Merlicious 3

by Cara Preston, Cheryl Bonner, Laura Kitchell

  When he cleared his throat, she snapped back to attention.

  He laughed. “Where to?"

  "How about the One Fish, Two Fish restaurant on Shore Drive?"

  "Sounds good to me. I can't wait to see you again, Marina. See you at noon."

  Trembling, she felt a wave of desire come over her. Weak in the knees, she turned and sat on her bed for a moment. Maybe they would have a chance again. Catching her breath, she turned her head toward the closet. She knew she had to look her best and wear something that would sweep him off his feet. She wanted him to see no one else but her. Now, what to wear? What to wear? This is crucial. I've got to look hot. So hot that he'll salivate more for me than the shrimp scampi he'll probably order.

  Getting dressed, she took a second look at the low-necked red tank top and little black skirt she wore. Yeah, this'll do.

  Nearly out the door, she remembered the vial. It would have to work its magic. It must. She ran back to the bathroom and carefully wrapped it in tissue and placed it in her purse.

  Walking to her car with her purse hanging on her shoulder, she nearly tripped in the black pointy toed shoes she saved for special occasions.

  Santana's Black Magic Woman came on the radio, an oldie from the past. She smiled, looking down at the vial and thinking about the possibilities. Backing out of the driveway, she noticed she was low on fuel. Just like I feel until I get what I want.

  Driving through traffic, she fumed that traffic jams kept cars moving so slowly. “Could you cars go any slower?” she whined out loud. Too many stoplights held her up before she could even reach the interstate.

  Finally reaching the restaurant, she saw Dave's car parked near the entrance. Well, at least I know he didn't stand me up.

  She swallowed. Feeling a lump in her throat, she looked in the rearview mirror and saw a tear form in the corner of her eye. I can't let him see me like this.

  Remembering the vial again, she reached into her purse and removed it. Opening it, she stuck her index finger in to carefully lift out the magical grain of sand. She clasped it between two fingers, planning to gently touch Dave's face, passing the grain to him. She knew in her heart that once it touched him, he'd be hers forever.

  Heading into the restaurant, her entrance was met with approving gazes from a number of men. Though no stranger to this kind of attention, there was only one she wanted real attention from, and she was going toward him.

  Just as she reached out to touch Dave's face in a gentle gesture, a young man stepped from behind her and shook hands, touching the magical grain of sand.

  Marina gasped and looked down at her index finger. It was gone.

  "Hi. My name's Robbie. Nice to meet you."

  For a few seconds, Marina was speechless. Now what was going to happen? She looked at Robbie and thought his smile had gotten broader. Oh no. Maybe he's going to fall for me now. Robbie looked to be about twenty-four, definitely young but cute.

  "What's going on in that pretty mind of yours, Marina? You're so close and yet so far away,” Dave asked.

  There's that phrase again, Marina thought.

  "Robbie's my new business partner,” said Dave. As soon as he'd gotten that out of his mouth, his cell phone rang.

  Marina wondered who was calling him. And on her time too.

  "Hi, Jill. What's up?"

  Marina could tell that someone on the phone had his attention in a big way, probably that blonde, Jill, no doubt. After a short conversation, Dave got up and was headed for the door. Turning back to look at Marina and Robbie, he quickly said, “I am so sorry, but there's something I need to tend to.” And he was gone in a matter of seconds.

  There she was, left alone with Robbie. Complete strangers and yet ... they did have to eat anyway.

  He looked at her, his eyes flashing. “Been to the beach lately?” he asked, grinning as he peered over the menu that a waitress handed him.

  "Why do you ask that?"

  "Well, you look like a certain mermaid to me.” He smiled and then pointed to a steak plate and motioned to a waitress that he'd order two of those.

  Marina blushed and wondered how he knew she felt like eating steak and then contemplated if something fishy showed in her demeanor with him calling her a mermaid.

  Robbie laughed. “Dave's sand sculpture looked just like you. He told me he was having lunch with the model, and I had to check you out. I do a little painting—maybe you can pose nude for me sometime."

