He stepped closer. “So I’ve gathered.”
Her hand settled on the center of his chest with just enough pressure to keep him at bay, but he knew her secret—knew it was nervousness prompting her to erect the barrier and not disinterest. He left her hand where it was. She’d remove it when she was ready. She swallowed hard. “I suppose you want to know why I’ve never kissed or been kissed.”
“Honestly? At the moment, I don’t particularly care.”
“You—you don’t?”
Stammering? She never stammered. His fingers lightly traced a slow journey up her other arm. “We can talk about it later if you want. Did you watch the video?”
“Twice.”
He lifted his other hand to brush the hollow of her throat. “Along with a few others, I’d guess.”
She stilled, then swayed infinitesimally closer. “I’m… studious by nature.”
“So am I.” Gently grasping her shoulder, he left his thumb at the base of her throat and let his index finger slide upward until it rested against her pulse point. Her heart pounded beneath his touch, drumming steadily and fast. For him. Finally.
Without an instant of hesitation, he leaned down and kissed her. As far as kisses went, he kept it soft and sweet, but short. Hopefully, instructive.
Her dark lashes pressed against her cheeks as though she was savoring the kiss, then they lifted to reveal intense turquoise eyes. “That was nice.”
Nice ranked a little higher than fine. He kept his voice low. “It’ll be even better if you help. Don’t be afraid to respond. Instinct will take over.”
“Instinct,” she echoed thoughtfully as if studying for a test which was probably not the best way to start a kiss. Nevertheless, she shifted closer, her chin lifted slightly. “Ok. Ready.”
Ready? The woman was as tense as a main sail rope. Fighting a smile, he lowered his head, but didn’t kiss her yet. Instead, he let his lips hover, brushing and teasing hers. The more she wanted it, the less she’d be in her head. He didn’t want her wondering how well she was doing and tensing up.
Her grip on his arms tightened. Longing filled her voice. “Ian.”
Much better. He kissed her again, tasting his name still on her lips. She responded without hesitation. Her confidence grew with the next kiss making it sweeter and more intense. Sliding his fingers into her hair, he tilted her head back for one last, lingering kiss. Suddenly, an alarm blared through the kitchen.
They startled apart. Spinning toward the sound, Ian stared at the flames that undulated nearly a foot high from the forgotten pan on the stove. Ava gasped. His arm shot out to bar her progress as she tried to step forward. “Stay back. It’s a grease fire.”
He slid his hand into an oven mitt, then grabbed a large skillet. Staying as far back as possible, he laid it on top of the smaller pan and turned the burner completely off. Smoke seeped upward from the smothered flame.
Ava gave the stove a wide birth as she slid past him into the hallway. A moment later, the screeching smoke alarm mercifully went silent. She stepped back into the kitchen and slid the window open over the kitchen sink. Grabbing a towel, she began fanning the smoke toward the window. “Um, Ian, we almost burned down the house.”
He cleared his throat. “Would you say we’ve officially reached ‘call the fire department’ level chemistry?”
Her eyes widened. A laugh escaped her. “Absolutely.”
“I hate to say I told you so, but…” Lifting an eyebrow, he shrugged.
“Not bad for a first timer, huh?”
Catching a hint of vulnerability in her voice, his gaze automatically strayed to her lips. “Not bad at all.”
She coughed. “We aren’t actually going to have to call the fire department, are we?”
“Most likely not.” He eyed the stream of smoke still seeping from the pan as he set the oven mitt aside. “I’m going to wait until it stops smoking, then pour some baking soda over it if we have any.”
She immediately started opening the cabinets to try to find some. “What were you cooking?”
“Bananas foster for the crepes.”
“I bet it would have been delicious.” She placed the box of baking soda on the counter near the stove. “I think I saw some maple syrup in the fridge. We can use that instead. Oh, and I can slice up some fresh bananas and strawberries to go with it.”
“Sounds good.”
She pulled the strawberries out of the refrigerator and rinsed them in the sink. “What did you have in mind for our lazy day?”
He hesitated, then wiped his watery eyes on a paper towel. “Do you like surprises?”
“Yes.”
“It’s a surprise.” He frowned when her laugh abruptly turned into a cough. “We need to get some fresh air.”
“Are you sure it’s safe to leave the pan unattended?”
“I’ll make sure it’s out. You go. Give me a few minutes, and I’ll join you.” She still seemed ready to protest, so he gathered the place settings from the table. “At least, take these out to the deck. We can eat out there.”
That kept her busy for about a minute—long enough for him to dump an excessive amount of baking soda on the no-longer-smoking pan and place the larger pan on top of it again. He sent her outside with the orange juice and a pair of drinking glasses while he sliced the strawberries and bananas. Finally, he was able to meet her outside with the fruit. “Crisis averted. I think we may need to replace the frying pan for the rental though. Hide the evidence.”
“Good idea.” Turning from the vista, she gestured toward her outfit. “Is this appropriate for whatever you have planned?”
He’d already seen her outfit, but he let his gaze wander from her V-neck top to her brown sandals, anyway. “I’m not sure you’d be completely comfortable in a skirt.”
