by Angela Blake
She shrieked as he continued to pull the sheet over their heads and tickled her.
THE END
In The Sea: A Workplace Romance
Chapter One
Ashlyn had barely thrown her bag on the bed assigned to her before she hurried out the house’s back door. There was nothing like the beach, and she didn’t want to wait to hear the sound of the waves and feel the warm sand between her toes. The beach was one of her favorite places ever, even though she had only been a few times. She was like a mermaid when it came to the water, and she had tried out for the swim team solely so that she could spend time in the pool at her high school.
“Wow!” Ashlyn said quietly as she stood at the edge of the steps that came down on the beachside of the dunes. She kicked her flipflops off and tossed them to the side beside a few other pairs of flipflops. She was at the beach, and the crew was going to be there for two full weeks.
“Thank goodness for beach scenes,” Ashlyn murmured. She looked around, but the beach was fairly empty. Most people weren’t quite off work yet, and the all-dayers had gotten tired already. It was the perfect time. “Too bad I didn’t take time to put on my swimsuit. I’ll just dip my toes in.” Ashlyn began walking along the edge of the beach, the cool water making the sand squish beneath her toes.
Mark was trying to invade her thoughts, but Ashlyn was trying to push him out. She had pretty much ignored him as much as possible after their interesting encounter. He was still nice to her, and he acted like every gentleman should. Ashlyn was doubting herself. Maybe she really had said something that made him think what he did was okay. If she didn’t remember, then she could have said yes.
Ashlyn gazed out over the ocean. It stretched on to the horizon. The beach wrapped around and stuck out, creating almost an inlet. The waves were tough, and Ashlyn knew that the current would tug strongly under the top layer of water.
Ashlyn froze as she saw something splashing in the water. She first saw hands flailing, then she caught a brief glance of a head. All was silent as the person disappeared, then the person bobbed up again and frantically gulped in air.
Ashlyn didn’t have to think a moment longer. This person was drowning! She had to save him! Ashlyn plunged into the water, her clothes still on. She fought through the breakers and soon reached a smoother part of the ocean, but by now, her feet were barely touching. Ashlyn took a deep breath and began swimming as fast as she could, the weight of her shorts tugging down at her waist. She didn’t care. She pushed onward.
Ashlyn reached the bobbing man, and she saw that he was bigger than she was. Luckily, the salt in the water would help him stay somewhat afloat as she pulled him to a safer depth. Ashlyn wrapped an arm around the man’s chest, seeing the surprise in his eyes as she grabbed on to him. She didn’t have time for formalities. She had to help this person. He might die if she left him out here.
He started fighting against her, but Ashlyn knew how to save a life. She steadily pulled him toward shore. She moved a lot slower with him in tow, but she finally made it to where she could safely stand and the current’s pull was not too strong.
The man started coughing. Ashlyn looked at him and wondered if she should pat his back or tell him to raise his arms, but as she moved toward him, he took a step away.
“Can you breathe?” she asked, ready to perform CPR if necessary.
The man nodded his head up and down. As Ashlyn watched him, she couldn’t believe it. Was he laughing? What was he laughing about? Ashlyn gently bobbed in the waves as she looked at this strange man who was laughing about a near-death experience.
“Do you need help making it to shore?” Ashlyn tried again, trying to help the man as much as possible. Maybe he was a lunatic as well. Maybe that was why he was in the middle of the ocean in the first place.
Finally, the man coughed up a little water, gave a final cough, and wiped at his mouth. “You sure are a strong thing for being so little,” he commented.
He had a southern accent, and Ashlyn smiled at the twang in his “thing.” “It’s really not hard to save someone, even if they’re bigger than you, but it would have been easier if you hadn’t been struggling so much. Couldn’t you tell I was trying to help you?”
The man threw back his head and laughed. Ashlyn was indignant. What was so funny, and why couldn’t she be included in the joke? “I didn’t need any saving, but I do appreciate the effort.”
“What do you mean you didn’t need any saving? You were flailing around like you were being tugged under!” Ashlyn set her face in a straight line to this character of a man.