  Marina felt her blush turn a deeper shade of red. She pushed her food around on her plate now, almost through eating. Imagine that, posing nude. But hey, it would be done in name of art. She wondered what Dave would have to say about that.

  "Here's my card.” Robbie eagerly thrust his card into her hand as they finished their cheesecake dessert.

  She smiled as she thought how it would be easier to pose nude as a mermaid. She thought about asking him if he'd ever painted pictures of mermaids before. While lost in thought, the waiter came and collected money for the bill from Robbie.

  Robbie reached out and touched her hand, caressing it softly. “It was great to meet you, Lady of the Sea."

  She smiled. “You, too."

  They walked to her car where she told him goodbye with a quick hug. He seemed to hold her longer than she expected, and she wondered if the magic was now working on the wrong guy.

  Fighting traffic, sunglasses on to shield her eyes from the glaring sun, she fought a rising frustration fueled by a hormonal surge she couldn't deny.

  That night, she pulled the vial out of her purse and found the grain of sand back inside it. She couldn't believe her eyes. How could this have happened? Surely, this must be a sign.

  She gasped at the revelation; positive this meant she'd have to try again. Next time, she couldn't miss. It would have to reach the right target. Her insides ached to call Dave her own.

  * * * *

  Before bed, the dimly lit bathroom showed her unhappy reflection in the mirror. For a second, she imagined the words ‘so close and yet so far away’ scrawled across it. She blinked. Maybe fate was trying to tell her something. That expression kept coming to mind. She lightly touched the vial that held the magic grain. So close and yet so far away, but the sight of it made her think there was hope.

  Touching the lace just above her chest, she remembered how it felt when Dave touched her there, his hungry kisses on her neck. Not one to give up when she had her sights on something she wanted, she felt a resolve that the sands of time would march toward her destiny with Dave.

  * * * *

  Morning found her asleep in the recliner. Late night television had lured her restless, lusty mind to sleep. The phone rang as she stood and stretched to remove the kinks from having slept in the chair. That's for old folks. I can't believe I fell asleep there. She held the phone to her ear and heard a familiar voice.

  "Hello. Oh, hi, Celeste. You're calling early for a Saturday morning. What's up?"

  "It's Nautical Day in Suffolk. Lots of cool things going on there."

  Marina's mind wandered. “Well, okay. Maybe it'll take my mind off him.” Besides, antique nautical memorabilia could trigger a memory from my mermaid past.

  After the quick breakfast, Marina and Celeste were on their way to Suffolk. A historic train station nearby provided a great background for antique items. Brass and glass nautical items sat on a nearby table, and men dressed in naval outfits from several hundred years ago explained how nautical speed came to be measured in knots. They seemed an animated bunch. Each one full of his own nautical tales from the past. They looked at her and smiled as one of the navigational tools caught her eye.

  "I've seen one of those before,” she told Celeste.

  "How is that?"

  "Well, not in my life as I know it now, but years ago—as a Lady of the Sea."

  "Hmmm.” Celeste looked at her strangely. “Maybe something was in your orange juice this morning, chick."

  As soon as Celeste said that, Marina touc
hed an antique anchor. Before seeing the company's name engraved on it, she told Celeste, “That's made by the Anchorage Company."

  Celeste looked on the anchor's rusty side and, barely visible, were the words Anchorage Company.

  Marina traced it again with her finger, surprised that she'd known without looking.

  "How could you have known that?"

  Just as Celeste asked that, the sweet smell of cotton candy wafted past. A young blonde boy walked by with some blue cotton candy on a stick.

  Marina got lost in the light blue, and in her imagination saw herself and Dave again, swimming in the clear blue. She instinctively touched her finger to the corner of her eye. To her surprise, that magic grain appeared. “Maybe he's going to be here."

  "Who's going to be here?” Celeste asked.

  About to speak, she caught a glimpse of Dave through the crowd. “It's him. I've got to reach him. I can't let him get away."