“I have shorts on under it and a swimsuit.”
“That should work.”
“Hmm,” she murmured as she claimed the seat across from him and affected an accent he couldn’t quite place. “Very interesting.”
“Are you trying to figure out the surprise?”
She claimed a crepe and spooned some fruit onto it. “Isn’t that half the fun?”
“You’re one of those people, aren’t you? The kind that shakes the presents under the Christmas tree to figure out what’s in it?”
She blushed. “Not anymore.”
“Uh oh. What happened?”
“My mother unwrapped a rather expensive Tiffany’s vase one year that was mysteriously broken.”
“Oh, no. Did you fess up?”
“I didn’t have the nerve.” For a moment, the memory seemed to hold her captive. A hint of worry furrowed her brow before she smiled again. “So… tell me more about this surprise.”
R
Pure unadulterated bliss.
Ava couldn’t help releasing a relaxed sigh as the massage therapist applied a final light stroke to her shoulders before covering her bare back with a warm blanket. The woman’s calm voice drifted to Ava over the calming spa music. “Drink plenty of water for the rest of the day to flush out the toxins we’ve released through the massage. Avoid sunbathing as the massage oil may make you burn more easily. Avoid strenuous exercise so that your muscles can continue to relax. Ok?”
“Ok,” she murmured.
“Take your time getting up and dressed. Your bill has already been paid in full including my tip so no need to stop by the desk on the way out. Have a wonderful day, Angel.”
She barely held back a laugh at the name Ian had made the reservation under. “Thank you, Greta. You too.”
The door closed with a clicked, leaving Ava alone and more relaxed than she’d been since the night in “St. Augustine” when she’d slipped away from camp to join Ian on the beach. She hadn’t known then how much he would come to mean to her. All right, maybe she’d had a sneaking suspicion, but she’d been too pragmatic to seriously entertain the thought.
All the research she’d done last night and the short refresher course she’d done this morning seemed to have abandoned her the second she’d spotted the Jeep pulling into her driveway. In her haste to avoid a good morning kiss, she’d foolishly left the video open on her phone when she’d fled into the shower. She’d been absolutely mortified to find him watching the video, yet she couldn’t say she was sorry. At all.
Suddenly eager to see him again, she forced herself to ease away from the warm massage table. She tensed, then glanced around until she spotted her clothes right where she’d left them. Relieved, she dressed quickly and stepped into the Caribbean sunshine a few moments later.
Inspired by the ruins of the old Danish sugar mills on the island, Mongoose Junction shopping center had become one of her favorite places on the island since they’d first shopped here for her swimsuits. Red brick paved the walkways that wound through the rainforest along paths made of sweeping stone staircases, hidden courtyards, and fountains. Ian was exactly where he’d said he would be, sitting on a stone bench in one the alcoves nearby.
He caught sight of her and stood, setting the magazine he’d been reading aside. “How was it?”
“It was amazing. Even better than the healing waters back in the indigenous village because these folks didn’t take my clothes.”
His lips curved into a grin. “That’s always a plus.”
“My hands aren’t nearly as rough now.” She held out her hands between them. “Feel. Better, right?”
He took her hands in both of his. Lifting one, he brushed a kiss across the back of her hand. She stilled. Breathlessly, she watched him set her other palm against his cheek. Turning into her touch, he placed a soft kiss at the base of her wrist.
He lowered them again to peer down at the manicured shell-pink nails, murmuring, “Very nice.”
“Thank you.” Her voice came out as little more than a whisper. Gathering her wits, she began again, “My…”
His gaze captured hers again. His eyes were so blue. How had she not noticed it before? Well, she had, but the shade seemed to change every now and then. Right now, they were a darker blue. Gorgeous.
“Your…?”
“My shoulders. They don’t have knots in them anymore.”
Concern furrowed his brow. Stepping closer, his hands mimicked the therapist’s, gently circling around her shoulders, then down either side of her spine. “Did it hurt?”
“Not really.” Her hands landed on his chest. The warm press of his hands against her back eased her closer. “Thank you for arranging this. It was incredibly thoughtful.”
“You’re incredibly welcome.” His lips pressed against hers in a fleeting kiss. “Are you ready for our picnic?”
Her breath caught in her throat. “We’re going on a picnic?”
They were. He had it all planned out like a date. It was a date. An honest to goodness date. Not a charity event or a campaign function, but a planned-out-because-he-cared-about-her real date.
A short drive later, he led her down a faint but relatively easy trail through the rainforest. A large stone had split in two, forming the final landmark before they stepped through the palms into a hidden cove. Choosing a spot beneath the canopy of palm trees, Ava helped him spread the blue picnic blanket onto the white sand. “How in the world did you find this place? It’s so secluded.”
“I asked a local. Here,” he said, offering his hand to assist her. “Sit down and relax. I’ll handle the rest.”
Tucking her legs to the side, she smoothed her skirt over them. She glanced out at the view of the ocean. However, she much more preferred to watch Ian as he set the “table” with white china plates, silverware, and drinking glasses. Once he was finished, he glanced at up for her approval. She smiled. “It’s perfect.”
