Once Upon a Summer

by Brooke Moss

Brightly-colored butterflyfish flittered in and out of the chunky volcanic rock as Kyra swam closer through the calm water of the Basin. The sheltered, man-made swimming area just down the coast from Mon Repos in the town of Bargara was a popular destination for families to interact with the glorious specimens of sealife without the dangers of rough water or sharks. Kyra enjoyed her weekends here, since arriving in the small community.

  After Dylan had discovered a second clutch of eggs had been stolen, fear and anger rumbled through her and unsettled her stomach. Feeling on edge not knowing if those baby turtles were going to make it, she’d wanted a distraction to quiet her thoughts and pacify her emotions. She’d desperately needed the Basin today and the therapy it offered her soul.

  Unlike the skittish, iridescent damselfish that kept close to the safety of the thick, black rocks, the curious butterflyfish snuck out from crevices as though trying to discover if Kyra was there to feed them like many of the tourists who dropped in for a dip. While she wasn’t one of those extra friendly visitors who offered them bread or other tidbits – believing instead that the fish should inevitably find their own source of natural food in their surroundings – she was still able to admire the stunning creatures up close as they glided through the water in front of her. The underwater world was incredible. Life there seemed so vibrant, just magical.

  Back home in Hervey Bay, about an hour and a half south-east of Bundaberg, she would often spend her free time at the beach, snorkeling or swimming, or just enjoying the sun, the sand and the water. There was something about the wide-open space of the ocean. It called to her, rejuvenated her, and made her feel free. The thought of being stuck inland was a nightmare. It was one of the reasons she’d decided to complete her Bachelor of Animal Ecology at the University of the Sunshine Coast in her hometown, so she could always remain close to the water.

  Needing air, Kyra rose to the surface, blowing through the mouthpiece of her snorkel to clear the tube of water. Freeing it from her lips, the snorkel hung to the side of her jaw as she lifted the underwater mask from her eyes to rest atop her head. She breathed deeply, sucking in fresh air before licking the saltiness of the sea water from her lips. Her hands sculled the water easily, side to side, as she punched her slender legs, treading water slowly to keep herself afloat during high tide.

  She could see the beach, see the colorful children’s playground in the surrounding parkland to her right and the choppy waves hitting the long sandy shore of Kelly’s Beach to her left. It was a unique perspective, seeing the world from out in the water. She felt like a mermaid spying on the life of the land-folk. Kyra saw kids building sandcastles with their parents, women sunbathing in bikinis on vibrantly colored towels and a group of boys kicking around a soccer ball.

  She noticed a familiar figure. He came from Kelly’s Beach and headed toward the Basin. Dark green shorts hung to his knees and a yellow towel lay wrapped around his neck, covering nearly half of the muscular physique she’d spent many hours daydreaming about. Before she could stop herself, she’d paddled closer to shore, pulling herself forward with the smooth, sliding strokes of a strong breaststroker. She was on her feet in the shallows by the time he reached the Basin’s foreshore.

  “Jake.” She waved a hand as she stepped free of the water and onto the dry sand.

  He turned to look at her, his features harsh as though contorted with frustration. Kyra realized she still had the snorkel gear plastered to her head.

  Feeling the heat of embarrassment flush her cheeks, she yanked the plastic mask with its connected tube from her forehead and ran her free hand through the damp mass of her strawberry blonde bob to flatten any unruly strands.

  His expression warmed as he watched her, a smile pulling at his lips as he changed direction and headed toward her.

  “What are you up to, Shine? Playing with the fishes?”

  “Something like that,” she agreed, fighting back the girlish giggle that wanted to burst from her lips as soon as those gorgeous brown eyes had met hers.

  His gaze dropped and roamed over her body for a moment. His head nodded slightly with the movement. Kyra’s nipples hardened under his stare, and the heated tingling of desire clawed at her. Warmth blossomed over her skin. She glanced down, checking that her body was still hidden beneath the flimsy material of the red and white frangipani bikini.

  “Lucky fishes,” he drawled, dragging his gaze back to hers.

