Chapter 3
The problem with being a scuba diving master was that the diving was only as good as the group I took with me. Reckless people got injured, lazy people slowed up the group, cocky people got dangerous, and then there were tourists like Kat. She wanted to see something that would only end in disappointment, which meant I would have to make sure she didn’t sneak off on some stupid quest to prove she was right.
The drive to San Cavernas took three hours, and my group usually slept most of the way. Kat, though, seemed entranced by the never-ending vegetation that whizzed past her window, although I doubted the dense foliage was what she was seeing.
She seemed deep in thought.
Another point about being a dive master was that my clients were often in the prime of their life, and many were good to look at. Kat was up there in the stunning ranks, and she was going to look mighty fine swimming in front of me in that subterranean cave.
The only woman I’d ever loved had also been stunning until she broke my heart for all the wrong reasons. Now she’s just an ugly stain on my past.
Pedro finally pulled the Kombi off the main road and parked in front of a restaurant made of sunbaked clay bricks painted in a faded mural of flowers and smiling women in decorated Mexican hats.
“Welcome to La Caba?a de la Monta?a, where the music is dubious, but the food is excellent, and the smiles on the staff are genuine.” I climbed out of the passenger seat, opened the side door, and offered my hand to Kat. “Watch your step.”
“Thanks.” She gripped my palm in hers, and I wished I had full sensation in my hand to feel her grip.
What the hell? That kind of shit never crossed my mind.
“Head on inside.” I indicated to the front door. “Olina will be ready for you.”
Kat hooked her backpack over her shoulder, and my gaze was drawn to the bulge and flex of her ass as she strode away.
Hot damn.
“Can we leave our stuff in the van?” Kasey asked.
“Yep. We’ll lock it up.” I helped her and the others out and ensured Pedro locked the Kombi. I’d been working with Pedro for months, and he was one of the most unorganized and forgetful men I knew. But he had connections that allowed me to bring tourists to this remote town of San Cavernas.
Outside the restaurant, in front of the faded mural, Lara stripped out of her cotton over-shirt, and in her orange bikini, she struck poses that were too provocative for my liking.
She turned her ass toward the camera, and her butt cheeks bulged from the G-string bikini bottoms. Her ass was nowhere near as sexy as Kat’s, even concealed in her denim shorts.
I stifled a laugh at Pedro’s bulging eyes that were fixated on Lara, who obviously loved the attention. Pedro’s wife would be furious if she saw him. Not that she had to worry. He’d married his wife when they were teenagers, yet despite all the bullshit life had thrown at them, their love was still strong.
My ex could have learned a lot from Pedro and his wife.
I slapped Louise from my mind. That bitch didn’t deserve an ounce of my attention.
“Come on, guys,” I called to Lara and Ethan. “You don’t want to keep Olina waiting, trust me.”
Lara skipped to Ethan, and as the pair of them scrutinized the photos he’d taken, I guided Pedro into the restaurant ahead of me before he tripped over his tongue.
Olina’s husband, Juan, wore colorful Mexican clothing and matching sombrero. He strummed a guitar in the corner as he belted out a ballad I’d already heard a dozen times. I nodded at him, and mid-song, he called out, “Sr. Colton ha entrado en la casa.”
I strode to my group who were seated at a table draped with a colorful serape and had bowls of tortilla chips dotted down the middle.
Standing in front of them, I pressed my hands onto the table. “Olina will bring out your meals. Eat as much as you like. This one is on me.”
“Awesome.” Ethan clapped his hands together and reached for a handful of tortilla chips.
As Olina placed platters of tamales, enchiladas, chile rellenos, elote, spicy rice, and their house specialty of Camarones a la Diabla, I took the last seat opposite Kat. “You hungry?”
“Starving.” Her smile lit her eyes, which were as blue as the Caribbean Sea.
“Dig in then because tonight Pedro will be cooking dinner, and, well, let’s just say Pedro’s chef skills are not what I hired him for.”
