"Isn't it obvious?I'm here to help!"Shelley declared, her eyes sparkling."Since your preliminary results have been coming in a bit sporadically, the funding committee thought it would be best for me to join you and get things back on track.Surprise!"
"Help?From California?"Gray's confusion deepened."This isn't exactly a quick trip across town.Why didn't anyone tell me you were coming?And the reports aren't sporadic; the island has limited connectivity.We're doing the best we can out here."Gray's face reddened.
Dr.Terry had mentioned nothing about the funding committee being unhappy with his work.In fact, they'd given him a two-month extension, and he'd just sent in his second and third weeks' results.This made little sense; he needed to talk to her.
Shelley's gaze shifted suspiciously toward Riley, who had turned back to Phoenix, resuming her measurements with a focused intensity.
"Let me assist with that," Shelley offered, her voice dripping with enthusiasm as she moved to crouch beside Riley."I'm quite an expert at taking measurements."She wasn't, but Riley was not giving Shelley what she wanted: attention.
Before she could get any closer, Gray stepped between them, causing the unstable dock to wobble precariously.Riley instinctively shifted toward the edge, while Shelley stumbled into Gray, who caught her, stopping them both from toppling into the water.
"Oh dear!This dock is so unsteady," Shelley remarked, clutching onto Gray a moment longer than necessary.Seizing the opportunity, Riley peeled off her tank top and dove gracefully into the water alongside Phoenix.
Shelley watched Riley disappear beneath the surface, a hint of annoyance creeping into her voice."Well, that was rude.Who just swims off like that?"
Gray's eyes followed Riley as she swam effortlessly across the lagoon with Phoenix following along beside her.Turning back to Shelley, his expression hardened.
"Why are you here, Shelley?"
She feigned innocence, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear."I told you to help.The grant isn't for leisure time; it's for producing results.And from the looks of it," she gestured toward the distant figures of Riley and Phoenix, "you seem a bit...distracted."
Gray's jaw tightened."We have a system here.Bringing in someone unannounced disrupts the workflow."
"Oh, come on," Shelley scoffed lightly, attempting to loop her arm through his but thinking better of it as the dock shifted again."I've been lugging around equipment from California, and I can't even find the lab.No signs, no organization.It's like this place is stuck in the Stone Age.We'll need to implement some structure around here."
Taking a deep breath to steady his frustration, Gray glanced once more toward Riley, now a speck across the lagoon.She was in her element, far from this sudden intrusion.
"Fine," he said tersely."Let's head to the lab and figure this miscommunication out."
Shelley's face lit up."Perfect!I can't wait to explore this island with you.Just think of all the work we can accomplish together."
As they walked toward the lab, Gray couldn't shake the uneasy feeling settling in his stomach.He had left California to escape Shelley's unwanted advances, and now she was here, threatening the peace and progress he'd found.Stealing one last glance at the shimmering water where Riley and Phoenix played, he silently vowed not to let Shelley's arrival derail everything they'd worked for.
"We'll see about that," he muttered under his breath as they headed up the docks to the lab.
Chapter 48
Puzzles
AsGrayandShelleyheaded back to the lab, he noticed a small bag sitting on the dock where the catamaran dropped off the tourists for their dolphin experiences.Gray gazed around, wondering if the boat drivers or someone from the dive team dropped Shelley off?It was weird; whoever had, hadn't stuck around.He'd been so fixated on Riley and Phoenix that he never even noticed a boat coming and going.Maybe she hadn't come in a boat?But that made no sense.
Walking up to the lab, Shelley stopped to grab the small bag and slung it over her shoulder as they walked.He wondered why she had it?It resembled a dry bag that divers use, and he couldn't imagine Shelley diving.She continued to beam at him, obviously thrilled to be there with him.Inwardly, he groaned.He thought he'd been away long enough that she'd stopped thinking they would ever be in a relationship.But from her body language, he knew that was not the case.
Entering the lab, and before he had time to say anything, Cam stood up abruptly, confused at the stranger with Gray.Well, shit, he thought.How would he explain this when he didn't even know what was happening?
"Team, meet Shelley," Gray said, silencing the room's chatter.Every head turned toward the newcomer, curiosity quickly giving way to unease.
"Hi, Shelley, I'm Cam, the director here.Sorry to be blunt, but who are you, and how did you get here?"Cam wasn't one for surprises, especially human-sized ones.And he had nothing on the schedule for visitors.The Lagoon wasn't somewhere you could just come to, so this woman was out of place.
Shelley flashed a bright smile."Oh, I'm so sorry to drop in unannounced.I tried to contact you earlier, but I hear the connection out here is spotty.That's part of why I'm here, to help get Gray back on track."She gave Gray a playful nudge, but no one in the room seemed amused."The entire department thought I could lend a hand with the research now that you've got more time here."
Her eyes roamed the lab, unimpressed by the lack of modern equipment and organization.Shelley's mind was already calculating how to use this to her advantage, keeping Gray from discovering the real reason she was here.
"Wait, did you say Gray is behind on his research?"Cam's eyes narrowed; this made little sense at all.
Gray's face flushed before he forced a neutral expression."No, Cam.There's been a misunderstanding.I'm hoping we can contact Dr.Terry to sort this out."
"No need to hurry!"Shelley interjected quickly, smiling again."Why don't we get me settled first and then tour the island?"
