by Amy Sumida
Doug stopped in his tracks. What? He thought over their recent interaction. Shit! He’s right. Guess I’ll have to change that. His face lit up with a smile as he jogged to catch up with Jason.
Chapter Four
— Aria —
Aria willed her body to relax as Chad took her pulse once more before passing her phone back. He set the program up allowing her to immediately place her fingers to the metal circles on the back of her phone case. Together they watched the tracing of her heart, exhaling deeply when the tracing came back normal.
“Feel well enough to rejoin the group?” Chad pushed himself upright before holding out his hand to her.
“I sure do.” Aria stowed her phone back into her backpack. She slid her hand into his and squeezed, adding a smile to the mix. “Thank you.”
Chad easily lifted her to her feet giving Aria the time to appreciate the play of muscles across his chest and arms. Her Wall, who she still didn’t have a name for, was big, but Chad seemed to be more muscular and defined. She wondered if he played football when he was younger. Or maybe his physique came from his time in the military. I wonder how long he’s been out of the military?
“Just so you know, you are sticking close to me for the rest of the tour,” Chad informed her as they slowly headed up the path.
“Really?” Aria crooked her eyebrow. “And what are my friends going to think? They are going to know something serious happened.”
“Trust me. My friends and I can pull it off.” Chad moved to stand in front of her. “If you don’t stick with me, I’ll tell Shona what happened.” Chad softened his words with a smile.
Aria pouted. “You play mean.” She swatted his chest and winked as she pushed past him.
— Chad —
Chad watched her walk past. “I play for keeps.” Where did that come from? He shook his head to clear it before taking a few large steps until he was beside her again.
“Nice of the two of you to join us. Anything wrong?” The driver walked over to Chad and Aria, his eyes never leaving Aria’s body.
Throwing his arm around her shoulders, he stared the driver square in the eye. “We’re fine. My girlfriend just had an issue with her backpack that took some time to sort out.”
The driver blinked and then nodded. “Well, come join the rest of the group.” He turned, walked back to the group, and started to tell them some of the local history about Falmouth Harbour.
“Girlfriend?” Half of Aria’s mouth rose in a smile as she crooked an eyebrow. “Wishful thinking?”
“No. An optimist.” Chad wiggled his brows. “Besides I saw the flowers he gave you earlier and I can’t have that.” He grinned as his eyes sparkled.
Aria’s mouth popped open. Chad placed a finger under her chin and lifted gently. “Our friends are waiting.” Dropping his hand, he placed it on her lower back and led her forward.
— Aria —
Aria stepped away from Chad and put her arm through Shona’s. She rocked on her toes as she listened to the rest of the driver’s talk.
“I’m glad you’re back.” Shona patted her hand. “Are you sure you’re fine?”
Aria rolled her eyes. “I’m fine.” Her lips lifted at the corners as she glanced over her shoulder catching the three guys talking. She bit the side of her cheek as she remembered the feel of both Chad’s and the Wall’s touch on her skin. She wondered what Jason’s hands felt like.
“Lucky you.” Shona whispered in her ear.
Aria spun her head to stare at Shona. “What?”
Shona glanced over Aria’s shoulder and openly leered. “I said, lucky you. Only you could need medical help and get a sexy firefighter. Then you get Doug to fawn all over you. Maybe they will stick close to us now.” The slight bitterness in her voice didn’t go completely unrecognized by Aria.
Aria clenched her fists instinctively at Shona’s words. Her chest tightened and her stomach rolled. Ow! The pain drew her eyes to her fists. What? Why am I doing this? She forced each finger to unlock and peel itself back. Turning her palms over, she found crescent shape outlines marring her smooth skin. Is Doug the Wall’s name? She took a fortifying breath. “I’m glad to be of service,” she said through teeth that wouldn’t quite unclench.
Jennifer and Trish moved to stand beside the two of them. Jennifer placed her arm around Aria’s shoulder while Trish did the same to Shona. The four of them walked to the back of the jeep following the driver. The three guys followed behind.
