by Devyn Quinn
Some might think renovating the house was his way of repaying Tessa. In a way, that was true. She’d given him back his life. But being alive didn’t necessarily mean the will to live. He’d had to rediscover that for himself. It felt good to have a purpose, goals to pursue.
Of course, he’d consulted Tessa before plunging in. There was no way he’d enter into a major renovation without her say-so. While it was true they shared a bed, his place in her life was still tenuous. They were still learning their way around each other’s moods, the slow dance that came with getting to know a person and their preferences. He’d already learned the hard way that Tessa was moody. She was a woman who sought independence, but had no way to maintain it.
Since she couldn’t very well refuse, she’d agreed to let him handle—and pay for—repairs on the house. He’d asked for control and she’d granted it.
He did so with an eye toward the future. He wanted to make things work between himself and Tessa.
Simply put, he wanted a future. With her.
But Tessa wasn’t the kind of woman to go along for the ride just to see the scenery. She wanted a destination in mind before running off. In that respect she was careful, wary, almost afraid of being tied to a man a second time.
She needed her space.
Kenneth knelt, digging at the moldy rotting wood with the tips of his fingers. He was willing to give Tessa what she needed. Putting a solid roof over her head would go a long way toward soothing her insecurities. He had the means and he had the money, so why not? Whether he’d be living there in the future or not didn’t matter. He had other plans simmering on the back burner. If the time came to move on, he’d be ready to pack his bags and hit the road.
A commotion behind him alerted him to the presence of another person.
Jake Massey stumbled in, picking his way through the wreckage. He clutched his ever- important BlackBerry in his hand. It was a wonder the handheld didn’t blow up. The poor little machine was in constant use.
“Geez, Louise,” Jake said, eyeing the damage. “It looks like the Titanic sank here.”
Kenneth rose to his feet. “It gets worse. Looks like part of the floor is going to have to come up, too.”
Jake shook his head. “I’d been waiting for word that this house blew into the sea, never to be seen again.”
Kenneth tapped a foot. “Foundation’s solid enough, but the storms have taken their toll.”
“You going to fix it?”
He nodded. “Every last bit. By the time I get finished, there won’t be a single problem with the house.”
Jake leveled a cool gaze his way. “Awfully nice of you to do for a woman you just met.”
Kenneth narrowed his eyes. “Just like it’s terribly nice of me to fund an expedition back to the Mediterranean for some two-bit archaeologist I just met.”
Jake’s face turned two shades redder. “Touché.”
Kenneth tossed his hammer aside and rubbed his hands down the front of his pants. “So what’s the latest?” Like Jake, he had to admit he’d gotten caught up in the mystique of the Mer. The idea of recovering a lost civilization excited him beyond words.
Jake lifted a hand, ticking off key points. “The company’s debts have been cleared and the liens have been withdrawn, so we’ve got the boat and equipment in place. The captain’s calling the crew back in now.”
“How long will that take?”
Jake shrugged. “Oh, at least a month, I’m sure. But the time lag is okay. We’ve got to get an attorney into court as soon as possible to stake our claim.”
Kenneth’s brows rose. “We do?”
Jake nodded. “We’ve got to ask the courts to determine a salvage award and establish legal guarantees on any artifacts recovered, ensuring that they remain intact as a collection. Some pieces recovered earlier have already attracted private buyers. Because Ishaldi’s ruins lay in international waters, Recoveries, Inc., needs to gain exclusive rights to salvage the artifacts.”
Kenneth digested that chunk of information. He’d had no idea one needed a team of lawyers to defend a claim on something lying untouched at the bottom of the sea for more than a thousand years. “No wonder you’ve been burning up the dollars.”
Jake shrugged. “Tell me about it. But we’ve got to protect our claim, this one more than others. We’re not just pulling up relics from a shipwreck. We’re delving into a lost civilization, something that exists only in legends.”
“Kind of like the Loch Ness monster?”
