“It’s Tanner, and we have a rule. We can’t ignore each other’s calls unless we’re in a life-or-death situation.”
Olivia had to smile at the look on his face. “This is hardly life or death, Cole.”
He looked down at himself and she followed suit. His arousal was making a tent of the front of his basketball shorts.
“Speak for yourself,” he muttered, and answered the phone without a greeting. He listened for thirty seconds, swore viciously, and shoved the phone back in his pocket.
“Well?” she asked, already knowing.
“I’ve got to go.” He set himself away from her with grim regret. “Remember where we’re at,” he said, shoving the ties in his pocket.
Her thighs quivered and she took another look at the way he was straining the front of his shorts.
He followed her gaze and a sound like a growl escaped his throat, along with a rough laugh. “Not helping,” he said gruffly, and adjusted himself.
And then he was gone.
Remember where we were at? she thought, having to lean against the desk for support.
She wasn’t likely to forget.
Chapter 19
Cole headed straight for the hut after Tanner’s call.
Tanner wasn’t there, but Sam’s dad was. Mark worked for them part time, along with Becca when she wasn’t teaching. He answered phones and handled client needs.
Mark looked up from the gear he was cataloguing and nodded at Cole. “How’s the shoulder?”
“Totally fine,” Cole said.
Mark grinned at the lie. “You’re as bad as the two idiots you’re saddled with.”
“Speaking of the two idiots, what’s up?”
“Sam’s in the warehouse. Tanner’s here somewhere, checking diving equipment, seeing what we need to order for next year.”
Their diving season was just about over. Not many people out there wanted to brave the fall and winter waters. Sam would spend the winter holed up in the warehouse making boats to spec for clients who had disposable cash. Tanner tended to head south. Way south, across a few borders into South America, where he hired himself out as a diving expert for big bucks.
Cole didn’t get much of a break, but that was by choice. There were plenty of clients who wanted to go winter deep-sea fishing, or out cruising, so he more than anyone tended to keep busy all year long.
Heading down the dock, he boarded the boat. There was a line of equipment portside, in three piles. As Cole stopped in front of the gear, Tanner emerged from the water onto the swimming platform, pulling the diving gear from his face.
“What’s up?” Cole asked.
Tanner shoved his wet hair back and tossed the mask into the far right pile. “Separating the shit gear from the good gear. I’m going to need to spend some money. The rental gear didn’t hold up.”
They had done a much bigger rental business this year than they’d anticipated, which was good. None of them had realized how hard they’d be working, which wasn’t quite as good. On the rigs, they’d worked their asses off for years. The goal had been to come here and enjoy life.
Tanner went belowdecks. By the time Cole followed, he’d stripped out of his wetsuit and was standing in the middle of the galley buck naked, dripping wet.
“Christ,” Cole said, and tossed him a towel. “Cover that shit up.”
Tanner swiped the towel over his head to dry his hair and then made a halfhearted attempt to dry his face, shoulders, and arms before wrapping the towel low and loose on his hips. “I’ve got a problem.”
“So you said on the phone,” Cole said. “You have some craptastic timing, by the way.”
Tanner’s brows went up. “I interrupt anything good?”
“Let’s just say you owe me. Big.”
Tanner looked at him for a long moment. “You were with Olivia.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Didn’t have to,” Tanner said. “Face it, you can’t keep shit to yourself.”
“I can when I want to.”
Tanner was quiet for a beat. “Two weeks ago you fell into the water and needed a rescue—”
“Jesus, I misstepped. I fell. No rescue. And you’ve never made a stupid mistake?”
“I’ve made plenty, as you damn well know. Now shut your pie hole a second and listen.” Tanner pointed at Cole’s mouth when he opened it. “You’ve been going twenty-four/seven since we got here, for two straight years.”
“We all have,” Cole said, unable to keep it zipped.
“Yeah,” Tanner said. “But it’s different. Sam gets off on the boats he makes, so that’s not work to him. Diving is the same for me. But you, you work around the clock, not because it’s your passion but because you want the charter company to succeed, and—”
“Like you don’t want that?”
“—And because you don’t want to deal.”
