Short story: Abandoned (part 2 of 3)

Here it is, the next installment of 'Abandoned' that I hope you've been waiting for... (if you missed part one, you can find it here)

Part 2 of 3

Carla had been soaking up some rays on the poolside, frequently slipping into the pool to cool off and take advantage of the swim-up bar, when he had walked into her life. Or should that be swam?

Having just finished her drink, she’d been swimming back to her sun lounger when - WHAM! - an arm, closely followed by the rest of a man’s body, had smacked right into her and knocked the air out of her lungs. Sinking fast, she hadn’t had time to draw a single breath before going under. Unable to focus, the water blurring her vision, Carla had watched as the aqua tiled floor got closer.

Paralysed with fear, she truly believed that she was going to die. Death by drowning. Alone. Miles away from home. What a depressing way to go… Her poor parents would never forgive her if they ever found out, maybe they wouldn’t anyway after what she’d done since?

A pair of strong arms had suddenly wrapped tightly around her, pulling her back towards the surface. Finally breaking through, her first gulping breaths had felt like fire, burning her lungs.

It was all over though and she was still alive!

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry”, her rescuer had blurted, towing her toward the shallow end. “I wasn’t watching where I was going. Are you okay?” His voice had been laced with panic, his eyes checking for injuries as he helped her to stand.

Carla had taken a good long look at her villainous hero - or was he her heroic villain? - and she could remember the exact moment her heart had started to race and the butterflies had taken flight.

Tall, toned and bronzed, with a shock of golden sun-highlighted hair, piercing blue eyes and full kissable lips, he was undeniably handsome. More alarmingly, he was exactly her type. “What the hell were you playing at?” she’d yelled at him, “you nearly killed me you idiot.”

“I know, I really am sorry,” he’d said, looking utterly shaken. “Do you need a Doctor?”

Speechless, she’d watched, spellbound, as water ran in rivulets down his taut chest towards his shorts before re-appearing and running down his lean thighs, returning to the pool that was swirling around his knees. She shook her head, knowing that her voice would have come out as a croak if she’d tried to speak at that moment.

“Is there anything I can get for you?” he’d asked, looking right at her with eyes like sapphires. “Your towel maybe? Or a drink?” He was certainly persistent, looking so sorry. And he really was gorgeous…

“Okay, why not?” she’d said, emboldened and relieved to hear that her voice sounded almost normal. At least her breathlessness could be attributed to her near drowning. “But as pick-ups go, that stunt has got to go down as the worst and most stupid attempt in the history of bad pick-ups.”

His eyes had almost popped out of his head and his face had flushed instantly, looking adorably embarrassed as he scrambled for something to say. Unable to stop the corners of her mouth from twitching, laughter had bubbled up inside her like a volcano until it had exploded out of her in one great burst.

That had then set him off. He had such a wonderful free-spirited laugh and a generous wide smile. The overall effect was unforgettable.

“Jack Fulton,” he’d said eventually, holding out his hand to her.

“Carla Walsh,” she’d replied, enjoying the feel of his hand engulfing hers. “And mine is a margarita thanks.”

And that had been that.

It transpired that Jack had been working out there for the winter season, looking after the fitness classes and watersports but his six-month contract was almost at an end and he wasn’t sure where to go next, bored of the beach and lonely.

Over the next few days, they spent many hours and meals together. Talking and laughing, enjoying each other’s company. And yes, they’d shared kisses and they had been magical every single time. Just thinking about Jack brought a smile to Carla’s face and set fire coursing through her veins.

It reached a point where he was spending every moment of his free time with her. He even convinced her to try windsurfing and water-skiing just so they could spend more time together. Was it your typical holiday romance? Carla had no idea, but with just three more days left before his job ended and her holiday was over, one thing she did know for certain was that neither of them wanted to say goodbye.

A few phones calls later and she had successfully extended her trip by a further week. Jack was all set to leave his staff accommodation and move into her two-bedroom villa for their final week together in paradise.

And what a week it turned out to be…

Don't forget to tune in next week for the final installment...