  She chuckled, suddenly tense. “You’ve seen me in this bikini before, Jake. It’s nothing special.”

  “Nothing special.” He stepped forward, closing the gap between them. “I would never say that.”

  His fingers reached up, skimming her collarbone before slipping under the thin rope of material that formed the halter around her neck. He slid them along her skin, the hot, rough, dryness of him against the soft, moistness of her. They caressed their way up to her neck and then back down, just above the cup of the bikini’s bra. He let his fingers linger there, his chocolate brown eyes gazing deep into her own.

  Jake stepped back from her reluctantly. “What are you doing tomorrow night?”

  Her dark blonde brows narrowed as she tried to calm her ragged breathing. “Sunday?”

  He nodded.

  “That’s family night,” Kyra began again. “I mean, you know we can’t miss family night. Your dad always invites everyone from the Turtle Center and the Science Center for a big barbeque. Everyone who wants to come is invited.”

  He shrugged. “Maybe we don’t want to come this time?”

  She giggled. “And, what are we going to do instead?”

  Jake reached for her free hand, holding it, cool and damp against the warmth of his. “Go out for dinner. Somewhere nice. Together.”

  Her heart palpitated a quick rhythmic jig at the prospect of some intimate alone time together.

  “Are you sure?”

  He gave her a sexy smirk. “Well, we could skip dinner altogether.”

  Kyra was certain her heart actually stopped for a second while a lustful ache shot through her limbs. Something carnal deep within her growled, while a girly giggle passed her lips. Mortified, she cut it short and cleared her throat. “Let’s just start with dinner and see where things go from there.”

  Jake grinned. “Sounds good.”

  He took a step back, releasing her hand. As he turned to leave, Kyra reached for him. Her hand met the taut muscle of his forearm and she glanced up. Her five-foot-eight frame required her to tilt her head back to look up into his eyes.

  “Watch it, Shine, you know I’m not into clingy girls,” he teased.

  “Yes.” She shook her head. “I mean, no.” Kyra chuckled nervously again and released his arm, holding her hands up in surrender. “Not clingy. I just wanted to ask you something.”

  He seemed pleased, smug almost and for some reason that still made her feel gooey inside.

  “Ask what?”

  She bit her lower lip. “Why now?” She lowered her hand and fiddled with the snorkeling gear. “Why are you asking me out now? I don’t mean to ruin my chances. I’m just curious. I’ve been here for four months. What made you decide to ask now?”

  Jake frowned, looking somewhat perplexed before his face brightened again. “Would you believe money? My father finally increased my allowance. It sounds pathetic being that I’m twenty-four and allowances should be a thing of the past, but he pays me a pittance to work at the Center. The extra money means I can actually have a life and start doing more things, like taking you out.” He grinned at her. “I wanted our first date to be somewhere nice.”

  Kyra’s heart swelled and she felt all fuzzy inside. He’d waited so he could please her. It was more romantic than she’d thought possible from him.

  “That is the sweetest thing,” she told him. “But you didn’t have to. I would’ve been happy having a cheap picnic of fish and chips.”

  His grin faltered slightly. “What? Like on the grass with the ants?”

  She shrugged wis
tfully. “Or on the sand. Really, Jake, I’m pretty easily pleased.”

  His smug, smile returned. “That’s what I was counting on.”

  Kyra laughed at his teasing and set him free with a friendly wave of her hand.

  *

  Dylan sighed loudly and rubbed his eyelids with his fingertips. He’d put in a long day, one which had turned into a long night. Now the glow of the computer screen had begun to get to him. It probably hadn’t helped that he hadn’t switched on any lights in the large workroom after the sun set. At the time, leaving the research for his article on loggerhead turtles to brighten his environment hadn’t seemed as important. Besides, the security lights on the wide porches would guide him safely downstairs or in tonight’s case, to the spare room.

