The Secret Cove in Croatia

by Julie Caplin

  ‘Simon!’ Maddie’s voice was little more than a gasp as she hung on, trying to catch her breath as adrenaline punched its way through her system.

  The boat rocked violently from side to side, each time the angle sharper. Maddie clung on, although it was difficult as her wet hands were finding it hard to grasp the smooth fibreglass edge. Simon managed to throw himself forward and take hold of the wheel. His haphazard grab sent the boat lurching in the opposite direction, banking hard as it hit the trough of the wake with an enormous bang. Maddie’s precarious hold failed. The impact threw her out, smacking into the sea with a painful slap of water on skin. The white wall of the boat towered over her, filling her vision, coming closer, closer … Oh, God, it was going to … At the last second it sliced by, the chainsaw buzz of the propeller just shy of her head.

  Before she could draw breath the wake closed over her head, swamping her, pushing her down. Everything was water. Pressing at her face. Filling her ears. Scouring her nose. Gulped into her mouth, the salt making her gag. She flailed, arms and legs thrashing, not sure which way was up or down. Tossed and spun like a washing machine and then, mercifully, the reprieve of cold fresh, air. She sucked in a desperate lungful of air, throwing her head back, trying to keep it out of the water as she splashed her arms and legs in a flight or fight automatic stay-afloat response as the waves rolled towards her, tossing her up and down. Her hair was plastered over her face and she swiped at it, while trying to swim with one arm. All she could see was the white froth and foam spewing behind the rocking boat, which was disappearing fast.

  Gradually the roll of the waves settled and she trod water, gasping for breath, her heart pounding so hard she could almost feel the water pulsing around her. She was conscious of the weight of her clothes dragging at her, the sea sucking at her. Already her muscles, limp from shock, were failing her. From here the shore looked a very long way and with waves swelling up and around her she couldn’t see the boat. Surely Simon would come back for her. God, what if he crashed the boat? What if he’d fallen out too? Had the occupants of the other boat seen what had happened? What if another boat came along and didn’t see her? Her heart beat along with the rapidity of her starburst thoughts. Calm down, Maddie. Calm down.

  She looked at the shoreline. Would Simon be able to see her? The waves and the swell meant she couldn’t see him. Perhaps she could swim to one of the yachts moored near the shore. Get some help. But she wasn’t the strongest swimmer. If only she’d insisted they waited for Nick. Where the hell was Simon? Ivan was going to kill her. If she survived. It suddenly struck her that she was alone in the sea and, with the exception of Simon and possibly the three men in the boat that was probably at least a mile away by now, no one knew she was here.

  With no sign of Simon coming back for her she struck out for the shore, but swimming in the sea, when the water sucked and clawed at her heavy clothes, was hard work and it didn’t feel as if she was making any progress. It had barely been five minutes and already her arms were too heavy.

  The sound of a boat approaching made her heart pick up; she stopped swimming, hoping that someone would see her and not mow her down. The white hull of the boat grew closer. She waved her hand in the air, sinking briefly, with another rush of water up her nose.

  The boat slowed and her limbs went limp with relief, ironically making things easier as her body floated on the surface.

  ‘We’ve got you,’ called an American voice. There was a splash and a life belt landed just a few feet in front of her. Gathering the last of her strength, she struck out towards it and, as soon as she’d grasped it with both hands, someone began pulling her in towards the boat. Hands grabbed at her and hauled her in and she slithered over the side and flopped onto the floor like a dazed fish.

  The engine cut with an abrupt halt and the boat bobbed gently up and down.

  ‘Here …’ Someone wrapped a blanket around her, immediately shielding her from the brisk breeze which felt icy on her wet, chilled skin. ‘You’re OK now.’ She shivered into the blanket, her teeth chattering so hard she couldn’t speak.

  The kind concerned eyes of a movie-star handsome, preppy, good-looking guy stared down at her. He wore the crisp white polo and pressed chinos uniform that denoted crew on one of the superyachts. He was also one of the three men in the speedboat that Simon had decided to take on.

  ‘Th-tha-th-anks f-for r-rescuing m-m-m-me …’ her teeth chattering, she said carefully, worried she might bite her tongue.