Jake laughed. “Well, I don’t know if our fair Mer would want to be compared to it, but I wouldn’t mind being in on that discovery, either.”
“So how do we get the courts to see things our way?”
“In seeking a salvage award, Recoveries, Inc., has to document the labor devoted to previous expeditions, and the risks incurred bringing up artifacts from a depth stretching almost three miles under the sea. The archaeological value of the ruins and its artifacts speaks for itself. The rediscovery will literally knock the archaeological world on its ass.”
Kenneth rubbed his jaw. “Not to mention everybody else.”
Jake grinned. “Exactly.”
“Well, it sounds like you’ve got everything on track.”
Jake consulted his BlackBerry. “There is one other thing I need to talk to you about.”
Kenneth shrugged. Most likely Jake was about to ask him to write another check. “How much?”
Jake flagged a hand. “I’ll probably need more money later. But that’s not what’s on my mind right now.”
“Okay. Spit it out.”
“My partner in Recoveries, Inc., is getting out. Part of the money I’ve spent has gone toward buying his half of the business. It’s now mine. Every bit.”
That put a sour taste in Kenneth’s mouth. Jake was subtly amassing full control. “Congratulations on your acquisition.”
“Not so much,” Jake countered. “While it’s true the company is now running debt-free, it won’t stay that way long unless we have an influx of ready cash.”
Kenneth raised an inquiring brow. “And?”
Jake sighed and rolled his eyes. “I’m offering you half of the business. We’d be partners, fifty- fifty. There’s a lot of wreckage in those oceans and I intend to find as much of it as I can before I die.”
Though his face was schooled to hold an impassive expression, inside Kenneth was bursting to come right out and accept. He definitely had to admit the treasure hunting bug had bitten him. Hard. This was the most exciting adventure he’d ever set out on in his life. He liked the idea of rediscovering the lost, bringing it up from the water to share again with the world.
But fools rushed in where angels feared to tread.
He also had a few considerations. And a few reservations. The first and foremost was did he like Jake Massey enough to want to go into business with him?
Although he hadn’t wanted to admit it when he’d met the man, he could honestly check the box yes now. Sure, Jake was clearly a predator, and out for himself. But he was also an intelligent man who knew what he needed to get where he wanted to go. His biggest stumbling block was that people didn’t like Jake. Most everyone saw through his razor-sharp ambition—and didn’t like the idea he might just stab them in the back to get what he wanted.
The second biggest consideration was how would Tessa feel about her current boyfriend (could he even call himself that?) and her ex- fiancé going into business together? So far she’d treated Jake coolly but civilly, making a wide berth around him.
The third consideration was what did he, Kenneth, want to do? Since selling his own business, he’d put himself on an aimless path. He had no goals, no responsibilities. He also had nothing holding him back from doing what he wanted to do, when he wanted to do it. For the first time in his life he was footloose and fancy free.
If he and Tessa stayed together, great. If not, he’d have something to fall back on.
Either way it seemed workable.
It didn’t take long to make a decision.
He held out his hand. “I’ll buy in.”
Jake returned the shake. “Terrific. Welcome aboard, partner. I’ll get the attorneys to put the legalities in place. Pull out your pen and get ready to sign.”
Kenneth let his hand drop. “Haven’t I been doing that already?”
“True. And you’re going to be doing more of it soon, sure enough.” Lifting his BlackBerry, Jake gave it a good shake. “Damn, I’ve lost the signal again. I’ll have to go outside to make the call.”
“Call away.”
Jake picked his way back through the mess. He paused at the entrance. “Oh, there is one thing I’ve got to let you know.”
There was enough bait in his statement to make it interesting.
Kenneth’s inner antennae rose up and honed in. His muscles knotted reflexively. “What’s that?”
“Tessa. You do know I’m going to try to steal her back. We have some, ah, some business I’d like to finish.”
The statement was made with such blithe confidence that Kenneth couldn’t be offended. It reminded him of two dogs sniffing around, sizing each other up. “If you think you’re man enough to get her back, then be my guest.”
