“How are you feeling?”
“Better.” She forced a smile. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’ve enjoyed chatting with you.”
His wide smile was like a sunbeam, bright and joyous. A woman could be blinded by such a smile. “I’ll see you around.”
“I’ll walk you back.”
It would be childish to refuse, though there was no one else on the shore and she hardly needed protection. Not anymore. She walked back the way they’d come.
“You must have visited all the good spots since you’ve been here,” Sam said. “Got any recommendations?”
“For diving?” He still had his wetsuit pulled around his waist, giving her a lovely view of his chest, but her own chest tightened.
“Yeah, or snorkelling.”
“Georgie hasn’t given you a full list yet?” If he discovered she hadn’t been diving, he’d want to know why.
“Haven’t asked her.”
“The tourists are taken to the Cod Spot.” She pointed towards it. “And there’s supposed to be a great drift dive between the two islands.”
“You haven’t been?”
She tensed, her skin prickling. “No.”
“You can come out with me if you like,” Sam said. “I’m planning a night dive soon.”
“We’ll see.” Her heart twinged. She used to love diving, spending time under the water and exploring. But she hadn’t been out since… Images flashed through her mind; Emelia’s panicked face, bubbles of air, emptiness.
“Are you heading off?”
She started, shaking away the memory. They’d reached the boats and Sam pulled in his anchor and placed it in the tender’s bow.
“Yeah.” She pulled in her anchor as well. The idea of being out here alone wasn’t comforting. She’d return to town, give her statement, and come out another day to finish her monitoring work. “Thanks again for your help.” She climbed aboard and started the engine. “I’ll see you around.”
He smiled again. “I’ll look forward to it.”
Penelope put her boat into reverse, ignoring the warmth his comment brought.
***
Sam stared at the ceiling of his dark room, lying in his comfortable bed, but sleep eluded him. He’d been running the Penelope scenario over and over in his head for hours. His brain was stuck on what would have happened if he hadn’t been there.
Stupid.
He hadn’t obsessed over an event since the early years in the army. It had been pointless to then, just as it was pointless now. What was done was done, and neither of them had been hurt.
He’d called Brandon to get his take and his first word had been, “Stonefish”. It made the most sense. The gun had been the tell. Most rich men who thought they could flout the rules didn’t carry handguns, they bought their way out of things.
The men had been tracked to international waters but not caught. They’d had too much of a head start. Dot hadn’t been pleased to see Sam twice in three days. “You’re attracted to trouble, aren’t you?”
He wasn’t upset that he’d been there for Penelope. He’d seen her softer side. Faith and Amy had thought her worried, or lacking confidence, but he suspected it was more than that. Something had made her so prickly, so rigid. She’d stiffened when they’d discussed diving.
He wanted to know why. She intrigued him.
She’d worried about him being injured in the confrontation, not just concerned about herself.