  ‘No problem. You OK? No injuries? No bangs to the head?’ He scanned her body, efficient and impassive. ‘There’s no blood, so that’s a good sign. I’ve seen some nasty post propeller meet-ups and they’re not pretty.’

  She shook her head.

  ‘Aaron, man, don’t tell her about the babe who lost a leg. Not helping, dude.’ A second equally handsome man in the same uniform came to join the first.

  ‘Both legs still here,’ Maddie managed.

  ‘Cool. Wouldn’t want to lose those.’ Aaron grinned at her, flashing all-American hero teeth at her. She felt at a decided disadvantage. ‘You’re English.’

  ‘All the way through,’ she replied.

  ‘Yes. Who’s your friend?’ He nodded out to sea.

  ‘Not a friend. Guest. He wanted to drive.’ Maddie shook her head. ‘I let him. I’m not supposed to.’

  ‘Mmm, can be tricky when the guests throw their weight around.’

  ‘I heard that,’ said a much louder and stronger American accent, with a rumbling laugh. An older man stepped into view. ‘Except I’m the owner so I’m allowed to drive the boat.’

  The two younger men grinned at him and one of them quipped, ‘I hear you’re allowed to do anything.’

  The man clapped him on the back. ‘And you’re my voice of reason when I shouldn’t.’ He turned and crouched down in front of Maddie. ‘You OK, honey? Took a nasty –’ he pronounced it with two extra a’s ‘– spill there.’

  ‘I’m feeling a lot better now I’m on … not quite dry land – dry boat?’

  He laughed. ‘Out of the water.’

  ‘Yes, that. Thank you for rescuing me.’

  ‘Least we could do. Your pal has gone back to base. We gave him a little talk on the rules of the road.’

  ‘My fault, I should’ve –’

  ‘Honey, there’s no need to apologise for an asshole. How’re you feeling?’

  ‘Soggy. Embarrassed. Knackered.’

  ‘Knackered.’ He mimicked her English accent with a delighted crow. ‘Love it. I meant how are you feeling medically speaking?’

  Maddie shrugged. ‘I’ll live.’

  ‘You Brits crack me up with your understatement. Half the folks around here would be threatening to sue my ass off.’

  ‘You rescued me.’

  ‘With some folk that wouldn’t measure. Your pal back there was all affronted at first. He wanted to get litigious at the get-out. Saying we cut him up. Max here quickly shut him down.’

  ‘I’m fine.’ She clutched her stomach, wincing, which rather ruined her nonchalant attempt to hide the fact she felt horribly sick with all the seawater she’d swallowed swilling around. ‘Oh, God,’ she moaned, suddenly going hot, that horrible aching jaw feeling signalling that she was going to throw up any second.

  Aaron moved quickly, steering her body round so that her head was over the side. The contents of her stomach erupted with a godawful noise. She wanted to die of embarrassment. She heaved again and again. This was almost as bad as being in the sea. Her nose stung, her eyes watering as she hung her head, the bobbing of the boat making her feel even worse.

  When she came back up, Max had a bottle of water in his hand held towards her and Aaron a tub of wet wipes. ‘Wow, you’re like a pair of efficiency superheroes or something,’ she said, wondering what on earth made her blurt that out.

  The older man laughed. ‘I like that. Maybe I’ll change the uniform. Capes. We could do capes.’

  ‘Bill, with respe
ct,’ said Max, ‘no capes. The chinos are just fine.’

  ‘What he said,’ added Aaron.

  Bill lifted his shoulders and smiled at Maddie as she gratefully took a wet wipe and cleaned her mouth. ‘You’d never guess I pay their wages.’ Then he lowered his voice. ‘They’re good boys. Best crew I ever had, but don’t tell ’em I said so.’ He winked at her.

  ‘I won’t,’ she said gravely, feeling a lot better now that she’d been sick. Her heart had stopped trying to beat its way out of her chest and the frightened panicky feelings had subsided. ‘And I’m sorry about …’ she inclined her head ‘… the side of the boat.’

  ‘That’s all right. I’m sure I can find someone to clean it up. That’s the really great thing about having crew.’ He included both Max and Aaron in his grin.

  ‘Talking of which —’ she sat up straighter, clutching the blanket ‘– I ought to get back. I don’t suppose you’d mind giving me a lift?’

