Chapter 12 #2
something about her. I enjoy her company so much. She’s just nice, I mean, not an evil or mean bone in her body. I’ve spent
a lot of my life fighting to get to the top. And I’m around people all the time still fighting to get to the top. Sally has
no ulterior motive. She isn’t trying to get anywhere, she just honestly likes me for me!”
“Edward, you’re a nice man. That’s not so shocking,” Chloe told him.
Wes realized that while they were carrying on a serious conversation, none of them looked at one another.
They were all watching through the windows.
Amelia was sitting by the bed with George not even a foot away.
At last, she stood and came out. “Still sleeping! Well, maybe she’ll be okay and up and cheerful in a bit!” she said. “I’m
heading on out for the night!”
They bid her good-night.
George was looking through the window at them. He gave Wes a solid nod and Wes knew that George suspected something had been
done to the woman.
He probably had the same question.
Why?
But George’s job was to keep watch over her and Edward.
And it was their job to find out just what the hell was going on.
“I think I may turn into a pumpkin soon myself,” Chloe said. “Let’s head on up and get some sleep. Edward, if you need us
for anything—”
“I know where to find you. And thank you.”
They left the room and headed for the elevators. Amelia and the others had already disappeared.
“We could go watch Gina and Daniel dance,” Chloe said. “But—”
“But I think we’ve done all that we can for the day. And tomorrow . . . Well, a dive can be dangerous.”
“Do you really think—”
“Doesn’t matter what I think. Only that we’re completely vigilant!” Wes said, shaking his head.
Stepping out of the elevator, they almost ran into Celia and Jeff.
Wes quickly slipped his arm around Chloe’s shoulders. He realized that yes, it was the gesture of a “married” man.
And more. He was feeling protective of her! And, of course, he knew that she was a trained agent, a well-trained one, and
that she could take care of herself.
But no way out of it.
Instinct kicked in. He’d never tell her that, of course. She was far too proudly determined that an agent was an agent, whether
state or federal.
“Hey!” Wes said to the two. “Thought you were heading in—”
“To sleep,” Celia said. “We decided on one dance!”
“Want to join us?” Jeff asked.
Thoughts flashed through Wes’s mind.
Were they really heading to the dance floor? Should we follow them? Maybe they were heading back to the hospital, maybe they really wanted to see Sally before she woke up!
But even if they tried, they wouldn’t get past George and Edward.
Chloe must have been thinking the same.
“I’m beat!” she said. “I think we’re just going to call it a night!” She yawned expressively and leaned against Wes, smiling
into his chest.
“Okay, see you on the excursion—or, wait, knowing all of us a bit, see you at breakfast before the excursion!” Jeff told them.
“Yep, besides, not just knowing us, it’s a good idea to start a physical day with a good meal,” Wes agreed.
They stepped out of the elevator. Celia and Jeff stepped in and it closed behind them.
“Do you think . . .”
“I think George has the situation in hand.”
“Yeah, I agree!” Chloe told him.
They headed on down the hallway to their cabin. Wes opened the door and Chloe stepped in ahead of him.
He carefully locked the door behind them.
She was looking at him, nodding sagely.
“What a gentleman! But it’s your turn for the bed!”
She kicked her shoes off and headed for the couch.
“Ah, come on! Let me be the gentleman! I’m accustomed to the couch. I probably couldn’t sleep in a bed now!”
To stress his argument, he kicked his shoes off and plopped down next to her. She looked at him, grinning, and he meant to
reach over and help her up. But she smiled and surprised him by whispering, “We do make a good married couple.”
“In many ways . . .” he began. But they were touching. Their faces were close. “I guess I just need to be sure . . .”
It was almost as if he heard himself murmuring the words with no intention of really saying them.
But he ended his words when his mouth touched down on hers, barely, yes, barely a touch at first, but . . .
She didn’t draw away. Her lips pressed to his, and his pressed then with greater need, and before he knew it, his arms were
around her and they were falling into a half-prone position with one another and his tongue was playing with hers as hers
played with his.
So very unprofessional.
And yet . . .
So amazing, so very amazing.
The kiss deepened into something incredibly passionate, urgent, hungry. And their hands began to move. There were moments
of abandoned awkwardness that became moments of laughter that broke between the touch of their mouths as they struggled to
remove their own clothing and help one another at the same time.
For a few blissful minutes, Wes decided they were going to forget all about being perfectly professional.
