Page 30 of Fake Dating the SEAL
“Poachers? As in illegally killing animals kind of poachers.”
“Illegally pilfering sunken treasure. They sneak in and scoop up what they can when no one is looking. They come in droves once a serious treasure hunter stakes a claim, but these guys have a reputation for trouble, and Nick doesn’t like that they’re hovering so close. He wants extra eyes.”
She bobbed her head and twisted forward in her seat. “Then he has two extra sets.”
That sweet smile widened and if she knew him better, she’d swear she saw a hint of pride in his eyes.
It didn’t take long to reach the marina where the dive shop kept their boats. As soon as she stepped out of the car, her gaze landed on two women giggling across the way. “Oh, hell.”
“What?” Kenny’s head snapped up, his eyes already scanning their surroundings.
“Mary Louise Fletcher. One of the mean girls in high school and she’s not improved much with age.”
“I see.” His gaze remained fixed on the two young women, swinging strappy sandals from their fingers, strutting in bikinis that barely covered what God gave them, and giggling like a couple of drunken school girls at their first frat party.
“Sara!” Mary Louise strutted up to her, taking her time to look Kenny over from head to toe and back. “This can’t be the new man in your life your mother has been telling the whole island about?”
And here it went.
Before Sara could open her mouth, Kenny came around beside her and looped his arm around her waist, tugging her in closer. Glancing down, he leveled his gaze with hers, drank her in with his eyes as if she were a well of fresh water in a barren desert, then turned to face the two women staring at them with their jaws hanging open. “So nice to meet some of Sara’s friends.”
It took everything in her not to choke at that. Hiding her amusement with her hand, she cleared her throat and introduced everyone.
Easing away from her side, Kenny leaned over, kissed her soundly on the lips, and then, once again, locked gazes with hers. “I’ll get our gear, take it down to the boat.”
All Sara could do was nod. That kiss had left her lips seared as if she’d been branded with a hot iron.
The three of them watched the man stroll across the lot and down the ramp. Sara almost sighed.
“Wow.” Peggy Martin actually fanned herself. “Your mother did not exaggerate.”
“I’d say she under delivered.” Mary Louise was still staring at Kenny as he loaded the gear onto the boat.
“Well, ladies,” Sara had somehow managed to pull herself together, “I don’t want to keep Kenny waiting. Have a nice day.” Swinging her purse over her shoulder, she waved at the two women still standing in the middle of the lot and doing her best effort at sashaying, made her way to Kenny’s side, eased up on her tiptoes, and gently kissed him on the lips. Then she softly whispered, “Thank you.”
Dropping the bag he held in one hand, he circled his arms around her, lowered his lips to hers, and huskily responded, “any time,” seconds before touching her lips with his and making her toes curl. If Mary Louise and Peggy were still watching, Kenny had just given them one hell of a performance.
Chapter Thirteen
That kiss at the marina should have been for show. A calculated move to silence the high school mean girls and solidify the cover story for his friends. But as Kenny stood on the deck of the Thornes’ chartered boat, the memory of her lips on his was a distraction he hadn’t planned for. He’d told himself it was just part of the mission, but the Senior Chief in him knew a compromised objective when he saw one. And right now, his objectivity where Sara Alani was concerned was completely shot.
He forced his attention outward, his gaze sweeping the horizon in a practiced, automatic scan. Professor Thorne was excitedly explaining his search grid theory to Sara, who listened with a genuine interest that seemed to put the whole family at ease. The Thorne kids were double-checking their dive computers with a quiet competence Kenny could respect. They were professionals.
Off to one side of the table he spotted Mrs. Thorne, over a drop cloth, chipping away at a pile of conglomerate rock, no doubt hopeful to find a treasure imbedded in the sediment formations. Beside her there were a few loose old iron nails and something that looked like it might have been a copper button. The more interesting item, a single odd shaped coin, silver, and from his inexperienced eye, very damn old.
“I saw that yesterday.” Chloe beamed up at him. “I spotted the darkened sand, started fanning the way Dad taught me as a kid. As soon as I picked it up, I knew it was the real thing. First time we’ve actually found something that shows we’re on the right track. I just know the San Isidro is down here. Close.”
“Now, Chloe,” her dad patted her shoulder, “the date is very promising, but—”
“I know,” Chloe sighed.
“Ooh. Is that what I think it is?” In her formfitting wetsuit already, Sara stood beside him. “So you found what you’re looking for?”
“Maybe. According to the manifests and other documents Dad and Kurt have tracked down, the San Isidro should be carrying a motherload of treasure. Not just a few coins.”
Now Kurt appeared beside them. “We figure yesterday’s treasures were a bounce site.”
“What’s a bounce site?” Sara asked.