He settled on his knees catty-corner to her and opened the picnic basket with a dramatic flourish that made her laugh. He shot her a grin before clearing his throat and affecting a very serious mien. “On the menu today, madam, we have Caribbean-style tacos.”
She lifted a brow. “Sounds intriguing.”
“For your pleasure, we have several different options to choose from.” He reached inside the picnic basket to pull out a foil-wrapped taco. “Steak with black beans, pico de gallo, corn, and wasabi sprouts.”
One by one, he placed the rest of the tacos on the blanket. “Fresh-caught pescado with jalapeño, mango, and arugula. Finally, jerk pork and… I’m not sure what else, but I must warn you the pork is quite spicy. I bought two of each flavor. All the packages look the same, so I’m also not sure which is which.”
“Nothing wrong with a little mystery.”
“Good. Don’t be afraid to doctor them if there’s something on there you don’t like.” He pulled a salad from the mini-cooler. “The same goes for the salad. It has lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and mandarin oranges. For dessert, we have pineapple upside down cupcakes drizzled with caramel sauce. There’s water or sparkling strawberry lemonade if you’re thirsty. Bon appetite.”
Ava rubbed her hands together. “It sounds wonderful. I can’t wait to try everything.”
“Then let’s eat.”
They said a quick grace before they each took a portion of the salad. Soon they sorted through the tacos, trying the different flavors until they each settled on the ones they liked best. One bite of the pineapple and caramel cupcake left her shaking her head. “Everything is so delicious, Ian.”
“Thanks.” He winked. “I ordered it all myself.”
She laughed. “Very impressive. Speaking of impressive… It was so cool watching you snorkel yesterday. You were definitely in your element. I felt like I was seeing you in your office or something.”
He sent her a grin. “Thank you, but you were supposed to be watching the marine life.”
“I saw plenty of that too.” Ignoring the way her cheeks warmed, she continued, “I can’t believe you get to work in the ocean every day.”
“Where I work isn’t always that colorful or lively—especially on construction dives. Marine life tends to steer clear of you when the welding torch comes out and the sparks start flying.”
Her eyes widened. “You weld underwater? That sounds amazing… and dangerous.”
“It can be, but safety is always the first priority. Don’t get me wrong. Those types of jobs are fun and challenging in their own way, but I much prefer diving on archaeological sites like the Mariposa.”
“Really? Why is that?”
“The feeling of discovery, of seeing something so few others ever get the chance to and becoming a part of its story. It’s riveting and intriguing.” He glanced toward the ocean as though he could see beneath the surface to mysteries undiscovered. “It isn’t like studying ruins on land where the elements degrade everything so quickly over time. Underwater sites can be preserved by the very thing that tried to destroy it. The wreckage becomes a time capsule of one specific moment in history. Something both tragic and beautiful…”
Speechless, she watched as he stopped himself. He met her gaze and gave a self-conscious shrug. Before he could issue the apology, she sensed was coming. She placed a stilling hand on his arm. “I thought you were a diver.”
He frowned in confusion. “I am a diver. Diving is a big part of my job.”
“But, it isn’t all you do?”
“Of course not.”
She tilted her head. “Ian, what is your occupation?”
A hint of confusion filled his voice as if he wasn’t sure why she was asking. “I’m a maritime archaeologist.”
She froze. Blinked. Setting her cupcake aside, she pressed the
back of her hand to her forehead. Ever so gracefully, she closed her eyes and slumped sideways onto the picnic blanket.
Waves crashed upon the shore in the silence that followed. Ian cleared his throat. “Um, Ava, did you just… swoon?”
“I’m afraid so.” She waved him away. “I need a minute to regain my faculties.”
He rather unsuccessfully stifled a laugh. “Ok.”
She watched through her lashes as he stacked the dinnerware into a plastic bag and tied it up. Once it was tucked back in the picnic basket, he moved toward her. She clenched her eyes closed. His finger gently tapped her nose, forcing her to blink and look up at him. He sat in front of her, but his arms were braced on either side of her. “Talk to me.”
“It isn’t fair. You keep getting more attractive.”
He may have managed not to laugh, but he couldn’t seem to reign in his amused smile. “I’m more attractive because you found out I’m a maritime archaeologist?”
“It isn’t the job so much as what it implies about who you are and what you value and all the interests we must have in common.” She lightly swatted his arm. “How could you not have told me this already?”
“Clearly, I should have. I assumed you knew.” His gaze drifted to her lips, but he could forget about kissing her until she got some answer. His eyes met hers again. “Are you sure I didn’t tell you before now?”
Sitting upright, she gave him a censoring look. “I think I’d remembered if my boyfriend told me he was an underwater Indiana Jones.”
“Ok, I never said—”
She caught her breath as a new thought occurred to her. “You found the Mariposa. You didn’t just dive on it.”
“Well, yeah. I’d been searching for it since I was a teenager.” He tilted his head. “What was your dissertation about?”
“The Underground Railroad.”
Interest flared in his eyes. “Really?”
“Don’t change the subject.” She shifted backward again, then lifted her chin. “How did you end up where you are now career-wise? The long version, please.”
Beyond the Tide Page 24