“Let me help you up.” Chad placed his hand on Aria’s elbow.
“But, I was—”
He leaned down until his mouth was by her ear. “What did I tell you? You are sticking by my side for the rest of the day.” He pulled back slightly to look her in the eye before returning. “Or else I spill your lie.”
Aria nodded and allowed Chad to help her up. She saw the questioning look on the driver’s face. “I’m feeling better so I thought I would sit back here for the last of the trip.”
He nodded with a downturned smile on his face.
~
The jeep pulled into the parking lot at Turner’s Beach along with other jeeps from different tours. Catamaran boarding for these tours took place from the beach. The boat sailed in as close as possible and the passengers would wade through the surf to climb onboard. The girls stripped off their shorts and tied up their t-shirts to keep them from getting wet. Aria told her girlfriends to go before her.
Chad relieved Aria of her backpack, which earned him a little glare while she mouthed “Thank you.” He chuckled and stepped back.
Doug positioned himself behind her. He bent over until his mouth brushed her ear. “I’m right behind you, darling, if you need any added height.”
Aria shivered as goose bumps erupted over her skin. “And how am I to ask for the help?”
“You won’t ever have to ask, but I will have you calling out Doug before you know it.”
Aria turned her head to find his lips right in front of hers. Shit. His voice is so sexy. What I would do to kiss those lips. What? Aria jerked her head back.
— Doug —
Doug’s pupils dilated as he licked his lips. He watched as Aria’s mouth moved, but heard nothing until chuckles from behind him reached his ears. He looked up at Aria’s eyes, which were filled with amusement. Huh. I think I missed something.
“She sure nailed you.” Jason’s comment made the others laugh, but didn’t help Doug at all. He turned to glare at Jason, but Jason redeemed himself. “You’ll have to excuse Doug. The player words go hand-in-hand with the NFL player card. He mostly left those ways behind when he retired, but sometimes they just slip out.”
Doug rolled his eyes.
“Play on then.” Aria winked at Doug. Her lips lifted into a seductive half smile before she waded out towards the lowered steps of the catamaran.
Sticking close behind her, Doug instinctively reached for her waist, drawing her body tight to his as a large wave materialized between the two pontoons.
“T-t-thanks.” Aria shook in his arms.
A mixture of pride and awe rose through his body at her shakes. He felt protective, worried her shaking came from fear, yet he hoped the closeness of his body to hers caused the shivers. Testing her, he spoke softly into her ear as he watched her body. “Anytime, I told you. I will always be here.” A pleased smile lit his face as he watched goose bumps rise to the surface of her skin. Banding his arm around her waist, he hoisted her body a few inches off the sand, carrying her the rest of the way to the stairs. Placing her feet gently on the stair, he moved his hand to her waist, not wanting to let go. “Up you go,” he whispered again in her ear, delighted with her shiver.
— Aria —
Aria walked towards the front netting where her girlfriends set their belongings. Her cheeks still reddened from her encounter with Doug.
Trish’s eyes met hers as Trish squealed. “Spill. What just happened?”
“Nothing. Doug just saved me from a rogue w
ave.” Aria smirked as she peeked over her shoulder into Doug’s smouldering gaze. She sucked in her bottom lip between her teeth as her gut clenched. Unprepared for the sensation, she hastily turned her face to her girlfriends.
“Did you happen to tell him you were a competitive swimmer and still swim as part of your rehab?” Jennifer started to spray on some sunscreen.
“Now why would I do that?” Aria chuckled when she heard a three-part harmony of male laughter coming from behind her. Risking a glance over her shoulder, she nearly lost her train of thought at the sight of the three friends standing at the top of the stairs with their t-shirts off. Swallowing hard, she closed her eyes to center herself before opening them again. “Hey, not my fault none of you asked.” Channelling her inner Shona, she winked as she pulled the hem of her t-shirt up and over her head.