  In her eagerness to reach Dave, Marina stumbled over a curb and the sand grain she held so gently touched the hand of someone who was there just in time to break her fall. Heart pounding, Marina took a deep breath and lifted her head to see who had come to her rescue. Half expecting to see Dave, her eyes narrowed, and her nostrils grew larger. Her soft, grateful tone changed to one of anger on seeing her rescuer. “Josh Turner. What are you doing here?” She backed away in disgust.

  "I could ask you the same thing,” he grinned at her in a devilish way.

  She regained her composure and started to pull away.

  "Wait, you have something on your pants,” he said, and he smoothed his hand down her backside, taking his time doing so.

  She stiffened again and pulled away.

  "I'm just being naughty-cal,” he laughed, eyes crinkling in self-amusement.

  "Sometimes a good deed can hide an ulterior motive,” an annoyed voice said as someone came up behind her. Dressed in a nautical uniform, Dave held in his hand a brass and glass sailor's instrument.

  She couldn't help but alternate between staring at his handsome face and what he held in his hand. The sun cast an almost prism effect, and it was as though she could see an image of a sea vessel, Dave on shore dressed as he was now and herself in mermaid form waving at both a captain and Dave. If only she could get a better look at the captain. Maybe somehow that would put the pieces of the puzzle together.

  "Handsome devil, isn't he?” Dave smiled as he posed a question.

  Surprisingly, Marina saw his eyes also glued to the glass. “You can see that too?” she asked.

  "I see it mirrored in the glass and also in my mind. Like a memory long forgotten,” he said.

  As they stared at the reflection, Marina peered more closely and tried to make out the face of the captain. Gasping, she realized he looked like Josh Turner. Maybe it was all coming together now.

  She remembered the captain of the ship. Same tall stature, same red hair, same devilish look on his face.

  Looking off in the distance at Josh, she recognized something about the back of his head. Those ears ... the way he walked. He looked so at home around the antique nautical items, just as she and Dave seemed to be.

  Dave reached out and held her hand in his. “I think we both know what is happening here. Maybe it's taken us our whole lives to realize why we are really meant to be together."

  "Do you really mean that, Dave? What about that blonde I keep seeing you with? Even after I gave you that mermaid sculpture a year ago? I knew it meant a lot to you, and the next day I saw you with her. How could you do that to me?"

  "But you never let me explain ... She's Jill, my cousin. She's a horse trainer who also happens to study nautical history, myths and legends. I had questions I needed answered because my life wasn't making sense. I needed to know what was real and what was unrealistic. There were dreams that I seemed to have over and over again."

  Marina looked at him, tears forming in her eyes. She caught a glimpse of Josh, who was now walking toward them. “It's coming back to me now. He was supposed to heed my warning, but he didn't. Why didn't he? So many lives lost. So much waste. The iceberg was too big. And now he is here again. What's the iceberg he faces in this lifetime?"

  As Josh came closer, Marina's stomach did flip flops. Feeling a bit sick, she turned her head away. Somehow, he had that effect on her.

  "I knew you'd come back,” said Josh. “When you tried to warn me, I was too distracted. You see, I have a gift too—reading people's minds—and what came across the strongest was that your merdad told you if someone made a sand likeness of you, you'd come back a hundred years later as a mortal. Once you told me the ship was doomed, I was angry at you. I sought to use that information to get back at you. I told Dave, who had seen you from the shore, that if he made a sand sculpture of you he could also return in a hundred years, and you would be a mortal."

  Suddenly, it was all making sense. She looked at him, feeling both anger and gratitude for the explanation. She took a deep breath. “So it is because of you I am here now. All because you sought to have that spell cast on me."

  "That's right. I wanted to return and to have you as a mortal for myself,” said Josh.

  "Looks like both of us were to vie for you.” Dave looked at Josh, who gazed longingly at Marina while her body language told him to get lost, and smiled broadly. To his way of thinking, there was no contest.

