The Reef Roamer (The Roamer Series Book 1)

by Deborah D. Moore

  “Maybe that’s why it isn’t on the menu,” Mark said thoughtfully. “It wouldn’t be special anymore. Something that’s too easily attained is often not as appreciated as it should be.”

  Jayme let the innuendo slide. If she responded to all his veiled comments and double-entendre, she’d never get to finish eating. As it was, her mind was kept busy trying to figure out if he was just being pleasant, or was he really flirting with her? She found she much hoped he was flirting, but she had so little experience with this. Was she ready for a little diversion? For diversion was all it could be.

  Watching him through lowered lashes, Jayme had time to notice again the fine, chiseled lines of Mark’s tanned face. He had a strong jaw and high cheekbones, with a straight, short nose that flared slightly when he talked. Dark brown hair that was almost black waved long over his ears and down the back of his neck. Laugh lines crinkled around the corners of his smoky gray eyes, eyes she already knew deepened in color when he was intense. His mouth was wide and easily curved into a smile. And his lips looked velvety soft. Jayme wondered how they would feel against hers. She again felt warm desire surge through her abdomen…and lower.

  “Jayme?”

  “Huh?” Jayme didn’t realize he’d been talking to her.

  “Where have you been?” he teased. “You looked like you were a thousand miles away. Or is your arm hurting? Are you in pain?”

  Jayme grinned like the Cheshire Cat. “I was right here, believe me. And my arm is only a little uncomfortable, thanks to the great medical care I’ve been getting.”

  Mark stared at her for a long moment, wondering what she had been thinking about. He had a feeling it had been him, and that pleased him tremendously. “Well, now that I know you’re still here, I’ll say again, tell me about yourself.”

  “What do you want to know?” The wine was making her amiable, and he was such good company, she felt she’d tell him anything.

  “About you, your family, your work, where you’re from, things like that. You know, your life story.” He grinned mischievously.

  “I’m not a very interesting person, Mark. I’d rather talk about you and your work here in the islands.” Jayme hoped to change the subject away from her, though Mark was not so easily derailed.

  “Me later, you first. Where are you from? You have any brothers or sisters?” He urged her on, leaning forward on his elbows, the candlelight dancing in his eyes.

  Jayme leaned back, getting comfortable. She picked up her wine glass, swirled it, took a sip. “Okay, Doc, you want my life story? It’s yours.”

  For the next half hour, Jayme told Mark about growing up in Michigan with her one sister, the daughters of a big city cop. She filled him in on how she met Donald in high school, married him a year later, and had her only child, a son, a year after that. How Donald had gotten them into scuba diving to bring them closer together and how instead it had taken him from her. She told him of her love of photography and how she blended it with her love of diving. Leaving out her real work was difficult. She found she didn’t want to deceive Mark in any way, but some things had to remain a secret. It felt strangely therapeutic to purge herself, and Jayme smiled, letting out a sigh. “Anything else, doctor?”

  Mark was silent a moment. “Your son. Where is he? You must miss him a great deal.”

  “He’s in Florida, with his Uncle Sam.” Jayme chuckled, thinking of her twenty-three year old in the Army. “And yes, I do miss him. However, he’s growing up and doesn’t need his mom like he used to.”

  Mark was silent again. A son? He must be eight, maybe ten years old at the most. Jayme herself couldn’t be more than thirty, Mark reasoned. “Sons always need their mothers, Jayme.” He paused, considering his next request. “If it’s not too painful, would you tell me more about Donald and the accident?” He had to know more. He hadn’t had time to get to Marsh Harbor to check the records to see if Donald had been the shark victim he had tended and lost, making Jayme the woman he’d been dreaming of for five years. He had to know for sure…it was gnawing at his insides.

  “I don’t think I want to do that just yet, Mark. Sorry.” Her deep voice was steady, measured. Jayme leaned forward on her elbows, mimicking Mark. “Anything else but that.”

  “Anything?” Mark asked, a glimmer in his eyes. There would be other times for his question to be answered. Tomorrow he could run to Marsh Harbor and dig through the files.

  “Sure, why not?” The way he looked at her, Jayme would tell him anything. Almost.