Cole stared at him, getting pissed off. “Deal with what?”
“You know what. Gil’s death. Your dad’s death. Both unexpected and huge blows—”
Cole made a no-shit-Sherlock sound and shoved his hands into his pockets rather than punch something. Like Tanner’s face.
“And then there’s Susan and the way she left you—”
“Okay,” Cole said tightly. “We’re not going there.”
“—On the day of Gil’s funeral.”
Right, like Cole had forgotten not only being dumped on the worst day of his life, but finding out that his best friend and his almost-fiancée had fallen in love.
Behind his back.
“I know you think you’ve moved on,” Tanner said, “but you haven’t, at least not until now. That’s why we’re happy about Olivia. She’s the first woman to catch your attention since—”
Cole spun on his heel and started off the boat.
Tanner grabbed his arm.
Cole shoved him hard.
“Fine.” Tanner lifted his hands and backed off. “It’s best that we don’t tangle right now, anyway.”
“I don’t tangle with naked-ass motherfuckers.”
Tanner’s smile was much more real this time. “Aw, now you’re just trying to hurt my tender feelings.”
“You called me here,” Cole said. “I’m giving you five seconds to get to your point.”
“Christ, take a Midol already.” Tanner dropped the towel and snatched up a pair of Levi’s. “I needed to ask you something.”
“The answer is yes, you’re definitely suffering cold water shrinkage.”
Tanner snorted as he pulled up his jeans. “You wish.” His smile faded. “I’m going to owe you for this one.”
“What’s up?”
“Elisa and Troy are back.”
Tanner’s ex and his son.
Tanner had married Elisa at age seventeen to give her and the baby his name, and he’d done his absolute best to make them a family. But kids having kids was never easy. Especially wild-ass kids like Tanner and Elisa.
When he had gone into the navy—the only way he’d been able to figure out how to support them—Elisa had packed baby Troy up and moved to Florida to be with her grandparents. The divorce papers had reached Tanner the day he’d become a SEAL.
Tanner had supported Elisa and Troy all these years, gone to see Troy as often as he was allowed, but it hadn’t been an easy relationship.
Troy had turned fifteen last week and celebrated by lighting a bag of dog shit on fire and leaving it on the front porch of the girl who’d dumped him. Problem was, she happened to be the principal’s daughter.
“Elisa wants Troy to live with me for a while,” Tanner said.
Cole nodded. “Good.”
Tanner choked. “Good?”
“You’ve wanted him closer to you for years,” Cole said.
“Yeah, but now he’s fifteen and out of control,” Tanner said. “And hates all authority, including his parents.”
“Yeah?” Cole asked. “Is it like looking in a mirror?”
Tanner di
dn’t smile.
“You’re not alone,” Cole said. “We’ll help.”
“Good,” Tanner said. “You start tonight. I’m taking a group out that I can’t cancel on.” Tanner tossed him his keys. “Be at my place by six. He’s going to show up by six thirty. Don’t close your eyes, turn your back, or relax. Tie him up if you have to.”
Cole was pretty sure he was kidding about the last part, but damn. He stared down at Tanner’s keys and blew out a breath. He’d been hoping to tie up someone else tonight…
“This isn’t a date,” Olivia said. It was the next night. Halloween. And she was crowded in her small bathroom with Becca and Callie.
“Okay,” Callie said. “But then why are you wearing lip gloss?”
“I always wear lip gloss,” Olivia said.
“Not your Tom Ford lip gloss,” Becca said. “That thing costs an arm and a leg, which I know because I looked it up. Out of my budget. And your budget can’t be that much bigger than mine. Which means that stuff is sacred. And yet you’re wearing it.”
“Damn, you’re smarter than you look,” Olivia murmured. She was staring at herself in the mirror over the bathroom sink in disbelief. Long, flowing wig, red. Silk corset, brilliant green. Matching skirt so snug she’d practically had to spray paint it on.
She was Ariel, the Little Mermaid.
She’d gotten the brilliant idea because Cole was a sea captain. It’d made perfect sense in her mind. But now she felt…silly. “I should cancel.”
Her peanut gallery stared at her reflection in the mirror. “You can’t cancel,” Callie said.
