Yours Truly (Billionaires and Brides #2)

by Krista Lakes

  Dr. Algos turned back to me. “You're in the pen today, Izzy. Feed and check the pups, and then you can have the rest of the day off. I don't want you doing any more research until we know we'll have assured access to the Grove.”

  I nodded. “Have you heard anything from the lawyers?”

  Doc shook his head. “Nope. I put another call in, but I they haven't responded yet. It looks like the auction date is pushed back again. Try not to worry, okay?”

  I smiled and nodded. Not worrying was far easier said than done. The Grove was supposed to be the site of my doctoral project as well as a nature preserve. There was a perfect mangrove outcropping just down the road from the research center. The mangroves grew out on a promontory that stretched out into the ocean making a unique habitat. Numerous species of sharks, fish, and marine life used the mangroves to harbor their young until they were big enough to survive in the open ocean. The only problem was that it was on private property. That hadn't been a problem until the owner, who had given us permission to use it, suddenly died. The land was set to go up for auction.

  We teamed up with several other scientists, hoping to buy the property and turn it into a wildlife reserve. The local government wasn't being much help in the process, but we were determined to save the Grove. Unfortunately, it was a prime piece of real estate, and we were going to be cutting it close as it was. The land was due to go up for auction any day now, and I hoped we had enough. If we weren't successful, then the best we could hope for was that the new owner would still allow us access.

  Doc already had grant money lined up to investigate how the nursery habitat of mangrove trees influenced the growth of lemon sharks as part of his current investigations. I had already done months of prep and to get it ready. I had risked it, not knowing we would lose access and already started on some of my research. The Grove was perfect for the thesis I had in mind. If the new owner denied us access, then I had to figure out a new project and my work would be for nothing. Dr. Algos' grant money would disappear. It was all dependent on the Grove.

  I shook my head, clearing the negative thoughts. There was nothing I could do about it right now, and worrying wasn't going to make it better. I was just offered a day off and I was going to take it. I had a new book I wanted to read and I knew a little patch of beach that was just calling my name.

  “You two have fun. Catch lots of sharks,” I called out as Brooke and Dr. Algos climbed aboard the small motor boat. Brooke waved as they cast off and headed into the dark blue waters to find their quarry. I watched them disappear toward the horizon for a moment before turning and heading toward the pens.

  We had two permanent pens and a third temporary one that we could set up when we did large population counts. They looked a lot like swimming pools, except they were attached to the ocean and filled with sand. Only one had occupants, and they were my favorites.

  Sitting quietly on the sandy bottom were two baby nurse sharks. Two baby lemon sharks swam in lazy circles above them. The two lemon sharks were part of a tagging program while the two nurse sharks had been found tangled in fishing line.

  I waded into the shallow water, a familiar thrill coursing through my skin. Every time I got in the water with these creatures, my heart would surge with excitement. These little two-foot long babies would soon be the apex predators in the ocean. I waded out to one of the nurse sharks, moving slowly and deliberately. The first was easy to catch and I checked it over to make sure that it was healing appropriately. I loved the rough shark skin against my fingers.

  I let it go and found the second, performing the same check. They looked healthy and were putting on weight. A veterinarian would come by in a couple of days and check them out again, but I had a wonderful suspicion that we would be releasing them back into the Grove soon. Yet another reason I wanted the Grove to survive.

  I finished checking out the sharks and giving them their feeding. I loved working with the sharks. They were beautiful and deadly, but surprisingly gentle and timid. I had even noticed personality traits the longer I worked with them.

  “Bye, guys, see you tomorrow,” I told the little sharks as I stepped out of their pool and put their feeding supplies away. They didn't respond, but I didn't care.

  Heading back inside, I stripped out of the wetsuit and put on my favorite tankini. Brooke kept trying to convince me to wear one of her itsy-bitsy bikinis, but I liked my more conservative swimsuit choice. I dropped a sundress over my head and grabbed my beach bag. It was time for a relaxing day reading and taking in some vitamin D.