  “Tell me about your karate. What belt do you hold?” This was daring, and Mark knew it. She seemed to be guarded about her martial arts knowledge, as she hadn’t mentioned it at all in her life story.

  Jayme froze in her chair, the question acting like a bucket of ice water over her wine buzz. He had caught her off guard, but he would never know that. Jayme had a talent for covering her emotions, a talent that may be too well honed. It was her turn to be silent while she weighed his question in her mind, toying with the crust from the key lime pie they had been served for dessert.

  “Why do you want to know, Mark?” she asked, her voice unnaturally flat.

  “Because, Jayme,” Mark leaned across the table and covered her hands with his, “it’s a part of you. A big part from what I can tell, and I want to know all about you.” His voice was gentle, his eyes a warm, dark gray, trusting, his hands radiating warmth and strength.

  “Would it make a difference if I didn’t tell you?” Jayme was finding it hard to concentrate; Mark was starting to draw little circles on her palms with his thumbs, sending electric, erotic flames up her arms.

  “None at all.”

  Jayme thought a minute, searching for deceit in his face. There wasn’t any. She leveled her gaze into his dark eyes, holding them, ready to assess the reaction that was bound to surface; it always did.

  “I started Tai Chi and yoga ten years ago for the exercise. I found it wasn’t enough. So I started Tae Kwan Do, mostly for the physical and mental discipline. That was six years ago.” She took a deep breath, mostly a sigh. “It was the only activity I held onto after Donald died. I didn’t even dive again for more than a year. My sister Diana started pushing me a few years ago to finish my training. To ‘take that final step,’ as she put it. So I did.” After a guarded pause, she said, “I hold a second degree black belt.” She studied Mark’s face carefully, waiting for any signs of withdrawal. There were none, so she pressed on. “A few years ago, our county had a serial killer on the loose. Our sleepy, quiet, bedroom community had a vicious killer that liked teenaged girls. He got four of them before he was caught. After two sisters disappeared, I started a self-defense class in my basement gym for teen girls. I still teach it, even though that monster is behind bars.”

  “You impress me, lady. That’s quite an accomplishment for someone so young. It also explains Mr. Marstead’s wrist.”

  “Who?”

  “Bruce Marstead. The guy who tried to pick you up at dinner a few nights ago.” Jayme’s eyes widened. “I saw the whole thing, Jayme. You were incredible. I don’t think anyone else had any idea what was going on. Why you were so gentle with him still baffles me though; he’s a jerk. Bruce came to see me the next morning for an elastic wrap and some sympathy.” Mark smirked. “He got the bandage, and that’s all. I told him to keep his hands to himself and he wouldn’t have those kinds of problems. I don’t think he appreciated my advice. I suppose it was a bit unprofessional.”

  Jayme laughed, and it was music to Mark’s ears. Her laughter was deep and thick, resounding like a bass cello. He joined her.

  “Alright. Now it’s your turn, Dr. Mark Steele. Tell me all about you.” Jayme had lowered her voice; it had a sexy quality to it Mark couldn’t resist and didn’t want to. Jayme shifted in her seat, noticing the setting sun as she did. “Oh! Look at that sunset! Such beautiful colors! I want to get this on camera for the Thomases. It’ll be a perfect finale.” Jayme jumped up to retrieve her camera from where
Mark had set it in her room. Knowing she had recently finished editing the dive experience, the memory card was ready. “I won’t be but a few minutes. I’ll be right back.”

  She was off in the direction of the shore before Mark could offer to go with her, which was precisely what she didn’t want. There would be time for only one take on this shot. The Thomases were leaving soon, and Jayme would have to do the voice over as she filmed. Mark couldn’t be around for that.

  Jayme extended the single leg tripod to steady the camera. As the camera quietly hummed, capturing the reds and gold shimmering in the water, the brilliant orange streaks through the clouds, with the gentle lavenders creeping in as the night approached, Jayme began to softly talk into the microphone.

