4. Tish

Chapter Four

Tish

I could feel the water dripping from my dress. I was freezing cold and still a little in shock that I'd even ended up in the water.

"Tish," a low, rumbly masculine voice said.

I stared up into a pair of startling silver-gray eyes. They were like a stormy sky. Discombobulated as I was, it took me a few beats to realize why I recognized the man holding me. "Griffin?"

My pulse was galloping like a horse out of control. I tried to say something else, but my teeth were chattering. My lips were so cold I couldn't form another word. I was dimly aware of his strong hold. This was now round two for this man rescuing me. Of all the days to see him again, it had to be this one.

"She's bordering on hypothermic," he said to someone.

As the warmth of his body started to seep into mine, I realized we were encircled by people. I heard feet pounding on the dock, followed by Griffin barking out orders about getting a blanket and something else.

I was disappointed, almost bereft, when he eased me to my feet and someone else wrapped a blanket around my shoulders. My awareness gradually became sharper.

Griffin was busy telling everyone what to do. Sometime later, he was standing at the back of the ambulance where they'd situated me.

"How are you doing?" he asked.

One of the EMTs commented, "Her temperature is in the normal range now. Once we got her wrapped in one of the heated blankets, she warmed right up. I don't think she needs to be assessed further. We just need to find her some dry clothes."

Griffin's eyes bored into mine, and my heart flipped over in my chest. Someone appeared with clothes, and the next thing I knew, the female EMT helped me change into a dry sweatshirt and a pair of soft cotton pants and socks.

"Do you know where your shoes are?" she asked.

"Uh, at the bottom of the harbor," I said, feeling together enough now to smile sheepishly.

She chuckled. "Good point. Hang on, I'm sure we can rustle some up."

I should've known walking on the docks wasn't a good idea. I was accustomed enough to occasionally having my little episodes that they didn't bother me too much. Somewhere along the way, I'd explained to the EMT that I had a syncope disorder. We agreed the icy cold water was what made it such an issue today.

A few minutes later, I was wearing a pair of slightly too large running shoes. The EMT asked me if I needed a ride home.

I shook my head. "I'm all set. Thank you. Is there anything else I need to do?"

I was uncertain about the order of events when you fell into a harbor at a wedding reception and had to get rescued by a sexy firefighter. After the EMT officially released me from her care, I walked away, wondering if anyone was still here from the wedding reception. I didn't even know how much time had passed since I'd fallen into the harbor.

The catering company was cleaning up and there didn't appear to be any guests left. There were still plenty of people on the docks. I was relieved the wedding reception had ended. I didn't want to have to face anyone after that little event. I made my way toward the entrance to the grassy park by the harbor, hoping I didn't see anyone I knew. My hair was still a little damp, and I was wearing clothes that didn't fit well while carting my wet dress in a bag.

"Tish!" a voice called.

Even if I wasn't sure I knew whose voice that was, my pulse knew. At the sound, my pulse kicked up its heels, and was off to the races. Griffin .

I wanted to pretend like I didn't hear him, but that seemed rude, considering that he'd stripped down to dive into icy cold water to save me. I'd honestly never expected to see him again. I hadn't forgotten him. In fact, I'd thought about him more often than I wanted to admit. Although our encounter on the side of the highway had been brief, it had seared him into my memory.

I paused, glancing around until my eyes landed on a vehicle waiting by the curb. "Thank you." My eyes locked with his, my belly swooped, and my lungs temporarily forgot how to do their job.

"Do you need a ride anywhere?" he asked.

I wanted to say "no", but it was obvious I was walking. I pasted a polite smile on my face.

Before I could reply, he added, "It doesn't look like those shoes fit, and that bag looks heavy." He must've sensed my hesitation. "If you really don't want a ride, at least…" He paused, as if he wasn't sure what to say next.

"I appreciate it. I'll take a ride."

He put his truck in park and jumped out to take the bag with my sopping wet dress and tuck it in the back seat. He held the door for me, and I hopped in and looked down at my feet. The shoes were way too big for me. It was kind of ridiculous, really.

"Thank you," I repeated when he was back in the driver's seat a moment later.

"No problem." He pushed the button to start the engine again and glanced over. "Where to?"

"Oh, I suppose you need to know that detail. Straight ahead and hook a right into the apartment complex across from the pharmacy."

"Oh, I know that one." He pulled out into the road slowly.

"You do?"