  Worried that Josh had intercepted the magic grain of sand, Marina dug in her purse, looking for the vial. Just as she hoped, the vial contained the grain once more.

  "It's still there,” she muttered under her breath. Maybe it always came back if it didn't touch just the right person. There really was something magical about it. There was no doubt.

  "We have business elsewhere,” Dave said to Marina, casting disapproving looks at Josh who was now trying to make his exit. There was no point chasing someone who obviously didn't want his advances.

  "Meet me at your house,” Dave said to her as he walked toward the friend he'd caught a ride with.

  Celeste hurried to join Marina at her car. Wanting Marina to have some privacy for whatever Dave's plans might entail, she asked to be dropped her off at home.

  Hurriedly, Marina drove home. What could it be that he wanted to show her? Months of thinking he was with someone else made her unsure of what he had up his sleeve.

  Does he really care? Can this be for real?

  Shortly after she got home, she saw his truck pull up out front.

  As he got out of the truck, she saw him check something in the trailer he pulled behind. Walking to her front door, he looked happy enough to burst. Ringing the doorbell, he shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

  "I have something to show you,” was all he said.

  Leading her out to the trailer behind his truck, he swung open the back door. There, strapped down, sat a bronze mermaid. Marina couldn't believe her eyes. It was the same mermaid she'd seen months ago. The one he had taken great care to caress right in front of her. She'd told herself it was crazy to be jealous of a sculpture and finally came to grips that he was a touchy feely kind of guy. That's what she'd always wanted in a man. As soon as she realized he was romantic enough to gently touch her face and tousle her hair, she was sold.

  Walking over and touching the bronze mermaid, she looked at Dave with misty eyes. Cocking her head to one side, she smiled at him.

  "People bronze baby shoes. They bronze tennis rackets. What this is for us is a bronze memory. Kind of represents our past life, don't you think?” Dave said.

  Ahh, at last the puzzle pieces have come together, Marina thought, smiling at him. Their shared lives with memories had finally been revealed. They knew now the reason for the magnetism they had felt from the very beginning.

  Seeking privacy away from prying eyes, she led him to the courtyard area at the back of her house. Floral trellises by the waterside gave a perfect shield to anyone who might be standing nearby. She took a deep breath and reached out to touch his face. She'd t
aken care first to have that magic grain of sand on her hand.

  As she touched his face, she saw a gradual change come over him. A sort of fluidity ... Before her eyes, his pants changed into the scaly tail of a merman.

  Leaning closer, he breathed down the back of her neck. He knew that drove her crazy. He hadn't forgotten.

  Marina felt sensations she hadn't felt in a long time. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. What was that sensation? Her hairs were standing on end, feeling that every nerve ending was coming alive. Breathing in his aftershave, feeling his arousal, she experienced feelings she'd forgotten existed.

  Turning her around to face him, he came closer and lightly outlined her lips with his finger. He always loved her full, shining lips. “You have no idea how much I've missed you,” he said in a husky voice. He slid his arms around her neck and pulled her closer.

  Marina's knees almost gave way. He started kissing her on the neck, and she squirmed; it both tickled and drove her crazy, in a good way.

  A fire raged in her, and she tilted her head, her open mouth inviting him to probe with his anxious tongue. Everything else seemed to fall into place after that. The chemistry was undeniable. She'd never felt anything like it.

  Trembling and out of breath, she looked at him and tried to gather her wits.

  "Nothing can come between us now,” said Dave. “It's taken a century for us to get it right,” he said, looking into her eyes. He pushed her hair back away from her shoulders and took her in his arms. “I have loved you forever, Marina. Years ago when your voice was that siren's song, I wanted you. I watched you warn the captains on their ships and knew that you had a heart of gold. It was obvious. I knew it from the beginning."

  She smiled at him, eyes misting from the words he said.

  "Once Josh told me he read your mind about your merdad's warning that your likeness would cast a spell, making you mortal, I couldn't help myself. I wanted you in the worst way. I knew we'd both have the chance to come back again. The only drawback was that I would be competing with Josh for your attention."