Craved Mate: Cybermates by Ayers, Candace (good short books .txt) 📕

his excursion. Seems the fishing charter had engine trouble and they had to refund the fee. Isn’t that spectacular?”

“Uh…yes…?”

“Yes! Pierce asked if I’d like to go to the maritime museum with him. Well, technically, I asked if I could tag along with him and Ben, but same difference.”

I grinned.

“So, what do you say? Can we postpone our beachgoing until tomorrow and do the museum today?”

“Of course.” I had no desire to go to the museum, but I didn’t want to be a downer. “But I’m actually lying down at the moment.” I faked a yawn. “Once I got back in the room, I realized how tired I was. I’d love to nap. Why don’t you all go ahead without me?”

“What? No. We can go to the beach and rest as we planned.”

“No, Ingrid, I don’t want to do that anymore either. Please go. I’ll feel less guilty about bailing on you if I knew you at least had something to do.”

“Well, alright. If you’re sure, then.”

I grinned. “I’m sure.”

“You’re an angel, Mel. I’ll call later.”

My suite had access to a beach that wasn’t too bad. After ending the call, I stepped outside my suite and walked nearer to the water’s edge where I settled in a chair, fully clothed in a shirt and leggings.

My heart felt trampled.

I wrapped my arms around myself. Mac had just…left me at the hospital. He hadn’t even called to see if I was okay, and I could not for the life of me understand that reaction.

19

Mac

I sat in the corner of Mimi’s Cabana watching Mel slump over the bar and drink herself silly. Silently, I cursed her for being so careless. After the trip to the ER, you’d think she’d monitor herself a little better. Was this how she always behaved? As though her disease was something to play around with? Good god, she had to know people could die from uncontrolled diabetes.

Every time she ordered another drink, I fumed and fought to keep myself from marching over there and ripping the damn thing out of her hand. To top it off, I hadn’t seen her check her blood sugar level once. If she had, I would have noticed since I was watching her like a hawk.

Was the woman trying to kill herself?

And where the hell was her entourage? Her brother, her cousin, her friend Ingrid, someone should be with her.

My anger was only slightly stronger than my guilt. The light in her eyes had dimmed, and I blamed myself for that. She was sad and drinking herself silly.

Fuck. I cursed her for being careless, but I also cursed myself for being such a dickhead. She didn’t deserve this pain. She was too good to have to deal with the dickheads of the world. Like me.

I kept the brim of my cap low and nursed my vodka tonic.

It killed me to see her hurting, and even more so to know I caused it, but just the thought of us spending twenty years together then having to go through watching her wither and die...

I couldn’t do it. The more bonded we became, the harder it would be. Cutting it off now was best for both of us.

Except, I couldn’t seem to pull myself away from her either. At least not right at the moment. Someone needed to keep an eye on Mel. I had to at least act as her bodyguard for the evening so I could trust she was safe.

When Mel stood abruptly and swiftly left the bar, I threw a few bills down on the table to cover my drink and a decent tip and waited for her to get a head start so she wouldn’t notice she was being followed.

Before her empty glass was removed from the bar, I crossed the room to smell the contents. I wanted to know just what I was dealing with. I sniffed again, deeper this time.

My brow furrowed. I looked up. Mimi was shooting me a knowing glance. “Diet Coke.”

“So she wasn’t drinking alcohol?”

Mimi shook her head. “Not a drop.”

Relieved, I left the bar to see if I could pick up Mel’s trail. She may be sober, and her blood sugar may be within the optimal range, but I still didn’t like the idea of her wandering around the island at night alone. I started to head in the direction of Rise and Shine B&B, but Mel’s scent trail led elsewhere.

Discreetly, I sniffed the air again. I followed her scent down to the water’s edge.

Her clothes were in a pile on the sand.

Oh no… She wasn’t swimming, was she? Dammit, the waves were too rough!

Tension stiffened my body as I scanned the water. My night vision was good, but I didn’t immediately see Mel, which sent a chill down my spine.

The waves were deceiving. They may not look all that big, but they were powerful. Finally, I spotted her wading about waist deep. What the hell was she doing going for a swim? She was too delicate and fragile—AND ALONE!

As though my words had a prophetic effect, I watched a large wave pick up momentum, crest, and crash over Mel’s head. Her cry of alarm was cut short. She was knocked off her feet and dragged under.

I didn’t bother with my clothes. No time. I ran full speed through the sand, then the water, to the spot I’d seen Mel go under. I kicked my legs and moved my arms trying to locate her. I went under, but there was no use trying to see under the water in the darkness. Even my shifter night vision wasn’t helpful. I fought the waves, swimming as much as I could. The current dragged her somewhere, but where? And how far?

A wave knocked me off my feet and then I was under too.

I had the benefit of being shifter-strong and an excellent swimmer, but still it took me too long to get back to the surface. I knew right then and there that I was