Love, Lattes and Mutants

by Sandra Cox

  “You are so full of yourself,” I say angrily and stomp away, knowing he’s right. He’s not full of himself and my body does want him. Damn teenage hormones.

  He catches up with me in two long easy strides. “Don’t mind me. I’m just in a bad mood because you left me with Barbie the Man Eater back there.”

  I giggle. He grins back. “The only thing I’ve got to grumble about is I’m going with the hottest babe in school and absolutely no one knows about it.”

  We reach my truck before I realize it. I grab for the door, but in one quick movement, he’s pinned me. I take a quick look around but the lot is empty.

  “But there is an upside to that.” He traps my body against the truck, his arms on either side of my head, his lips close to mine.

  The fear of being seen fades. We aren’t visible from this side of the truck, I rationalize. As his body presses against mine, I go limp. “What’s that?”

  He pulls off my glasses. His warm breath fans my face. I breathe in chocolate and coffee.

  “I’ve got a clear playing field without having to fight off a few hundred males with raging testosterone.”

  “Well that’s good, since one’s all I can handle,” I manage to get out before his lips close over mine. His warm mouth moves persuasively, his tongue slides between my teeth and does a dance with mine. His hard body presses against me.

  I slide my arms around his waist, tightening my grip, pressing back. The kiss escalates, his hands move from the truck to slide down my body, scalding me wherever they touch.

  Slowly, reluctantly, he pulls away, gasping.

  My breasts heave. Everything’s spinning.

  With a lopsided grin, he hands me my glasses. I start to put them on upside down and catch them before they fall off my face. He laughs, takes them from me, and places them carefully on my face.

  “Like I said, the hottest girl in school.”

  I look down at my shapeless clothes and shake my head.

  He grins. “I know what’s under them. Actually, I find it rather titillating.” His cell phone rings. He pulls it out, still watching me. “Yeah, Mom. On my way.”

  “Supper’s ready. Mom’s calling to remind me she’s fixed my favorite.”

  “And that would be?” My breath is now under control.

  “Spaghetti. Better go.” He kisses me on the nose and walks to his car.

  I get in my truck and slam the door. There’s just no quiet way to close Beulah’s doors. Tyler starts his car. I follow him out.

  As I pull out of the lot, I glance across the street. That’s when I see Fahrenbacher’s car.

  Chapter 19

  “Damn it.” I hit the steering wheel with the side of my fist. Acid spurts in my stomach. Of all the people I didn’t want to see that kiss, Fahrenbacher heads the list. “Maybe he didn’t see us,” I console myself. But my luck doesn’t run that way. Of course he saw us. I continue to mutter the rest of the way home then paste on a smile so Gramps won’t know I’m upset.

  I need not have bothered. Gramps has bigger fish to fry.

  “Are you going out again tonight to see if the dolphin hunters are out there?” is his opening gambit over dinner.

  “I’ve got to check it out. They could have captured one of my relatives,” I mumble around a huge bite of mac and cheese.

  “I don’t like it. Thinking of you ending up in one of those labs turns my hair gray.”

  “Your hair is already gray,” I point out helpfully, swallowing the rest of my cheesy macaroni.

  “Smart mouth,” he grumbles. “I might as well try to stop the wind from blowing as to try to talk you out of something you’ve got your mind set on. Your mom was the same way.” I notice the stains under his eyes and the sallowness of his skin.

  “Are you feeling okay?”

  “Don’t try to change the subject, missy.”

  I reach over and clasp his hand, rough and warm in mine. “The last thing in the world I want to do is cause you worry. If you want me to stay at home, I will.” I have to force the words out. It will kill me if something happens to the dolphins that I could prevent.

  Gramps gives me a long look then sighs. His shoulders slump. He knows it. “I can’t ask you to be less than you are.” He straightens and gives a determined grin.

  “But I can do my best to keep you safe.” He pushes away from the table, walks out of the kitchen, and comes back a moment later carrying a small bag. He thrusts it at me.

  “What’s this?”

