Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 7

backwards to avoid collision.
    "Whoa—watch out buddy." The blond man was talking to him. He was pointing behind Shane. He glanced over his shoulder and realized he almost stepped on a young boy who was sitting in the sand, building a sandcastle. Shane looked quickly around for somewhere else to stand. Jaime noticed his confusion and took pity on him.
    "Listen, how about you stand over there for now and help us out by keeping the crowd back while we work."
    Shane nodded and moved toward the small crowd that was beginning to gather. As he asked the people to move back and give the guards room to work he heard Jaime talking softly to the woman, who was just beginning to come round.
    "Shhh, it's okay Ma'am. Try not to move until my friend Rob here checks you out."
    The woman began to cry softly. She was visibly shaken. Jaime reached out to hold her hand while using his other to wipe the sand from her forehead. He kept speaking quietly to her, murmuring comforting words. Shane found himself straining to hear the man's voice above the noise of the surf and the restless crowd. The voice seemed to draw him. He felt its warmth flow over him and something within him responded to the rich tone of Jaime's voice. Shane watched as stormy blue eyes rose to meet his and he swore he felt a jolt of electricity shoot through him, causing him to inadvertently raise his hand and reach out to the other man. For a brief second, Jaime's eyes widened in shock as if he too felt the pull…the need to touch…to connect. The moment was broken by instructions from the other lifeguard.
    "Okay Ma'am how about we try to help you stand up now. Can you do that for us?"
    Quickly Jaime turned his focus back to the woman lying in front of him and Shane felt a chill as if the sun had suddenly gone behind a cloud. He shook his head and silently berated himself for his ridiculous behavior. Get a grip Shane. He's just some guy who you're never going to see again. Stop acting like a fool, mooning over some guy you haven't even met. But the very thought of that happening, of never seeing Jaime again filled Shane with a sudden fierce sense of longing. It wasn't just that Jaime was easy on the eyes, no it was more than that, much more; but if Shane had been forced to put it in words he would have come up empty-handed. There was a connection, something that just felt right when Jaime looked into Shane's eyes.
    The lifeguards helped the woman to her feet and began to walk her down the beach toward the first aid station. Shane stood, rooted to the spot, unable to move. He wanted to say something…anything to make the man come back. Just then, Jaime turned and looked toward the sand where he had just been kneeling. Shane looked down and saw the rescue buoy that had been left behind. Bending down he picked it up and ran the several feet until he came abreast the trio. Breathless from the jog, he held out the buoy toward the guard.
    "Ah man thanks! Ah, do you mind carrying it a bit further for me—my hands are a little full right now." Jaime let out a little chuckle and continued walking, holding up the exhausted woman in his charge. Shane fell into step beside him and marveled at how right, how good it was to be in the other man's presence…to hear his voice. Upon arriving at the station, a nurse came out to take charge of the woman, leading her away. Jaime turned to take the buoy from Shane and thanked him for his help. Shane searched for a way to ask the man if he might like to meet up later for a drink or dinner, but the words seemed to stick in his throat. Disgusted with himself and his cowardice, he began to move away, heading back toward the patio where he'd been sitting before the entire ruckus had begun. He heard Jaime clearing his throat and stopped mid-stride.
    "Hey, thanks for all your help out there."
    Shane slowly turned. "No problem—just doing my civic duty I guess." Doing my civic duty? What the hell am I saying? I sound like an idiot!
    "Well I wish there were more civic minded folks like you. Most people just stand around and gawk during an emergency. It makes our job a hell of a lot harder I can tell you that."
    Shane nodded his head. His mind was racing, frantically trying to tell his stupid mouth to say something, anything! However, before he could string two coherent thoughts together, Jaime was turning and beginning to walk away. Shit, shit, shit. Say something McAllister, anything for god's sake just don't let him get away!
    "Uh, you