Skinny Dipping (42 page)

Sophie screamed, water splashing into her mouth, choking her. Lifting her body with all her might, she thrust her body up, out of the water, nails scratching the side of the ring. She missed. She wasn’t made to be a bloody lifeguard. She had a real water phobia. A fear. What the hell was she doing saving someone’s life? She fell back into the depths, sinking into the Thames.

Sophie’s head sank below the surface and she swallowed a mouthful of water. She clamped her mouth shut; she didn’t want to swallow any more. She’d die from drinking the polluted river water, probably filled with rat’s urine or something equally disgusting. She needed to spit out, or she’d get some type of infection, or virus, and she’d end up in critical condition in the hospital. Not from drowning, but from the filthy, stinking Thames. Dying. Oh God. She was probably already dying, because she was surely sinking, struggling in the Thames.

Surely, someone would rescue them? This wasn’t it, was it, the place she would drown? She wasn’t going to die with her greatest achievement, being Kelly’s rescuer. And how could she be the rescuer if she didn’t actually finish the job?

She still was living, and would have a long and lovely life ahead of her. She propelled herself up, her head thrusting itself above the surface. She spluttered, spat, feeling cold and very anti-river, a polluted river was not the place for recreational swimming.

Suddenly a large hand grabbed her, steadying her. “Just breathe. Sophie, just breathe.” She turned, to see her life-saver. Matthew. “I went back to talk to you and saw you jump off the boat. It’s okay, the boat will rescue us. I’m here if you need me.” He squeezed her hand for reassurance.

Sophie felt a surge of anger, her gaze darting between Matthew and Kelly. “I don’t need you to rescue me. You know perfectly well I can swim because you forced me to learn.” She felt her eyes blaze, her anger suddenly warming her body, moving from the depths where she had hidden her feisty rage that first day when she struck the swimming lesson bargain with Matthew.

“I gave you a choice, I didn’t force you,” he muttered.

Her anger rose from the depths of her thrashing feet, and bubbled out in her voice. “Just because I was the consultant and you were the client, didn’t mean you could simply demand that I face my fear of the water. That was your position of power and you used it against me.”

Matthew looked pale. “So in times like this, you could survive – and you’re doing really well. I thought you’d forgive me after you’d learned.”

She swallowed, realising she was sounding very ungrateful, and looking around saw she was indeed safe with her head above water. She bit her lip. “Thank you for teaching me, you have saved my life and I will be eternally grateful.” She lifted her chin. “Obviously I no longer feel the same amount of fear in the water; as you can see. I’m dealing with it.”

“Well,” he said slowly. “I’m here to help anyway; just in case.”

“Oh, no.” She shook her head vigorously. “No, thank you. I’m absolutely fine to make my own way back to the boat, now that it’s stopped, thank you very much,” Sophie stated, still treading water.

“Sophie, you don’t have to swim back, the boat will turn to find us.”

“I’m not ‘a cause,’ just because one day I might need rescuing.” She felt her face hot, tears springing from the corner of her eyes, rolling down her cheeks. “I’m not someone to convert, someone who needs to love the water just like you do. I’ll never be a mermaid. I’m not a princess. I’m not a bloody prude, either. I’m just a girl, and I like the land and everything that goes on with it. If you liked me, at all, you would have respected me for that, and you would have taken me for what I was, for what I am.” Sophie stretched her arms forward and swam, hiding her face, hot from tears streaming down her face and into the cold water as she did her very best freestyle, heading toward the boat, which hadn’t turned around yet.

She didn’t need Matthew. She would be fine to get back on board. She’d be fine without him.

Chapter 31

The three water adventurers were rescued and safely on board the wrap party vessel, warmed by emergency blankets. Each of them dealt with the Thames swimming experience quite differently. Kelly, couldn’t stop talking, thanking both Matthew and Sophie for saving her. Matthew nodded, smiled. Sophie sat in complete silence.

She refused to look at him. The party had only just started, and would continue for several hours, but Sophie was getting off the boat. She needed to go home, return to the safety of the shore, and escape from Matthew.

Sophie sipped the champagne as the boat turned around, suddenly wanting to get ridiculously drunk.