Doug shrugged as his eyes heated her body. “Why would we ask something like that when the alternative is what I got to do?” He turned to face the other males nearby. “Right?”
The others nodded as smiles graced their faces.
As the catamaran powered up, Doug, Chad, and Jason settled in on one side of the girls next to Aria and introduced her to Derek, Kyle, and Mark as they sat down with them.
“So, a competitive swimmer?” Jason eyed Aria with less disdain and formality than he had used earlier.
“Yes, in my younger years when height wasn’t an issue.” Aria giggled picturing herself racing against Jason with all his height.
“I swam competitively as well.” Chad and Doug both stared at Jason, their mouths hanging open.
The girls all looked at Jason with interest as they eyed his body. “I bet you did.” Shona’s voice came out sounding husky with appreciation.
Having heard Shona use that tone before, Aria clenched her fists as her eyes dropped down to her lap. Not wanting to watch Shona throwing herself at her guys, she unlatched her fingers from her palms and opened her bag rooting for sunscreen or anything really, just something to keep her busy.
Aria sucked in a breath. My guys? What am I thinking? They aren’t mine. I just met them. The hairs prickled on the back of her neck, and she glanced up directly into Jason’s emerald eyes.
“Do you still swim, Aria?” The pleased tone of his voice confused her.
“She does. It’s a big part of her rehab.” Jennifer twirled the blond hair in her ponytail around her finger.
“Rehab?” Doug checked Aria over from head to toe.
“Yes, it helps to strengthen her weakened heart.” Shona put her hand over her mouth. Regret seeping through her pores as she turned to meet Aria’s gaze. “I’m so sorry Aria. I shouldn’t have said that.”
Aria nodded, knowing Shona meant her apology. “It’s okay. Chad already knows so I’m sure the others would have found out sometime soon.” She turned to Doug and Jason. “I developed heart failure three years ago and my heart has been slow to heal. Since I love the water, they’ve allowed me to do some cardio in the form of swimming.”
“Not alone, though?” Chad’s question sounding more like a decree from the protectiveness lacing his voice.
Aria struggled to keep herself from sitting upright at his tone. “No, not alone. That was the concession I made when they put in my defibrillator. I would never swim alone.”
“Which sucks for Aria on this trip as the three of us are not the greatest of snorkelers.” Trish looked up as she finished applying her sunscreen. “We prefer diving, but that’s out for Aria.”
Jason glanced at the other three. His voice clipped. “Who certified you for diving?”
At the puzzled looks the girls gave Jason, Chad stepped in to explain. “Jason has certified or trained many of the instructors in Halifax. Knowing who did your certification allows him to assess your skill level.”
Shrugging her shoulders, Shona removed her eyes from Doug, where they always seemed to be, and transferred them to Jason. “We took everything, but the open water dive portion through a dive shop near the Armdale Rotary.”
Clenching his fists, Jason’s face highlighted an internal struggle until it went blank, concerning Aria. She wondered what went through his mind. “So, you don’t have the full open water certification?”
Trish smiled sheepishly at Aria. “No, but we did get them to do a referral in the hope we would get to complete the course while we’re here.”
Offering a smile in return, Aria sat forward. “I told them to book it, but they don’t want to leave me alone.”
Jason looked to both Doug and Chad with a smile.
They sat back in silence as they finished applying sunscreen and drank some water. Aria laid back on her towel on the netting and shut her eyes. She loved the sensation of the boat crashing through the waves and the salt spray on her face. She sighed with a small smile on her face.
— Chad —
The catamaran pulled to a stop. Everyone headed to the main area to receive their snorkel gear. Chad reached out and snagged Aria’s arm, pulling her aside as she tried to walk past him. “Are you really going to snorkel?”
“Of course, I am. This was one of the ways that the girls talked me into this trip. I’m not giving it up.” Aria planted her hands on her curvy hips, her eyes dipping from his to the bare expanse of his chest.
