“We did it,” she screeched.
But if was as if Rico didn’t hear her. He pulled her up and out of the mud then took off running again, dragging her behind.
Within minutes they were close enough to see the boat bobbing and rolling in the savage wind and crashing waves, banging into the sturdy plank of the dock.
Only then did Rico release her hand. “The rope is too loose,” he yelled. “I’ve got to secure the boat.”
“But why?” Asia looked at the angry ocean then at Rico. “It’s dangerous.”
“If I don’t, we won’t have a boat. We need it to get back.”
Before she could say another word in protest he turned and ran toward the dock, leaving her standing in the rain.
Stupid, stupid man. She didn’t care about any damned boat. She was afraid for him. What if he got hurt? God, why did men have to be such daredevils?
She ran after him but he was already at the end of the dock, struggling with the rope he’d used to secure the boat. Maybe she could help.
She raced down the dock toward him. He’d never be able to pull the boat in all by himself. “I’m coming,” she yelled. She was almost upon him when, to her horror, she saw the boat lurch and, as if in slow motion, Rico pitched forward and over the edge.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“Rico!” Asia screamed. Jesus Christ, Rico was gone.
She ran the remaining yards to the edge and dropped to her knees. God, please don’t let him be dead.
Then she saw him. Rico was in the water, still clinging to the rope he was trying to secure, and he was alive.
But he was in danger. The boat could swing back and smash against the dock, crushing Rico in the process.
“Rico,” she shrieked, “let go and take my hand. You have to get out.”
Rico looked up at her and she could see the strain on his face. Of course he knew the danger he was in. He was struggling to get out. But it was no easy task to climb onto the dock when the swirling water was doing its best to suck him down and under.
Asia was bending over, reaching her hand down to him when he yelled, “Move away. You’ll fall over.”
She backed away a little but not far. She had to help him.
And then she saw it. A rope hanging off the other end of the dock. Dear God, please let it be long enough. She dashed over and grabbed it then dragged it up, the entire length of it, and ran back to the other side. To her relief it was just long enough to hand down to where Rico could reach it.
“Pull yourself up with this,” she shouted. “Quick.” She was watching the boat and it was bobbing dangerously close to Rico’s head.
He looked up, hair plastered down on his head and almost covering his eyes. When he saw the lifeline he grabbed it and tugged, then in one swift move he let go of the boat mooring and grabbed this new line with both hands. He pulled up, his muscles straining as he fought the sucking water. Then he was climbing up and out of the water until finally he collapsed onto the deck.
“Rico.” Asia reached for him. “Thank God.”
Now he was moving again, pushing himself up with his arms. “Asia,” he said, still panting from his efforts, “we have to get off the dock. Not safe.”
She nodded and bent down to help him to his feet then she threw his arm over her shoulder and supported him as they hurried back to the shore.
She looked around. Where could they go? There was nowhere to shelter, nowhere to hide.
“The lightning,” Rico said, his voice still breathless. “Stay away from the tall trees. Try to find…low bushes where we can shelter.”
She did as he said and led him to a copse of thick bushes that were not too close to the trees. There they sheltered from the whipping wind and stinging rain, clinging to each other for what little warmth they could find.
Asia didn’t know how long the storm lasted. It could have been one hour, it could have been four. She’d lost all sense of time. But when the winds finally died down and the rain ceased she was exhausted.
She looked down at Rico and his head was still resting on her chest, his eyes closed, his arms wrapped around her. She frowned. He couldn’t be asleep, could he? In all this?
“Rico,” she whispered. “It’s gone.”
“Hmm,” he groaned.
“The storm, it’s gone,” she said more firmly. “We have to go check on the boat.”
“Oh,” he said, then stifled a yawn.
“Were you sleeping?” she asked. “You were, weren’t you? Typical man. Guys can sleep through anything.”
She pushed him off her chest, denying him any further use of her body as a headrest.
He put up his hands and rubbed his eyes, looking for all the world like a child waking from slumber. Then as she stood he blinked up at her like an owl.
“Come on, Rico,” she said, annoyed at his slouchy behavior. “We have to go check on the boat. You’re acting all cozy and comfortable like you’re in your bedroom. We’re on a deserted island, remember?”
Rico blinked again, then he squinted up at her.
That made her even angrier. The man hadn’t moved an inch. “You know what, I’ll go check on the boat myself.” She turned and marched away. She wasn’t going to wait on a man who didn’t seem to understand the seriousness of their situation.
“Asia?”
She heard Rico call her name but she kept on walking. “Asia, please. I need you. I…can’t see.”
What the hell? That stopped her in her tracks. Had something happened to Rico in the water? Had he suddenly gone blind?
She turned and ran back to where she’d left him by the bushes. She dropped to her knees and stared into his face. “Rico? Are you alright?”
He blinked then squinted, the effort making his brows furrow. Then he smiled. “I can see you now. I’m okay.”
That floored her. Didn’t he just say he couldn’t see? “What kind of game are you playing?” she demanded. “First you can’t see then you can see. Which is it?”
He raised his eyebrows and gave a boyish pout. “Both, I’m afraid. I’m severely myopic. Can’t see a thing past my nose.”