carolina, but none of that mattered to her.
“Yeah...” Drew sighed. “That.”
“But everyone who stays at The Majestic Dunes Resort has money,” Hannah said. “Why would they want anything from you? ”
Turning his attention to her, his forest-green eyes searched her face, as if weighing the truth of her words. He looked sad and hopeful—a strange combination to be sure. “When you get older, you’ll understand why people act the way they do. But I hope you won’t become like them.”
“I won’t,” she promised.
“Good.” Suddenly, he leaned into her, so close she thought he might kiss her. “Promise me something, Hannah. Two things, actually.”
“Anything,” she said.
“One, don’t ever change. And, two, don’t ever go out swimming alone again.”
“I promise.”
He arched a brow. “Swear it.”
“I already promised.” She rolled her eyes. “Do you want it in writing?”
“I think I do, smartass,” he muttered, but she could hear the smile in his voice.
“Fine, then.” She scrambled to her feet. “Stay right here.” She ran to her beach bag, grabbed it, and brought it back. Plopping down in the sand, she dug through the bag, producing a journal and a pen.
“You’re really going to write the promise down?” he asked.
“Yup.” She pulled the cap off the pen and stuck it on top. “I’m going to reward you for saving me, too.”
“You don’t owe me anythi
ng,” Drew said, placing his hand on her arm.
“I know, but one day you just might need something from me.” Ignoring the heat of his hand, she quickly wrote her promise, added a note at the bottom, and then signed her name. With a flourish, she ripped the paper out of her notebook and held it out until he took it from her. “Here.”
I, Hannah Miller, promise to never go swimming alone again, and I promise to never change.
I also promise to give Drew Montgomery whatever he wants, whenever he wants, at only one time in the future, in exchange for saving my life.
This is an official I.O.U., hereby signed by Hannah Miller.
“A promise and an IOU?” Drew scratched his head as he read the paper. “Have you, uh, written a lot of IOUs before?”
“No, you’re my first. You saved my life.”
“Right, well...” He swallowed. “It’s not a good idea to give a guy an IOU for anything he wants.”
“I-I didn’t mean anything.” She stammered, cheeks heating. “ We’re friends.. I only wanted to reward you for saving my life.”
“I know that, but other guys wouldn’t.” Drew gently brushed the strands away from her face. “Look, you’re a pretty girl, and that’s why you shouldn’t give anyone an IOU. Especially not one that’s written like this.”
“You think I’m pretty...” she said on a dreamy sigh.
His mouth flattened. “That came out wrong.”
Her heart sank. “So, you don’t think I’m pretty?”
“It doesn’t matter what I think you look like. You shouldn’t give any more guys an IOU for anything. You’re so damn sweet and trusting that guys will want to take advantage of you.”
She held back a sigh. That wasn’t what she wanted to hear.
“Anyway,” he said, “I’ll put your IOU someplace safe. Who knows—maybe I’ll call it in someday... but not until you’re a lot older.”
“Like, when I’m twenty-five?”
He smiled. “That sounds about right.”
Twelve years from now? Oh my gosh. She couldn’t wait that long.
“Can’t put it in the pocket of my board shorts since it’ll get wet.” He folded the paper. “Damn.”
“You don’t have to keep it,” she said, feeling ridiculous all of a sudden, and reached for the paper, but he kept it out of her reach.
“No take-backs.”
She let her hand fall. “You really won’t tell my grandparents what I did?”
“As long as you don’t tell anyone I rescued you,” he countered.
Well, that sucked. Her best friend would die if she didn’t tell her what had happened. But this was Drew asking her to do something for him—she couldn’t tell him no.
“Fine.”
He smiled, and her heart fluttered. “If you’re okay, I’ll go now. I promised Alexis I’d meet her at the pool.”
Her heart burst into flames. “Have fun.”
“You can come, too.”
Yeah, Alexis would love that. “That’s okay. I have to help my grandparents with dinner service tonight anyway.”
Standing, he held out his hand to her, and she took it. He pulled her to her feet, and she felt sand falling down the back of her legs. The bottom of her bathing suit now looked like a loaded diaper.
Awesome.
“Drew!” a shrill voice called out from afar.
Drew rolled his eyes. Hannah felt like doing the same.
“I said I’d meet you at the pool, Alexis!” Drew shouted back, but it was no use.
Alexis came into view, looking perfect as always, wearing a bright pink bikini.
“I couldn’t wait that long,” Alexis said as she stepped closer.
He looked down at Hannah. “Sure you won’t change your mind?”
“Three’s a crowd,” Hannah said, stepping back.
He jerked his head back to her and lowered his voice.“Next year, she won’t be here, so we’ll have more time to spend together.”
Learning that Alexis’ family wouldn’t be coming back was the best news she’d heard all day, but she was pretty sure another girl would take Alexis’ place when it came to Drew’s affection. And that girl wouldn’t be her.
“I’ll save you a skimboard,” she said softly.
He grinned, his white teeth flashing against his tan skin. “Deal.”
“Dreww!” Alexis called when she was right in front of them. “Quit talking to the help. I’m sure little Hannah here needs to go help her grandparents with something at the resort instead of bothering you.”
Drew’s mouth flattened. He looked ready to say something, but he held back. “Better go,” Hannah said with a forced smile. “Told you I have stuff to do. You don’t want to get me in trouble, do you?”
“Yeah. No. Fine.” He walked away, tossing over his shoulder, “Later, Hannah.”
Alexis smiled triumphantly.
Hannah fought the urge to pick up a rock and throw it at her.
She watched as Alexis linked her arm through Drew’s and tried to grab her folded IOU from him.
“Nothing,” she could hear him say clearly. He shoved it into his pocket, and she frowned. Her IOU would be completely messed up now—thanks to Alexis.
Ugh...
She gathered her things and headed back to the resort. For the rest of the day, she let her mind replay the best part of her day, the moment when Drew scooped her up in his arms and carried her out of the water. Of course, she made sure to edit the part where she threw up in his arms.
Besides that one scene, it was still dreamy.
He was officially her very own Prince Charming.
By the time she finished with her afternoon chores and sneaked off to the pool, she spotted Drew and the entire Montgomery dynasty standing near the resort’s entry gates. There was his thirteen-year-old brother Connor, their five-year-old little sister London, and their parents looking at their black-suited driver. Alexis sat a few feet over, pouting.
Suddenly, all of the Montgomerys turned and disappeared inside the hotel.
Hannah moved closer to the pool’s gate, wondering what was going on.
“He’s leaving early!” Alexis called out. “You ran him off. Thanks.”
Hannah said nothing, just opened the gate and headed to the resort’s side entrance. She wanted to run, but family staff rules dictated she couldn’t. Plus, she’d broken enough rules today as it was.
When she finally made it inside the resort, she broke out in a run. She had to say goodbye to Drew before he left, she had to see him one last time this summer.
Bag smacking against her side, she avoided crashing into people and service carts as she ran. But by the time she made it to the grand entrance, all she could see of the Montgomery SUV was tail lights.
Skidding to a stop, she took a big breath and watched the SUV until she couldn’t see anything.
“Next summer, you won’t see me as a kid anymore...” she whispered.
About the Author
MARQUITA VALENTINE is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of contemporary romance.
When she’s not writing sexy heroes, who adore their sassy heroines, she enjoys shopping, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. Married to her high school sweetheart, Marquita lives in a seriously small town in the south with her husband, two kids, three cats, and a dog.
Her next release, LOVE SO SWEET, is a Christmas novella set in the Lawson Brothers series coming this winter. Make sure to sign up for her newsletter so you don’t miss Adam and Joy’s book!
www.marquitavalentine.com
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