Blue Dahlia (The Dahlia Trilogy of The Gilded Flower Series Book 1) by Vivian Winslow Page B
Authors: Vivian Winslow
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those words that were on her engagement ring.
“What were you doing surfing Mavericks?” She asks.
Shane shrugs. “I was beginning to give up on you, on everything again. Maybe you could say I was testing fate. Your timing, as always D, is impeccable.” He draws her to him again, this time not letting go until it’s time to leave.
“You coming?” he asks Dahlia as he gets the thumbs-up from Sebastian.
“I’ll stay here. Just take care of yourself out there.” She says, blowing him a kiss.
Chapter 30
Dahlia clutches the binoculars tight. “Crap,” she mutters to herself as she watches the twenty-foot waves crash down, violently rocking the boats. Through the lens she can see Sebastian being towed out by a jet ski. Her heart leaps into her throat as she imagines all the possibilities that lie ahead. It’s no secret that Mavericks are some of the most dangerous waves to ride, especially because of the rocks inside the break. The adrenalin, the mental challenge of catching a perfect ride that towers above you—none of it seems reason enough.
She sighs knowing that a life with Shane means living in his world of risk.
Dahlia lets out a long exhale as she watches Sebastian release the rope and begin to glide down as the wave crests above him, picking up speed in the face of the wave. Suddenly, she sees another surfer drop in on him, forcing him under water. Her heart leaps into her throat as she moves the binoculars around to find Shane.
Finally, she sees Shane at the edge of boat, poised to dive in. “Don’t you dare,” she says aloud, trying to will him to stay put. She keeps watch, waiting, hoping for Sebastian to surface, knowing he’s getting pulverized by the turbulent waves pushing him down.
Her heart is beginning to race, each minute that passes means one less minute of air for Sebastian. She knows this must be killing Shane. It’s nearly impossible for a surfer to stand by and watch this. Then, just as she’s about to lose her nerves, a tow rider jumps off his jet ski and rides out the wave, keeping a now unconscious Sebastian from being pulled under again. Another jet ski passes, allowing the rescuer to grab hold of a sled and ride back to the boat.
“Promise me you won’t go out there again,” Dahlia says quietly as they drive home from the hospital. Thankfully, Sebastian came out of this with only a concussion. But Dahlia knows, like Shane, it could’ve been much worse. He was lucky this time.
Shane reaches for Dahlia’s hand, kissing each of her fingers. “I promise, babe. No more big waves.”
“Is that a promise you can really make, Shane? I know how much you love it out there.”
He looks over at Dahlia. “Babe, you leaving hurt worse than anything that could happen out there. I wouldn’t want to lose you again. Besides, it’s not as if you’re asking me not to surf again. Nothing above ten feet, I promise.”
Dahlia exhales. “I was so scared for him, and even more terrified that you would go in after him.”
“It was hard not to. But we have a good rescue team.”
She runs a hand along his cheek and down his jaw line. “I love you, Shane.”
Chapter 31
“Hey, babe.” Shane opens the door to the studio.
Dahlia spins around, her heart about to jump out of her chest. “You scared me,” she says, yelling over the blaring music.
He smiles at her. “Is that my surprise?”
She moves to the side and looks down. “Do you like it?”
Shane whistles approvingly. “Well, I can’t say that I’m as good looking as you’ve made me out to be in this painting, but you’re gorgeous.”
Dahlia grins as he rubs the small of her back. It’s a painting based on the sketch of her drawing him while he was surfing. She wanted the bright colors of the sea and sunset to bring the scene to life.
“I’ll hang this in my office,” he says, kissing her lovingly. “Speaking of which, I was wondering if you’ll be ready to go down to Santa Barbara tonight.
“What were you doing surfing Mavericks?” She asks.
Shane shrugs. “I was beginning to give up on you, on everything again. Maybe you could say I was testing fate. Your timing, as always D, is impeccable.” He draws her to him again, this time not letting go until it’s time to leave.
“You coming?” he asks Dahlia as he gets the thumbs-up from Sebastian.
“I’ll stay here. Just take care of yourself out there.” She says, blowing him a kiss.
Chapter 30
Dahlia clutches the binoculars tight. “Crap,” she mutters to herself as she watches the twenty-foot waves crash down, violently rocking the boats. Through the lens she can see Sebastian being towed out by a jet ski. Her heart leaps into her throat as she imagines all the possibilities that lie ahead. It’s no secret that Mavericks are some of the most dangerous waves to ride, especially because of the rocks inside the break. The adrenalin, the mental challenge of catching a perfect ride that towers above you—none of it seems reason enough.
She sighs knowing that a life with Shane means living in his world of risk.
Dahlia lets out a long exhale as she watches Sebastian release the rope and begin to glide down as the wave crests above him, picking up speed in the face of the wave. Suddenly, she sees another surfer drop in on him, forcing him under water. Her heart leaps into her throat as she moves the binoculars around to find Shane.
Finally, she sees Shane at the edge of boat, poised to dive in. “Don’t you dare,” she says aloud, trying to will him to stay put. She keeps watch, waiting, hoping for Sebastian to surface, knowing he’s getting pulverized by the turbulent waves pushing him down.
Her heart is beginning to race, each minute that passes means one less minute of air for Sebastian. She knows this must be killing Shane. It’s nearly impossible for a surfer to stand by and watch this. Then, just as she’s about to lose her nerves, a tow rider jumps off his jet ski and rides out the wave, keeping a now unconscious Sebastian from being pulled under again. Another jet ski passes, allowing the rescuer to grab hold of a sled and ride back to the boat.
“Promise me you won’t go out there again,” Dahlia says quietly as they drive home from the hospital. Thankfully, Sebastian came out of this with only a concussion. But Dahlia knows, like Shane, it could’ve been much worse. He was lucky this time.
Shane reaches for Dahlia’s hand, kissing each of her fingers. “I promise, babe. No more big waves.”
“Is that a promise you can really make, Shane? I know how much you love it out there.”
He looks over at Dahlia. “Babe, you leaving hurt worse than anything that could happen out there. I wouldn’t want to lose you again. Besides, it’s not as if you’re asking me not to surf again. Nothing above ten feet, I promise.”
Dahlia exhales. “I was so scared for him, and even more terrified that you would go in after him.”
“It was hard not to. But we have a good rescue team.”
She runs a hand along his cheek and down his jaw line. “I love you, Shane.”
Chapter 31
“Hey, babe.” Shane opens the door to the studio.
Dahlia spins around, her heart about to jump out of her chest. “You scared me,” she says, yelling over the blaring music.
He smiles at her. “Is that my surprise?”
She moves to the side and looks down. “Do you like it?”
Shane whistles approvingly. “Well, I can’t say that I’m as good looking as you’ve made me out to be in this painting, but you’re gorgeous.”
Dahlia grins as he rubs the small of her back. It’s a painting based on the sketch of her drawing him while he was surfing. She wanted the bright colors of the sea and sunset to bring the scene to life.
“I’ll hang this in my office,” he says, kissing her lovingly. “Speaking of which, I was wondering if you’ll be ready to go down to Santa Barbara tonight.
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