Kat giggled, and when she peered at my disfigured hand, I slipped my arm off the table, and she shot her gaze away.
Most of the time, I tried to forget about my missing fingers.
Until moments like this, which were like a sledgehammer reminding me that my body wasn’t whole.
As my group ate their meals, I asked about their diving experience. When they’d registered for my tour, they all gave proof that they had their Overhead Environment Certificate which was compulsory to make this dive. But Las Cuevas de los Susurros was a cave of extremes, and I needed to understand just how qualified they were.
After going around the table and confirming that the four Australians had completed dives in both caves and wrecks, I settled my gaze on Kat. “Your turn. Tell us about your cave diving experience.”
She pushed back in her chair so she could look along the table. “I traveled around South America for two years and have completed fifty-six dives.”
Call me impressed. Her quantity of dives put her well ahead of the Australians.
“Can you give examples of some of the caves you dived in for us?” I asked.
“I dived the Blue Hole in Belize, Fernando de Noronha in Brazil, and Ponderosa in Puerto Aventuras.”
“Excellent. Any other overhead limitation diving?”
“Yes, I’ve scuba-dived in loads of wrecks. You can check my log if you wish.” Her gaze settled on me, and I had the impression she didn’t like me quizzing her.
“I have checked your dive log, but I was hoping you’d share your experiences with the group.” Shaking my head, I stood. “Okay, guys, finish eating. It’s time for us to head to Las Cuevas de los Susurros.”
Kat studied me so intently that I had no hope of working out what she was thinking. Maybe she didn’t like me. That wouldn’t be a first. What Louise did ruined me. What happened to my body in the Navy . . . that fucked me up. And now I didn’t like me either.
“Restrooms are over there. I recommend using them because you’ll be doing your business behind bushes for the next four days.” I strode to the restrooms.
“Tell me he’s joking.” Lara’s voice drifted to me.
Our camping setup near the cave would be as minimal as possible, and I had a rotten feeling that meant the rest of us were in for some serious bitching from the buxom social media influencer.
On the road again, I checked the weather for the next few days. May was the verge of monsoon season, but we usually had perfect weather this time of year.
“All good, boss?” Pedro asked from the driver’s seat.
“Yep. Just making sure the weather gods are looking out for us.”
“And . . .?” His brows thumped together.
“It’s all good. You won’t need to do any swimming.”
Pedro grinned. My sister’s three-year-old boy can tread water better than Pedro. Fortunately, his job description didn’t require him to venture into the water with us.
Pedro guided the Kombi off the bitumen and onto a track without any markings to indicate the incredible cave located at the end. Tree branches slapped our windshield as we bounced along the road.
In a bushy area surrounded by ancient trees, Pedro stopped the Kombi and we all climbed out.
“This is where we set up camp for the next four days,” I told the group. “Do you want to get started on the tents or have a quick look at the cave first?”
“The cave,” all five of them said in unison.
I grinned. It was the same response every time.
“Okay. Cave it is.” I nodded at Kat. “Don’t forget your camera.”
“Never.” She fished inside her backpack to pull out a bulky camera.
Huh! She’s a serious photographer.
“Which way?” Ethan asked.
“It’s down that way.” I pointed to a narrow gap between two trees.
“Cool. Come on, Lara.” He grabbed her hand, and the pair of them raced ahead.
I was in two minds over telling them to wait, but it wasn’t up to me to babysit them. If they got lost in the jungle, it was their own fault. Kat glanced at me with a questioning look, and I shrugged.
“They’re adults. They can do what they want.”
Kat nodded. “I’ll remember you said that.”
“Except when we’re inside Las Cuevas de los Susurros.” I eyeballed her. “Then I’m in charge.”
She cocked one eyebrow, and her sassy expression told me that the next four days could be hell . . . for both of us.
I led the remaining three tourists down the steep hill, shoving branches aside as I went.