  “To Marge and Jim Thomas, two very special people I’m privileged to call friends. I hope your experience scuba diving has been all you expected it to be. I was happy to be part of it. As this DVD comes to an end, enjoy this sunset, the final one of your stay here in Holm Cay, because sunsets in Holm Cay are like none other in the world. Stay wet! Your friend, Jayme Haller, The Reef Roamer.” Jayme’s distinctive voice trailed to a halt. As she switched the camera off, she knew the Thomases wouldn’t be able to view the footage and discover her secret until they were safely back in Alaska. Retracting the single leg of the minicam, Jayme strolled happily back through the sand and toward an approaching Mark. She felt wonderful. The tape was almost finished, and it was just what she had in mind. All she had to do was add the sunset and burn it to a disc. Jayme only wished she could see the expression on Marge’s face when she realized she’d been diving with The Reef Roamer.

  ***

  Mark didn’t like the empty feeling he had after Jayme so abruptly left the table for the beach, so he followed her. He could hear her soft voice as he silently approached from behind. He stopped in his tracks, a dozen feet from her when he heard “…in the world. Stay wet! Your friend, Jayme Haller, The Reef Roamer.”

  The Reef Roamer? So that was her big secret! Mark had seen many of the Roamer tapes and knew the identity of The Reef Roamer was closely guarded. He moved silently and quickly backward, hoping Jayme wouldn’t realize he was retreating instead of approaching when she turned around.

  When Jayme began to turn, Mark changed stride and stepped forward. “There you are. Finished already?” He feigned innocence, smiling down at her radiant face.

  “Yes, and it was perfect. I need to get this on the computer and burn a DVD for the Thomases before they leave. And then I want to hear all about you.” Jayme beamed back at him as they made their way across the cooling sand.

  ***

  “If you’ll excuse me for a few minutes, Mark, I really have to get this done and burned as soon as possible. I don’t know what time the Thomases are leaving tomorrow, and I want to be sure to have this ready. I’ll be back in a few minutes,” Jayme said.

  From where he sat outside, Mark saw her set up her laptop and type commands into it. She took something from the camera and stuck it into a slot in the computer, and then she typed some more. A moment later, she put a DVD into the CD drawer and hit a single key. While the DVD was burning, she retrieved a hard gem-case from the camera bag. A moment later, the drawer slid open and she took the finished product out.

  “All done?” Mark asked when Jayme came back to her seat.

  “Yes, thanks for being patient.”

  “What is it you have for them?” Mark asked curiously.

  “I filmed their resort dive two days ago and a few shots of the island today. Something for them to watch when they get back to Alaska.”

  “They did a dive instead of snorkeling?”

  “Yes. They did great and had a memorable time. Don’t worry, Doc, it was a shallow dive,” Jayme assured him. “Now, where were we?”

  ***

  Dinner was cleared away as they finished their coffee, still talking about Mark’s work stateside in the inner city.

  “I used to work in a big city hospital, and I was really getting burned out. This lifestyle lets me practice useful medicine without all the big city problems and politics. These are wonderful people, Jayme. I couldn’t have asked for a better arrangement to get my act back together. Now that it’s together again, I find it doesn’t fit the big city anymore. I’m happy here. The switchboard or Naomi can always reach me. This beeper goes with me everywhere, kind of like your camera.”

  “Then you have an interesting companion, Dr. Steele.” Jayme stood, feeling that a barrier had come between them with the mention of her ever-present camera. Did he suspect something? She couldn’t risk someone else finding out who she really was. “Thank you for dinner. I’m going on a tour of Hope Town tomorrow, and I must get some—”

  “Oh, Jayme! There you are! I was so worried about you last night during the storm. How is your arm? Are you okay?” Marge interrupted anxiously with Jim close at her elbow.

  Storm? What storm? I must have slept right through that.

  “Well, the lure could have been deeper. I was lucky. As it was, it still took forty stitches to close up.” Jayme deliberately omitted the over-sedation episode.

  “Marge wouldn’t even consider going to bed until she’d seen for herself that you were still in one piece, Jayme.” Jim hugged his wife. “Now, wife of mine, will you get some sleep? We have a big day tomorrow. We’re leaving around noon to go home,” he said, directing the last comment to Jayme.

