When the flapping of the wings stopped, Brianna realized everything around her had changed. The bitter taste of salt lined her lips and a wistful breeze blew along her hair. She stepped forward and her bare feet sank into warm, velvety sand. Using her hand as a shield from the sun, she found miles of blue-green water all around her. White foam tumbled along the toffee colored sand and then slunk back as if pulled by a magnetic force.

Off to her right she saw a small boat that looked like it had washed up on shore recently. The waves lapped at the sides, rocking it gently. Gulls noisily squawked overhead. A broken paddle hung from the side of the boat, tangled in a mess of seaweed. Cautiously she walked closer. When she peered in, she gasped. A body lay still, arms limp at the sides. Dark ringlets framed a handsome male face set in a peaceful repose. A thin layer of stubble surrounded his slender, pale lips. The white shirt he wore was torn in several places and showed off a nice, strong chest with minimal hair. Her lungs tightened. She hoped he was asleep and not dead.

Brianna knelt to stir him when his eyes flashed open. Deep jade green eyes surrounded by long lashes, thickened by droplets of water. He gazed at her, unmoving.

She scrambled to think up something interesting to say, but her mind blanked. “Uh, hello, sir. Are you hurt?”

His lips curled into an animated grin. “Not now. I should bump my head more often.”

He had a deep, whiskey-laced voice. Such a tuneful sound to her ears. “Why is that?”

“If it’s the only way to meet a beautiful goddess such as yourself, then bumping my head can’t be all bad.”

Brianna’s face burned with heat. She wasn’t used to compliments from a man. “I’m flattered.” She stood and held out her hands, palms up. “Let me help you up.”

The stranger clasped his hands around hers. They were unusually warm. He groaned as he stood and brushed himself off. Brianna tried hard to not stare at him but caught a quick glimpse below his belt. The stranger stretched his arms high and then rested his gaze on her.

Small talk was never her thing but her curiosity was piqued. “How did you get here?”

“Fate?”

Brianna laughed. “No, I’m serious.”

“Ah, you want some tragic story where I fought off a great white shark and a giant squid with my bare hands?”

She liked his sense of humor and couldn’t help but laugh.

“Only if that’s what really happened.”