  Sandcastle Kisses: Chapter 6

  My beach spot was on the same property as the Grove, but since it didn't technically have a new owner yet, I figured it was still safe to use as my tanning spot. I set up my towel on a patch of sand and sat down. From my spot, I could see the edge of the Grove as well as a pristine sandy beach. I loved the Grove. Just being near it made my day better.

  A slender woman with dark hair came out of the shadows of the mangroves. She had on khaki shorts with a cute little t-shirt and boots that shouldn't have been in the salty, mucky water of the Grove. She wore an annoyed, sour expression on her face as she headed along a small path back toward the town center. I shook my head at her. Tourists were always doing weird things on the island.

  I dug my toes into the sand, feeling the cool damp of deeper sand mix with the hot dry of the top. The waves shushed gently at the shore, whispering soft nothings that I loved to hear. The sky was clear and blue. Like Noah's eyes.

  My mind went to the night before and to the dreams I had in the morning. Those eyes were going to fuel my dreams for a while. He was more handsome than was fair for a human being. He was also a tourist. No way I was going to get my heart broken for someone who was going to leave me in a week to return to their real life. I had done the right thing turning him down.

  “Hi, Izzy,” a deep voice greeted me, throwing me completely off balance. Standing before me in board shorts and a skin tight t-shirt was the very gorgeous Noah. I wasn't sure how he pulled it off, but he was somehow even more attractive today. He took off his dark sunglasses and smiled down at me.

  “Hi, Noah,” I answered. I ran a hand over my hair, hoping that it wasn't a total disaster. I hadn't planned on meeting a handsome man on a private beach when I left the house this morning. “How are you?”

  “Doing great now,” he replied. His eyes twinkled as I stood up and brushed the sand from my legs. I wasn't sure if it was just my imagination or if there was an extra warmth in his smile that was just for me. “How about you?”

  “Just getting some reading done.” I nodded toward the book on my towel. “I have the day off, so I'm just taking it easy. What are you up to today?”

  “Just wandering around. Seeing the sights of the island.” A thoughtful expression crossed his face, a slight hint of a smile tilting his lips upward. “Would you be interested in some breakfast? There's a little diner down the road that I saw on my way in, and I wanted to try it.”

  “You mean Adele’s? It's fantastic!” I might have sounded too eager, but I didn't care. “Heck yeah, I'm in for breakfast!” I grinned and bent to pick up my stuff. Noah reached for my book as I rolled the towel back up to fit in my bag. Our hands brushed as he gave it to me, sending a warm heat surging through my core.

  Once my bag was packed, Noah offered me his arm as though he were escorting me to a ball rather than down a beach. I giggled and took it, feeling like a princess. His arm was solid and warm beneath my fingers. I was glad I was looking forward and he couldn't see me clearly, because a silly grin and a blush were coating my face.

  “Hey, Izzy,” Adele, the owner, called out as Noah and I walked into the small restaurant. I waved a hello as the door chimed behind us and I went to claim my favorite table. The restaurant was brightly colored and decorated with pink flamingos and parrots. It screamed tourist attraction, but Adele made it homey and warm. I sat down at my favorite table by the window, and Noah followed my lead.


  “You've been here a few times, I take it?” he asked with a smile. I laughed.

  “Yup. Dom over there owns the bar I work at on weekends, and Adele is his wife. The bar is right next door. This is my favorite place to get breakfast.” I slid him a menu. “If you like French toast, Adele makes it from cinnamon rolls.”

  “Cinnamon rolls? I'm sold. I'm having that.” Noah set the menu down and grinned.

  “Yeah, it's my favorite. That or the banana-nut crepes.”

  “Okay, now you're making me rethink my first choice...” He reached for the menu. I put my hand on his to stop him, feeling a quiver in my stomach at his touch.

  “Go with the Cinnamon Roll French Toast. Tomorrow you can come back and get the crepes. Or for dinner. Adele serves breakfast all day.” I let go of his hand and sat back into my chair.