  “Open it and find out.”

  The bag rustles as I pick it up.

  “Open it,” he urges again. His hands in his back pockets, he rocks back and forth on his heels.

  I smile and peep inside. Two blue boxes that look like watch boxes are nestled in the bottom of the sack. I pick one up and turn the box around in my hand. “Did you get us matching watches?” I’m only half-joking.

  He just smiles, waiting for me to open the box.

  I pop the top, bemused. It’s a large watch with a picture screen and lots of buttons. I raise my eyebrows.

  Impatient, he sits down, pulls out the other box, and opens it. It’s an identical watch. “It’s a GPS system.”

  “Oh. That’s nice.” I smile my appreciation, still at sea as to why he’d get us matching GPS watches. Good thing I don’t worry about making fashion statements. This certainly won’t do it.

  “It works in the water.”

  “Oh.” The light goes on.

  He starts pushing buttons and leans over to show me. “It has a panic button. Press the first button on the right.”

  I do as instructed. A red light pulses on his watch. “Press the button if you’re in trouble. It gives me your coordinates. Same goes with mine. If I get in trouble, yours starts blinking.”

  “I’m thrilled to have this, but don’t even talk about getting in trouble. I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you.”

  “Don’t worry, honey, I intend to live a good long time.” He pats my shoulder. “But enough of that. If for any reason you think you’re running into trouble, press the button. I’ll come out in the boat and get you.”

  Touched, I reach over and kiss his rough cheek. A wisp of soft whiskers tickles my mouth. “Thanks, Gramps. This is the best gift I’ve ever had.”

  “You’re welcome. Now if you still think you need to go, you better get going before it gets any later.”

  Since the sun is setting and I don’t want Gramps to worry, I should go. I push back my chair and hurry to my bedroom to change. A few minutes later I’m in a downward dive off the cliff.

  The warm wind whips around me, blowing my hair to the side. My hands cut the water and my body follows them down. The water caresses me, circling me like embryonic fluid. I grasp my knees, roll in a ball, and turn over and over, smiling with joy. I give myself five minutes to play before I strike out in the direction I’ve seen the boat in the past. I check my new watch. It’s taken me fifty minutes to reach the general area. The water darkens as the sun sets.

  Before I even reach the boat, I sense the distressed chattering of at least two dolphins. Like the dolphins, I use echolocation under water. I pick up the high-pitched vibration, which is generated in their forehead, along my jawbone. My jawbone conducts sound like my ears do, at least when I’m underwater. By the frequencies I’m getting, it sounds like two dolphins, a male and a female about a mile up ahead. I extend my arms and swim faster.

  In a few minutes, I spot the shadowy outline of the cage. The slightly larger male dolphin is caught inside, while the female swims in agitated circles around the cage, chattering.

  I look around. When I see nothing but shadows, I pull out the knife strapped to my ankle and pry open the door. In a flash, the dolphin darts through. Both dolphins glide a distance away and continue their chatter. Something’s wrong. I sense it.

  As the dolphins’ agitation mounts, I turn in a slow circle. That’s when I see th
e three divers.

  Chapter 20

  I’ve seriously ticked someone off. I punch the panic button on my watch and take off, using long fast strokes that pull me quickly through the water. Unfortunately, the divers are no slouches. I do a quick glance over my shoulder. The man in the middle motions the others to fan out.

  This isn’t good. Even if I outswim them, and I should be able to, there are now three swimmers that have seen me swimming underwater without scuba equipment. And they, along with Rick Sabatini, know what I look like. Thank goodness for my nerd disguise.

  Where do I go? I can’t lead them to my home. Instead of heading inland, I switch directions, not going out to sea but swimming horizontal to the coast, still several miles out.

  I glance upward. If I can hold on till Gramps gets here with the boat, hopefully, I can make my escape. Kicking hard, I pull ahead, but not far enough. I continue to swim and they continue to trail behind me in a V, almost as if herding me.

