settled back on its original course.
Sirena flung herself into Den’s arms, tears rolling down her face. “They saw us. They saw us!” He found himself choking up, too, and when Mike slapped him on the back, he could see the emotion in the big man’s dark eyes.
* * * * *
It seemed forever, but it was only hours before a boat made its way to the island and weighed anchor a ways offshore. It didn’t take long before a small boat was jetting their way with a woman at the helm. The three castaways were laughing and crying as the small boat pulled up to the shore.
Sirena’s stomach wouldn’t stop flip-flopping and she almost couldn’t stop the tears as they stood on the boat. Den had his arms around her shoulders and she leaned against him, so glad for the comfort of his embrace.
On the specially equipped emergency boat, they’d been examined for injuries by a doctor, and a psychologist had assessed their mental health. Both the doctor and the psychologist had been concerned about her amnesia, and suggested that she be examined by doctors and psychologists on the mainland. Both confirmed that yes, her memory loss had to be due to some kind of mental trauma in her life, not physical, and hoped that her memories would come back to her soon.
Once they were checked over, they’d been given enough food and water to satisfy them for the moment. Sirena hadn’t realized just how much thinner they all looked a week after being castaway on that remote island. They’d hoarded their food, and she was certain the men ate far less than was normal for them.
It turned out that the closest island was The Playground Resort. The boat’s captain radioed ahead that they were bringing in three castaways who had been on the missing yacht headed for The Playground last week.
When they finally reached the island, exited the boat down the gangplank and then walked up the pier, Sirena’s heart was beating like crazy. She held tight to Den’s hand. She’d been headed to this island—what if a part of her life was here, too?
As Sirena stepped onto the exotic grounds of The Playground, she could have dropped to her knees in thankfulness. They were truly saved. She almost couldn’t believe it.
She felt grubby, tired, and definitely underdressed in her shorts, button-up shirt and bare feet.
Den draped his arm around her shoulders while they walked up a stone path through rich jungle vegetation, beautiful flowers and thick green grass. They finally reached the commanding entryway of the resort. The front had thick columns of natural stone, large panes of glass and was surrounded by tropical plants.
He squeezed her close and kissed the top of her head. “We’ll get cleaned up and order room service—and sleep on a real bed.”
Sirena couldn’t help but grin up at him. “Room service and a soft, comfortable mattress would be heaven.”
A woman’s shriek startled Sirena and her gaze cut from Den’s to the doors of The Playground. A woman was standing at the entrance, one hand clasped over her mouth, her brown eyes big and round.
The woman dropped her hand and took a step forward. “Katie? Oh, my God. Katie, it’s you!” Sirena went still as the woman flew toward her and wrapped her arms around her, virtually pushing Den away. “You’re safe. You’re here. You survived.” When she drew away there were tears in her eyes. “I thought you were lost with the rest. All they found was some wreckage, but no survivors. But you’re here, you’re real.” She hugged Sirena again, squeezing her so tight that she could barely breathe.
But her mind was whirling. Katie? Her name was Katie? Who was this woman? Why couldn’t she remember her? Why wasn’t her face familiar?
“Jenise.” Den’s voice cut through the woman’s babble, and brought her attention to him.
“Den?” The woman called Jenise looked up and flung her arms around him. “I’m so happy you’re safe! She looked to Mike and went to him next. “I
Sirena flung herself into Den’s arms, tears rolling down her face. “They saw us. They saw us!” He found himself choking up, too, and when Mike slapped him on the back, he could see the emotion in the big man’s dark eyes.
* * * * *
It seemed forever, but it was only hours before a boat made its way to the island and weighed anchor a ways offshore. It didn’t take long before a small boat was jetting their way with a woman at the helm. The three castaways were laughing and crying as the small boat pulled up to the shore.
Sirena’s stomach wouldn’t stop flip-flopping and she almost couldn’t stop the tears as they stood on the boat. Den had his arms around her shoulders and she leaned against him, so glad for the comfort of his embrace.
On the specially equipped emergency boat, they’d been examined for injuries by a doctor, and a psychologist had assessed their mental health. Both the doctor and the psychologist had been concerned about her amnesia, and suggested that she be examined by doctors and psychologists on the mainland. Both confirmed that yes, her memory loss had to be due to some kind of mental trauma in her life, not physical, and hoped that her memories would come back to her soon.
Once they were checked over, they’d been given enough food and water to satisfy them for the moment. Sirena hadn’t realized just how much thinner they all looked a week after being castaway on that remote island. They’d hoarded their food, and she was certain the men ate far less than was normal for them.
It turned out that the closest island was The Playground Resort. The boat’s captain radioed ahead that they were bringing in three castaways who had been on the missing yacht headed for The Playground last week.
When they finally reached the island, exited the boat down the gangplank and then walked up the pier, Sirena’s heart was beating like crazy. She held tight to Den’s hand. She’d been headed to this island—what if a part of her life was here, too?
As Sirena stepped onto the exotic grounds of The Playground, she could have dropped to her knees in thankfulness. They were truly saved. She almost couldn’t believe it.
She felt grubby, tired, and definitely underdressed in her shorts, button-up shirt and bare feet.
Den draped his arm around her shoulders while they walked up a stone path through rich jungle vegetation, beautiful flowers and thick green grass. They finally reached the commanding entryway of the resort. The front had thick columns of natural stone, large panes of glass and was surrounded by tropical plants.
He squeezed her close and kissed the top of her head. “We’ll get cleaned up and order room service—and sleep on a real bed.”
Sirena couldn’t help but grin up at him. “Room service and a soft, comfortable mattress would be heaven.”
A woman’s shriek startled Sirena and her gaze cut from Den’s to the doors of The Playground. A woman was standing at the entrance, one hand clasped over her mouth, her brown eyes big and round.
The woman dropped her hand and took a step forward. “Katie? Oh, my God. Katie, it’s you!” Sirena went still as the woman flew toward her and wrapped her arms around her, virtually pushing Den away. “You’re safe. You’re here. You survived.” When she drew away there were tears in her eyes. “I thought you were lost with the rest. All they found was some wreckage, but no survivors. But you’re here, you’re real.” She hugged Sirena again, squeezing her so tight that she could barely breathe.
But her mind was whirling. Katie? Her name was Katie? Who was this woman? Why couldn’t she remember her? Why wasn’t her face familiar?
“Jenise.” Den’s voice cut through the woman’s babble, and brought her attention to him.
“Den?” The woman called Jenise looked up and flung her arms around him. “I’m so happy you’re safe! She looked to Mike and went to him next. “I
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