  “This island just keeps getting better and better!” Noah laughed.

  Adele came over in her yellow plaid apron and pale yellow dress. I always thought she was what a grandmother should look like. She was all warm curves, hugs, and smiles. It was part of the appeal of eating at Adele’s. Not only was there amazing food, but it felt like I was always getting spoiled by a favorite relative by coming there.

  “What can I get you folks?” Adele asked.

  “Two of my usual. Bacon and scrambled eggs on mine, please,” I replied politely.

  “Scrambled eggs and sausage links for me. And coffee,” Noah added.

  “You got it. It'll be right out,” Adele promised, taking our menus and bustling off to the kitchen. It was slow now that the breakfast rush was over. The normal waitress must have been on break, so Adele was probably playing both waitress and cook.

  “So, what do you do, Noah? Other than tend bar?” I asked, trying to start a conversation.

  “I buy distressed properties,” he said. A light went out in his blue eyes, like this wasn't something that he enjoyed discussing.

  “That sounds... interesting.” I was surprised at his lack of enthusiasm. Most people were eager to tell others about their work and what they did.

  “Not really. It's actually quite boring,” Noah replied, his voice flat. Adele reappeared at our table with a fresh pot of coffee and poured us each a steaming mug. She left the carafe along with a small pitcher of cream. I eagerly added some to my coffee and poured some sugar in as well. Noah took his black.

  “You must be good at it,” I said once Adele had left.

  “Good at what?” Noah looked at me confused, his dark brows meeting in the center of his forehead.

  “Distressed properties.”

  “What makes you think I'm good at it?” His voice held no emotion, and his eyes were blank. He took a sip of his coffee.

  “Because no one who is friends with Jack Saunders would be able to do something badly.”

  Noah frowned slightly. “So you know who Jack is?”

  “My roommate adores those tabloid magazines. If she knew that 'New York's most eligible bachelor' was in town, she'd flip her lid.” I played with my coffee mug and then looked up at him. “I actually didn't even recognize him until I went home and saw him on the cover of one of her magazines. I am so out of the celebrity loop. If it hadn't been laying on her bed, I never would have made the connection.”

  “Are you going to tell her?” Noah's blue eyes searched my face.

  “Hell no.” I set my coffee cup down. “She'd go off to find him, and I'd get stuck doing all her research work!”

  Noah laughed, and his face relaxed. The light was back in his eyes. He was a good friend to worry about his buddy like that. I couldn't help but like him just a little bit more.

  “So, research work? What do you do?” Noah asked. He leaned in against the table, as if he were actually interested.

  “I'm a marine biologist.”

  “Do you work with dolphins?” Noah's eyes sparkled at the idea.

  I shook my head. “Sharks, actually.”

  “Sharks?” Noah frowned. “Like Jaws?” he made a chomping motion with his hands, and I giggled.

  “Sharks, yes. Jaws, no. Jaws was a great white shark, and they typically don't live in the Caribbean,” I explained gently.

  Noah leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. “You must not have seen Jaws Four, then.”

  “It's what inspired me to become a marine biologist!” I opened my eyes wide in mock enthusiasm, making him laugh. “It's only the worst movie ever,” I said, making a face, and he laughed harder. “I actually mostly study lemon sharks. Not great whites.”

  “Do they look like great whites?” He gave me a serious look. “Please tell me we're going to need a bigger boat.”

  I snorted a laugh, covering my mouth with my hand so I wouldn't spit out my coffee. It wasn't like anyone had never made the joke before, but when he said it, it was hilarious. It took me a second to recover and not shoot coffee out my nose.

  Adele came by then, and dropped off our food. I took a big inhale of the rising steam before diving into the scrumptious feast. This was why my wetsuit was a little tight, but it was more than worth it. Butter dripped off the fried slices of cinnamon roll. The eggs were covered in cheese, and my bacon was the prime level of crispy. Adele had made the perfect breakfast yet again.

