Hurricanes in Paradise by Denise Hildreth (web ebook reader .TXT) 📕

college-age kid came to gather them up. “Okay, ladies, we’re going to watch a short instructional video. It will give you all of our safety instructions before entering the lagoon.”

“Safety instructions?” Tamyra asked.

His deep brown eyes caught the stunning beauty and it was clear that he was enamored. A brief swagger hit his step as he walked toward her. “And it tells you a little bit about our dolphins. You’ll love it. I promise. I’ll guide you personally.”

Tamyra zipped up her suit, his personal attention offering her no apparent comfort. The video introduced them to the dolphins, told them some of the history of Dolphin Cay, and then began to go over the dolphin experience. It told them when they would use their masks and snorkels and showed a tourist kissing the dolphins. Riley watched as Tamyra fidgeted oddly in her seat, sweat now dripping down the sides of her temples.

The back door opened, filling the room with sunshine. The instructor had them all stand and divided them into groups. About the time they headed into the aisle to walk out the back door and into the lagoon, Tamyra made her break. She ran straight out the front door and back toward the lockers.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Laine said, no longer trying to be Miss Personality for her other friends. Riley headed out the door after Tamyra, Laine and Winnie on her heels. “Not scared, huh?” Laine announced.

Tamyra ripped wildly at her wet suit. By the time they reached her, she had pulled it from her body. Tears fell rapidly down her cheeks. “I can’t do it, ladies. I’m sorry. I just can’t get in the water.”

Winnie waddled over to her, her arms still extended slightly from her sides. “Baby girl, you should have told us you were this scared. I wouldn’t torture you.”

“It’s just, years ago, I almost died white-water rafting. Ever since then I just haven’t been able to get in water.”

“Do you bathe?” Laine asked.

Riley tossed a furrowed brow in her direction.

“I’m sorry, really. I’m sorry,” Tamyra said, her tears still falling.

“It’s okay, Tamyra,” Riley said, wrapping her arm around Tamyra’s shivering body. “Just come out here and sit and watch us. You’ll at least enjoy seeing the dolphins. I promise. We will not make you get in the water. But we want you to be with us.”

Riley felt her breathing steady, the panic attack lifting. In a few minutes the four of them were headed back out to the lagoon, where their instructors and the other guests waited. They placed Tamyra safely on the sandy beach and the rest of them headed into the water.

Riley, Winnie, and Laine followed the instructors and donned their snorkeling attire. In a few minutes, manned with electronic fins, they were diving underwater right next to some of creation’s most amazing creatures. Winnie giggled like a schoolgirl. Laine was enjoying herself, research or not. Riley had heard Tamyra laughing at them multiple times. And she had to admit she was going to miss this place when Laine finally did tell Max how she had spoken to her.

Back on shore the instructors gave them the how-tos of riding a bodyboard while two dolphins pushed them across the water by their feet. And when it came time to kiss the dolphins and get their pictures made, Riley watched as the cute instructor who had been smitten earlier walked over to Tamyra, who sat on the makeshift beach with her toes buried in the sand.

“They’d love to kiss you, you know.” His Bahamian accent was heavy.

“No thank you,” she said politely.

“I will hold your hand the whole way and you’ll stay in knee-deep water. I promise, you will love it.” He extended his black hand.

She tilted her head slightly. Riley could tell by her expression he almost had her. Tamyra caught Riley’s eye, and Riley lifted her leg to show her how shallow the water really was. “Only right there at the edge.” Tamyra pointed.

He dipped his hand again. “Only right at the edge, beautiful lady.”

She gave a wide smile and reached for his hand. He helped her from the sand and she brushed at the back of her cover-up. Her pace slowed as she neared the edge of the water.

“You’ll love it, sugar,” Winnie said, her wet suit wet and adhering relentlessly.

Tamyra dipped her toes in the water and jerked them back out. “Oh, it’s cold.”

The instructor took her by the elbow and led her farther in. “You’ll get used to it.” He blew his whistle. “What’s your name?”

“Tamyra.”

“Michelle, meet Tamyra.”

A gorgeous dolphin leaped from the water and extended her flipper toward Tamyra, flapping it wildly. Tamyra reached out and tapped her. Then she laughed with the excitement of a child.

He blew his whistle again and two dolphins rose in unison from the water and glided backward across it on their tails as if it were a sea of glass. The women couldn’t help but be amazed. Riley watched her guests as they stared in wonder at the animals. The young man finally got Tamyra to kneel down, and Michelle came right up to her and kissed her. By the time they were through, all four had held Michelle in their arms and had their picture taken. A picture of all four of them. Together.

* * *

As they exited the locker room, hair wet, smiles blaring, Mia rounded the corner. “Hey, I’ve been trying to call you.”

“Sorry, I had to be here with these ladies.” Riley tried not to lay the blame at Laine’s feet.

“Sure, yes. Hello,” Mia said, tossing up a wave.

“Mia, this is Laine Fulton, and I think you’ve met Winnie and Tamyra,” Riley said.

“Yes, a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Fulton,” she said, extending her hand to Laine and shaking it wildly. Her normal manner. “And nice to see you, ladies. Looks like you had a wonderful adventure.”

Winnie rubbed the towel against her short white hair. “Besides having the circulation of most of my body cut off for almost an