  My lungs are screaming for oxygen. I need to break the surface and chuff, but they’re close enough they might see what I’m doing. Plus, it would give them time to catch up. I can’t let them see the blowhole. If they do, they’ll track me mercilessly and I’ll end up dead or a lab rat.

  I’m starting to flag. It’s harder and harder to breathe. They’re closing in. I’m beginning to feel disoriented. The water is cold. Even swimming, I’m shivering.

  Suddenly, another diver appears in front of me. His tawny hair ripples up from his head, creating a halo effect. It must be the lack of oxygen. He points to the surface. I’m confused. He swims closer. Tyler!

  Another diver drops down near me. Gramps! He too motions to the surface. I push upward and break the surface. My lungs on fire, I gasp for air. I pull myself onto the ladder of Gramps’ boat and chuff. Now that I’m not in immediate danger of drowning I need to go back and check on Gramps and Tyler. They might need my help. I’m lowering myself off the ladder as their heads surface. Relief washes over me.

  “Get on the boat, girl.” The urgency in Gramps voice propels me up the side and over. Gramps follows with Tyler at his heels. “Take the wheel, while I get out of this rubber suit will you?” He stands, dripping, a few feet away. I hurry to obey.

  Tyler follows me, his fins slapping the wooden deck. “Are you all right?” He grabs me to him and hugs me, his wet suit cold and clammy.

  “Yes. I need to steer the boat.” My voice is muffled against his chest.

  He drops his arms and I hurry toward the wheel and throttle up. The boat’s motor breaks the quiet of the night. Stars shine down, lighting a path. I leave the running lights off in case anyone is following us. My hands on the wheel, I ask, “What happened down there? Are they following us? Did they try to hurt you?” Nerves make my teeth chatter, I tighten my grip on the wheel.

  “They apparently weren’t expecting anyone but a lone girl. When they saw us, they took off.”

  I wonder what the divers would have done if they’d realized they’d been up against a dolph-girl, a boy, and an old man. Thank goodness we didn’t have to find out.

  “What are you doing here, Tyler?”

  “More to the point, what are you?” He drops to the bench and pulls off a flipper, then the other.

  “I asked first.”

  “Let me get out of this suit, and then we’ll talk.” He disappears down the steps but is back moments later. I take a quick glance in his direction. He’s wearing khaki shorts and a plain white T-shirt. I’d like to scoop him up with a spoon, he looks so yummy.

  “I came to visit you. About the time I got to the door, your grandpa came rushing out saying he got a distress call from you. By the way, how did you give him a distress call in the middle of the ocean?” he interrupts himself.

  I point proudly to my new watch.

  He comes over and checks it out. Like any male, he’s distracted by a new gadget. “I gotta get one of these.” He moves my wrist this way and that.

  Gramps comes up behind us. In the light of the moon, his face looks gray.

  “Are you okay, Gramps?”

  “Fine, why wouldn’t I be?”

  Why indeed? Another male trait, they never want to appear less than firm, fit, and macho.

  “The watch worked like a charm.”

  “It did, didn’t it?” He grins wide, his teeth white in the dark.

  “Is it safe to head home?”

  “Yeah, I think so. Go straight to the town dock. We’ll blend.”

  I look at the boat’s GPS and turn the wheel a bit to the right. “You made good time.”

  Tyler chimes in. “He drove like a maniac. No disrespect, Mr. Dunn.”

  Gramps chuckles.

  “Does someone want to tell me what’s going on?” Tyler looks from me to Gramps and back.

  Gramps nudges me away and takes the wheel. “Why don’t you two talk. I’ll navigate.”

  “Thanks, Gramps.” I shoot him a look. He winks at me.

  Tyler holds out his hand. I clasp it and we walk to the stern. The night is beautiful. The moon is out, its light reflected on the small lapping waves of the ocean. The stars shine like twinkling diamonds in the heavens. Very romantic. But at the moment, I’m afraid romance is the last thing on Tyler’s mind. He wants answers. Answers I’m not prepared to give.

