The ocean holds millions of species, and some of those creatures are the stuff of legends.
Niall Karson is a Nixie prince, a merman, one of nearly a hundred sons of the king of the Briny Nix. He’s sent to walk on dry land to ascertain the threat of an offshore oil drilling company looking for possible drilling sites in the ocean near his father’s kingdom. Inside the lobby, Niall is nearly run over by Carlye Layton, who he discovers is not only the woman heading up the oceanology research for the company, she’s his Adelfi Psychi, his soul mate. Unfortunately, he realizes that where Carlye’s company plans to drill is far too close to his people’s home for safety, and he must find a way to stop their plans. Can Niall figure out a way to win Carlye’s heart and still save his people? Or will Carlye turn her back on him for using her for information?
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Aquatic Attraction
Copyright © 2011 Charlie Richards
ISBN: 978-1-55487-ARC
Cover art by Martine Jardin
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.
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Aquatic Attraction
Tales of the Briny Nix
By
Charlie Richards
Dedication
To Jenn. Thank you for your steadfast support, your willingness to listen to outlandish ideas without judgment, and for occasionally cracking the whip!
Chapter One
Niall tried sucking in a deep breath and spent the next twenty seconds coughing up water. He bent over at the waist and rested his hands on his knees as he regained a semblance of composure. “Damn, I hate shifting to human,” he wheezed. Finish the shift before trying to breathe through my nose. What a juvenile mistake.
He felt a smack on his back and stumbled forward a step. “No, you don’t.” Niall glanced up to see Branson grinning down at him. “You’re just out of practice. How long has it been? Thirty years since you’ve been topside?”
Nodding, Niall straightened to his full six-foot-two-inch height and stretched. He took a few steps on the well-muscled legs he’d just formed and realized, with some relief, he hadn’t lost the ability to move as a human. The man to his left chuckled, and Niall looked toward him.
Drew grinned, watching him. “Just like riding a bike, eh?”
Niall shook his head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” When both men chuckled, he rolled his shoulders in irritation and focused his attention on the beach. They’d come ashore in a secluded cove, and Niall looked out over the ocean waves. A strange sense of foreboding crashed over him, like a wave breaking over the beach. Shaking off the feeling, he glanced at a narrow trail leading up out of the rocks. “Is that the way?”
All mirth disappearing, Branson nodded. “Stay behind me, Prince.”
Niall shook his head as he followed the slightly shorter man out of the rocks and into a forest of tall trees. He glanced around, amazed anew at the massive trunks. He wondered how he’d forgotten the beauty of the surface world. Thirty years is a long time. “You can’t call me that up here, Branson,” he reminded absently.
“Yes, sir.”
He heard the hesitation in Branson’s voice and smiled faintly. “We’re business associates, remember? It’s Niall Karson.”
He almost grinned at his two friends’ non-committal grunts. Though they’d all grown up together, played together as young spawn, both Branson and Drew took formality very seriously. Once they’d become royal guards, Niall had watched the gap grow between them. He’d always felt it too bad that they couldn’t continue to look at him as the same merman they’d grown up with.
Pulling his thoughts to the present, Niall spotted the car through the trees. “Nice,” he murmured.
Now, Drew grinned. “Gotta say the cars have vastly improved in the last thirty years. There are clothes in the trunk.”
Niall glanced down at the sarong the men of his people automatically created to cover their genitalia when they shifted shape. “What? Not appropriate?” he joked.
His two companions chuckled, glancing at their own sarongs. While Niall’s was a deep, royal blue, his two friends created green sarongs. Drew’s a pale, metallic color while Branson wore a dark, seaweed green. Drew felt under the tire well of the front, passenger wheel and pulled out a small box. From it, he extracted the car’s key. He ran his hand over the BMW’s side lovingly before opening the trunk and tossing a small satchel to each man.
Five minutes later, dressed in slacks, dress shirts, and ties, they drove north toward Seattle.
* * * *
Carlye Layton glared at the printouts. “This makes no sense,” she muttered irritably, staring at the small dark spots on the aerial read-outs in front of her.
“What doesn’t?”
Her head snapped up. Her eyes widened when she saw her coworker standing in the doorway. “What are you doing back already, Deb? I thought you were at lunch.”
Deb rolled her eyes. “I was at lunch…two hours ago! Don’t you have a meeting to get to?”
“It’s not until three o’clock,” Carlye replied, waving her hand distractedly as she returned her focus to her computer screen.
“Uh, yeah,” Deb moved further into Carlye’s office and pointed at the computer monitor. “And it’s 2:45 now.”
Carlye looked to the left at her computer monitor. “What?” Holding up her wrist, she stared at her watch. 12:32. Hadn’t it read that the last time she’d looked? “Oh no! My watch stopped,” she wailed. Carlye jumped to her feet and started grabbing papers. She pulled a mirror from her purse and checked her make-up, grimacing at her shoulder length brown hair. She’d planned on doing her hair in the women’s room before the meeting, but now it would have to be pulled back into a ponytail. And she didn’t have time for her contacts either, she realized, pushing her glasses up further on her nose. “Unbelievable,” she moaned, piling several folders into her arms.
