Chapter 9 #3
Kimo liked how he made her feel safe. She drew in a breath and continued. “I dropped the BCD with the tank. I think that’s when I dropped my camera, too, because I don’t remember having it with me as I surfaced and hid among the rocks. If we can find the BCD and tank, the camera should be nearby.”
“Since you were close to the reef, we’ll spread out in pairs and swim in that direction,” Rex said.
“And if we don’t find it by the time we reach the reef?” Angel asked.
“We move along the base of the reef in opposite directions from there,” Kimo said. “It has to be there.” They had to find it. For Alana.
As they neared Maalaea Bay, Kimo stared out at the water and the sun that was moving closer to meet it. “We have about two hours before sunset. It will be easier to search while we have light than in the dark.”
“So, let’s make the best of daylight,” Rex said.
Leilani slowed the tour boat, bringing it to a halt at the coordinates Kimo had given her.
Kimo stowed her cell phone in the console near the helm, removed the floppy hat and unwound her long, thick braid, letting it fall down her back. She fit her mask and snorkel over her head and reached for a BCD-tank combination.
Rex took it from her hands. “Let me.”
Used to suiting up herself, Kimo’s brow dipped momentarily.
“If it makes you feel better, you can help me next,” he said with a smile.
“Deal.” She turned and slipped her arms into the harness.
Rex settled the equipment on her shoulders, his hands lingering to adjust the fit. He turned her gently and buckled the straps in front.
While his focus was on the buckles, she studied his face. A five o’clock shadow spread across his chin, cheeks, and neck, but he’d taken time to shave his upper lip. Smart. The mask would fit better that way.
The stubble on his chin tempted her. She fought the urge to reach out and run her fingers across it to test its stiffness. She wondered how it would feel if he trailed kisses down her neck and across her breasts.
Rex was so close that she could easily fall against him and blame it on the waves rocking the boat.
His gray-eyed gaze rose to meet hers, a smile curving just the corners of his lips.
Could he read her thoughts? Heat bloomed in her chest, spreading upward into her cheeks.
A wave chose that moment to tilt the boat sharply.
Rex gripped the straps of her BCD, bringing her closer.
Before she realized what was happening, he bent his head and brushed his lips across hers.
That light touch was enough to spark a flame that rushed through her system like an out-of-control wildfire, burning a path through her and culminating at her core.
As quickly as it happened, it ended when Rex released her BCD and reached for another set. He held it out to her with a smile. “You turn.”
She took the BCD and tank into shaking hands, her mind in turmoil, her thoughts ping-ponging like a pinball being batted back and forth. He turned his back to her, giving her a moment to pull herself together.
Rex slid his arms through the BCD harness and let her adjust it on his shoulders. When he turned, Kimo focused on the buckles, unable to meet his gaze, afraid he would see her feelings mirrored in her eyes.
That little bit of a kiss had rocked her even more than the waves tossing the tour boat.
What did it mean?
When her fingers fumbled with the buckles, Rex raised his hand to capture hers. “Hey. I’m sorry if I rattled you,” he whispered. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Then why did you?” she asked, finally looking up into his eyes.
He shook his head. “I just...couldn’t resist.” His brow dipped. “I won’t do it again,” his tone deepened, “unless you want me to.”
Kimo leaned toward him, caught in the moment, in the now stormy-gray of his eyes. “I?—”
“We don’t have much daylight left,” Angel called out. “Are we ready?”
Kimo stepped back quickly and faced Angel and Leilani.
Leilani’s brows were raised, her lips pressed together as if she wanted to say something but wouldn’t.
Kimo ignored her knowing look, checked her gauges, grabbed her regulator and nodded. “Ready.”
“Ready,” Rex echoed.
Angel handed Kimo and Rex each a dive knife. “You might need these.”
They secured the knives to their BCDs.
Typically, Kimo carried a knife, not only for protection, but to dig for interesting objects in the sand or on the reef. Having one now had an entirely different connotation, giving her a chill down her spine.
Devlin tied a line to the sonar buoy and dropped it into the water.
Kimo, Rex, Leilani and Angel moved to the back of the tour boat and sat to put on their fins and fit the regulators into their mouths.
With their masks fit over their faces, they dropped one by one into the water.
Teller stood on the deck, rifle in hand. “We’ll cover the surface.”
Devlin waved the sonar tracking device. “Check your watches.”
Rex and Angel checked and gave Devlin a thumbs-up.
Kimo held up her hand with the okay sign. Once the other three repeated it, she pushed thoughts of Rex’s kiss to the back of her mind and dove. She led the way to the bottom, where the shipping container had been. Her purpose for being there was to find her camera.
Alana’s life depended on it.