Jake’s eyes glittered. “Well, I’m man enough to try. Question is, are you man enough to hold on to a woman like that?” Cocky, self-centered, and self-assured, he obviously thought a lot about himself and his abilities. Didn’t matter if he won or lost. He wanted to play the game. In short, it was a show of macho virility.
Who had the bigger set of balls?
Kenneth’s first instinct was to laugh the challenge off. His second was to punch the sucker out right then and there. A third part of him had to wonder. Did he have what it took to hold on to a woman like Tessa Lonike?
Jake seemed to read his thoughts. “What’s the matter? Can’t you handle a little friendly competition?”
The gauntlet had been thrown down.
Kenneth had to pick it up. “Toying with the woman you walked out on doesn’t make it sound like you have friendly intentions.”
Jake looked at him a long moment. “Oh, man. You definitely don’t have the whole story there. There’s another side to everything.”
Kenneth scowled at him suspiciously. Like he would believe anything Jake had to say on the matter. “Oh?”
“You won’t hear it from me. Best to let you figure things out on your own. The thing you’ll find out about Mers is they’re slippery. Hard to hold on to.” Jake snapped his fingers in the air. “Blink, and they’re gone. Like that.”
“Sounds to me like you didn’t hold on hard enough.” Kenneth cocked his head. “Or haven’t got enough staying power to keep up with a woman like Tessa. Staying is the key word there, you know. Anytime you walk away, you give up the right to what you left behind.”
Jake swore under his breath. “This time I’m not walking.”
Refusing to be intimidated, Kenneth folded his arms across his chest. Jake had a lot of nerve fucking him around like that. But he’d already figured out Jake’s number. His shtick was ten percent sincerity mixed with ninety percent bullshit. Jake liked to push buttons, see how far he could get before someone sent him packing.
No doubt a partnership with the archaeologist would make for some interesting times. Throwing Tessa into the mix only made it that much more interesting.
“I’m not walking, either.”
Jake’s gaze danced, merriment laced with a hint of malice. The race was on. “Looks like we’re on our way, doesn’t it?” He slapped the side of the doorframe with his hand before prancing out of the room. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
Indeed.
Staring in his wake, Kenneth had to wonder. What the hell have I gotten myself into?
Chapter 12
Mediterranean Sea
Six weeks later
Tessa stood on the port bow of the DreamFever, staring out toward the far horizon. The tranquil waters around the ship glimmered, lit by the vanishing light of the sun. Fiery red-orange and deep blue mingled to form a deeper, richer shade. The sea stretched on, open and endlessly wide. The view was glorious, absolutely breathtaking.
Pulling in a deep breath, Tessa tasted the tang of salt on the cool breeze. She could hardly believe she was standing on a ship in the center of the very sea that was the uniting element and center of world history. These waters were rich with history, having claimed lives, fortunes, and, in some instances, entire cities. It was through this very sea that diverse civilizations had met and mingled, seeking to move beyond the boundaries of their homelands.
Her gaze scanned the darkening waters. Though they wouldn’t reach their destination for another twelve hours, Tessa was sure the strange quickening in her veins was the tug of her people calling her home. Having made several experimental dives, she believed she felt the vibrations from the Mer who’d once inhabited the fathomless depths. When she swam, the crystal around her neck seemed to hum with energy it picked up from an outside source.
A sense of peace, of contentment, washed through her. It was once here. Home.
For the first time in a long time she felt like she belonged. The water was where she needed to be. Not just any water, but that which had spawned her race. The Mer might branch out, traveling far and wide, but the need to return to their birthplace was a primal one that couldn’t be ignored.
The sound of a voice from behind pulled her out of her contemplations. “You’ve been spending a lot of time up here.”
Tessa turned her head in time to see Jake sauntering her way. “I’m just excited about the idea of seeing Ishaldi.”
