by S. E. Law
“I wasn’t,” I say with mock-offense, but my friend knows me too well.
“Keep it under wraps,” she whispers in my ear while taking my arm. “It’s not nice! I know you’re an artist, but you have to be friendly on this trip.”
I nod.
“I just don’t get social media, you know? Why do people want to put their entire lives on-line? Who’s that interested in someone else’s life anyways? It’s weird, right?”
Simona links her arm in mine, and we walk together towards the beach.
“Girlfriend, I just spent all night stalking hot men on Instagram. I’m interested in other peoples’ lives, even if I’ll never meet them for real. It’s fun, so why not? Now come on, it’s time for our snorkeling lesson.”
I sigh as we walk down the dock to where the lesson’s taking place. Again, maybe Simona’s right. After all, she has a lot of friends and is so popular whenever we go out. By contrast, I’m kind of a shy introvert. I feel more comfortable with animals than people, and I can become paralyzed when it comes to social interaction with my own species sometimes.
However, now it’s time for snorkeling. Our instructor, another good-looking Caribbean man, reviews the important rules. It’s pretty straightforward, and Simona and I take to it quickly. Soon, we’re in the ocean having fun. We’re in a cove, so there aren’t too many waves, and the water is remarkably clear. I feel like I can see forever, and the turquoise blue of the sea beckons.
It’s sunny and relaxed, and soon our entire class is splashing about. We snorkel, looking at reefs and fish, before coming up for air. The aquatic life doesn’t even seem to be afraid of us because they peep out when we swim by, as if to stare at the aliens visiting their habitat.
Everyone gets tired, and so after a while, I’m swimming by myself even though I’m not supposed to. When I come up for air, I see Simona waving and pointing, and I wave back. Her waves become even more frantic, and I look around. Ah, there it is! I turn and see a pod of dolphins only a few yards away. Excitedly, I try to follow them for a bit, even though they’re much too fast for me.
The dolphins are absolutely gorgeous, gracefully twisting and turning, as if beckoning me to come with them. Their silvery-gray skin glints in the sunshine and before I realize what’s happening, I’m in the open ocean. It’s okay though because I can still see the cove with my fellow classmates splashing about. I wave at them and then follow the dolphins some more, entranced by their beauty.
Eventually however, I get tired and the dolphins turn their heads once and bob, as if to say goodbye to me. Then they dive deep into the waves, and I’m all alone. Popping my head out of the water, I look around for a minute while treading water. Weird. There’s nothing in sight for miles. I don’t see the boat, nor do I see other people, or even any land. I pop my head back into the water, and the reef is long gone. I’m in the open ocean now.
Oh shit. Panic begins to claw at me. I must have followed the dolphins straight into a current that took me far out into the ocean. Looking around in all directions, I desperately try to see something, anything that can help me find my way back to the cove. But I’m all alone, and have no idea which way to swim. I take huge gulping breaths, attempting to calm myself down.
“Alright Brynn,” I say out loud, the sound of my voice grounding my panic-stricken brain. “Think through this. You’re wearing a life vest, good. You’re a strong swimmer, good. You have no idea where you are, bad. You’re going to die without water in three days, very bad.”
I kick myself because that kind of thinking is not going to help me in the slightest.
“Alright think, think, think. What should I do?”
Suddenly, I hear a cawing sound from the sky. Looking up, I spot a sea gull soaring lazily on the breeze. My heart leaps because a sea gull means there’s a shore somewhere, right? Even if it’s not the right one, at least it’s land.
I begin to swim, following the bird towards the afternoon sun, obviously heading west. Keeping up with the seagull is difficult because of the waves, and soon, I feel like I’ve been swimming for hours. My arms and legs are shaking and I’m extremely thirsty, but I keep going, knowing that it’s life or death if I don’t.
After a while, the sun begins to disappear, and panic rises once more. I don’t want to be out in the ocean alone while it’s dark. But at least I start seeing more sea gulls, which means that they likely nest somewhere nearby. Seagulls live on land, right? God, I hope I haven’t been wrong about this all along.
