Page 3

She took a few steps but then stopped again, hunching over. Her apologetic gaze found his. “Sorry, I’m afraid this might take a while.”

Alex stood still for a moment, his gaze moving over her from head to toe.

Her soaked dress clung to her form rather scandalously, leaving little of her curves to the imagination.

His gaze swept the beach, suddenly worried.

The longer they tarried, the greater the chance of being found and complications arising.

Without a word, he dropped to one knee and effortlessly lifted her into his arms. The motion was seamless—his muscles barely straining under her weight, even though they still burned from exhaustion.

“Then I’ll carry you.”

She blinked at him, her green eyes wide as her arms wrapped around his neck. “That’s not necessary!”

He shifted her slightly in his arms. “Your legs say otherwise.”

“My legs?” Suddenly, she laughed. “Are you a fisherman and I a mermaid?”

Alex raised an eyebrow, glancing down at her. “No,” he replied, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “I’m no fisherman.”

“A shipbuilder, then?” she asked. “You do seem built like one.”

Oh? “And how are they built?”

“Strong,” she replied, though he sensed an undercurrent of appreciation.

“Well, I’m not a shipbuilder either,” he said, shaking his head slightly. “I’m just an ordinary man.”

“Too cavalier for ordinary.” She tilted her head, and for a moment, he wondered if she would ask again if he were something else. Instead, she simply sighed. “Can you let me go? I think I’ve caught enough of a breath.”

“No,” Alex said firmly, his eyes locking onto hers, challenging her to argue further. “You’re in no condition to walk on sand.”

“It’s just sand.”

“It’s uneven.”

She huffed, sounding exasperated, but he caught a glimpse of her upturned lips.

“You are stubborn, aren’t you?” Alex said nothing but adjusted his grip on her, holding her securely against his chest. He had already made up his mind: she wasn’t going anywhere on her own, at least not on the beach.

Once they reached solid ground, he’d reassess.

She pointed to a spot in the distance. “You can set me on my feet over there.”

He nodded.

“Are you visiting Cornwall or are you a resident?” she suddenly asked.

“Visiting.”

“You’re not a man of many words, are you?”

“Our breath is precious.”

Especially since she had almost lost hers. She chuckled, and he could feel her breathing softly, her head moving slightly with each of his steps. The closeness was undeniable.

“You’re a foreigner, right? I can’t place your accent; it’s too faint.”

“Yes. And thank you, I’ll take that as a compliment,” he replied, his tone evasive.

The truth was, he didn’t know what he wanted to say about himself.

His life and his reasons for being here weren’t subjects one brought up in polite conversation, especially not to a woman he was carrying in his arms. And certainly not when she was looking up at him with those sharp, intelligent eyes.

The distance between them didn’t seem to matter to her. She seemed content to ask her questions. Perhaps this was her way of coping with her near-death experience.

“Where are you from?” she pressed, her curiosity relentless.

He chuckled. “Far from here.”

“Fine, keep your secrets.” She scratched her nose. “You must be getting tired, carrying me all this way.”

“Not yet,” he lied. Just a small one.

She scoffed. “You’re not very convincing.”

“I can still carry you, tired or not.”

“Commendable.”

The path ahead narrowed, leading toward the base of a small slope where the beach transitioned into a rugged trail that could only be the quickest route to her home.

Alex had no doubt this woman was far more capable than most he had met, so when they arrived, he slowly set her down on her feet, his hands lingering for just a moment to ensure her balance.

“Are you sure you don’t need any help from here?” he asked.

She offered him a determined smile and began to make a series of small marching movements, lifting her knees in a show of strength. “See? My legs have almost completely recovered. I’ll be fine, I assure you.”

He couldn’t help the faint smile that tugged at his lips as her gaze met his, her eyes sincere. “I don’t know how to repay you, but… again, thank you.”

Alex inclined his head. “Just don’t do something so dangerous again.”

A small laugh escaped her. “I’ll do my best.” She adjusted her clothes, though nothing seemed to adjust. Still, she took a few confident steps back toward the path and glanced over her shoulder one last time. “Then I shall be off,” she said, giving him a small nod. A farewell?

Protest welled within.

Alex returned the nod, though his eyes remained fixed on her retreating form until she disappeared into the landscape. It wasn’t until she was entirely out of view that he realized he’d never asked for her name. He frowned slightly, feeling an unexpected pang of regret at the thought.

But then, he reminded himself, there was no need.

He would never see her again.