  Chapter 21

  Our arms on the rail, we stare at the dark, rippling water. Tyler holds a clenched fist to his mouth and coughs. “Are you going to tell me what happened?”

  “I found a dolphin that had been trapped, harvested. I freed it.”

  “I get that. What I don’t get is how you can swim under water without gear.”

  “It takes practice.” I shrug.

  He snorts. “Yeah, right. Piper, relationships require trust. I trusted you enough to tell you about my Mafia uncle.”

  Easy for him to say. He may have Mafia family members but he doesn’t run the risk of being put in a lab, strapped to a table, and cut on.

  “I’m here for you when you need me and I always will be. I’m falling hard for you, Piper.” He turns and angles toward me, his expression intense. Even though we aren’t touching, I feel his heat.

  “I agreed to be your girl. Isn’t that enough?” I look straight out to sea when I speak.

  “Agreed to?” he asks, an edge to his voice.

  “You know what I mean.” I feel caught between desperation and exasperation. I’m so not good at this. How do I tell him he warms my heart and makes my toes curl? The words stick in my throat. Communicating my feelings is so not my strong suit.

  “No, I don’t.”

  Instead of mentioning curling toes and warm heart, all I say is, “I care about you. You are the only one I’d risk a relationship with. Isn’t that enough?”

  He gives me a strained smile. “Trust me, being mysterious isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”

  I look at him, incredulous. “Is that what you think this is, me adding a little mystery? Trying to spice things up?”

  He gives me a crooked grin. “Spicing things up certainly isn’t an issue.”

  I smile, relieved. Maybe things will be all right.

  We motor into the harbor. Gramps shuts down the engine and we head for the truck. I sit in the middle. Tyler stares out the window, making no effort to talk.

  “We can take care of the dolphins, honey.” Gramps pats my knee.

  I clear my dry throat. I’m not sure why I feel close to tears. “How’s that?”

  “We get word to the fishing community some big conglomerate is trying to harvest them. It’s bad for the tourist industry. And a lot of the fisherman won’t like it on a personal level.”

  I straighten and clap my hands. “Gramps, that’s brilliant.”

  He grumbles. “I’m getting old, I should have thought of it before now.”

  “So, this isn’t the first time this has happened.” Tyler breaks his silence.

  “Third,”
Gramps responds.

  “You’ve been out there three nights in a row?” Tyler’s eyebrows shoot up.

  “Well, it won’t be necessary for her to go out again,” Gramps responds bracingly.

  Tyler subsides back into brooding silence.

  As soon as the truck pulls in, Tyler opens the door and walks to his car.

  “Tyler,” I call.

  He looks back. “Yes?”

  “I’ll see you tomorrow.” I drop the hand I’ve raised.

  “Sure.” He gets in, flashes his lights, and heads down the drive.

  “Is there a problem with love’s young dream?” Gramps ask as he ambles toward the door.

  Eww. “What a disgusting expression.” I slip my hands in the pockets of my cargo pants.

  “He usually takes every opportunity to steal a kiss instead of driving off in a huff.”

  “Oh, Gramps.” Heat floods my face. It’s probably red enough to glow like a neon sign.

  “It’s none of my business.” He unlocks the front door before reaching in and turning on the lights.

  “I suck at relationships,” I complain. My bare feet slap across the floor.

  “You’ve never been in one before.” He points out the obvious.

  “He got in a snit because I wouldn’t tell him what I am. He thinks I’m trying to be mysterious.”

  “Young men get their egos damaged pretty easily. They’re a delicate thing, young male egos. And as far as what you are, you’re a beautiful girl. Or I guess I should say woman. Though, I prefer to think of you as a girl.” As we walk through the kitchen, he grabs a chair and leans against it.

  “Are you all right?” My muscles knot. I stare at him anxiously. “Please say you’re all right.”

  “Of course I am.” He straightens and gives me a reassuring smile. “Things just aren’t usually this exciting around here. Now you better get your homework done and get to bed.”

  “You go to bed, too.” I don’t like his color. “Why don’t you make an appointment with Doc Johnson?”