Becca shook her head. “Absolutely not.”
“Why?” Olivia asked.
“Because I haven’t been out on a date in a long time,” Callie said. “I’m living vicariously through you. I need this date, Olivia. Ariel.”
Olivia sighed and stared at herself some more. “It’s not going to work. The costume is…too much.”
“It’s perfect,” Becca said. “It’s gorgeous. You’re gorgeous. I mean, who knew you had that rockin’ of a body? Good Lord, woman, you’re going to knock Cole’s socks right off.”
“It’s not a date,” Olivia repeated. “It’s a…favor.” Or so she’d thought, but now she wasn’t so sure. Sleeping with him had changed things in a big way, and she was trying to ignore that, but some things couldn’t be easily ignored.
Callie shook her head. “Honey, trust me, you looking like that makes it a date. His tongue’s going to fall right out of his head.”
“Where in the world do you get all these fantastic costumes?” Becca asked. “This thing looks like the real deal.”
That’s because it was. She’d got it off eBay from a Stars on Ice production assistant. “eBay—”
Someone knocked at her door and she froze.
Becca jumped up and down and clapped her hands, looking for all the world like Pink or Kendra in her excitement. “I can’t wait to see what he’s wearing.”
“Don’t you have anything else to do?” Olivia asked in desperation.
“Nope!” Becca said cheerfully.
Olivia walked out of the bathroom. Although in the skintight “fin,” walked was a bit of a misnomer.
“Your ass looks really great,” Callie said helpfully from behind her. “But you might not want to sit down. I don’t see you getting up again without splitting that thing. You’re wearing undies, right?”
“Yes!” If a teeny-tiny thong that was really more like a G-string counted…Olivia stopped at the front door, drew a deep breath that threatened to pop open her corset, and then answered the door to…
Captain Jack Sparrow.
She’d always had sort of a secret thing for Johnny Depp in the Pirates movies, but Johnny had nothing on Cole Donovan. In his pirate’s hat, bandana, and long dreads, not to mention sexy scruff, he was smokin’ hot.
And that was before she followed the lines of his leanly muscled body down the white shirt and leather vest to the various weaponry, such as the sword strapped at one lean hip, and boots.
“Wow,” she whispered.
Chapter 20
Cole’s eyes just about popped out of his head at the sight of Olivia, and when the irony of her costume hit him, he laughed. “Ariel, fair maiden of the sea,” he said, and bowed.
When he rose again she was…blushing? Fascinating that his confident, hot Supergirl would be, but she most definitely was.
Becca and Callie were right behind her, staring at him with their jaws dropped open.
“Wow is right,” Becca said with serious ego-stroking awe in her voice.
“You’re engaged to be married,” Callie reminded her.
“Yes, but it’s Captain Jack Sparrow,” Becca said. “He’s a fictional character. You’re allowed to lust after fictional characters when you’re engaged. It’s in the Engaged Handbook somewhere.”
Cole smiled at her.
Becca smiled back dreamily.
Olivia rolled her eyes and pointed at Callie and Becca. “Do not eat my brownies.” And then she shoved Cole over the threshold, followed, and shut the door behind them.
“Brownies?” he asked, leading her to his truck.
“Yeah, I—” She stopped at the passenger side and stared up into the cab, and then down at her tight skirt.
“No worries, I’ve got ya.” He scooped her up and set her on the seat, taking his time putting her seat belt on for her and retrieving his hands from her delicious curves.
“I could have done that,” she said, a little breathless.
“What fun would that have been?”
“I…” She closed her mouth, blushed wildly, and sighed. “I forgot what I was going to say.”
He grinned.
“Not helping,” she said. “I made the brownies last night. They were to be my reward if I survive this favor. I could use them right now.”
“I’ve got something better than chocolate.”
“No kidding,” she muttered.
He laughed and pulled the truck out onto the road. A few minutes later, they were driving up the bluffs. He parked and Olivia glanced around at the house at the top of the driveway and then the tumbling sea far below.
“What are we doing?” she asked. “Where are we?”
“My place,” he said. “I didn’t have time to stop at home before