Page 106 of Emergency Exit
Harper reached down and picked up the water bottle by the neck.
“Look around,” barked Emma. “Something’s wrong with the boat, and those two are flirting.” She whirled on Harper, pointing Stephanie’s phone at her. “You did something, didn’t you?”
“Did you think Ash and I would give you whatever you want?” asked Harper.
“You will do what I tell you,” said Stephanie. “And so will Ash.”
Emma made an unhappy growl and headed for where her trench coat was draped over one of the chairs at the table. Harper realized that Emma was going to get her gun and decided that she was tired of being threatened by socialites.
Emma fumbled in her coat pocket as Harper stood up.
“Sit down,” snapped Stephanie. “Everyone just stay calm. This will all be over soon.”
“Hey, Emma,” said Harper, ignoring Stephanie. “I really think you should stop listening to your sister.”
“Oh, shut up,” said Emma as she turned back toward Harper.
Harper swung the Hydro Flask as hard as she could. The water bottle made a highly satisfying ponging noise as it hit Emma on the side of the head, and the gun went flying across the room, bouncing off the wall and skittering toward the door.
“You hit my sister!”
“Yes,” said Harper, and punched Stephanie. The boat jerked just as she swung, so her fist didn’t connect as much as she hoped it would, but Stephanie staggered sideways. Harper realized she did not have a backup plan or any Ash-type skills, so she just went for what worked on the sixth-grade playground and shoved Stephanie as hard as possible.
Stephanie went down hard, landing on her butt and staring up at Harper with a shocked expression. The boat slowed abruptly, and Harper flailed, tipped, and landed back on the couch.
Stephanie turned over onto all fours and scrambled for the gun. Harper wobbled off the couch. She made it to the door and kicked the weapon as she yanked the door handle.
She could see Ash running toward her on the dock, blond hair flying behind him. It gave Harper a warm glow to know he was in full save-the-day mode.
Then there was a jerk, and the engine noise changed. Then, the boat began to reverse course. The captain person must have figured out what she’d done.
Harper could see the dock getting further away. She could also see a sticky-out part of the dock that was low in the water. It didn’t look too far away. She could probably make that.
Ash had jumped into a boat. She was moments away from being saved.
“I’m going to fucking shoot you,” snarled Stephanie, standing up. She was holding the gun, and her blonde hair had comeunwound from its perfect chignon.
“Well,” said Harper, “this has been an experience, but I think I’ll see myself out.”
“What?”
Harper ran outside and kicked off her shoes. She could see Ash was on his way, so she took a deep breath and dove over the side just as Stephanie gave an ear-splitting shriek of rage.
Harper hit the water, and the cold hit back. The frigid temperature knocked the air out of her lungs, and she surfaced with a gasp. She had intended to keep her dive shallow and get a decent distance from the boat, but the swells of green-gray water obscured her vision. She had no reference points and dog-paddled frantically, trying to keep the next wave from swamping her.
There was a heavy throb of a motor, and the wood-paneled side of a boat pulled up in front of her. She headed in that direction, still unable to form words and barely able to form thoughts. Ash reached down and grabbed her under the armpits. With a tremendous heave, he pulled onto the edge, then grabbed a handful of ass and pulled her all the way into the boat.
He planted his hands on both sides of her face and kissed her hard. His warmth and strength finally allowed her lips to move.
“Stephanie. Gun.” Harper flailed one arm back toward where she thought Stephanie might be.
“Right. Don’t move.” Ash hurried back to the steering wheel, and the next moment, the boat was accelerating. The wind and stinging rain hit Harper in the face, and she huddled on the floor of the speed boat and shivered.
34
Harper
Coasting
