Page 39 of Turn the Tide
At Zoe’s questioning expression, he nodded and reached down to give her nape a quick squeeze, though what he really wanted was to kiss her. And because he was tired of refusing himself the things that made him happy, he leaned in and did just that.
She was gratifyingly responsive. So responsive that if they’d been alone, he’d have dropped his weapons, picked her up, and brought her back to their spot like the caveman she’d turned him into. One final, long draw from her addictive lips, and he negotiated the steep climb out of their secret aerie, then reached down to pull her up before heading over to meet his friends.
“Man, am I glad to see you guys,” he said as they got close. Out of caution, they still whispered, but he would bet anything they were alone here. He’d never been so happy to see his buddies. After three quick, one-armed hugs, he turned to Zoe.
“Zoe Garcia, this is Leontyne Eddowes. We call her Leo.” The women shook hands, Zoe’s silhouette willowy and tall beside Leo’s shorter curves. “Anselm Bauer.” He’d never met a guy stronger than Ans. Or more of a flirt. They didn’t call him Ladykiller for nothing. He narrowed his eyes when his friend brought Zoe’s hand to his mouth for a kiss. “Back it up, Killer,” he muttered.
“Oh yeah?” Luckily for Ans, he let Zoe’s hand go. “That how it is?”
“That’s exactly how it is, Ans.”Now, hands off my woman.Eric could feel all three of his friends’ curious looks.
“In that case, welcome to the crew, Zoe.” Ans—always pushing it—pulled her in for what was no doubt a wet bear hug.
Eric shoved his irritation way down as Zoe stepped back with an awkward laugh. “Good to meet you guys.”
“Von Krainik.” Von’s voice was low and rumbling, his handshake quick and efficient.
“You get a look at theDaphne?” Eric asked.
“Yep,” Von grated out. “Floating pretty well for swiss cheese.”
“Bastards.”
“What the hell’s going on out here, man?” Von asked. “That call was…”
“You hear from my brother?”
Von shook his head and glanced at the others. “He still in Antarctica?”
“Yeah. I can usually get him on his sat phone down there.” Eric shoved that worry aside. He’d tackle one issue at a time.
“So, what’s the plan? We giving you a ride to the mainland?” Von asked.
Eric looked at Zoe, who shook her head. With a grim smile, he answered, “No.”
Ans made a low, happy sound. “Didn’t think so.”
“You two know each other before this?” Always Leo, cutting right to the chase with the questions.
Zoe’s teeth flashed white in a quick smile.Not biblically, he could see her thinking. “Yeah” was all she said.
“I usually wait for her to head home before clocking in for the night. Last night, she never showed.” He didn’t mention that there’d been no actual reason for him to wait for her. No relationship to warrant that level of interest.
“I run a rigs-to-reefs program out of San Diego.” When none of them said a word, Zoe went on. “Instead of working to remove old oil platforms, which become thriving habitats, we work to maintain them. Something was wrong when I got there today.”
“The rig was up and running. It shouldn’t be,” Eric supplied. “And it’s not pumping anything I’ve ever heard of.”
“No oil?” Ans asked.
“Didn’t see it. Didn’t smell it. No idea what they’re pulling out of the water.”
“I went up to check,” Zoe said. “I thought maybe… I don’t know. Thought they’d poorly decommissioned? Thought maybe some animal had accidentally turned things on? Now that I’ve seen it, I know it’s ridiculous. Anyway. Somebody knocked me out.”
Eric blinked and went rigid. She hadn’t told him that part. And he’d let her sleep. Hadn’t checked her for head injuries or anything. “You didn’t—”
“I’m fine, Eric.” Zoe’s tone was as firm as he’d ever heard it.
“Okay.” Leo sucked in an audible breath as she looked between them. “Where were you?” she asked Eric.