Deb grabbed her shoulders and forced Carlye to stop. Staring into her eyes, she said, “Breathe, Carlye. It’s okay. Just breathe.”
Her friend knew how much she hated public speaking. She was a scientist, one of the best in the company, not a people person. She didn’t give presentations often and had only agreed to this one because she had no choice. Her partner, Greg, who normally handled the chart explanations, was out of town on vacation, and Vance, her boss, had scheduled a last minute meeting.
“Okay,” Carlye said after several deep breathes. “I’m fine. I can do this.”
Deb nodded. “You can do this.”
“There’s nothing to it,” Carlye added, though not sure she believed it.
After a quick hug, Deb let go of her and whispered, “Good luck.”
Carlye moved quickly through the halls, flipping through the papers in her arms. She turned a corner and crashed
into a wall of solid muscle. Letting out a squeak as her folders went flying, she stumbled backward. A pair of large hands grabbed her shoulders, lending support. Tipping her head back, she looked up, and up, until her gaze met the most brilliant blue eyes she’d ever seen. Eyes like the sea on a calm clear day, and then she realized they sparkled with a healthy mixture of concern and mirth.
“I’m so sorry,” she managed to get out.
When Carlye tried to take a step back, he didn’t release her. “Are you all right?”
His soft tenor washed over her like a caress, and she fought back a shudder. Wrenching her gaze from his eyes, Carlye again attempted to back away from the man. This time he let her go. “Yes. Thank you. I apologize. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
His firm lips curved into a half-smile. “I could see that.”
She glanced up at him again, and this time her scientist mind analyzed everything. Six foot two. Blue eyes. Blond hair. Handsome, aristocratic facial features. Sexy smile. Broad shoulders. Muscular build. Navy blue business suit. Expensive cut. Her eyes skipped past him to the two gentlemen behind him, first man two inches shorter, second man one inch taller, and both wearing similar suits.
Shit! Did I just run down a client? Could this day get any worse? Dropping to her knees, she started collecting folders to hide the crimson burn staining her cheeks. To her horror, the man knelt beside her and helped.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, just a case of nerves. I’m about to speak in a meeting, and I hate speaking in front of others. I’d rather do anything else in the world.” And once she opened her mouth, Carlye couldn’t shut up. She willed herself to stop talking, but she couldn’t, “I’d even be willing to go surfing, and I can’t surf at all. I always end up face planting right into a wave and it hurts like the dickens! And I can’t swim well at all.” She felt his hand on her elbow as he helped her back to her feet.
“Easy there, miss. Just take a deep breath and let it out.”
Feeling utterly humiliated, Carlye did as she was told. She felt his hand skim from her elbow, up the back of her arm, and back down again. He repeated the move twice more. Each stroke sent a tingling heat through her system. Her breathing slowed, and a surprising sense of calm swept through her from his point of contact.
“Better?” he asked softly, staring into her eyes.
“Yeah,” Carlye managed to get out. “Thanks.”
The man nodded. “Of course. Good luck with your meeting.”
Carlye nodded and smiled at him. “Thanks.”
My meeting! She glanced at the clock in the lobby, 2:55 PM. Then she looked at Valerie sitting behind the reception desk, taking everything in with way too much interest. Without a backward glance, she bolted across the lobby, heading toward the Green Conference Room.
Chapter Two
The half-smile still in place, Niall stared after the retreating woman. He enjoyed the way her lab coat flared at her hips and skimmed the tops of her thighs. Her black slacks were form fitting and showed off her legs. And he couldn’t take his gaze off her as she hurried from the room. Niall felt a nudge against his left arm and glanced at Branson.
“Business, remember?”
His smile lifted further. “And I can’t mix in pleasure why?”
Drew chuckled from his right. “Meeting first, Pr…Niall,” he amended.
“You’re right, of course,” he said softly, glancing down the hall where the woman had disappeared. So why had his body tightened with lust as soon as he’d touched her? The urge to pull her closer and feel her body pressed flush with his had been nearly overpowering. It had taken every ounce of self-control he had to release her. It hadn’t been that long, had it? As Niall thought back, he realized it had indeed been many years since any merwoman had interested him.
But a human?
“And what was with the calming charm?” Branson hissed. “You’d better hope no other creatures are around that could sense that.”
Calming charm? Damn, he hadn’t even thought. It had been instinct, as if he had to do whatever it took to ease the woman’s concern. Who was she?
He couldn’t explain his actions to his friends. Niall couldn’t explain it to himself. Ignoring their questioning looks, he strode to the receptionist and introduced them. “I’m Niall Karson. My associates and I have a meeting with Vance Larson.”