“Soph, congratulations for being the heroine tonight.” Bradley rushed over to her. “You certainly know how to live your work, don’t you?” How many drinks had he had?

“I’ve always had a passion for…” She paused, she was going to say the water, but who was she kidding. “For adventure.”

He slid onto the bench next to her, draping his arm around her shoulders. “Look, Soph, I’m really sorry about all the pressure this year. I made a hasty decision making you redundant. You’ll forgive me won’t you? I want you back. I should have trusted you to get on with your job, with Barney’s, with the Silver account.” She could smell the alcohol on his breath.

“It’s fine. Honestly, it’s fine.” As she looked at Bradley, she realised even with his God-like features, he was only human.

“Shall we talk about you being reinstated on Monday?”

“Sure,” she nodded.

Kelly approached, and her stomach lurched, thoughts of Matthew floating through her mind.

“Soph,” Kelly said in a meek voice, her lips were more of a normal colour, though still slightly tinged with blue from the chilly water. “I wanted to thank you for jumping overboard and saving me. I was scared out there.” Bradley looked on in approval, then took his leave, wandering to a bunch of women at the other side of the boat.

Sophie nodded. “No problem. You’d have done it, too, if you were in the same position.”

“You are quite a girl.”

Sophie shrugged, looking down to the ground. She didn’t need to be complimented by Kelly.

“I know this might be a little too late and all. I wanted to say, I’m sorry.”

Sophie guffawed. “What for?” Her felt chest tight, her head shot up noticing Matthew watching them. “Sorry, for Matthew liking you? Don’t be silly, that’s life. Men are jerks. I’ve had enough experience with that.”

Kelly frowned, shaking her head. “I don’t know what you think happened with me and Matthew but he’s nothing more to me than a client. He just gave me an idea for my next campaign and... well he’s pretty cute, so I thought I’d make a move. Story over. I didn’t realise you two had a thing going. You go, girl.”

Sophie smiled tightly, realising she’d already given away far too much to Kelly, the girl who’d use anything to sabotage her. She shot a glance in Matthew’s direction. People were talking to him, but he seemed to be in a daze. Although, his gaze was on
them
. No, on
her
.

“Look,” Kelly continued, “what I’m trying to say is..., no one in advertising is ever nice. People are ruthless, step on people’s throats if someone gets in the way, that’s the motto I got taught. I guess you’re not like that, and besides we’re on the same side. So, I’m sorry.”

Sophie swallowed. “It’s all good. Advertising is a hard game. Don’t worry about it.”

“I overheard Bradley giving you your job back. You will come back, right? So we’ll be working together possibly for quite a long time. Maybe we could start again and... maybe you could forgive me and give me a chance?”

Sophie looked at Kelly, and nodded. “Truce?” She extended her hand. What did she have to lose? Kelly was already an enemy. But she was also extremely talented. And if the truce held and they became allies, they’d win loads of work.

“Truce.” Kelly took her hand, shaking it firmly.

***

The boat arrived at the dock, and Sophie smiled politely and took her leave. Matthew followed her onto shore. She walked quickly, trying to get away from him.

“Soph,” he said, softly. “Wait,” he called.

She wouldn’t, she couldn’t. She didn’t feel ready to face him yet. But his legs were longer than hers, and he caught up to her and stepped in front of her, blocking her path. Preventing her from moving. He took her hand, like he’d done so many times in the pool.

“Soph, I care a lot about you. Really. And I don’t think you’re a charity case. I just liked you and wanted to spend some time with you.” He looked at her, searching for a reaction. “I’m sorry if it came out as blackmail. I want to be with you. I don’t love anyone else.”

Sophie bit her lip, squeezed his hand. She looked at the man next to her. Did he just say he loved her in an indirect way?

“Soph, say something, please.”

“I’m sorry for jumping to conclusions.” It was the first thought that ran in her head.

He chuckled, running a hand through his blond hair, the hair she desperately loved. His gaze fell to the ground. “When you were in the water, swimming away from the boat. Swimming to save Kelly – swimming really well mind you – I knew you didn’t need me to rescue you.”

Sophie swallowed. “I probably did; I was just too angry to admit it. But I did mean what I said out there. I will forever be thankful for you teaching me. Your lessons saved my life you know.”

