Page 10 of Vacation Friends

“I’d gone to grab some coffee when I heard there was an incident at the beach. Then you didn’t answer your phone.” Josh studied her face, concern in his gaze. “I had a bad feeling and rushed right down.”

“I’m fine,” Maddie insisted. “A man in the ocean needed help and?—”

“You thought you could help him?” he interrupted, the concern in his voice replaced with a snort.

She gritted her teeth.

Josh was famous for interrupting people. Not just her, but his employees also.

Maddie found it disrespectful. When she’d brought up the subject once, Josh had laughed it off. He’d said life was too short to waste time with drawn-out conversations when he could just get right to the point. He had the gift of forgetting about the oyster in order to get to the pearl—his words.

She swallowed hard, trying to push down her resentment. “I couldn’t just stand there and do nothing.”

His eyes flickered with judgment. “Who is the guy anyway? Do you even know him?”

“No . . . I don’t know who he is. Or . . . was.” Her throat burned as she made the correction.

“He didn’t survive?”

“I don’t think so.” She glanced back and saw that paramedics had stopped CPR and now stood in a circle around the man.

She’d tried to help. She’d almost lost her life by doing so.

But it looked like it was all for nothing.

Heaviness pressed on her at the thought.

CHAPTER

FOUR

Maddie quickly scanned the people around her.

Josh was here, of course.

Then she saw Brody. The man was probably in his early thirties with wavy blond hair that fell around his face. His skin was tan. His wet T-shirt and shorts showed a sculpted, broad physique, and his accent sounded Texan. He had a Matthew McConaughey vibe.

Adrienne stood beside him. She was a petite blonde with long hair, bright eyes, and a toothy smile. She wore white jogging shorts and a fuchsia tank top. If Maddie was going to continue making comparisons with actors, then she’d say Adrienne looked a little like Sarah Michelle Gellar.

The other woman—she’d overheard someone call her Bree—had a light brown complexion and long, dark hair. She wore leggings with hiking boots and a white shirt with an emu on it and the words “Do I Look Emused?” Threaded bracelets lined her wrists, and a crocheted headband stretched across the top of her head. Actress: Selma Hayek—if Selma was a crunchy hipster who liked emus.

Maddie instantly liked the woman—mostly because Maddie was a closet fan of emus also. Not many people could say that.

Josh’s gaze slid to Brody, who still stood on the other side of Maddie. Josh raked his gaze over the man before turning up his nose as if deeming Brody unworthy.

A surge of protectiveness rose in her. “Josh, this is Brody, the man who saved me. I would be dead if not for him.”

Realization washed over Josh as he extended his hand. “I see. Thank you so much for what you did.”

“It’s no problem.” Brody straightened, his shoulders squaring. “Adrienne and I were out jogging when I saw something happening in the water. I’m glad I was here when I was. Just a few minutes difference?—”

“So am I. Of course, I would’ve saved her myself had I known she was going to be out here so early.” Josh pulled out his wallet and brought out two one hundred-dollar bills. “Please, take this as a thank-you.”

Horror washed over Maddie.

He wasn’t really doing this . . .

But he was.

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