And maybe they were necessary minutes. Time to remember that the world really was beautiful, that incredible people existed,
that beauty could outweigh ugliness.
Because they had both made this crazy decision. And once made, it was all out.
Clothing was strewn everywhere.
Touching hands went everywhere.
His kisses touched upon the silken soft beauty of her flesh, and hers aroused him to levels he wasn’t sure he’d ever known.
And being together, coming together completely, hard and urgent and yet each movement like something of a sleek and stunning
ballet . . .
And then . . .
Breathing, just breathing, hearts thumping, and still . . . her face against the dampness of his chest, yet when she looked
up, she was smiling.
“We did that really well,” she said lightly. “Just like a real couple!”
“Yeah,” he agreed lightly. “It was pretty real!”
She smiled and stretched and murmured, “If there had been a problem, George would have called you. So, we’re good. And you
know what I was thinking?”
He laughed. “No, not at all right now.”
“That there is a beautiful king bed in that little room. I mean, at this point . . .”
“We should both just sleep in the bed?”
“Exactly!” She rested her chin on her hands on his chest, grinning at him.
“I don’t know,” he said lightly. “A bed . . . hm. I might be tempted to really try it out!”
“And if you weren’t, I’d throw you out!” she assured him.
Laughing, he lifted her to her feet and joined her, caught her hand and led her into the bedroom.
A real bed. It was going to be fun to sleep on one when they finally got to the part of the evening where they were really
going to go to sleep!
When the alarm rang, he was up like a bolt of lightning. Waking, being together as they were, might have been far too tempting.
And the morning, of course, was important.
And so he was showered and dressed when Chloe brought her clothing through the little parlor area, grinning at him as she
headed into the shower.
And as usual, she was showered, dressed, hair brushed, everything done to make her ready for the day in a matter of minutes. Of course, he’d expected to see her in her bathing suit; they had both planned on the diving excursion.
But he was surprised that she was in a wet suit—a lightweight one, not the heavier kind that were created for cold water,
but just an encompassing suit that protected the body.
“Nice!” he told her.
“Hey, I’m from Florida. I’ve been diving when we’ve run into jellyfish, other stuff—I don’t like weird things touching me.”
“Other than me?”
She laughed. “Well, at least you’re not wet and slimy. At first!” she corrected herself lightly.
He groaned.
Should we talk about it?
No.
“I definitely like it,” he said, giving her his approval. “And I usually wear a rash guard for the same reason, lots of things
in the water. Though, supposedly, by the private island the nasty creatures know not to come.”
“You think?”
“Not for a minute,” he chuckled. “The ocean is the ocean. Ocean creatures swim where they can lay their eggs, where there’s
food . . . And a wreck can provide shelter and more!”
“I’ve a terry cover-up, too. About to throw that on. Makes it all really easy, too. Wear the cover-up to the dive, take it
off for the dive, get to put it back on if I’m wet and the air-conditioning in the bus is too chilly!”
“Perfect, so—we’re ready?”
She nodded gravely and then frowned. “Did you hear anything from George or Edward?”
“No. And I think that no news is good news on this.”
Chloe nodded. “Well, great. I’m starving.”
“Even for food!” Wes said lightly. He already had the door open. And, as they came out in the hallway, they ran into Celia and Jeff.
“Hey!” Celia said happily. “You guys are in time for breakfast, too. The usual?”
“A buffet this morning will work!” Chloe said. “They start getting people off the ship and to their various destinations and
excursions right at nine, so . . . we’ve got an hour!”
“Plenty time to wolf down a good breakfast—and hopefully digest it on the way to the dive!” Jeff said. “But, hey, you know
what’s cool? I have never felt more comfortable about a dive before, knowing that a real dive master is among our group!”
“Well, I’m not the dive master on this—” Wes began.
“But you’ll be there. And you two lovebirds have already proven your lifesaving abilities!” Jeff said.
“It does make for a nice feeling of confidence,” Celia said.
“Well, good!” Wes told her. “It should be great. A lot of the wrecks that I’ve been to are deep, way deep, and most recreational
divers don’t get to see them. This one is on a reef, just thirty feet down.”
“I know! I’m excited. It will be my first wreck!” Celia said.
They chatted casually as they made their way to the elevator and then out to the deck where they’d dined before, lining up
for the buffet and looking about for tables.
“Busy this morning,” Chloe noted. “I guess those who just kind of enjoy the ship when we’re at sea like to get up and going
when they have a plan!”
“And that’s natural,” Wes said.