He took her hand in his grasp, his eyes wide and sincere. “When you were out there, I couldn’t not go after you. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you because..., well it’s quite simple really… I love you.”

She knew she loved him, too. She leaned forward and kissed him, even though she knew he should really be the one to make the first move. She felt his lips on hers, his hands behind her head. “I love you, too,” she breathed, feeling a current of desire run though her body. She looked at his face, and felt a sudden and sharp wanting. His dazzling blue eyes and the dimple when he smiled.

“Shall we get out of here?” She moved her gaze, seeing a crowd of people huddled over the rail of the boat, her whole work watching them. Jessica wore a wicked smile on her face and gave her two thumbs up.

“Not soon enough,” he said, resting his head on her forehead. “Miss Mermaid Sophie Smart, I’m coming home with you. Or you’re coming home with me.”

Sophie smiled. There was absolutely, no doubt about it.

“I don’t have to call you a mermaid,” he said, “if you would like me to call you something else, a lioness or something?”

Sophie laughed. “Mermaid is just fine thank you, Mr Matthew Dolphin Silver, and here I was thinking you only liked me in the water?”

“Did you know dolphins like humans, can participate in lengthy foreplay?”

“To think if I knew that before, I would have started swimming earlier.”

***

Sophie found she liked learning further dolphin facts, first-hand. She was especially delighted to discover, her incredible Mr Matthew Dolphin Silver was friendly, attentive and extremely good in bed. There was no choice, when he asked her, nuzzling into her neck. No feasible option, but to simply agree – of course she would move in with him. The sooner, the better.

***

Sophie looked round the flat, walking through the rooms, saying goodbye the each one. Her bedroom floor was lined with packed cardboard boxes, just like the way she’d moved in, all full to the brim with belongings. The triple tower of tea cartons containing books. The suitcases of shoes and crate of sporting equipment she needed to sell online. The boxes all waiting to be moved into her little red Volkswagen Beetle.

Her breathing quickened, she hoped she was doing the right thing, leaving Carol whilst her friend was riding the wave of stardom. Sophie traced the steps back to the kitchen, taking the recent postcard she’d received from her parents on the Mediterranean. Placing the postcard in her cluttered handbag, she knew it was only a matter of time. They would come out of the recession just fine.

The doorbell rang. She took one last look around the house, feeling incredible warmth. She ran to the front door, pulling it open.

“I can’t wait to move out...,” she began, then stopped talking, seeing the same portly policeman she had met once before, although on very different circumstances. Her back stiffened, and she held her breath, wondering what he would say.

“Miss Sophie Smart.”

Oh no, she closed her eyes. “Yes. That’s me.” She opened her eyes, supporting herself on the doorframe, wondering what his news was this time; hoping it wouldn’t be something chaotic.

“I thought it was you. You look a lot different than the last time I saw you. You’re blonde now.”

She flattened the front of her dress. The fabric flowed down beneath her breasts, so much so she could have a Marilyn Monroe moment if a gust of wind blew by. She gave the policeman a sidelong glance, wondering why he was standing there.

“I thought I would drop by as soon as I heard. I saw some excellent news pass my desk.”

She leaned forward, gripping the doorframe. “What’s that?”

“I heard your Dad got a job. I saw the official paperwork. He got the sign off. I came to tell you, just in case, you know, he was holding out on the truth.”

A smile lit up her face, and she leapt from the step and hugged the policeman. “Yes, I know. Thank you, I thought you were going to tell me something bad like last time.” She stepped back, realising she’d overstepped the boundary, again.

The policeman’s cheeks reddened, tipping his hat, waving slightly as he stepped backward toward the street. “Well, good luck with the move Miss Smart.”

“Thanks again,” she said, watching the policeman walk to his car. “Good day to you.”

Standing on the street, she knew she would miss this house in Highbury and Islington.

A figure approached from the very end of the street. Matthew. She wondered how long it would take to get her boxes packed and then in their new house. His car was probably parked a mile up the street.

She ran to meet him, waving to get his attention, then saw she already had it, his gaze fixed on her, his blue eyes brilliant and shining. She threw her arms around his neck. She’d miss the house, but she’d miss Matthew more if she didn’t go.