Last Chance Motel 1 (Last Chance Romance Series) by Abigail Keam Page A

into the warm ocean water. She was glad that the motel was on the bay side, as she wasn’t rushed by waves. The water was always calm and serene. She could take her time and slowly immerse in the clear turquoise water. Every day she saw something new . . . a baby skate, sea turtles, various small fish darting here and there, a sea horse, cuddle fish, and hordes of colorful birds hanging around in the mangrove trees.
    She was enjoying the water when she noticed something splashing around the mangrove trees. Eva hoped it wasn’t a shark. She started to get out when muffled whimpers came from where the splashing was occurring.
    Eva slowly went over when she discovered a manatee cow entwined in fishing wire. The wire was interfering with her ability to swim and Eva could see that her breathing was distressed. The real mermaid of the sea made another mournful cry.
    “MIKE!” cried out Eva, petting the manatee. “MIKE HURRY! BRING A KNIFE!”
    Within seconds, Mike was running into the water looking for Eva. “EVA!”
    “Over here!” she called.
    For a split second she saw concern on his face change into relief. Was the relief due to the fact she was okay?
    Mike waded through the water. “It’s a manatee.”
    “I think she’s drowning, Mike. There’s fishing cord wrapped around her. There seems to be a big ball of it underneath her. I think some of it has got caught on the mangrove trees. Do you have a knife?”
    The manatee began thrashing again.
    “Try to calm her while I cut the cord. I don’t want to nick her.” Mike pulled out a pocketknife and after taking a deep breath, went beneath the water while Eva held onto the manatee’s flippers. Mike emerged from the water gasping for air. “Try holding her head up. The wire is caught on some mangrove roots.” He took another deep breath and went back under the water.
    A minute went by. Eva could see Mike moving around the manatee working, but she was concerned that Mike might pass out trying to free the animal. Finally he came up. “The cord is cut. Let’s see if she will let us remove it. I’ll hold her and you try to work it free.”
    Mike held up the manatee’s head while talking to her as Eva stuck her head under water, trying to work the cord from around the manatee’s flippers. The salt water burned her eyes and she had to come up. Knowing that this was causing the manatee a great deal of distress, Eva took another deep breath, shut her eyes tight and submerged again, using her hands to feel the cord. After several failed attempts, she finally got the cord loose.
    “Let her go, Mike,” said Eva, emerging from the water.
    Gently Mike turned the manatee toward the bay and pushed her out to sea.
    As she moved past, Eva removed the last bit of fishing cord. “What a mess,” announced Eva, winding the cord while watching the sea cow swim away. “Saving her makes me feel good.” She turned to face Mike, only to see him staring at her with a strange expression on his face. “Mike, what is it?”
    “I thought you were hurt!” accused Mike. “Scared me to death.”
    “I . . . I’m sorry,” sputtered Eva. “I got excited when I found the manatee.”
    Suddenly Mike reached over and grabbed Eva. Bending his head, he kissed her while pulling her close.
    It was a long, lingering kiss. And to her surprise, Eva kissed back, wrapping her arms around Mike’s neck in a fierce embrace. She loved the feel of his torso against hers. He was built like a rock . . . solid and sturdy. She pressed closer to him until suddenly Mike pushed her away.
    “Don’t ever scare me like that again,” he groused. Without saying another word, he turned and left her standing in the water.
    Stunned, Eva didn’t know what to do. She certainly didn’t want to follow him.
    Then she heard his jeep start and drive away. Confused, Eva went to the front gate and locked it. “What was that all about?” she whispered to herself.

18
    T he next morning Mike went straight to