Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

Icy water rushed in around the doorframe, instantly stealing Lexie Hale’s breath. The shock of how cold the water was had her taking her hands off the wheel. Pulling away from the door, she glanced around the rental car looking for anything to plug the water’s path. She hadn’t planned for the trip so there was no luggage in the backseat, just her backpack with her laptop, which would do nothing to help the situation.

“Damn it!” Grabbing the hem of her sweater, she pulled it up and over her head. While the vehicle was still warm, the chill was seeping in, leaving no doubt this was a decision she was going to regret. With the sweater in hand and regret already forming a ball in her stomach, she reached down to the floorboard, shoving the sweater near the crack of the door.

Holding the material against the onslaught of water, it barely made a difference. But as she pulled her hand away, the sweater was caught in the current, sending it swimming across the footwell of the vehicle. With the water rising past her ankles, she needed another plan, and unless she wanted to freeze, she needed to get out of the water. Without her sweater, she was now in only a thin camisole and jeans, leaving little protection against the chill the storm had brought with it.

Jerked to the side, she glanced up, looking for what she suspected to be another vehicle hitting her. “What…” The screeching sound of metal being dragged along something filled the air, making her want to cover her ears. But there wasn’t a car in sight. In fact, there was nothing in sight except water. “Where’s the road?”

With panic tightening her chest, she tried to think. The gush of water from overhead had pushed the car sideways, but before she took off her sweater, she could still see the lines painted on the road. “Where did it go? Could the current…” She couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence.

“I’ve got to get out of here.” She leaned forward, her fingers on the keys, and tried again to start the vehicle. Nothing. Not even a flicker of light. “No! Please…” After trying again in vain, she slammed her hand down on the wheel as if that would somehow solve her problems. Looking out her window, she could see the water flowing over the hillside, straight onto the road. Or at least what used to be the road.

“Am I even in the same spot?” As if to answer her question she felt the vehicle drifting again, tugged further away from what she could only assume was safety. One thing she did know—the closer she got to the hillside, the deeper the water would be.

Cool water rushed around Dixon, making it difficult to stay on his feet. The only thing keeping him from washing down the newly formed river was the harness around his torso. He tugged on the line, seeking a little more slack, and forced himself forward. Through the heavy rain, he could see the vehicle just out of his reach, but with the rushing current, he couldn’t afford to unhook. No matter how loud he hollered, the occupant in the car hadn’t responded.

“Hello!” he shouted again, willing whoever was moving inside to hear him.

The radio hooked to the shoulder of his shirt crackled to life. “D, rescue teams are all tied up.”

Just as he expected. Rather than responding, he pushed forward, tugging on the rope again, as if it would give him the slack he needed. “Come on.”

Over the rushing water and whipping wind, the sound of breaking glass caught his attention. He glanced back at the car as glass rained down into the water, only to be swept away in the current. A flash of movement brought his attention back to the open window in time for him to see a woman pulling herself out.

“Wait!” With new urgency, he darted forward, only to have the line pull taut. It halted him with enough force that he stumbled, the water pushed against him as he fought to regain his balance.

“Huh?” The woman twisted back to look at him, her dark brown hair blown into her face, making her reach up and try to push it away, only for it to be blown right back.

“Stay there! I’m coming.” After regaining his balance, he twisted back, pulling the rope from the water, giving him another few inches.

“The car is slipping!” she screamed over the onslaught of wind as she continued to inch out the window.

He stepped forward, using the last few inches he had from the safety line, and reached out toward her. “Can you jump?”

“Ar…are you insane?” With wide eyes she stared back at him. “Where’s the rescue team? I called…”

“I’m it.” With his feet firmly on the ground, he held out his arms and cocked his fingers motioning for her to jump. “Leave your bag behind and jump. I’ll catch you.”

“N…no…” Even as she argued, he could see her shivering. “Roof…wait…there.”

“Listen to me,” he hollered, stopping her as she started to pull herself up. “Rescue teams are tied up. I’m the best you got, so unless you want to go for a swim, jump.”

“I c…can’t…swim.”

In the dim light from his vehicle, he took in the woman before him. Her dark brown hair plastered around her face as she stared at him with wide eyes. But it was the slight curve of her nose that caught his attention, leading up to the bump from where it had been accidently broken by her brother freshman year.

“Lexie.” He shook his head. No, it couldn’t be her. Her family left this town years ago and she never looked back.

“What did you say?” With one hand clinging to her backpack strap and the other clenching the doorframe, she stared at him.

“Leave the bag.”

“No.” She twisted around, pulling herself further from the car, so her feet were now on the window frame as well. “Lexie. That’s what you said. How do you…”

The rest of her words were lost as the wind picked up, but it was clear what she was asking.

“You remind me of someone I used to know. Now come on. I need you to lose the bag and jump. I’ll catch you.”

“What’s your name?”

“Dixon Meyer.” He strained against the harness, trying to get close enough to grab hold of the woman. “The vehicle is moving. You need to jump now . Otherwise…” He stopped himself from saying he might not be able to catch her.

“Dixon…”

The softness of his name made him cock an eyebrow at her in question, not that she could see it in the dim light. “I’m trained for this. I was a firefighter for years and I’ve never dropped a person. Jump.”

“I…” With her hand on the roof rack, she pulled herself up, so she was standing on the window frame. With one last glance to him, she leaped off, flying through the air toward him.

Without hesitation he stretched forward, his arms raised toward her and took a deep breath. If he lost his footing, they’d both be swept under, and he needed to be ready for that. Ready for anything. If the current dragged them under, he had no doubt she’d fight against him, desperately trying to get to the surface. But not knowing how to swim would work against her, and in turn, him as well.