“That’s great.”Tess had been unsure and timid when Dot had first met her, and it was nice to see her confidence grow.“How long have the others been down?”
Sam answered.“They should surface any minute.Oliver noticed the damage at the end of his first dive and wanted to go down again and expand his search area to see if anything else had been damaged.”
At least she wouldn’t have to speak to him yet.She could do her own investigation.“I’ll get my things.”
Chapter 9
Oliver forced himself to breathe slowly as he swam past the disturbed wreckage.Coral had been ripped and there was a gaping hole where a cannon from the seventeenth century had lain.
Vandals, thieves, bastards.
He’d known this was going to happen.He should have listened to his gut and not allowed himself to be distracted by his own desires to see Dot.Andrew’s seasickness had given him the excuse he’d been looking for.He’d put his own feelings before the job.
Foolish and unprofessional.
His anger at the vandals and himself simmered as he took a final photo and then surfaced.His students were already on board and the police boat was tied up next to theOceanid.Dot was here.
The excited skip of his heart only increased his anger.She’d shown no interest in him.His delusion that she felt anything had led to his loss of focus and the cannon being stolen.
He hauled himself aboard and took off his equipment, glaring at Dot.She wore a stinger suit, the fabric clinging to her skin, showing her curves.So beautiful.The rush of jealousy as she smiled at something Sam said fuelled his temper.
Don’t be stupid.
He brushed the excess water from his hair and strode over.“You’re too late.”
Her eyebrows raised at his abrupt tone.“For what?”
“To stop the theft.You knew treasure hunters were swarming the town, and you did nothing to protect the site.”
Sam cleared his throat, but Oliver didn’t look at him as he waited for Dot’s response.
“I understand you’re angry—”
“Of course I’m angry.The cannon was irreplaceable.It’s probably going to sit in some dickhead’s man cave and he’ll brag to all of his friends about it.”
“If he brags, someone will eventually have a conscience and tell the authorities.”
Her calm, rational tone and the lack of expression on her face made him want to yell further.He wanted some emotion from her, even if it was to yell back at him.Anything to show she had feelings.
Sam shifted and Dot held up a hand to stop him from speaking.“What would you like me to do?”
He bit his tongue to stop from blurting out the truth.That he wanted her to care for him like she used to.He swore and spun around, stalking to the other side of the boat.
Get a grip.
He exhaled, trying to let go of the anger.When he turned, his students were staring at him with varying levels of discomfort on their faces.
Shit.
He exhaled again and walked back.“I’m sorry.I’m annoyed at myself for not listening to my gut.”
She nodded.“How bad is the damage?”
“Bad enough.”He let out another breath before showing her the photos on his camera.Her arm brushed his as she stepped closer to see the camera display.Tingles spread over his skin and Dot’s quiet intake of breath as she leaned into him and then shifted away told him perhaps she wasn’t as indifferent as she appeared.Hope tempered his anger.“They’ve taken the cannon and damaged the surrounding area.”He handed her the camera and allowed his fingers to brush hers as he did so.
Soft.Warm.
It took a moment before Dot pulled away.She cleared her throat.“Can you send those to me?”She gave him her work email address and then went over to her gear, where she radioed the station.“Colin, head down to the marina and check if anyone was there last night.We’re looking for someone who might have seen people unloading a cannon, or people coming or going.”