“Of course, sir,” the blonde woman behind the counter said. She smiled coyly as she gave him a once over with her eyes. “Let me get him for you.” The woman hit a couple buttons on her phone before saying into the mouthpiece, “Mr. Larson? Mr. Karson and his party have arrived. Yes, I’ll tell him.” She disconnected the phone and smiled up at Niall. “He’ll be right out. Is there anything else I can do for you, Mr. Karson?”
Niall watched the woman, Vanessa if the nameplate on the desk was accurate, lick her lips and smile. He barely kept from lifting an amused brow, before replying coolly, “That will be all. Thank you.” Before she could respond, he turned away and pretended to stare at the pictures of ships and ocean oil drills on the lobby walls.
“If that scientist lady had asked that, you would have been all over her,” Branson murmured in his ear.
Niall grinned, not bothering to deny it. The woman certainly piqued his interest. Seconds later, a heavy man of medium height strode into the reception area. He stuck out his hand, confirming Niall’s suspicions when he introduced himself as Vance Larson. He took the offered hand, giving it a firm squeeze as he shook it. The man didn’t flinch or seem surprised, telling Niall there was plenty of muscle hidden underneath Vance’s bulky frame.
Niall and his companions followed Vance out of the room in the opposite direction his mystery woman disappeared. From the corner of his eye, he saw a nasty smirk cross Vanessa’s face as she slipped from behind the reception desk and headed down the hall the brunette had followed. With an effort, he focused on Vance.
“I’m so pleased you could join the investor’s presentation at the last minute. The more the merrier in this economy, eh?”
Niall didn’t agree, but he kept his opinion hidden behind a false smile. “How long have you been looking at this area to develop?” he asked. Since they’d only just noticed the drill tanker last month, he hoped they hadn’t been probing his people’s neck of the ocean for too long before that. His people’s safety, the Briny Nixes, depended on anonymity. It was Niall’s job to assess the situation and figure out a way to turn the humans away.
“Dr. Layton will explain all that in the meeting,” Vance assured. When he led them into the room, his eyes narrowed for just a second.
Niall thought the man’s smile appeared forced.
“Please help yourself to some refreshments and have a seat. We’ll begin shortly.” Then Vance pivoted on his heel and left.
Niall turned, nodded at the room’s half dozen occupants, and headed toward the counter in the back. He helped himself to a cup of coffee, emptying several packets of sugar into it, and took a seat at the end of the table. He and his companions discreetly checked out the other four men and two women at the table. Two minutes later, the opening of the door caught his attention. Vance returned, along with Niall’s mystery woman.
He straightened in his chair as Vance welcomed them, thanked them for coming, said a quick introduction about offshore oil drilling, and introduced Doctor Carlye Layton. She stood, smiling tightly. From experience, Niall knew she didn’t stand more than five foot seven, even with the two-inch black pumps she wore. Her white lab coat fluttered around her waist, and he had a sudden desire to remove the coat and see if her scoop necked blouse had long sleeves.
When Drew bumped his leg under the table, Niall jerked to attention. He flashed the man a wry grin and focused on the doctor’s words.
“As seen in the topographical map,” she said, pointing to the view screen, “the sea slopes very gradually for over eighty miles. Two months ago, we sent a drilling ship out to scout the area and take sampl
es every five miles in a grid pattern. From those samples, plus the satellite mapping, there is a good possibility for oil under all that flat land. The results are very favorable. Also, with our extensive experience working drilling sights in the Gulf of Mexico, we are well equipped to set up and run a prosperous drill in just fifteen months.”
Thirty minutes later, Niall couldn’t fathom why the good doctor had been nervous about public speaking. If he’d actually wanted to invest in this venture, he would have been sold. But he didn’t. When areas on the southern edge of the maps were enlarged, he nearly jumped out of his seat. The underwater pictures couldn’t have been taken more than two miles from the edge of the Briny Nix population. By the tension in the neck and hands of his companions, he knew they realized it, too.
Niall needed more information and could think of a very pleasurable way to get it.
* * * *
Carlye kept her forced smile on her face as the last of the prospective investors strode out of the conference room, leaving her alone with her boss. She’d just about died from embarrassment when she realized the man from the lobby was sitting in the room. She’d been unable to meet his eyes even once.
“Well done, Carlye,” Vance said, grinning happily. “I’m going to make certain that all of our guests make it out okay.”
“Thank you, Vance. If you need me for anything else, I’ll be in my office.” She watched him nod and leave the room. She turned to collect the rest of her paperwork and shut down the computer used for her presentation. A moment later, Carlye nearly leaped from her skin when she felt a hand gently caress her arm. Spinning around, she found the investor from the lobby a couple steps behind her.
He grinned, and the action sent her heart beating double time. Every cell in her body sizzled with awareness of his innate masculinity. “I apologize for startling you. I said your name, but you didn’t seem to hear.”
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