Then, a thin strip of beach appears in the distance, and I feel tears come to my eyes. I’m saved! Swimming faster than I thought possible, I make my way towards it, desperately trying to reach shore before nightfall. The current is making it extremely difficult and I can feel a stitch forming in my side as I splash my way through the waves. It’s sheer determination keeping me going at this point because my arms and legs feel like dead weights.
Finally, my feet touch sand and I manage to crawl out onto the beach. The waves grab at my hands and feet, as if trying to pull me back into the ocean, but using my last ounce of strength, I clamber onto the safety of the sandbar. Then, I collapse on the soft sand, crying with mixed exhaustion and adrenaline. God, did that just happen? Did I almost just lose my life? Where am I, anyways? But I’m too tired to care, and pass out, everything going dark at once.
2
Tom
“I’m not telling you when I’ll be back because I don’t know when I’ll be back,” I growl into the phone.
My manager Randy sighs heavily into my ear.
“Tom, this is really bad for publicity. You realize that, right? You have a new movie coming out, and the trailer’s already been released. You have to make appearances, but where are you now? On some godforsaken island in the middle of the Caribbean. Fuck me.”
“You didn’t seem to feel that way about my island when you were here two weeks ago. Especially since you brought those two girls with you.”
Randy falls silent because Minnie and Winnie were his excuse to get away from life in LA. He had an amazing time here, and I hear him sigh through the phone.
“Alright,” he says, finally. “You got me. But let’s walk through this, shall we? Remember, you’re the movie star, and I’m just a humble agent. It’s my job to get you out there in front of the crowds.”
I pull the phone away from my ear and put it on speaker. I know that when Randy builds up steam like this, he can go for hours. I place the handheld down on my marble counter top and walk to the fridge, pulling out a beer and popping the top noisily. I hope he can hear.
“Your movie comes out when?” Randy asks. Obviously, he didn’t hear, nor does he care.
“I don’t know,” I say after a pause, taking a long sip. “I just act. You know I don’t handle that stuff.”
“Don’t play dumb,” he sighs. “You absolutely know when Take Me Down comes out.”
Grumbling, I answer, “Next summer, if everything goes right.”
“Yes, exactly. And for everything to go right, you need to be a part of it. And what do we do the whole year leading up to a new movie? You’ve been in this business for twenty years, my friend. I know you know the answer …”
I take another swallow of cold beer. Yeah, that hits the spot.
“Whatevs, Randy. I’m exhausted.”
He guffaws on the other end.
“How can you be exhausted? Filming ended a month ago. You should be re-charged by now.”
I sit down heavily on one of the bar stools next to the kitchen island.
“No, not just from filming. I’m exhausted in general. This lifestyle is too much for me, and I need a break.”
“Oh, you poor wealthy celebrity, I feel for you, truly,” Randy says, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Hey, I’d switch places with you any time bud,” I answer lightly. “How would you like being stalked non-stop? I’ll trade that crazy chick who went swimming in my pool wearing nothing but her birthday suit for your l
ife any day.”
“Look, I know recently the media has been a little rough…”
“Rough?” I interrupt. “Rough would be a tremor. This has been a fucking earthquake. I’m so goddamn sick of it! Ever since Christine and I broke up, it’s been, ‘Poor Tom’ this, and ‘Poor Tom’ that, not to mention ‘Tom Masters, forever the bridesmaid and never the bride.’”
Randy chuckles. “That one’s my favorite.”
“Seriously, I’ve had enough. I’m taking a vacation, Rand my man. You can either deal with it or you can quit,” I offer. “There are a ton of other agents lining up at my door.”
“You are so annoying,” he says shortly before hanging up the phone.
I laugh and tuck my cell back into my pocket because I know Randy will never leave me. My manager blusters a lot but he’s a good guy, and really, he has my best interests at heart. Sure, when I make money, he makes money, but that’s called interests that align. There’s nothing nefarious about it, especially since we both end up rich after everything is said and done.