He slid his gaze to mine briefly before shifting it back to the road. "I grew up in Fireweed Harbor. My family owns Fireweed Industries, and we have a property management company in town."

"What?!"

I was stunned. This random man I'd encountered on the side of the road over a year ago happened to be part of the family whose company I now worked for.

He tossed me a quick smile. "All true. What are you doing here in Fireweed Harbor?"

"Uh, well, I work at Fireweed Industries. I'm the executive assistant to the CEO."

Griffin chuckled. "Rhys is my oldest brother. I didn't know you were his assistant, but he says you're a godsend."

I couldn't even focus on the secondary compliment. "Rhys Cannon is your brother?"

"He sure is."

I let out a wondering laugh. "Wow. And here I never thought I'd see you again."

In hindsight, that explained why Griffin had looked a little familiar when I first saw him. I'd wondered about that detail since. While I hadn't seen him before then, I'd seen his brother, who shared a clear resemblance.

"You did say if we saw each other again to take it as a sign," he pointed out.

My belly did a little flip. "I guess I did."

I didn't even know what to do with any of this. At all.

Griffin seemed to pick up on how unsettled I was and smoothly shifted the topic away. "How are you doing now?"

"Fine."

"You're warm enough?"

"Yeah. The water was freezing, but I'm okay. I definitely don't plan to fall in the harbor again."

He chuckled. "Do you remember what happened?"

I usually didn't worry about explaining this, but Griffin had already seen me faint. This was round two. "My brain skips a beat sometimes and I faint. I just wanted to walk out on the docks. Next thing I knew, I felt it coming on. I should've known better. The last thing I remember is wondering if a sea lion would eat me."

My heart sped up a little at the rumble of his chuckle. "Not likely. Not impossible, but humans aren't really their preferred meal."

"Thank you for diving in and rescuing me."

"Anytime."

"I hope I didn't ruin the wedding reception."

"Of course not. Now there's a story."

"What do you mean?"

"When something goes perfectly, there's not much to say about it other than how perfect it was. But when something goes wrong, preferably a harmless mishap, there's a good story to share later."

I snorted. "I suppose."

The pharmacy came into view, and Griffin slowed to turn down the side street, the sound of the blinker loud in the quiet that had fallen between us. A moment later he pulled around the back of my small apartment building. My job came with a reduced rate on this apartment. The apartment was small, but nice and furnished. I loved it.

He parked, and before I could say anything, he'd fetched the bag with my dress out of the back and was waiting for me when I climbed out. "You don't have to carry that up," I said.

He looked at me quietly. "Are you sure?"

I felt my lips curling up in a reluctant smile. "Griffin, you literally saved me from drowning today," I pointed out. "I can handle carrying this into my apartment."

We studied each other for a moment, and I felt tiny flares of heat shooting up inside. His gray eyes flashed silver. He looked remarkably like his brothers. They shared similar features, a straight nose, a strong jaw, and full lips. He was the only brother I hadn't officially met. All six of the Cannon brothers were objectively handsome, and yet not a single one had elicited anything beyond a vague appreciation from me. Until Griffin. Apparently, being rescued by him, not once, but twice, had created a storm of chemistry inside with little bolts of lightning zapping through me.

He handed over the bag with my dress in it with a dip of his head. "There you go. I'm sure I'll see you again soon."

"I'm sure," I squeaked. I tried to ignore the little jolt I experienced when his fingers brushed against mine as he handed the bag over. It felt like fire streaking up my arm.

I didn't realize I was just standing there, clutching the heavy bag until he prompted, "Tish? Did you need something else?"

"Oh!" I almost jumped. "No. Thank you again."

He studied me for a beat before he nodded.

I spun around and hurried into the entrance to the building, turning back to call out, "Thank you!"

"For fuck's sake, how many times do you need to say that?" I whispered to myself. Flustered, I rushed into the building.

I hurried past the reception area to the small bank of elevators. This was a newer building, luxury housing in the heart of Fireweed Harbor, or at least that's how it was described when I looked it up before I moved here.

I took the elevator up to my floor, fumbling to tap the code into the keypad at my door before I walked in. I dropped the bag by the door, feeling the shaky jitters that were still reverberating in my system as I dashed into my bathroom.

When I lifted my eyes to look in the mirror, I let out a resigned laugh. My hair was drying in wild curls, my mascara was streaked, and I looked like a big mess.