  “Holy mother...” Noah said quietly as he chewed his first bite. “Did I die and go to Breakfast Heaven?”

  I just grinned at him and dug into my plate. We ate in companionable silence for a few minutes, the food taking both of our attention away from talking.

  “Have you ever been bit by a shark then?” Noah asked, his blue eyes concentrated entirely on my face. He pushed his empty plate away and leaned forward in his chair, honestly interested in my profession. It was wonderful to get to talk to him and not be constantly interrupted by drink orders.

  “Once, but it was a baby. I didn't even get a good scar out of it.”

  “I can't imagine being in the water with one of those monsters. They kind of freak me out a little bit.” He smiled with just a hint of bashfulness. Like admitting he was afraid of sharks made him somehow less of a man. “How many sharks are in the area?”

  “Well, we've recorded about thirteen species. The island actually has one of the highest populations of sharks in the area,” I told him.

  He paled slightly. “I'm never going in the water again.”

  “Oh, they're not that bad! Sharks are cool!” I reached out and put my hand on his without thinking. “Haven't you seen Shark Week?”

  “Yes. And I've seen all the episodes where people get bitten!”

  I rolled my eyes, but I smiled, taking any sting out of my expression. “Fine. I dare you to come swim with me, then. I'll show you the wonders of the deep.”

  “If my arm gets bitten off, I get yours.”

  I pretended to think about it for a moment. A movement outside the window caught my eye, and I could see the woman with the khaki shorts from earlier looking in various windows of the local shops.

  “You'd look pretty silly with my arm,” I told him, wearing a serious face. “I think it would be too short for you.”

  “Hmm...” He frowned and nodded. “Good point.”

  “How about I take you on a tour of the research pools sometime? You can see a baby shark, and it won't bite you,” I offered.

  “Baby sharks just bite you, then?” he asked with mock seriousness.

  “Only when you are tagging them and they're mad at you,” I said with a smirk.

  “Sounds good to me.” He grinned at me and then followed my gaze out the window to the woman in khaki shorts.

  “Let's get out of here,” he said quickly, throwing a fifty dollar bill on the table. Our bill couldn't have been more than thirty dollars even with a generous tip, but I knew Adele wouldn't mind the extra money.

  Noah grabbed my hand, a grin spreading across his handsome features as he pulled me out the restaurant and back toward the beach.

  Sandcastle Kisses: Chapter 7

  Noah didn't drop my
hand as we walked out of the restaurant. He didn't drop it as we walked out of the town square, or as we meandered down the pathway leading to the beach. I wasn't about to let go either, even though I could feel mine going sweaty and hot. I didn't want to lose our connection.

  We crested a small hill to the beach, and I could see the ocean laid out before us. The golden sunshine sparkled on the waves, the white light almost too bright to look at. We stood there for a moment, hand in hand, staring out at the waves.

  “How long are you in town for again?” I whispered. I had been thinking the words since we met, but I hadn't found the courage to say them until now. Despite my best intentions, I liked Noah. Really liked him. But he was a tourist and was going to leave as soon as his vacation was done. It was better just not to get attached. I didn't let go of his hand, though.

  Noah stared out at the water for a moment before answering, his eyes distant and his voice quiet. “Just a couple more days. I really only came for the party last night.” He turned and smiled gently. “You can't say no to a Jack Saunders party.”

  “He would definitely be a hard man to say 'no' to.” I turned to look out at the water again. I loved the way the blue of the sky melded with the blue of the water, obscuring the horizon. I wanted the ocean to go on for forever, and I liked the illusion that it did.

  Noah suddenly disengaged our handhold and took off for the water. He sprinted across the sandy beach and ran into the foam of the waves. I hurried after him, afraid he had seen something that needed rescuing. Dolphins had been known to wash up on shore, or even exhausted swimmers.

  When I caught up to him, he held up a small bucket with various plastic shovels attached to the handle. They were just cheap, plastic beach toys, but he held them up in victory as though he had rescued a mermaid.