Downtown Girl (Lipstick Red #1) by Zara Asher Read Free Book Online Page B

turned abruptly to find a woman waving her arms madly.  She didn’t speak English, but when she pointed out to the sea, it was obvious what she meant.  His heart sank as he realized she couldn’t swim, and there were few people around.
    Not thinking, he dropped his shoes and waded out into the water, plunging in when he was deep enough to swim as fast as he could.  He didn’t stop to think about what he was doing.  He just acted, as auto-pilot took over.
    ‘David,’ he heard Taylor shout in the distance as she waded out to her knees.  He’d glanced back, but kept going, he had to keep going, he had to. 
    ‘Find a lifeguard,’ he shouted, but she couldn’t hear him.  He’d just have to hope there was someone close by.  If there’s one thing he did know, it was that French lifeguards were excellent, but there wasn’t time for that now.
    Ploughing on, adrenaline pumped through his veins as he reached his target, holding on to the inflatable dingy that held two little blonde heads, screaming and crying in terror.  They’d clutched at his head, pushing him under in their panic, so he pulled the rope out to arms length, motioning to them to lie still in the dingy.  He began to fight against the water, treading back towards the shore as he pulled the dinghy with him.  Parents are warned often enough not to let kids go to sea in dinghies, but they don’t listen.  He was angry with their mother, and concerned about the kids at the same time.  He’d no idea what the children were saying and the only sensible thing he could think to do was sing a lullaby in English, but his chest was beginning to explode with the effort.  He looked back, the shore still looking far away, but he seemed to be making progress.  Gritting his teeth, he concentrated on treading the water, getting the two little blondes back to their mum.  He was just grateful that the water was warm.  He knew that in the English Channel or the Atlantic, he’d be unlikely to make it with the cold.  He ploughed on as the children settled down a little, their screams lulling into hushed sobs with the presence of an adult.  They couldn’t have been more than four or five years old, and terrified.  He’d done the right thing, but his legs were beginning to feel tired. 
    He knew he was close to shore when a pair of arms supported his neck, with another pair prizing the rope from his hands.  The lifeguards expertly guided both David and the dinghy back to safety.  A crowd had gathered at the shoreline as the alarm had been raised.  He was helped onto the sand with wobbling legs, where he flopped down, taking a few minutes to fully get his breath back.  By god, he’d done it.  He’d turned that dinghy round and brought those two little blondes back to shore before they’d drifted too far out, or fallen into the water. 
        ‘Ok sir?’ the lifeguard asked, making the sign with his thumb and forefinger.  ‘The girls are fine.  A little shaken up, but otherwise they’ll be ok.’ 
    He nodded, unable to speak fully.  He found a bottle of water in his hands and a towel covered his shoulders before a jeep pulled up as close as they could get, with Taylor and the girls mother.  He’d drifted a fair distance in the water trying to get the girls back to shore. 
    He saw Taylor and the girls mum run the length of the beach, she to reach her babies, and Taylor to get to him, her hair flying magnificently wild in the wind.
    ‘Fuck, I thought you were all gonners,’ she said breathlessly as she knelt down beside him, rubbing his arms through the towel.  If this was how a hero got treated, he’d have to save little girls more often.
    ‘What a stupid, brave and absolutely wonderful thing to do!’  Her mouth kissed his cheek while the lifeguard checked him over, and asked if he wanted to go to hospital.  He declined.  He wanted a hot shower and a sleep.  Nothing more!  He doubted that even Taylor’s multiple charms could raise