Getting up from the island, I saunter out onto the veranda. This beautiful island was the first big purchase I made for myself when my movies started to hit it big. I know, I’m lucky. Most people are fortunate if they can afford a summer home whereas I have an entire island to myself. But it’s worth it because as an A-list movie star, I need my privacy. I’d be swarmed if I got a second home in some vacation community like everyone else.
I planned to come to St. Brigid a lot when I bought it, but I’ve only managed to make it once or twice over the past five years. It’s gorgeous though. The palms sway in the wind, and I’m all alone. Birds coo softly, and I plan on staying for as long as I can this time.
Tonight, the moon is hanging low over the ocean, and I decide to go for a stroll along the shore. Peace and quiet abound, and I make my way down the spiral staircase to the beach, the sand soft under my feet. Staring out over the water, I see the shining backs of dolphins as they frolic in the water. I count myself fortunate to see dolphins because they’re a token of good luck. My personal charm I suppose.
But then, ahead of me in the shadows of some of the palm trees, my eyes spy a distant, dark lump. Groaning internally, I pray it isn’t a dolphin that’s beached itself. Oh shit! The animals don’t beach themselves very often, but it happens on occasion. My steps quickening, I jog over to it but then stop short. This is no dolphin. In fact, this is no aquatic animal whatsoever because it’s a human. My heart sputters in my chest, and I begin to curse internally. What the fuck is a person doing here?
Going down on my knees, I see that the human is actually a woman. She’s curvy and gorgeous, even if she’s out cold.
“Jesus,” I mutter.
She must have been snorkeling on the main island and got caught up in a current. I lean down over her nose and mouth and check to see if she’s still breathing. Fortunately, there’s a warm trickle of air, and I sigh with relief. Thank god.
Standing up, I holler for help. My crew should be nearby. They don’t stay on the island, but they do stop by once a month to drop off supplies. I saw their dinghy on the walk over, so at least Peter should be on the island somewhere. Sure enough, Peter ambles up, rangy and sun-beaten with leathery skin.
“What’s going on, boss?” he asks. “Oh shit,” he says when his eyes land on the woman. “What do we have here?”
“Your guess is as good as mine. I just found her. She must have come from the main island,” I say.
He looks at me.
“She breathing?”
I nod.
“Yeah.”
“Still, that’s a hell of a swim, even with snorkel gear,” he says, looking at the fins scattered nearby. I nod again.
“Yeah, she probably caught a current. Help me get her into the house. It’s the least we can do.”
With his help, we manage to maneuver the woman’s limp form up to the entrance of the guest house. Kicking open the door, we stagger in and place her gently on the couch. Then I pull out my cell.
“I’m going to call the embassy. I’m sure someone has reported her missing by now. You guys go ahead and head back. Oh wait. Can you stop by the local police precinct and let them know that I have a woman here?”
Peter looks at her skeptically.
“Should we take her with us? It’s no trouble, boss.”
I look at her curves again and nod yes, but then shake my head against my better judgment.
“Nah, it’s no trouble. Besides, she’s out cold so it’ll be doing no favors to have an unconscious woman with you on that little boat. You’d have to tie her down to keep her safe from the waves. I’m sure she’ll wake up soon. I’ll keep her warm here in the meantime.”
Peter looks doubtful, but he nods and leaves the house. “You got it boss.”
Meanwhile, I pull a throw blanket gently over the woman’s sleeping form. She really is gorgeous, and we managed to get her life jacket off to reveal lush curves barely contained in a turquoise bikini. Forcing myself not to look, I pull out my cell again and begin to dial the American Embassy number. But before I get halfway through, the woman groans. Quickly, I sit down next to her.
“Hey,” I say. “Can you hear me?”
Her long, dark, eye lashes flutter open and I stare down into warm brown eyes. Her full lips open but no sound comes out.
“Can you speak?” I ask gently. “Just try.” She swallows hard and nods her head. Then she manages to gasp, “Water.”
Immediately, I bolt to my feet.
“Oh, of course,” I say. “Sorry about that.”