“I was looking for a shell,” the man continued. “The best shells are found away from the beach where the tide has not turned them and broken them so much. I had my goggles, and I was diving down. I found a real beauty, but an undercurrent pulled me just then. I wasn’t able to grab onto the shell. I just sort of rolled it with my fingers. The current somehow managed to tear my goggles away. So, I was trying to get that shell and my goggles. That’s why I was bobbing up and down like a lost sea buoy.”
Ashlyn couldn’t help it. A smile slowly spread across her face, then she started to giggle. “I guess I shouldn’t wait around for a thank you, then. I just made you lose the location of your precious shell.”
The man laughed. “Hey, it’s no big deal. I’m sure I’ll find another shell just as nice that won’t be so dangerous to my life. I’m Brandon.”
“Ashlyn.” Ashlyn wasn’t sure if she should shake hands or just leave the ocean. After all, she wasn’t wearing a swim suit, and the water was really weighing down on her shorts.
“It’s nice to meet you. You are very kind to have come out to the ocean when you clearly weren’t dressed for swimming today.”
Ashlyn looked down and saw that her pale pink blouse was now clinging to her, clearly showing the lines of her bra. Ashlyn blushed and tried to pull the shirt away from her body, but the water wouldn’t let that happen.
“Well,” she said, trying to turn the attention away from her shirt. “I guess I have served my purpose here. You are saved, whether you wanted it or not, and I had a refreshing swim.”
“Whether you wanted it or not,” Brandon finished off. “Hey, I’ve got a towel on the beach. It’ll be nice and warmed up by the sun right about now. I insist you use it.”
“No, really, it’s okay,” Ashlyn said. “My house isn’t a far walk from here. I don’t mind. In fact, it feels rather nice to be cooled off.”
“Do you have a vacation home then?” Brandon started leading the way into shore, and Ashlyn instinctually followed him. After all, she needed to go back to the house anyway.
“No, no, no,” she quickly denied. “Nothing of the sort. I’m actually. . .well, I’m working with a film crew. We’re filming a movie in the area, and everyone is put up in a beach house while we’re working.”
“Wow! That sounds nice! What movie are you filming?”
“It’s called Firebird. It won’t be out for at least another year, though. It takes a crazy amount of time to cut and produce a movie.”
“Will your name be in the credits?”
“I don’t know,” Ashlyn replied. “So, what are you doing here, spending time diving for seashells?”
“I know this may sound crazy, but I’m house sitting.”
“You’re house sitting? At the beach?”
“Yes, it is a thing. The house is actually a half hour drive from here, so I’m not as close as you might think. Anyway, the family is going to spend the summer in Europe, and they wanted someone to take care of their house while they were gone.”
“So you take care of the house?” Ashlyn just wasn’t getting this idea.
“Yes, I’m not paid to do it, but I get a place to live for a few months. Meanwhile, it gives me time to work on my music. I’m hoping that if I get good enough, I can do more than just perform at birthday parties or ladies’ luncheons.”
“Do you play an instrument or do you sin
g?”
“I play acoustic guitar,” Brandon answered. “I sing too. I guess there are a thousand guys out there my age trying to become famous for doing something like this, but I can always hope I’ll get a chance at the big shots.”
For some reason, his easygoing way of approaching life appealed to Ashlyn. He wasn’t ruled by someone else’s clock, nor was he worried about reaching a certain career goal. He was just enjoying life as it came to him.
“Here’s my towel,” Brandon said, holding the bright yellow cloth out to her.
Ashlyn shook her head one more time. “I’m really fine, thanks.”
“I insist. Please.”
Ashlyn reluctantly took the big yellow towel and wrapped it around her. It was warm, and it felt nice. It also gave her a chance to fix her clothing from clinging to her. She waited a few minutes, taking her time drying off. She wasn’t quite ready to see the last of this gentleman.