  Max had created the Merchant Marine Science Center from two refurbished, double-story Queenslander-style homes linked together by paths and wooden platforms. While one of the spacious, timber buildings comprised the staff quarters, bathrooms and a communal kitchen. The other was where Max and Dylan kept their offices and where all the science happened. It created a terrific base of operations, providing something many organizations lacked – housing for regular staff as well as for visiting national and international specialists and aficionados. It meant the Center was regularly frequented by some of the most prominent experts in the field and the research there was always world-leading.

  Dylan saved his article, backing it up on the external hard drive, before shutting down the computer. He looked at the glowing hands on the dial of his wristwatch. It was just after ten. While his home was only up Mon Repos Road a little way and down Harmony Avenue, he often found it more convenient to sleep on base. Besides, if he couldn’t rest, he could jump back on the computer or head into the lab.

  He knew Max, who lived in the converted apartment above the site’s enormous garage, thought he was a fixture here, but neither of them seemed to mind. Max had even suggested for Dylan to keep the key to the spare room and make it his own. But Dylan hadn’t taken the more permanent leap.

  After locking the workroom door, he strode along the wooden slats of the porch then crossed the platform that linked the second stories of both buildings together. His footsteps were silent against the constant chirping of the cheerful crickets in the bushland around the property. It was pleasing to hear the noises of the night and know the insect life was happy. It was only when it was silent, they had reason to be concerned.

  When he reached the other side, he went to the first door and unlocked it. His bag from the night before still lay on the bed. Luckily, he’d stuffed a few extra shirts inside on the off chance he’d decided to crash again, but the blue jeans he’d put on that morning would have to last another day. He started to unbutton his checkered shirt, but thought better of it. Snatching the little leather case which held his toiletries, he headed back out the door and to the communal bathroom in the middle of that level.

  He made his way down the corridor to a comfortable changing space, complete with wooden benches, wall racks with coat hooks, and a line of washbasins below a wide, wall-length mirror. He took out his toothbrush, squeezed some paste on the end and began brushing his teeth at a basin. He could hear the sound of someone showering, but he couldn’t quite distinguish where the sound was coming from. Using the mirror, Dylan glanced toward the two short corridors at each end of the room, noting the familiar picture of a mermaid on one and a merman on the other. The space in-between held two larger lockable rooms, one marked as a unisex bathroom, the other handicapped shower and toilet facilities. To ensure his staff and guests were happy, Max had had both floors fitted with identical facilities, which were accessible by internal and external stairs and ramps.

  As he rinsed his mouth, cleaned and dried the toothbrush, the sound of showering water stopped. He knew it was likely to be Jake, having come home from a night out partying. Even though Jake’s room was on the lower level, he often ventured upstairs whenever the mood took him. Or it could possibly be Heinrich, the biological oceanographer visiting from the German Marine Research Consortium whose room was next to the spare. Or maybe it was Kyra. Her room was only at the other end of the second floor. That thought had him lingering, even after he’d washed his face, using a hand-towel from the supplied pile to pat his face dry.

  Dylan’s heart skipped a beat, his breath catching as the sound of bare feet slapping against tiles seemed to near. He glanced up, looking through the mirror at the brightly lit corridor with the small image of a mermaid, hopeful that his preference might be correct. The footsteps grew louder and then there was a gruff, scoffing sound.

  “It’s only you, O’Day,” Jake sneered with disappointment. “I thought I might have been lucky.”

  Dylan’s gaze shot to the other side of the room, noting the half-naked playboy, before he turned to face him. “Sorry to disappoint you, Jake.” He didn’t bother to hide the sarcasm.

  Jake’s grin was reptilian as he approached the washbasin, his bare chest and ash-brown hair still glistened from the shower. He was shorter than Dylan, leaner where he was bulky, and sinewy where Dylan was strong, but he was younger by nearly a decade, something Dylan couldn’t compete with when it came to Kyra.

  “No bother.” Jake leaned his towel-covered hip on the edge of the porcelain and crossed his arms over his hairless chest. “I’ve got a date tomorrow night. I’m bound to get lucky then.”

  Disdain creased his face. “Tomorrow’s Sunday, that’s family night. You know your father prefers you to attend.”

  Jake laughed haughtily. “Team bonding and all, it’s not really my scene. Besides, Kyra jumped at the opportunity to pike out. We’re going to Kacy’s instead.”

