Page 9 of Beau

As he sank beneath the surface, he didn’t think; he just used his hands to feel for her. She had to be here. He had to bring her up before she drowned, or the alligators got to her. He could not fail. This wasn’t a helicopter crash that he had no control over. His actions could influence the outcome. If only he could find her!

Beau came up for air, filled his lungs and gauged his location compared to the boardwalk and the trajectory of the dark man’s launch and quickly dove beneath the surface again. Where was she? She had to be here somewhere.

Something kicked at his hand. He yanked it back for a second, thinking maybe it was an alligator's nose, but when it kicked again, he realized it was a foot. He grabbed hold of a boot. Another booted foot kicked him in the head. He grabbed that one, too, and pulled the woman’s body toward him in a sharp downward motion.

She fought, kicking and swinging, the water slowing her movements. Still, it was a struggle to get a good hold of her. His lungs burned with the need for air. Wrapping his arm around her body, he clamped her arms to her side and kicked hard, sending them toward the surface.

As their heads emerged, the woman in his arms dragged air into her lungs, still kicking to keep her head above water. Once she’d taken a breath, she fought to free herself from his hold.

Beau released her.

Her head immediately sank below the surface. She reached for him, dug her fingers into his jacket and clawed her way up his body, pushing him downward as she fought to come up.

Knowing they could both drown if he didn’t take control, he knocked her hands aside, spun her around and hooked an arm over her chest, gripping her beneath her opposite arm.

When he could catch his breath, he hissed, “It’s me, Robin Hood. Calm down, or we’ll both drown.” Or worse, he wanted to say.

They had to get out of the water.

Her stiff body relaxed against him.

“Are you hurt?” he asked.

“No,” she said. “I can swim, but my boots are so heavy.”

“It’s okay,” he reassured her. “I’ll keep your head above water. You can help by kicking.” Beau looked up at the boardwalk. There had to be steps or a ladder somewhere along its length. They had to have installed some way to get out of the bayou if someone should fall in. Or, as in this case, they were thrown in.

Starlight glinted off metal several yards away from where they tread water. He settled into a sidestroke, dragging Aurelie along with him.

She kicked, helping them move a little faster, but otherwise, let him keep her from going under again.

When he reached the ladder, he stopped. “Can you climb?”

She nodded.

He held onto her until she had a firm grip on the ladder.

Aurelie pulled herself out of the water, one metal bar at a time, until she could get her feet on the bottom rung. When she did, she paused, glanced over her shoulder and yelped. “‘Gator!”

Beau looked back to see what looked like a floating log with eyes heading his way—and it was big. Big enough to take on a full-grown man, roll him beneath the surface and hold him there until he drowned.

Heart pounding, Beau held onto the side of the ladder, braced his hand on Aurelie’s ass and shoved her upward. “Go! Go! Go!”

As she scrambled up the ladder, he inched out of the water behind her. His legs and feet were still in the water, and the alligator was less than a yard away.

He couldn’t wait another second. He climbed up the ladder behind the woman, his arms around her, his legs and feet now clear of the surface. He moved in sync with Aurelie, ascending rung after rung. He was out of the water, out of the alligator’s range, and there to catch his client if she missed her footing or slipped and fell.

When they reached the top, he palmed her bottom and gave her enough of a boost to send her over the rail.

She rolled over the top and collapsed onto the boardwalk.

Beau slung his leg over the rail and dropped down beside her, crouched and ready should the man who’d thrown her return to finish the job.

Once he was sure they were alone, he straightened. “All clear,” he said, out of habit.

Aurelie drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Good.”

Beau held out his hand.

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