“Maybe you should come and be an extra on set,” Ashlyn suggested, her stomach feeling fluttery. It was not as though she was asking him on a date, but that was sure what it felt like. She didn’t know how to handle a rejection or an acceptance. “They will take pretty much anyone if you come in about two days around nine in the morning.”
“Where would I go?”
Ashlyn gave Brandon the directions. “I don’t really know the requirements, but I know that they like to have a good mix of people.”
“It sounds like a fun opportunity. Do I get paid?”
Ashlyn shook her head. “No, extras just get the fun of being in the film.”
“Does it give me a chance to possibly get a higher role?”
Ashlyn shrugged as she remembered Javon. “Honestly, I don’t know. Sometimes, extras are given small speaking parts. I guess you never know where fate might take you.” She paused and slowly pulled the towel off her shoulders and handed it to Brandon. “I hope to see you there.”
Brandon smiled. “I just might take you up on that offer. Do you need to be walked back to your accommodations?”
Ashlyn looked up the beach then back at Brandon. He was a kind man, but she couldn’t keep him from his drive.
“I’ll be just fine. I enjoy time by myself to just think sometimes, you know?” Ashlyn wondered if her comment would make him think that he wasn’t welcome, but Ashlyn was just speaking the truth. She was tired of evaluating her every action in how it must appear to a male. “If you ever want to come by just to hang out, we’re usually not filming in the evenings.”
Brandon nodded. “Thanks for the invite.” Ashlyn took a step away. “Thanks for the save too.” Ashlyn smiled at him before she turned and walked away.
Chapter Two
Ashlyn didn’t know if she should even expect Brandon to show up, but there was a small part of her that hoped he would. During their first day, they blocked off one end of the beach and filmed an intimate scene between the main two characters. Ashlyn enjoyed the scene, because the words from both characters gave her hope for a future filled with love.
That evening, Brandon did not come by. Ashlyn had showered as soon as they were done filming and changed into something that was semi-nice, but she didn’t want anyone to know if Brandon didn’t come, so she tried to occupy herself with a book and pretend that she wasn’t waiting for anyone. She couldn’t hide her disappointment though as she climbed into bed at 12:00am and Brandon still hadn’t shown up. She held the same hope for the following night, but Brandon did not show up then either.
The next morning, she had dark bags under her eyes from not sleeping well. And of course, that was when Brandon showed up for the extras casting. Ashlyn saw Brandon, and she waved to him as he was corralled around with the extras. He waved back, but they didn’t have an opportunity to talk. Ashlyn wondered if there was some way she could put in a good word for him, or if after letting the camera take a spill in the woods, it was better for her not to say anything. Gary still was not very happy with Ashlyn.
Pamela approached Ashlyn. “Do you know that extra? He seems to be smiling your way an awful lot.”
“Which one is it?” Ashlyn asked, not wanting to do anything to indicate that they were talking about Brandon.
“He’s got dark, longish hair, looks like some sort of beach bum.”
Ashlyn laughed. “Yeah, I met him the other day on the beach. That is an interesting story. I’ll have to tell it to you later.”
Pamela laughed. “Ashlyn, you always have an interesting story. Your life is never boring like the rest of ours where we just work, eat, and sleep without any fun in the middle.”
Ashlyn smiled, knowing her friends’ words were true. “Yeah, except with that guy, his name is Brandon, I really think he’s a gem. He’s a gentleman to begin with. He has that whole Southern charm thing going for him. I might see if he can hang out at the beach house after filming. Let me know what you think of him.”
“Now, you want my opinion,” Pamela gave Ashlyn a serious look. “I thought you could navigate these waters by yourself.”
Ashlyn shrugged. “Maybe I can, but I don’t know. I think Brandon may really be a good guy for once.”
Pamela shrugged. “Invite him over. See how he does with groups. It’s hard to get a true perspective of a guy when you’re the only one observing him.”
Ashlyn agreed and repeated her effort to invite Brandon over. The more she thought about it, the more she wanted it to happen. As soon as they were done filming for the day, Ashlyn hurried over and invited Brandon to the beach house. She didn’t want to sound desperate, but she really didn’t want him to turn her down. That would be a true indication that he was not interested in her.
