After the Fall A Leap into a Stranger's Arms novel Chapter 1

The sea was icy, so cold it felt like needles under her skin.

Catherine fought to keep her head above water. “Help... help me,” she whispered, her voice barely carrying across the waves. Through her blurry vision, she saw the luxury yacht only a dozen meters away, its lights blazing, the deck crowded with frantic shadows.

Just minutes ago, she’d been on that same yacht, celebrating her engagement to Waldo. Her half-sister Shirley had smiled sweetly, looping her arm through Catherine’s and suggesting they step outside to enjoy the view. Catherine never saw it coming when Shirley suddenly shoved her into the dark water.

In her panic, Catherine had grabbed Shirley and pulled her in too.

A minute ago, Waldo had jumped into the sea. Catherine thought he was coming to save her.

But reality hit harder than the cold. Waldo didn’t even look her way. He swam straight for Shirley, holding her up and dragging her toward a lifeboat.

Catherine flailed, the freezing water biting into her skin. Her heart felt even colder. Despair weighed her down, and she felt herself slipping beneath the surface.

No. She couldn’t give up. Was she really going to die here, at her own engagement party?

As the darkness closed in and her consciousness started to fade, she heard a splash nearby.

Someone else had jumped in.

Catherine met his gaze. Something wild and reckless surged up inside her. She took a shaky breath, pushed down her pain, and looked him straight in the eyes. “Hey. Are you single?”

Everything went dead quiet. Waldo stopped comforting Shirley and stared at her, stunned.

The man looked surprised too. For a second, something flickered in his eyes. Then he nodded.

Catherine pulled the blanket tighter around herself and stood up, her back straight. She managed a small, serious smile. “Hi. I’m Catherine. I’m twenty-four, single, healthy, and I don’t have any bad habits.” She paused, making sure every word was clear. “Would you be my boyfriend?”

“Catherine, are you out of your mind?” Waldo finally found his voice, his face pale. “Come here. I can explain.”