Page 17 of Straight Shooter

He huffed out a laugh and caught her hand in his. He wrapped her fingers around the strap at his waist. “Whatever you do, don’t let go of me. Got it?”

Her body went rigid.

“I’ll hang on to the tether and cut it once we’re in the water. As soon as I cut it, swim to the ladder. You’ll need to reach inside as far as you can to grab the rungs, so it’s easier to pull yourself in. If something happens to me, don’t come looking for me. Just get inside. All right?”

Her lip trembled, and her fingers circled around the strap in a death grip. “Yes.”

He chucked her under the chin. “Don’t worry about me. I can swim fine. I just don’t want anything slowing you down. You’re bleeding and hypothermia will set in quick. Ready?”

She blinked, and her throat moved on a swallow. For a second he expected her to turn away, to refuse. But she grabbed the rail and swung her leg over the top. “Ready.”

He did the same, reached into his pocket, and pulled out the switchblade. He wouldn’t retract the knife until they were in the water, but he didn’t want to waste time looking for it, or worse, have it get blown out of his pocket by their impact.

He circled his fingers loosely around the tether line. When he jumped, his hand would slide down the rope so they wouldn’t risk being sucked under the water by the propellers or thrown off course.

Peyton kept her gaze on the thundering water.

“Whatever you do, don’t let go of me. I won’t be able to drop the tether until I cut the line. If I let go of it too soon, the raft will get towed away and we’ll be stranded.”

She nodded once. “Let’s go then.”

“One,” he said, as he moved farther into position. They balanced side by side, half sitting on the rail.

“Two.”

She gave the strap at his waist a tug, assuring him she had a tight hold.

“Three!”

Peyton leaped forward a beat ahead of him. The rope whizzed against his skin, burning his palm as they rushed toward the sea.

Ice-cold water blasted her face as she plunged beneath the ocean’s surface. The weight of Rhett’s body jerked her arm, but she hung tight to the strap. Salty water raced into her nose and burned through her skull. The lifejacket lifted her back to the surface, and she sucked in a breath as she kicked against the waves that dragged her toward the boat’s propellers and away from Rhett’s body.

“Cut it!” she cried, but the wind threw away her scream.

Rhett’s arm jerked over the wake, and a glint of metal caught her eye as he brought the blade down on the tether. The force that pulled at her legs released, and she gained traction.

“Get in the boat!” Rhett snatched her jacket and shoved her toward the wayward raft.

She grabbed the tether and hung on as she kicked and pulled herself toward the door. Her limbs tingled and her skin puckered beneath the wetsuit. A wave crashed against her face, sending her under momentarily and filling her mouth with fishy-tasting water. She coughed and slapped away the wet hair plastering her face like a mop, keeping the raft’s door in sight. Her legs burned with every kick and her wounded thigh pulsed wildly, raging at the salt stinging her raw. She caught the ladder in her hands, reached inside the lifeboat, and grasped the farthest rung she could. Rough hands shoved at her jacket then moved to her butt, and she hurtled inside. She hit the bottom of the raft and rolled to her back, the weight of the soaking wetsuit and jacket pressing her down. Her lungs ached to drag in air, but her body convulsed, halting her breaths.

She caught sight of the moon, which shone through the hole barely bigger than a doggie door. Rhett’s large, brawny hand stretched inside, and then his head appeared at the door. She clambered out of the way, caught the back of his jacket, and dragged him through the entrance.

He dropped to the floor on his hands and knees, gasping hoarsely. “Are you okay?” He turned and sat then reached for her jacket.

Shivers overtook her body, and her arms shook violently as he peeled off her life jacket. She rubbed her arms vigorously, but it was like trying to heat frost with ice.

“Sit.” He eased her back against the wall. The lifeboat pitched on the waves, and she pressed her hands into the floor for support.

Rhett leaned toward her and hooked her arms in the ropes lining the lifeboat’s perimeter. “Hang on to that. The water should calm down once we’re out of the yacht’s wake, but it will still be rough way out here.”

She closed her eyes and fought the weakness taking hold of her body. Her knees knocked together in rhythm with her teeth as Rhett fumbled around in the large raft. It was big enough to fit six people comfortably.

“What are you doing?” The question popped from her mouth, sounding pathetic. She could barely control her lips.

A glow suddenly lit the tent, and she blinked. Rhett turned around and waved a yellowish-green glow stick that was much brighter than the ones she’d seen little kids run around with. He laid four out in the tent, making the space as bright as a lantern.

He stripped off his life jacket and then tugged off his dress shirt, revealing his tanned, washboard stomach and puckered brown nipples. Her mouth went dry.