“This cave is in the middle of nowhere. Do you know how it was discovered?” Charlie asked.
“A farmer—” both Kat and I said simultaneously. We grinned at each other, and I said, “Go on. You tell the story.”
She shrugged one shoulder. “In the late 1970s, a local farmer was thrown off his horse, and in the following days, as he searched for his horse, he stumbled upon the entrance to this cave.”
Kat peered at me as if expecting me to refute her statement.
“That’s correct,” I said.
“Did he find his horse?” Kasey asked.
“I don’t know,” Kat said. “Do you?” She frowned at me.
“No idea.” I climbed down a pair of large boulders and landed on the damp, leaf-strewn soil. Charlie jumped down with me, and we helped the ladies over the rocks.
A squeal burst from below us, and I peered through the dense bushes, searching for Lara.
“Yeehaw!” Ethan’s cry was followed by a massive splash.
“Goddamnit. Those two have gone for a swim.” I shook my head.
“Is that bad?” Kat asked.
“It is if they stir up the sediment. They’ll ruin your perfect shot because you won’t be able to see the bottom now.”
Kat tutted. “Damn.”
We scrambled around trees with exposed roots as tall as my thigh and over moss-covered logs and more large boulders. Finally, the curved top of the cave appeared as a large, black, semi-circular hole amongst the expanse of green. I marched ahead, swinging my fists at my sides.
The mouth of the cave loomed before me like a yawning abyss. Vines dangled over its jagged edges, creating a tropical frame, and at the cave’s sides, greenery clung to the rocks as if desperate to explore inside.
I strode across the field of smaller rocks and stepped onto the sandy beach that marked the entrance to the cave. “What the hell are you two doing?” I yelled to Ethan and Lara who had swum across the pool to the other side of the cave.
“Swimming.” Ethan’s voice echoed off the curved cave roof. “Come on in. The water is perfect.”
“I didn’t say you could swim. I said look at the cave.”
Ethan and Lara shared a look between them like they were naughty teenagers before Lara giggled.
Idiots. That pair was going to be annoying as hell. Maybe I should have stuck to training navy cadets after all.
Kat stepped to my side. “Wow.” She raised her camera, and as she studied the scenery through her lens, I studied her. Navy cadets did not look like Kat, though. She was a fine example of why I enjoyed taking sexy young tourists on scuba diving vacations.
She grinned at me. “This is incredible.”
“Wait until you see what’s on the other side of that tunnel.” I pointed at a dark circle in the water on the far side of the cave.
A breath left her throat. “I can’t wait.” She raised the camera and took more photos.
“It’s a pity those two clowns have clouded the water, or you’d have a much better photo.” I rolled my eyes at Lara and Ethan, who were swimming toward us.
“It’s okay. I’m sure I’ll get hundreds of great photos.”
“This is amazing,” Kasey said as she strolled to the water’s edge.
“Sure is. It”s like stepping into another world.” Kat’s blue eyes shimmered in a beam of afternoon sunlight that pierced the canopy behind us.
I had grown accustomed to the cave, but now, witnessing her awe, I felt renewed admiration for the natural beauty. It was easy to forget to enjoy the little things when the most important aspect of my life was ruined . . . my military career.
Ethan and Lara splashed out of the water onto the beach, and as Lara adjusted her enormous tits back into her bikini, she and Ethan walked toward us. Neither of them looked at me.
Kat did, though.
She wants me to reprimand them.
But what was the point? It would only put a downer on the start of our tour.
“Okay, guys,” I said, “now that we’ve seen the cave, we have lots to do before we can have our first dive. Follow me.”
As I led the group back to our campsite, their excitement was infectious. For way too long after the explosion that ruined my career, I’d been dogged by a severe slump that dragged me down the negativity slide.
But this was one of those times when I wanted to pinch myself. I hadn’t considered a life after being a Navy SEAL. But I was damn lucky to be able to explore spectacular sites like Las Cuevas de los Susurros. And even more fortunate that I shared the adventure with a sexy woman like Kat and made money doing it.
