Through The Lens (Creative Hearts Book 1) Read Free Page A

of electricity. And a quick scan of the foliage didn’t show any I’m-supposed-to-look-like-a-tree cell towers.  
    She let out a long sigh. “What about electricity on this island? The concierge at the hotel assured me they had electricity out here.”  
    Ale shook his head. “Stop worrying so much. I’m sure there are generators and whatever else we need. I wanted remote- this is remote. Besides, this look is exactly what we need for this shoot. It will be fine. You’ll make it work.”
    Mika blew out a breath, flaring her nostrils. Great. This was getting worse by the minute. Alejandro was taking things a bit far this time. How were they supposed to get in touch with the rest of the crew in case they needed more equipment than what was on the set list? And looking at this spot, they would need so much more than what was on the set list. Plus, what about details she still had to take care of back in New York? Mika’s mind was racing. She needed her cell and Internet service for that. And even more importantly, what was the plumbing situation, how would they shower and—she suddenly felt dread go through her body—where and how would they go to the bathroom? She may be a Gal Friday but never claimed to be a Girl Scout.
    As the boat edged close to the dock, Mika put her hand up to shutter her eyes and saw a woman coming toward them from the huts. Her short, squat legs made surprisingly quick work of the many steps from the elevated structures to the beach as she hurried toward them with a wide smile and a wave.
    “Tai, my wife,” Tong yelled with a gruffness that failed to hide the pride in his voice.
    Mika nodded and crossed her legs. She couldn’t wait to get off the boat. Suddenly the urge to figure out the bathroom situation was turning very real. Tong maneuvered the craft like the seasoned veteran he was, and Alejandro stood, taking a long and languid stretch, completely at one with the boat. Wonderful, suddenly he’s ready to play Robinson Crusoe. Mika cocked a brow.
    As Tong anchored the boat to the dock, Mika stood quickly and grabbed the nearest equipment bag, which sent the vessel rocking violently. In a flash she was flailing her arms, unsteady on her feet and leaning backward, pitched too far over the side of the boat.  
    Alejandro turned her way, his eyes locking on hers as her mouth opened but no sound came out. Her arms went wide as her body went backward. Ale’s hand sprung forward as she fell back, and the last thing Mika saw before she went over the edge was him holding the damned equipment bag. So freaking Alejandro.
    Damn.
    *
    Shit! The bag. Alejandro looked down at the bag left in his hand and cursed himself silently. How could he have the bag and not her hand? He threw the equipment bag down and dove over the side. Head shifting quickly, eyes darting under the water, he didn’t see her and began to panic. Where the hell was she? He came up to the surface, looked around for Mika, then went down again, his heart beating wildly, stomach clenching with fear. How good a swimmer was she? Did she get a cramp? Could she even really swim? In all the times they’d been to exotic locations on shoots, he’d never once actually seen her swimming in the water. Ale looked and looked, but all he saw was blue water, coral and sand. Where did she go? It wasn’t even all that deep here close to the dock. Fear twisted at him again, even tighter this time as he suddenly wondered if she could possibly be under the boat. He went back down under the water.  
    It was then that small but capable and firm hands grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him up to the surface.
    “The equipment bag! You let me go over, and you save the freaking equipment bag?”  
    Alejandro suddenly was face to face with a wet and snarling Mika. He blinked as her words came at him like blows from a prizefighter. What did he do to deserve this? “Don’t you see I was trying to save you now? Of all the ungrateful—” Alejandro