  ‘Not at all,’ said Bill. ‘But not until my doctor has checked you over, little lady.’

  ‘Doctor?’

  ‘Yes, one of those fellas in white coats.’ His eyes twinkled in his tanned weathered face. ‘Except she’s a she.’

  ‘We do have doctors in England,’ she said repressively, pursing her lips but unable to hide her smile. ‘But I feel fine. And I need to get back to work.’

  ‘Not until my doc has given you the all-clear. Can you be sure you didn’t bump your head?’

  ‘Er … yes,’ she said, not sounding sure at all because the whole of her left side hurt where she’d hit the water, especially her ear. ‘Honestly, I’m OK.’

  ‘We’re taking you in for a check-up. One of the boys can run you back when the doc’s given you the all-clear.

  ‘Honey – what is your name, by the way? – I’m paying that doc through the nose; she hasn’t worked since we left New York. It’ll do her good to reacquaint herself with a live one.’

  ‘I’m Maddie.’

  ‘And I’m Bill. And these two guys are Aaron and Max. Actually my wife’s nephews but for some goddamn reason they insist on working.’ Bill didn’t look as if he minded; in fact it was said with a touch of pride. ‘And I can give you some ID if you’re worried about boarding a boat with three strange Yanks.’

  Maddie chewed at her lip. ‘I guess I’m a bit naïve. I figured if you were kind enough to rescue me rather than leave me to drown, you probably were the good guys.’

  Bill tipped his head to one side and nodded. ‘You got a good point there, little lady.’

  Chapter 17

  Bill’s boat was not a boat. It was a floating mansion, a palace, a small village.

  Aaron helped her out of the boat and guided her up the steps, while her eyes bugged out on stalks at the sheer opulence. Oh, hell, her shoes were soaking and her clothes were sodden, dripping down her legs, leaving small puddles in her wake.

  ‘Why don’t you take a shower in one of the state rooms and I’ll get my steward to rustle up some clothes for you?’

  ‘That would be very kind, thank you.’

  Bill beamed at her. ‘Aren’t you just the politest little thing?’

  Maddie snorted. ‘I think that’s the first time anyone has ever called me little. Even when I was five I was on the big-boned side.’

  ‘Healthy and happy; that’s all you can ask for. You eaten?’ He laughed at himself. ‘Stupid question. You just brought it all back. Why don’t you get yourself cleaned up and then come back on deck, join me for breakfast, after you’ve seen the doc?’

  Before she could answer, not that she was going to turn down the offer of a hot shower, he’d walked off.

  ‘Is he always like this?’ asked Maddie, the room suddenly feeling emptier without his larger than life presence.

  ‘Bill doesn’t like to take no for an answer, but he’s a good guy. A really good guy. Looks after me and Max and Mom real good. Dad cleaned her out and took off when we were small. He’s looked after Mom ever since. That’s why we try and work … payback during the summer vacation. He’s paying our college tuition so it only seems right.’

  Well, that reassured her that she wasn’t in any danger. Although, to be honest, she was so grateful for being rescued, any concerns about being sold into the white slave trade had been pushed to the back of her mind. Now she was safe and about to be warm and dry again, she did wonder how Simon was and glad she didn’t have to talk to him. A flash of fury at his behaviour spiked but she took an even breath.

  ‘Wow, you’re really slumming it here!’ said Maddie when Aaron opened the door to the stateroom.

  He laughed. ‘No expense spared. Neat, isn’t it?’

  ‘How many cabins do you have and are they all as big as this?’

  ‘This is one of the bigger ones but it’s nowhere near as big as the master; that’s probably three times the size. And on board we’ve got twenty staterooms. Cinema, of course. Cocktail bar. Swimming pool. Sauna. Jacuzzi.’

  Maddie nodded, swallowing, momentarily lost for words. ‘That’s a lot of boat.’

  ‘That’s superyacht for you.’ With another smile, he nodded towards a door. ‘Shower through there, plenty of towels. Shampoo, soap. Anything else you need?’

  ‘Just a bag for my wet things. And I don’t suppose you’ve got a bag of rice on board?’ She unbuttoned the pocket of her cargo shorts and pulled out her phone. ‘It’s worth a try, I guess.’