I had escorted at least a dozen young, gorgeous women into that cave, but Kat was a standout. And not just because she was beautiful.
There was a mysteriousness about her that was captivating.
Back at our campsite, Pedro had dragged all the equipment out of my box trailer and had already pitched two tents. But I groaned as I approached the setup.
“Pedro. You have my tent around the wrong way again.”
He looked at the tent, then slapped his forehead. “Lo siento, jefe.”
It seemed he was always saying sorry to me.
“It’s okay,” I said, but it wasn’t okay. That was the third time he’d made that mistake.
Thank goodness his services were cheap.
I clapped my hands once, calling the attention of the tourists. “Okay, team. We have three tents to pitch, and if we’re quick enough, maybe we could squeeze in a short dive.”
“Really?” Kat’s eyes lit up. “That would be amazing.”
“Hold your horses there, WildKat.”
She glared at me.
“Whoops. Sorry, Kat. I said maybe we could do a dive. We need to set up our campsite before we run out of sunlight.” I grabbed the first tent bag and handed it to Charlie. “You two set up over there.” I pointed to a section of flat dirt beneath a Ceiba tree that, based on its height, was at least three hundred years old.
“This should be interesting.” Charlie pulled a face that suggested he was not confident with tent-building.
“I’ll help you if you get stuck,” I said as I reached for the second bag. “Ethan and Lara, here’s your tent. You’re over there.”
Ethan’s eagerness was the opposite to Lara’s look of disgust.
“And Kat, this is yours.” I held her one-man tent toward her. “I’ll give you a hand.”
“I’m fine, thanks.” She took the tent bag from me. “Where do I set up?”
I pointed to the site next to my tent and she carried the heavy bag with ease.
As I oversaw the tent building, my gaze kept drifting toward Kat. Hot damn, she was sexy in those denim shorts. And she wielded the hammer like a pro. She had her tent ready before the other two couples had secured their ground pegs.
Pedro’s attention was hindered by Lara and her ass that bulged from her bikini, and by the way he was wielding that hammer, I wouldn’t be surprised if he knee-capped himself.
Without prompting, Kat helped Kasey and Charlie, and as I worked with Ethan, Lara stood back watching. The contrast between Kat and Lara couldn’t be any more different.
With the tents done, the blow-up mattresses pumped up, and the beds made, I drew their attention to the diving gear. When they signed up for this tour, along with their scuba diving credentials, they completed a questionnaire detailing their gear requirements. One of the great aspects of focusing my tours on dives that required experienced divers was that many of my customers brought their own equipment.
Kat had her own fins, mask, and neoprene booties, but needed an integrated dive vest. The other four had flown from Australia so they needed everything but their masks.
Being out in the middle of nowhere meant I had to bring everything. The nearest shop was about nine hours away. I always provided the tanks and made sure there was enough for all four days of diving. Supplying camping gear, food, and water was also on me.
“Can we do our first dive?” Kat’s grin was impossibly perfect.
“Hell yeah, can we?” Ethan said.
“Please?” Kat pierced me with her gaze.
“Sorry, guys, but we don’t have enough daylight left.” I stood my ground.
“We could do a short dive. Thirty minutes max,” Kat pleaded.
“No, Kat. I’m sorry, but there isn’t enough time.”
If a glare could be a weapon, then she would have just stabbed my eyeballs.
Forcing myself not to crumble to her, I dusted my hands on my shorts and said, “You will have plenty of time to explore the cave. Trust me.”
Grumbling under her breath, Kat stormed toward her tent and disappeared inside.
Ethan rolled his eyes at me like we shared the same problem.
I had a feeling Kat’s anger was over more than just not diving today.
She wasn’t going to give up on the crazy idea that there was a Mayan temple in this cave.
And that meant Kat and I were headed for some heated discussions over that myth.