  An icy chill gripped Dylan’s heart and his limbs turned to lead. Jake and Kyra were going out to a restaurant, on a date? His throat went dry. Maybe Kyra had found some good qualities in Jake that Dylan had missed? Some admirable characteristics he shared with his father? If that were true, then why did Dylan feel such a strong compulsion to protect her from him?

  Jake spat out another condescending laugh. “What’s up, old man? You can’t possibly be surprised she wants a piece of this,” he gestured to his chiseled abdominal muscles and then shrugged proudly. “A lot of ladies do.”

  Dylan gritted his teeth until it hurt his jaw. He couldn’t punch him, could he? Maybe Max would forgive him. Clenching one fist at his side, Dylan reached out and grasped his leather toiletries case.

  “You better look after her, Jake,” Dylan bit the words out. “She’s only an intern here. We’re the ones in power, so we have to protect her.”

  Jake made a harsh scoffing sound in the back of his throat. “I’m not her parent. She’s a big girl. She can make her own decisions. It’s not my fault if she gets hurt and it’s not like there are any rules against staff and interns dating.”

  No, just common decency and good morals. “Just use your head.” Dylan nearly pleaded, though he was sure it wouldn’t do any good. “Don’t do anything stupid and if she says no, she means it.”

  Jake’s sneery smile was full of irritation and ferocity, but Dylan ignored it and turned his back on him to leave.

  “You must think I’m a real loser,” Jake called after him.

  Dylan shook his head slightly, refusing to turn around as he continued to stride away. Loser wasn’t exactly the right description, his would’ve included more expletives. He raised a hand above his shoulder to wave a curt goodbye. “Night, Jake.”

  There was a muffled growl behind him, something along the lines of ‘I’ll show you’, but Dylan was too tired to wait for Jake to show him anything.

  CHAPTER THREE

  “Come on, Shine. Stay for another drink. It’s still early.”

  Kyra stood with her hand on the door handle of Jake’s car as she waited for him to unlock it. His hand was in her other one, his grip firm, not quite pulling. She looked back at him and laughed cheerfully.

  They’d just left the waterfront restaurant in
Bargara after a delicious meal and a somewhat romantic evening together. Now they dawdled in the carpark adjacent to the beachfront. Much to her surprise, Jake had kept things friendly and sweet. His gentlemanly manners were in full force, pulling her chair out and holding her hand. She’d expected to be nearing second base by dessert and yet, here they were, still holding hands, and waiting on their first kiss.

  She was tempted to accept his offer and see where that led them, but she’d promised Max she’d drop in to the barbeque before it ended. Besides, she wasn’t really a sleep-with-the-guy-on-the-first-date kind of girl – even for someone as gorgeous as Jake.

  Kyra was undeniably attracted to him, both in looks and personality, but still she felt hesitant. Was she waiting for something? A sign? Or for him to prove how he really felt? She wouldn’t shy away from a kiss if it was offered, but anything below the waist would have to wait. Second dates were always better anyway, and even though he hadn’t yet popped the question for one, she was sure it was coming.

  “I can’t,” she pleaded playfully with him. “I promised I’d stop by.”

  He frowned at her like an irritated child on the verge of a tantrum and she laughed again.

  “Don’t be like that.” She crooned in a soothing tone. “We can drop in to say hi, grab a couple of beers, then head out the back and sit under the stars.”

  Jake’s lower lip poked out in a childish pout. “Yeah, with the bugs.”

  Kyra narrowed her eyes, her lips twitching in a teasing smirk. “I thought you were a man of the wilderness, isn’t that what you’re always telling me? You love all animals, even the incy-wincy ones.”

  He smiled and stepped closer, slipping a comforting arm around her shoulders. “Sure, I love them all – as long as they respect my space. I live inside. The creepy crawlies stay outside.”

  She cuddled closer to him and laughed. “A man after my own heart.”

  Jake slipped his hand into the back pocket of his jeans. His black sedan beeped, its lights flashing in response to the unlocking signal from the car key.