9. Beatrice

9

BEATRICE

I only have time to gasp for air, and then my head goes under with the rest of my body. Fear cuts through me and I start to panic. I kick with my arms and legs and manage to get my mouth around the surface. Laughter rings in my ears but fades as I slip back under.

The moment I break the surface again, I scream, "Help me!" I see Jason standing there watching me drown.

This is it. I'm dead. Tears mix with the salty ocean water as I sink. The water feels like a vice around my chest, squeezing out any hope of escape. I flail wildly, desperate for air, but the darkness pulls me deeper into its suffocating embrace.

To my shock, I feel hands wrap around my waist and quickly pull me upward. I gasp for air as my rescuer swims me away from the dock. "Take a deep breath," a man says.

I inhale, and we go underwater as he swims me further away. When we break the surface, I'm so surprised that it's Nico who's saved me that I gasp and spit out a mouthful of water.

"Whisper," Nico tells me. "Sound travels."

"You saved me." I frown. "Again."

"Let's get you back to the boat."

I wrap my arms around him immediately. My legs are too cramped in the stupid dress. "Please don't let go. I can't swim."

"I won't." He glides slowly through the water with me in his arms. I wonder about the people in the club. "Maybe I should go back there."

"Do you want to?" He looks me in the eye and waits, treading water.

I chew my lip. "I should, but no, I don't want to spend another minute there."

"Good." He smiles. "I won't get fresh, but I need to lift your skirt so you can move your legs. It will make swimming easier."

I nod, my grip on his neck tightening. He manages to pull my skirt up around my hips. My cheeks heat in the position I'm now in.

He doesn't comment. "I'm not going to let you go, okay?"

"I believe you."

We turn to the sound of shouting coming from the country club. “That idiot you were with has finally raised the alarm."

There is no more talking as he pulls me toward a boat bobbing in the water. The urgency in his movements is evident as his eyes scan the area for any sign of trouble. I cling to him, grateful for his strength and quick thinking.

"Grab the rope ladder," Nico tells me. "Hey, you idiots, come and help. I've caught a mermaid."

Blushing and starting to feel cold from what I'm sure must be shocked, I look up and see Nico's brothers looking down at us.

A few curses reach my ears, and then Atilio pushes someone out of the way as he leans over the side. "Nico, pass her up here. I'll catch her hands."

"You'll hurt her," Essex says, pushing his oldest brother out of the way. He climbs over the side and takes a few steps down. "Climb up. I'll get you and help you into the boat."

I nod, and with a belly full of nerves, and with Nico's help, I get myself on the ladder.

"That's it," Essex encourages me. As I get further out of the water and reach the point where he puts a hand on my arm, his eyes go wide as he catches sight of my legs and green panties. My blush deepens.

He clears his throat while narrowing his eyes on Nico, who is still in the water. "Fucking look elsewhere," he hisses.

"Stop fucking around and get her up here," Atilio demands.

Essex moves so that he is cradling my body on the ladder. "No chance of you falling now. Just climb slowly. I'll follow your lead."

"Okay." It's slow because my arms hurt, and when Atilio grabs me from the circle of his brothers' protection, my body feels alive. As I move up the ladder step by step, I couldn't help but bump into Essex. It wouldn't have registered if he hadn't groaned every time my bottom met his pelvis. He'd been deliciously hard, and my body was still tingling from the feel of him.

Atilio wraps me in a towel as Galen says, “She's in shock. This will cause her body temperature to drop. She needs to get into something dry."

My eyes reach for Essex as he moves away, rummaging through a large bag. With the Redds distracted, I let my gaze settle on each of them in turn. They are a sight worth drowning for—bronzed and bare-chested, wearing either shorts or, in Boone's case, low-riding jeans.

Atilio catches my eye and I wish I could read his mind.

My eyes go to Essex as he holds clothes in his hand. "Come on, Mermaid Girl. You can change back here."

Atilio says, "We'll talk after you change."

I nod and take the hand Essex offers. His big hand squeezes mine, making me feel warm and safe. As we walk to the back of the boat, I notice the way Atilio's eyes linger on me, making me wonder what he's thinking. The sound of the waves crashing against the boat provides a soothing background as I walk behind Essex.

"I'll keep my back to you,” Essex says.

"I appreciate that." I clear my throat and let go of the towel. My hands refuse to cooperate. "Um, Essex, can you get the zipper, please?"

He mumbles something I don't catch. He silently gestures for me to turn around. I tuck my hair to one side and wait.

I feel his hands on my shoulders. "Hold still." Now he touches the back of my neck before his fingers connect with the top of my zipper. My skin is covered with goose bumps at the unexpected caress. No one has ever touched me like this before.

The zipper comes down slowly, as do the fingers that run over my skin. I close my eyes and focus on my breathing. Goose bumps aren't the only reaction I have to this man.

His breath catches as he unzips the back of the dress. My stomach quivers as a hand slides around my middle and the palm of his hand flattens against my belly. He spreads his fingers, the tips brushing my panties. My whole-body tingles from head to toe. As his face brushes mine, he whispers, "Can you handle it now?" I've lost my voice and my mind.

All he gets is a nod of my head.

"Good girl." His hand slowly withdraws, as does his body.

What just happened? The man has my body throbbing for his touch. Is there something wrong with me? I quickly take off my clothes and dry myself, pulling on the clothes he found for me. "I'm dressed.”

He nods, a slight smile on his lips when he sees me, then takes my hand and leads me back to his brothers. They're spread out on the front deck, so I find a spot and sit down, tucking my feet beneath me.

My cheeks flush and I appreciate them trying not to look in my direction, so I tell them, "My parents want me to marry Jason, hence the date tonight. Dinner was good, although I'm sure the dessert was laced with bourbon."

"How did you end up in the water?" Boone asks.

Should I tell them the truth or improvise?

The truth wins out. "Well, it came about when my mom told Jason that I would be good to him." I wince, my cheeks burning.

I glance at Essex, who is watching me as closely as his brothers. He keeps his expression neutral.

"She told me to do something that involved me being on my knees."

Each of the brothers’ curses, while Essex clenches his jaw in anger.

I continue, "I told him my mother could do it because it was her idea. He hit me. I lost my balance and fell into the water. Do you think they know I didn't drown?"

"Considering the idiot, you were with stood there watching you flail around, I'd say they deserve to think you did," Nico says.

"What do you want, Beatrice?" Atilio asks me.

"I'd like you all to call me Bea." I smile. "And I'd like to stay on this boat for the rest of my life." I wince. "Which might be short if my family finds out what a disaster my date with Jason turned out to be."

"Did that asshole see our boat?" Ridge asks.

"We saw the boats," I say. "If he recognized yours, he didn't say when I asked. The judge was there." I shudder.

"We'll take you home with us for now," Atilio says. "Mom will know how to help you and hopefully you won't get into trouble."

"Honestly, I'm more worried about the six of you.”

"We'll be fine." Nico smiles. "I'll take us home."