Delaware Dreamboat - A Spicy Rescue Romance Featuring a Bad-Boy Hero and a Heroine with Amnesia: States of Love

By Ann Omasta and Callie Love

He doesn't want to be the hero of anyone's story…

 

Boat captain Roman Cox fears he's losing his mind when he finds a beautiful mermaid floating in the water, just off the coast of Delaware.

 

Maya Summers is no mermaid, but that's about the only thing she knows for sure.

 

Although Maya can't remember anything about her life or why she is adrift at sea, she senses that she can trust the gorgeous, cranky boat captain who rescues her.

 

But that's a huge mistake.

 

What will happen when the truth comes out? Find out in the reluctant rescuer romance, Delaware Dreamboat.

 

The States of Love books are scorching stories with heat, heart, suspense, and laughter. They feature hunky heroes, strong heroines, seductive instalove, sizzling bedroom scenes, and satisfying happily-ever-after endings. Start anywhere. Binge-read them all. Get lost at sea with Roman and Maya now to satisfy your steamy romance craving.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ann Omasta
• Release date: Aug 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201207021

Ann Omasta

Ann Omasta is a USA Today bestselling author.  Ann’s Top Ten list of likes, dislikes, and oddities: I despise whipped cream. There, I admitted it in writing. Let the ridiculing begin. Even though I have lived as far south as Key Largo, Florida, and as far north as Maine, I landed in the middle. If I don't make a conscious effort not to, I will drink nothing but tea morning, noon, and night. Hot tea, sweet tea, green tea––I love it all. There doesn't seem to be much in life that is better than coming home to a couple of big dogs who are overjoyed to see me. My other family members usually show significantly less enthusiasm about my return. Singing in my bestest, loudest voice does not make my family put on their happy faces. This includes the big, loving dogs referenced above. Yes, I am aware that bestest is not a word. Dorothy was right. There's no place like home. All of the numerous bottles in my shower must be lined up with their labels facing out. It makes me feel a little like Julia Roberts' mean husband from the movie Sleeping with the Enemy, but I can't seem to control this particular quirk. I love, love, love finding a great bargain! Did I mention that I hate whipped cream? It makes my stomach churn to look at it, touch it, smell it, or even think about it. Great––now I'm thinking about it. Ick! ** I would LOVE to send you a free copy of my novella, Aloha, Baby! Visit annomasta.com for details. ** Stay up-to-date on new releases and insider info by liking / following Ann: - Facebook: facebook.com/annomasta - Goodreads: goodreads.com/annomasta - Bookbub: bookbub.com/authors/ann-omasta - Website: annomasta.com

Book preview

1

MAYA

Chilly saltwater splashes onto my face. I flutter my eyelashes open and try to figure out where I am. Nausea overwhelms my system when I sit up too fast on the large buoy. I hold on to the tall beacon’s superstructure and attempt to tamp the sickness down.

The stinging sensation when I try to swallow makes me cringe and lift my free hand to my neck. My throat is so parched, I may as well be stranded in the desert, rather than surrounded by such a vast expanse of water.

When I slowly turn my head from side to side, hoping to spot some land, churning blue-green water greets me in every direction as far as my eyes can see.

My lips are chapped and dry, which makes me wonder how long I’ve been out here. I try to wet them with my swollen tongue, but it doesn’t provide much dampness.

It’s obvious from my body’s state that I’m extremely dehydrated and need to find some fresh drinking water soon.

I can’t imagine how I managed to get into such a dire situation. When I try to remember the circumstances before I woke up out here, my head pounds with pain. My hand moves up from my throat to my forehead and comes away bloody.

Terrific, I mutter when I see the sticky evidence of my head injury. Looking up toward the sky, I add in a scratchy tone, I guess I needed one more thing to deal with, huh?

Although I have no idea who I’m talking to, verbalizing the complaint does make me feel a tiny bit better.

I squint my eyes at the horizon and try to figure out if I should try to swim to safety. Turning from side to side, I realize that I don’t have any idea which way the shore is. Even if I somehow managed to go in the right direction, I wouldn’t be able to make it far in this weakened state. Drowning or being eaten by a huge sea creature with sharp teeth are not items on my bucket list today––or any other day.

