Page 99 of SEAL Summer Escape

Chapter 10

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NOAH KICKED THROUGHthe water, relief coursing through him.Ten more minutes, and they’d be on the island.He’d have Bailey on dry land.

It was harder swimming with her holding onto the back of his waist, but he wasn’t about to risk losing her in the middle of the Atlantic.Even with her life vest on, he didn’t want them separated.They’d come too far for her to be swept away now.

He gripped his backpack more tightly in his other hand.

His muscles burned from pushing harder for the last stretch.He didn’t want to worry Bailey, but he had a feeling they were a couple of miles from where the boat had been.They hadn’t seen this island when they’d left on their fishing trip this morning.And there were lots of small islands scattered throughout the area.

Logically, the Coast Guard would start searching near where they’d gone overboard.

“We’re almost there, sunshine,” he said, glancing back at Bailey.

She nodded, her green eyes looking frightened.Her hair was soaked, and she looked so fragile behind him that his chest clenched.She was holding up amazingly well for not being used to situations like this.Noah was used to spending hours in the water for training and missions.It was what he’d been trained to do.It was his job.

But Bailey?

She didn’t have the skill set that he did.Didn’t have practice enduring stressful situations out in the ocean.But he’d do whatever was necessary to ensure her safety.He hoped like hell the helicopters would search this way today, but if not?

They’d spend the night on the island.

They’d set up a shelter somewhere, and he’d hold her close.Keep her safe.

“I’m cold,” she said.

“I know.Just keep kicking your legs and hanging on to me.You’re doing an awesome job, and we’re almost there.You’ve hung on this long.We’ll be drying off on the sand soon and can have something to eat and drink.”

“I can do it,” she assured him.“Just a little farther.”

“That’s my girl,” he said, flashing her a grin.

His girl.She wasn’t his in any sense of the word.But watching her fall off the boat had sent his protective instincts soaring.He’d have rescued anyone, of course, but his blood had run cold at the fact that it’d been her.

“Oh my God, we’re getting so close!”she said a few minutes later.They were close enough to see the waves breaking on shore.“Do you think anyone’s on the island?”

“Hard to say,” he admitted.“It’s not inhabited by anyone, that’s for sure.But someone could’ve taken a fishing trip and stopped here or just gone exploring.”

“Maybe someone will come by on a boat!”she said excitedly.

“Hopefully so.The tide will start to bring us in from here.We just have to be careful of the undertow.”

She shuddered beside him, brushing her wet hair back.“The last thing I want is to be swept back out to sea.”

“Let’s do this,” he said.

A few minutes later, they were crawling onto the shore.Bailey collapsed in the sand, her wet clothes clinging to her like a second skin.She rolled over onto her back, sand covering her body.Noah briefly laid beside her, gripping his backpack as his gaze swept over her for any injuries.

His muscles burned from the exertion, but he could’ve kept going if needed.“Let’s get further up on the beach,” he said.“It looks like high tide right now, and we don’t want our supplies being swept back out to sea.”

Okay,” she agreed.Bailey stood up, stumbling, and Noah hauled her against him.She was wet and cold, but the sun would remedy both of those things now that they’d reached the island.His arm wrapped around her waist, and she leaned against him, exhausted.

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