Jake smiled and looked out over the water. “Feels like old times, doesn’t it? You and me on our way to another adventure.”
Caught in a mellow mood, Tessa nodded. “Yeah, it does kind of seem that way.” As the expedition had come together, she’d found Jake’s company more than tolerable. The bad feelings she’d nursed had faded. When his mind was on the hunt, Jake was a keen and intelligent researcher. He gathered every iota of data, then distilled it into terms a layman could easily understand. The discovery of Ishaldi and its artifacts would probably catapult his career into the stratosphere.
And I’ll be a part of that.
“My people will finally have a place in this world.”
Jake glanced at her. A slow smile unspooled across his handsome face. “Definitely.”
Though they’d been traveling aboard the ninety-five-foot R/V cruiser for weeks, he was nattily turned out in one of his blazers and impeccably pressed slacks. Sunglasses perched on his head, his shoulder-length hair streamed around his face. The wind pulled a few sexy strands across his high cheekbones, even as the fading light added a glow to the deep blond shade.
Heart skipping a beat, Tessa’s breath caught in her throat. He looked good. Really good. Pure eye candy. He hadn’t lost his haughty vibe, either. His I’m hot, you’re not strut was still very much in evidence.
The moment reminded her of the time when they’d first become acquainted, more than five years ago. With more than seven hundred ships resting off Maine’s rocky coast, Jake had been one of the archaeologists working in the state program to identify and catalog the wrecks for preservation and recovery. She’d been one of the divers assisting with the surveys.
It hadn’t been love at first sight. Tessa had immediately disliked Jake, thinking him a rude, arrogant know-it-all. He’d treated the divers like flunkies, insisting they go into the water again and again to get the information he wanted—even if it meant taking some big risks.
She’d been the only one who could satisfy his insatiable quest for knowledge, easily penetrating wreckage other divers refused to venture into. Of course, she had an unfair advantage. A mermaid never had to worry about a tank running out of air or getting snagged in a small space.
Tessa suppressed her frown. We were two people who never should have been attracted to each other, but were.
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As compatible as gasoline and a lit match, they’d despised each other. Until they bickered.
At such times, the sparks flew. Somehow the chemistry simmering between them boiled over. Before they knew it, angry words had turned into deep, fierce kisses. Eager hands had ripped away confining clothing. Sex between them was fierce, bordering on brutal.
Remembering the aftermath, Tessa shivered. Oh man. The climax was addicting, pure heaven on earth. Jake liked women. And more than anything else, he liked fucking them.
Feeling heat rise to her cheeks, Tessa pulled in a quick breath to cool herself off. Just thinking about the nasty, frenetic sex they’d had was enough to set her off. She couldn’t erase the past, nor could she entirely forget it. She did the next best thing by simply tolerating it, something not as hard to achieve as she’d first believed. Through the six weeks it had taken to get the expedition into gear, she and Jake had become something she’d believed impossible: friends.
Her hand traveled to the crystal hanging around her neck. “I never thought Ishaldi would be found. Ever.”
Jake laughed. “I will admit you were my inspiration to go looking for it. All I needed was a little time and luck.”
Tessa suppressed a frown. “We all thought you were taking advantage.”
He shook his head. “That is one point you badly misjudged me on. I’ll cop to being a bastard, but I’m absolutely serious about my work. Learning about the Mer was something I couldn’t toss aside and ignore just because we broke up.”
Tessa nibbled her lower lip. “It’s hard to keep a secret like that. Though a lot of Port Rock’s local lore is built around mermaids living in the bay, people believe that’s just to bring in the tourists.”
“Where there’s lore, there’s usually a little bit of fact involved,” Jake said. “Somehow I don’t think people would have a problem with the Mer coming out of the closet, so to speak. Your family has lived on the island for quite a long time. Those who do know you are Mer have accepted it just fine.” He looked out over the water. “And I think once we begin bringing up the relics from Ishaldi, the rest of the world will, too. Once word is out, more Mer may come out of hiding.”