  “Won’t you join us for a nightcap?” Mark was on his feet pulling out a chair, which Marge gladly accepted. Mark was silently pleased with himself. Jayme couldn’t possibly leave now, not with the Thomases here. He had to smooth things over with her.

  “Why, that’s very kind of you, Dr. Steele.”

  “You know the doctor, Marge?” Jayme was surprised at the thought, though why, she didn’t know.

  “Well, of course, dear. With my condition, it’s just plain prudent to check in with the local medicine man right from the start. That way, if there is a problem, we’re not strangers. Right, Dr. Steele?”

  “A wise woman, you are, Mrs. Thomas.” Mark gave her his warmest, gentlest smile. He knew the woman was seriously ill and would probably not make it through the year.

  Jayme found her heart thumping hard and loud at the kind way Mark was treating Marge. She felt the walls she erected come tumbling down. When Mark reached across the table and patted Marge on the hand, Jayme couldn’t keep her eyes off his profile. She noted every movement and change of the laugh lines around his eyes and mouth. His lips moved gently as he spoke with Marge about how she was feeling and how she felt during the dive. Jayme was mesmerized by the visual texture of his mouth and again wondered how it would feel against hers.

  “So you enjoyed your dive, Marge? Any anxiety or heart palpitations? Shortness of breath? Chest constrictions?” Mark prodded.

  “Oh, for goodness sake, Dr. Steele, stop being a doctor for one evening. I’m fine! I had a wonderful, wonderful experience, thanks to Jayme, and whatever discomfort you might worry about me having, well, I wouldn’t tell you about it even if I did have any. Now, you two young people enjoy your evening the way young people should – together.” Marge stood, giving Jayme a knowing look, smiling warmly, and said in a whispered voice, “You’re much too young to be alone, Jayme. The doctor’s a nice man; give him a chance. I’m sure we’ll see you tomorrow before we leave.”

  “Count on it, Marge.” Jayme stood to give the older woman a hug. “Oh, I have the DVD of your dive finished. Something to look at when you get back to Anchorage.” She handed Marge the finished DVD in its protective case.

  “Oh, Jayme, how thoughtful of you! After your horrible experience with that last dive, I wouldn’t have blamed you if you threw that tape away. I can hardly wait. Thanks again, Jayme!” The couple walked off hand in hand.

  “Nice people,” Mark said when the two disappeared into the resort lobby. “And she’s right, you know.”

  “About what?”

  “I’m a nice man.�
�� He grinned broadly. “Wholesome and trustworthy. Let me take you touring tomorrow. I’ll show you a Hope Town you’d never see otherwise. And Man-O-War Cay, have you been there yet? The shipbuilding yards are fascinating, techniques handed down from generation to generation. You’ll love it. What time do you want to leave?” Mark was so animated, Jayme had to laugh in spite of her apprehension.

  “All right, all right. A personalized tour of Man-O-War and Hope Town. What time can you get away from the clinic?” Jayme consented, trying to remember what they were almost arguing about before the Thomases came by. Somehow, it didn’t seem important anymore.

  “How about 10:00? I’d like to check on Lana and the twins before leaving the island.”

  “Fine. Then it’s a date.”

  A date?

  It had a nice ring to it, Jayme thought later that night as she pulled the crisp linens up to her chin and drifted off to sleep.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  By 8:15 the next morning, Mark was letting himself into the medical clinic in Marsh Harbor on the Greater Abaco Island. Finding his way to the back offices where the old records were kept, he noticed a few changes had taken place. The exam rooms had been repainted, cheerier now, and some new equipment had been installed. In the back office, he opened a file cabinet, flipped through some files, closed the drawer, and opened another.

  A frown was forming across his tanned forehead when he heard footsteps in the hall. Mark looked up to see the surprised face of Dr. Sam Aubrey.

  “Oh, hi, Sam. Say, where are the files on deceased kept? I can’t find them where they used to be.”

  Dr. Aubrey shook his head and smiled. “Hi to you too, Mark. You really startled me. I was catching up on some paperwork in my office, and I hear someone roaming around my clinic. I thought I had a rare burglar!”