Tally lost her grip on Cash’s hand the minute she hit the water. Disoriented, she began to panic. This was a mistake. She couldn’t breathe. Bubbles from the oxygen distorted her view, and as her survival instinct kicked in, she swam for the surface.

She hadn’t got far when Cash gripped her shoulders. She forced herself to concentrate on his face. He pointed two fingers at his eyes then at hers. Tally focused on him, and gradually, her heartbeat began to slow down. Adam made a hand signal to Cash, who replied by making an O sign with his finger and thumb. Good. Cash thought she was okay. She didn’t want to spoil this for him. He was so keen for her to experience diving, and after the brief view of what the ocean had to offer while she’d been snorkelling, she was too.

Flanked by the two men, Tally sank deeper into the ocean, holding tight to Cash’s hand. Gazing at what had previously been hidden from view, she forgot she was scared. She forgot she was breathing air from a tank, and she forgot her concerns about not being able to touch the floor. Fear dissipated as the ocean sprang to life, teeming with colour. A shoal of tiny yellow fish with blue flashes on their scales swam past her. They brushed against her body, her hands, her face, and if she could have yelled with pleasure, she would have.

Adam pointed at a coral reef, and they swam towards it. As she got closer and the world opened up around her, adrenaline surged through her body. The coral was the most stunning thing she’d ever seen. Multicoloured, vibrant, and alive, the reef was home to hundreds of species of fish and marine life. Tally’s eyes widened as she tried to take it all in, knowing without doubt this was the best thing she’d ever done in her life. Letting go of Cash’s hand, she gave him the signal that she was okay. She swam off on her own, suddenly needing the space. Wonderment and awe slammed into her, and tears welled up behind the mask.

She could stay down here forever. It would be easy to forget the world above—a chaotic, difficult, and sometimes cruel world. Underwater, peace and tranquillity reigned, the silence only interrupted by the sound of her breathing.

She held her arms out wide, the only way she could think of to communicate to Cash how overwhelmed she was. Thank God she’d found the courage to do this. He put his thumbs up and swam across to her. Adam must have realised she was doing fine because he gave them the space to explore together, but when he sought them out and pointed to his oxygen tank, Tally knew their time was up. She rammed down disappointment, assuring herself they would do this again. And again. And again.

The three of them surfaced simultaneously, and Tally dragged off her mask and pulled her regulator from her mouth. She couldn’t speak. Her mind was overflowing with the things she’d seen, the feelings she’d experienced.

“Well?” Cash said.

“Oh my God.” She swatted his arm. “Why didn’t you tell me it would be like that? Amazing. I… I can’t find the right words. It’s another world. When can we do it again?”

Cash gazed at her steadily. His grin, when it came, was slow and wide. “Anytime you want, baby.”

On the way back to the island, Tally stared out to sea, trying to organise her feelings. Her legs were weak, and tears pricked behind her eyes at the overwhelming experience of her first dive. Cash and Adam were thoughtful enough to leave her alone and chat amongst themselves.

When they docked, she shook Adam’s hand warmly. “Thank you for all of your help. I don’t think I would have plucked up the courage if it hadn’t been for you.”

“That’s what I’m here for,” he said. “I knew you’d do it.”

“Then you knew more than I did.”

Adam smiled. “Let me know if you want to go out again. I’d be more than happy to take you.”

“I think we’ll be making that call,” Cash said.

He placed his hand in the small of Tally’s back, and they headed back up the trail to the villa. Tally’s legs refused to hold her up properly. Exhausted, she sank into the first chair she saw, which happened to be beside the pool.

“Don’t be surprised if you’re tired,” Cash said. “It’s the adrenaline. Are you hungry?”

“Starving.”

“I’ll have a plate of sandwiches brought up, then you can get some sleep.”

“How come you’re fine?”

“It wasn’t my first time.”

“I’m not fit enough,” she said with a groan, leaning back in the chair. “I need to exercise more.”

“You are fit,” Cash said, cupping her breasts from behind. “And if you want more exercise, I have just the thing in mind.”

She giggled and pushed his hands away. “I need food.”

Cash picked up the phone. “You shouldn’t exercise on a full stomach.”

“Thank you, ace,” she said as happiness washed over her.

“What for?”

“The best time of my life.”