Chad’s eyes dropped briefly, taking in her stance, before he forced them back onto her face. He tried to keep a smile from his face. The defiant expression on Aria’s face, her hands on her hips, it all served to light a fire within him. Narrowing his eyes, he couldn’t help but drop his voice into his commanding tone. “Fine, but I want you to stick to Jason like glue.”
“To Jason?” Aria’s eyes, full of questions, jumped back to meet his.
“Yes. Jason not only certifies divers, he is a highly trained rescue and salvage diver. He also teaches the dive medic technician’s course. He will make sure that nothing goes wrong.”
Aria placed her hand on Chad’s muscular, bare chest. His breath hitched at the touch of her fingers lightly tracing the beginning of the intricate tattoo that crossed his pec and lead to his half sleeve. “Everything will be fine. I feel fine. My heart is calm”—Chad knew she was lying as he watched her carotid artery beat quickly—“It’s all good.”
Chad smiled down at Aria, pleased she willingly fought back against him even if she lied to do so. His mind focused on the warmth of her palm against his chest. He never wanted her hand to move from where it was. Well, maybe he wouldn’t mind if her fingers continued to trace down until they played with… Focus, Chad. Focus. Think about the car wreck call you responded to before the trip. Chad breathed a sigh of relief as he regained some control over his lower anatomy.
Placing his hands on her shoulders, he allowed his thumbs to rub along her collarbones wringing out a sigh from both of them. “Humor me, sweetheart. We’re only guessing that it won’t happen again, but this will be the test.”
— Aria —
Aria nodded and turned as another large, warm hand press against the soft skin of her back.
“Looks like you’re my swimming buddy, kiddo.” Jason gazed down at her. His eyes no longer held the cold disdain from earlier. Instead, his emerald eyes seemed to glow with a fondness warming her from the inside. Feeling unbalanced, she stuck her tongue out at him eliciting a chuckle as he handed her some snorkeling gear. She rolled her eyes and pursed her lips as he handed her the floatation belt everyone was supposed to wear. “What’s the look for?”
Aria shook her head. “You’ll see.”
She headed off towards the end of the boat where the swimmers climbed down the ladder.
Jason followed behind and helped her to adjust the goggles to her head before they headed into the water.
“Show me what you got, short stuff.” Jason bobbed in the water next to Aria. “Then we’ll head the opposite way from where he is taking the group.” At Aria’s questioning look, he continued, “The swim is a bit harder, but there is more to see and I think that you are up for it.”
/>
Aria smiled despite her frustration with the floatation device. It kept her naturally buoyant body too buoyant. She tried to dive down a little below the waves, but only her face went under with her legs. She swam for a minute to show Jason her abilities before his hands on her waist stopped her.
She raised her head.
“What was that? Why was your butt in the air?” Jason chuckled.
“That’s what happens when I wear the stupid floatation device.” Aria quickly undid the buckle.
“What are you doing?”
“Just hold this and watch.” Aria handed him the belt, dived under the water, and swam a distance before surfacing with a large smile.
Jason motioned for her to return. When she raised her head in front of him, he wore the biggest grin across his face. “If you promise to stay right beside me and possibly hold my hand, I’ll do this.” He tossed her floatation belt onto the deck.
Aria nodded and held out her hand, which Jason took. Together they swam over to the reef Jason wanted to show her.
— Doug —
The group snorkeled for about an hour before they reboarded. Drying off, they reapplied sunscreen, grabbed some drinks, and then lay out in the sun as the crew prepared lunch. After they ate, the catamaran headed to another area for more snorkeling before taking them back to their resorts on the other side of the island.
Doug spent most of the time sitting back, watching the others spend time talking. His head began to bother him, but every time Jason or Chad looked at him, he roused himself enough to enter the conversations around him. He found his eyes returning to watch Aria frequently, amazed at how he already seemed to be attuned to the small movements of her body. The tilt of her head, exposing the lickable side of her neck as she took another picture with her camera, made him lick his lips in desire.