  ‘Aw, shoot. It got a pretty good dousing. I think ma’am, you’re going to have to get a new one.’

  ‘I think you’re probably right,’ she said with a disconsolate sigh.

  ‘Why don’t you … er …’ he coloured ‘… change and throw out your wet stuff? The steward can probably rinse your panties and bikini top and get them dry and I’ll leave some dry things on the bed. Take your time. Doc Cannon knows you’re here. Think you can find your way back up?’

  Maddie laughed. ‘I think I’ll manage.’

  ‘Yeah, as long as you don’t fall overboard.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  She slipped into the bathroom, stripped off quickly and with one hand threw out her bikini through the door.

  ‘Thanks,’ she yelled.

  ‘No problem. Take your time.’

  She heard the stateroom door shut and wrapped herself in one of the huge navy bath sheets with a row of pale blue embroidered flowers bounding the hem and stepped back into the room. Oh, heaven, it was super-fluffy.

  Holy moly. Maddie looked around the room. She’d thought the Avanturista was posh; this was … extraordinary. Crisp white sheets on the bed, monogrammed with the name of the yacht. A plush carpet that threatened to swallow her feet.

  Blimey, the bathroom was as big as her cabin back on the Avanturista. Just look at that bucket head shower and all the different shower heads on either side which just begged you to step right in. The row of expensive toiletries lined up on a smoky glass shelf lit by concealed lights above looked seriously exclusive and when she picked them up she discovered they were ESPA. She took a sniff of one of the bottles to find out just what bergamot, jasmine and a hint of cedarwood did smell like.

  Grinning at herself in the mirror even though she looked like a bedraggled mongrel, she dived into the shower, which did a fabulous job of washing away the indignity and embarrassment of her dunk in the sea.

  Using the lush toiletries, she emerged in a cloud of delicious scent, her wet hair feeling softer than it had ever done before. She wrapped the big bath sheet around her and scooped her hair up into another towel and wrapped it up turban-style. Of course, as soon as she opened the bathroom door, the towel slipped down over her eyes. As she tried to salvage it, she stepped forward blindly and …

  ‘Aargh!’ She jumped as two hands grasped her forearms. Startled, she threw up her head, trying to see properly, and headbutted someone.

  ‘Ow, Maddie!’

  Yanking the towel off, she looked up to see Nick standing in front of her with his hand pressed to his nose.r />
  ‘Nick!’ She stared at him, blinking, as if to check it really was him. ‘What are you doing here?’

  ‘Making sure you were OK,’ he muttered, rubbing at his nose.

  ‘I meant, how did you get here?’

  ‘After you abandoned me in Hvar –’ he glared at her ‘– I grabbed a water taxi and saw what happened, but I was too far away.’ He shook his head. ‘I thought the launch was going to run you over. But then, before we could get any nearer, you got into a boat –’ he rolled his eyes angrily ‘– with three fucking strangers. What were you thinking?’

  ‘Seriously!’ Maddie glared back at him. ‘I was thinking thank God I don’t have to swim to shore.’

  ‘Very funny, but couldn’t you have asked them to take you back to the Avanturista? When I saw them going off with you in the opposite direction … well what was I supposed to think?’

  ‘That I was being sold into the white slave trade, of course,’ replied Maddie, her eyes flashing at his ridiculous behaviour.

  ‘A single girl with three men in a boat heading off to who knows where. You don’t think I should have been worried?’

  Now that her heart had stopped racing, she looked at his face. ‘OK. You’ve got a …’ It was then she noticed he’d had a haircut. Oh, boy, he’d had a haircut. For some stupid reason, her breath caught in her throat at the sight of him, almost as if in the space of an hour she’d forgotten what he looked like and now he was different. It suited him although, she told herself sternly, she preferred the longer, shaggier style. Now he was all chiselled cheeks and sharp jawline, that had been softened before. Suddenly he was too masculine, too good-looking … intimidating in a way he hadn’t been before. Although, despite his golden tan, he looked a little pale.

  ‘Are you OK?’

  She realised she was staring at him while her heart seemed to be having a moment. Today he looked like he belonged to Tara and co’s golden world and it made her feel a little sad for him.

  ‘Just peachy, thanks.’

  Injecting a bit of snark into her voice immediately made her feel a bit more … or a bit less, well, weird.