My best option is to stay here and hope that a boat comes by to rescue me. Someone must be looking for me, right?

The realization that I don’t even know who would notice I’m missing is jarring. I should be able to think of family or friends who love me, but it makes my head hurt worse when I try to remember.

Perhaps my head injury cleared out some of my memories. I still know how to think in cohesive sentences, and I know that dehydration is very dangerous, but I don’t remember any key details about my life.

Hoping that saying it aloud will prompt my brain to remember, I say in a hoarse tone, My name is…

Nothing. I have no idea what my name is, but I know that I should have one, so I guess that’s something.

It’s depressing to realize that I probably have a full, vibrant life out there somewhere that I know nothing about. While it’s tempting to lie down and allow myself to fall back to sleep, I know that isn’t a good idea with a head injury. Besides, I don’t want to miss any opportunities to flag down passing ships––not that there are any.

Boredom takes over as I stare out at the seemingly endless sea. Somehow, I remember several songs, but singing, or even humming, hurts my throat too much. Trying to recall details of my life makes my head throb, and wondering if I’m going to die out here is terrifying, so I simply sit and stare out at the horizon.

The sun is lowering in the sky, which means nighttime is approaching. My chance of being seen and rescued in the dark is practically zero, and I have no idea how much longer I can survive the harsh elements out here alone. I really need someone to find me now.

I’m not sure what I believe in, but I close my eyes and send a silent message to God, the Universe, or whatever else may be out there listening. I’m stranded. Send someone to help me. I don’t know if I’ve been a good person up until now, but I promise to do my best to be one going forward. Please save me.

After breathing deeply and meditating on those words for several minutes, I almost have myself believing that help is going to magically appear. But when I open my eyes and look around, the only thing that greets me is overwhelming disappointment.

My shoulders slump forward as I stare down into the dark abyss. Quick flashes of silver catch my gaze as a school of fish swims past. The sight of them gives me a surge of hope that I may be able to catch one and eat it, until I deflate with the knowledge that I don’t have anything to use to capture one––other than my bare hands.

I can’t resist reaching down into the water and giving it a try, but I don’t even come close to grabbing a fish. Eventually, I give up and decide that hunger pangs are pretty far down on my list of worries right now.

Bored, tired, and depressed, I lean my head back on the buoy. The thought of spending a cold, dark night out here alone is terrifying, but not as bone-chilling as the realization that I truly might die out here by myself. What a lonely way to go, especially since I can’t seem to even conjure any memories of loved ones to keep me company.

I’m so busy feeling sorry for myself, I almost don’t see it. When I do notice the tiny object off in the distance, I blink several times as I try to figure out if it’s real.

Deciding that whether it’s real or not, it’s my best hope, I stand and begin waving my arm in a wide arc. The wait seems interminable.

I’m not sure if it’s true or just wishful thinking on my part, but the small blob seems to be getting bigger. It’s still too far off to hear me, but I can’t stop myself from yelling, Help!

Unfortunately, my dry throat keeps my voice from working right and my big yell comes out more like a scratchy plea. I frantically search the buoy for some type of bell I can ring or light I can use to attract attention, but come up dry.

Instead, I climb as high as I dare and wave my arm as wide as I can.

For the first time since waking up, luck seems to be on my side. Sweet relief surges through my system when the object moves close enough for me to see that it’s definitely a boat. I continue waving, since there’s no way I’m allowing this almost unbelievable opportunity to pass me by.

As the fishing boat pulls alongside the buoy, I scramble down to the platform and easily catch the life preserver ring tossed my way.

Hold onto that and jump in the water. I’ll pull you to safety, the boat captain yells across to me.

I’m mesmerized by the gruff voice and the impossibly handsome man it belongs to.

When I remain frozen in place, he yells across the water to me, Are you strong enough to hold on while I pull you in?

I nod frantically, not wanting him to leave me here while he goes to get better-equipped assistance. I’m frightened to leave my buoy of safety, but decide that there’s no way in hell I’m missing this rescue opportunity. I clutch the float, squeeze my eyes closed, and jump into the cold, churning water.

The man shows impressive strength as he pulls the rope in and I sail across the water. In a flash, he helps me climb aboard the boat and wraps a warm towel around