In the kitchen, I grab a glass, filling it with filtered water from the fridge. Then, I bring it to her and help her sit up before holding the glass to her lips. She takes a long, grateful sip and when I pull the glass away, she looks up at me.
“Thanks,” she says, smiling weakly.
I smile back because her beauty is so breathtaking that it’s impossible not to.
“Sure, no problem.”
Then her eyes flutter shut and she falls asleep again. At first, I’m worried that she’s passed out, but her even breathing assures me that it’s just slumber. Thank god.
I take a deep breath and try not to stare down into her heart shaped face. Her warm body is pressed against mine and it’s making the blood pound in my ears. One of my hands strokes her damp curls, which are quickly drying to a chestnut-copper color. Suddenly my cell rings, startling me back to the present.
I gently ease myself away from the beautiful girl and pick up.
“Randy, what’s up?” I whisper.
“Why are you whispering?” he asks with confusion in his voice.
I explain to him everything that’s happened.
“So basically, you have a drowned woman on your couch,” he says slowly. “Is that right?”
“She’s not drowned, she’s alive.”
He’s silent for a moment.
“But you’ll get her back to the main island tomorrow?”
“Yes, I’ll try.”
There’s a long silence on the other end of the phone.
“What do you mean, you’ll try?”
“I sent the boat out to the main island as soon as I found her. There’s no way to get her there until they get back.”
“But you called the embassy.”
“I was just about to.”
Another long silence.
“Tom, please I’m begging you. Do not kidnap this woman.”
I’m so surprised I almost drop the phone.
“Kidnap? Who said anything about kidnap? She washed ashore, my friend. I had nothing to do with that.”
My agent merely grumbles on the other side.
“Don’t act all innocent with me, bud. I know you. You could have packed that girl off with the shipping ferry, but you didn’t. Let me guess – she’s a ten.”
I pause.
“You know, I really resent your implications, but in case you’re wondering, she’s an elev
en.”
Randy’s long sigh is audible this time.
“Get her off your island as soon as possible,” he warns. “I’m not joking. The last thing you need is the media catching wind that you’re holed up with a beautiful woman for sex romps.”
“Alright, that’s enough,” I snap.
I can take a lot of hits to my character because I’ve been in the limelight for decades now, but still. Sometimes too far is too far. There’s a pause before I hear Randy take a deep breath.
“You’re right, I’m sorry. Just please, for my sake, get that woman back where she belongs as soon as possible. Okay? No fuss no muss.”
Without replying I hang up the phone and continue to watch the gorgeous girl. She frowns slightly in her sleep but then her face clears. Smiling, I tuck the blanket in tighter around her curvy figure and lean forward to press a kiss to her forehead. That wasn’t bad, was it? Then, I quietly depart the guest house, leaving my unexpected guest to slumber on her own.
3
Brynn
* * *
I wake up slowly out of a heavy dreamless sleep. As I open my eyes to the brilliant sunshine streaming into the room, it takes me second to remember what happened to me. I sit bolt upright. I’m sitting on a couch in an airy living room, one that I’ve never seen before. Clutching the blanket that had fallen when I sat up, I swing my legs over the side of the sofa and stand up, my knees trembling. But then there’s a clatter in the kitchen. Whirling around I see the bare back of a man standing over a stove.
“I hope you’re hungry,” he calls from the kitchen.
I stumble backwards, my legs sorer and weaker than they have ever been. Then I remember the ocean and the dolphins and swimming to the island. What happened? I sink down onto the coffee table staring at the half naked form of the man.
“Where am I?” I ask, my voice trembling.
At the sound of my whisper, the man turns and walks towards me. My mouth falls open because this is the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen. His back was a work of art with muscles playing across that hard v-shape, but now, I see his chest and can barely breathe. The sunlight coming through the windows glints off solid, tanned pecs. His abs are so defined I can count them from where I’m sitting. He’s tall, probably around six foot three and his hair is dark, falling across his forehead in a shaggy unkempt style. The most mesmerizing thing about him, however, are his eyes. Icy blue, they stare at me from under dark eyebrows. For some reason, they feel familiar.