Oceans Apart (Ocean Dreams Book 1) Read Free Page A

world and felt free for the first time ever.
    Annie didn’t notice that while she was swimming, she was being pushed further out into the open water. Starting to become tired, Annie decided it was time to head back to the beach. She tried her hardest to swim back to where her belongings were on the beach, but she was getting nowhere. The harder she swam, the more tired she became. Her arms felt like lead weights, just wanting to hang by her sides. She was treading water but even that wasn’t helping. Annie started to panic. No, what do I do? She thought this could be it. This could be the end. Her mind was spinning, she couldn’t think straight. A wave dunked her deep under the water. Annie swam as hard as she could, up to the surface, not knowing if she was going to make it or not. Then out of the corner of her eye, she saw something coming toward her and then a splash. It wasn’t something but it was someone. She was lifted out of the water and thrown up onto a surfboard, her mind all a blur. Lying on the board, not having the energy to move at all, she tried to catch her breath. Her heart was racing a million miles a second. Next thing she knew, the board jerked as it hit the sand of the beach. Her rescuer came over and put a hand on her back.
    “There you go. Just take it easy. Deep breaths in and out,” the male Australian voice told her.
    Annie did as she was told, sucking in as much air as she could and slowly letting it back out. ‘ What the hell just happened? ’ she thought.
    “You okay now?” her rescuer asked. A nod of her head was all the reply Annie managed.
    “Do you think you can turn over or sit up?”
    Annie tried to push herself up onto all fours but couldn’t. She opted for just rolling over onto her back and onto the sand.
    “Um…you lost your…” stuttered the man.
    “Sorry. What?” Annie questioned him while rubbing her eyes. She needed a good look at her rescuer and the salt water had made her eyes blurry.
    “You lost your, um…it appears you’ve lost your top,” he said while trying to hide an amused smile.
    “Oh, my gosh, I’ve lost my bikini top!” exclaimed Annie. She had found what little energy she had left and hurried to cover herself with her hands.
    “I can see that,” he chuckled.
    “Turn around. Turn around!” Annie raised her voice at him.
    “I didn’t notice anything. Honest.” He did what she asked while having a quiet laugh to himself.
    “Ooh, what am I going to do? I didn’t bring a shirt. The weather was so pleasant that I just didn’t think. Oh, Hell!”
    “Calm down. Give me a second.” He ran over a few yards picked up a shirt and ran back. “You can have my T-shirt.”
    Annie sat up, took the T-shirt from her rescuer, and threw it on as quickly as possible, finally getting a better look at him. He seemed familiar but she couldn’t place him. Dark brown hair, muscles from top to toe, and the bluest eyes she had ever seen. But it was his last statement that was sticking in her mind at that moment.
    “What did you mean? Why didn’t you take notice of them?” asked Annie.
    “Notice of what?” Her hunky rescuer looked puzzled.
    “My boobs.” Annie was being cheeky and enjoying watching him sweat a little.
    “Wait. Now, I didn’t say I didn’t take notice. I just said I didn’t take a good look. I mean, what’s the use of a pair of fine looking breasts if the chick who owns them is dead.” He winked at her.
    Annie wasn’t sure what to make of that comment. “Thank you. I mean it. If you hadn’t seen me in the water, I could have drowned.”
    “Didn’t you know not to swim out here when the lifeguards aren’t on patrol?” The man turned serious all of a sudden.
    “No. I had no idea. It’s the first time I’ve been to a beach.” Annie felt like a fool.
    He scoffed. “C’mon. Are you joking?”
    “You don’t believe me?”
    The man sighed and looked up and down at her. “I think I do. The sign over there says to watch out