Paradise Wild (Wild At Heart Book 2) by Christine Hartmann Page B

face reddened. She held her hair back with one hand and turned the seaweed side away from her companion. “I should get back out there.”
    He put his fins back on his feet and pulled on his mask. “Then I’ll go with you.”
    Ellie blushed. “You don’t have to.”
    “I was a life guard in high school. Humor me.”
    Ellie laughed, took another ineffective yank at the seaweed, and donned her outfit. The man held out his hand. Ellie looked at it, reddening further. But she acquiesced when he didn’t let it drop. His grip felt warm and comforting. It banished the horrible theme music from her mind. They strode together into the shallows.
    Under pretext of watching fish, she stole glances at her swimming mate as they headed out to the group. His muscles rippled as he glided by her side. She tried to relax her hand in his, but something in her didn’t want to let go.
    She kicked more slowly as they approached the class. Noa swam toward her.
    “Hey.” Noa scrutinized her rescuer, who still held her tightly. “You didn’t pay. This class is for participants only.”
    Ellie felt her companion’s arm stiffen. “Some class,” he said. “You didn’t even notice she was in trouble out there.”
    “Try doing my job, dude. They give me more people than one person can handle. Besides, I’ve got my eye on her, don’t worry.”
    Ellie turned away from Noa, lifted her mask, and rolled her eyes at her new friend. “Thanks.”
    He grinned. “You be careful.”
    “I will.”
    Ellie watched him swim away, wishing she had the guts to race after him.
    But he’s bound to be like Baby Hater , she told herself. Wife. Kids. Pet hamsters.
    She jumped at a voice in her ear. “Stick close to me.” Noa smirked behind his mask. “I can show you plenty.”
     
    ***
     
    Later on the beach, the children from the class carted wet sand from the ocean in conveyer belt fashion to craft their growing sea turtle sculpture. Ellie, wrapping her hair, seaweed and all, in a towel, watched them.
    “Hi.”
    The familiar voice made her heart quicken. She turned and blurted out the question that had been consuming her since she’d left him in the water.
    “What’s your name?”
    One corner of the man’s mouth rose. “Denver.” The slight movement transformed slowly into a broad smile. “How about you?”
    “I’m Ellie. And I’m so glad to see you.” Way to go. Just let it all hang out.
    “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
    “I mean, I didn’t really get to thank you out there.” Easy. Remember his wife.
    She glanced quickly at his left hand, but it was holding a duffle.
    He shrugged. “I’m glad I found you.” He removed a GoPro from the bag. “Got some good shots. Have some of you too.”
    “They can’t be very flattering.”
    “I think they’re pretty decent.”
    Ellie grinned. “You must not take many pictures.”
    “I know what’s good when I see it.”
    Her eyes held his gaze. She tried to ignore the thumping in her chest.
    Remember. Wife. Kids. Hamsters.
    He searched again in the bag. “Send me an email if you want the pictures.”
    He held out a card with his left fingers clearly visible.
    No ring.
    She took it and read. “Denver Edgerly. So you…and your family…are from Seattle?”
    His eyebrow shot up and then settled just as quickly. “My parents are there.” He bounced the camera lightly in his hand. “But otherwise I’m a family of one.”
    Ellie’s toes drew a heart shape in the sand before she realized what they were doing. She hastily stepped on the outline.
    “I’ll send you an email, Denver.”
    “I’ll look forward to it, Ellie.”
    The rhythmic pounding of the waves on the shore echoed in her head as she watched Denver’s retreating back.
    He beats Baby Hater. By a mile.
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 6
     
     
    Noa flashed a shaka gesture to the teen managing the snorkeling shop counter and headed to a jacked-up pickup in the parking lot. The rusty door hinges squeaked