“Hey, what are your plans for the night?” Ashlyn asked.
“I don’t have any plans,” Brandon replied. “I’m a pretty boring guy, remember?”
“Well, the crew always has a good time. I’m sure we have enough food for one more. Sometimes, we play games or something after dinner or we just talk. You could get to know the crew.”
Ashlyn pushed her hands into her back pockets and turned her eyes away from Brandon in an effort to hide how much she cared what his answer would be.
“That sounds fine to me,” Brandon said. “As long as there truly will be enough food and I am not intruding.”
“It’s fine,” Ashlyn assured him. “Why don’t you just walk back with us?” The crew stored their equipment after carefully wiping it down to get rid of any spare sand particles. Dinner was tacos, and everyone began chowing down. Ashlyn found a place at the table across from Brandon and found that he was easily fitting in with the crew. Everyone asked him about his job and what he did, etc. Ashlyn sat back and smiled as she watched him interact. It seemed like she had picked a real winner this time.
When they were done eating, Brandon casually picked up Ashlyn’s plate and rinsed it off at the sink for her. Ashlyn looked over at Pamela who had also noticed his action. Pamela gave a small thumbs up. That was all the encouragement that Ashlyn needed.
She got next to him to play a game of Phase 10, but the game was taking forever. They had six people playing, and it seemed as though she would never phase up. The points were quickly mounting, and one person was even in the thousands. Ashlyn didn’t want to quit the game, but she couldn’t help feeling a little bored. She wanted to talk to Brandon. She wanted to have his attention, not be shoved behind other people.
Ashlyn nudged Brandon as she started her fifth round on level six. “What time do you need to get back?” It was a subtle hint that maybe she should walk him back to his car, but he didn’t seem to be getting the hint.
Brandon merely shrugged. “Maybe in an hour or so. I have to feed the dog, but she’s outside and she can wait some more.”
Ashlyn nodded and waited another five minutes for her turn. She wondered if Brandon would be up for a walk outside on the beach. It was too tempting to pass up. Ashlyn finally spoke again.
“Do you want to walk on t
he beach?” she was trying to speak quietly so that not everyone would hear her.
Brandon looked at her for a minute then nodded. “That’s actually a really good idea.” He looked at his watch. “We should go right now.”
Ashlyn wondered at his sudden change in attitude, but she didn’t give him time to change it again. “I fold,” Ashlyn laid her cards in the middle. The other players protested, but she knew they didn’t mind. They were probably just as annoyed by how long the turns were taking as she was. Ashlyn stood up and stretched. She was ready to talk to Brandon and see if he thought of her as anyone special.
Chapter Three
As soon as they got out on the beach and had kicked off their sandals, Brandon started talking excitedly. “There’s been this nest on the beach for a few weeks now. I’ve been coming over to walk every night and see if the eggs are hatching, but someone told me they will only hatch when there is a full moon. Tonight isn’t quite a full moon, but it’s close enough. Have you ever seen turtles hatch?”
“Turtles?” Ashlyn asked. “No, I didn’t know that was something you could see. Don’t they hatch in the ocean?”
“No,” Brandon shook his head. “The mom turtle lays her eggs in the sand and buries them. Then she goes back in the ocean and leaves them there for a few months. When a full moon comes, the baby turtles, hundreds of them, hatch and use the light of the moon to guide themselves to the ocean.”
“Wow!” Ashlyn had never known this about turtles, and she started getting excited about the thought of seeing them. “But if the eggs are buried, how do we know they are there?”
Brandon shrugged. “There are wildlife preserves monitoring the beach. They are able to locate them. When they do locate a nest, they rope it off so that people don’t accidentally step on it and kill the baby turtles. There is usually someone sitting at the hole watching for when they hatch.”
Ashlyn could see a small group of people huddled up near the dunes. She wanted to hurry ahead, but she also wanted to stand back and enjoy her time with Brandon. Suddenly, she felt his fingers clasping at hers. He was taking her hand!
