With a head start and her speed, Simon had to shift into a higher gear to catch up. They reached the rock together, and as much as he didn’t want to, he averted his gaze as Shannaclimbed onto a flatter surface next to the split part. As he pulled himself out of the water, she started laughing.
“What?” he asked, still amused.
“You didn’t get your socks off!”
“You didn’t give me much time,” he objected through a smile spreading on his lips. Perched on a rock with the sea lapping at her toes, she looked even more like a mythical creature, her legs drawn up to her chest, revealing only the slight swell of her breast but the entirety of her nicely curved thigh.
“I’m sorry. I was excited.” She gave him a sideways glance. “You look absolutely ridiculous.”
And you look gorgeous.Droplets left on her skin glistened in the sun, giving her a silvery sheen, like a water nymph, bound to take him.
Why did that word keep coming to his mind?
“I’m sorry we didn’t find the answers here,” Shanna said. “Regarding my mom and the bracelet.”
His brain told him it should be inconvenient, but his heart almost rejoiced—not because Shanna failed, but because that meant they had more of the journey ahead of them.
“You’re sure it’s a dead end?”
“It’s not a dead end.” Her lips quirked. “But I’m sure the bracelet isn’t to be found here.”
“That’s all right,” he said. “It’s been a fun day.”
A smile, brighter than the sparkles of sun reflecting off the water, lit up her face, and sucked the breath out of him. Shanna wasn’t shy with smiles, but when she smiled athim, he felt noticed, treasured … loved.
Of course, that was just Shanna being friendly, and him getting a bit too wild in his imagination.
Still, he desperately wanted to earn another smile. He reached for the first semi-funny thought that came to mind. “You know, when I was ten and told my dad I wanted to become a SEAL, Ididn’t think it would actually happen one day.” He swept his arm down his body, indicating the similarities with the pose they’d seen the animals take earlier.
Shanna burst out in wild, uncensored laughter, and everything in Simon sang.
“Daddy Seal,” she said, still chuckling. “I’m Mommy Seal, and Chris is the Problematic Teenager Seal … picking up snails on the beach.”
“Nah.” He looked at her from the side, veiling his eyes. “You’re a mermaid.”
Shanna blinked, and her mouth twitched, as if the words awoke something in her—but then she wiped that expression off. “Well, you’re rather built for a seal, too. The animal seal, not the Navy SEAL—I don’t think you are built enough for those …”
“Ouch.” Simon imitated a shot to the heart. “A complimentanda zinger at the same time? You know how to serve them, O’Connell.”
In response, she only raised her chin in mock haughtiness.
“Also, I don’t appreciate being ogled,” he added in a clear jesting tone, “after I tried my best to salvage my clothes.”
“Should’ve come swimming with me when I suggested it,” she said with a dainty shrug.
Simon gazed ahead, blinking against the sparkling sea. Yes, he should have. He should have some fun. He used to know how to do that, didn’t he? Or was that only in his dreams, and in real life, he was a mind-numbingly boring businessman?
Shanna would never smile like this at a mind-numbingly boring businessman.
“Well, Rocky Retreat is over,” Shanna said. “At least, we probably shouldn’t leave Baby Seal Chris alone for too long.” She jumped back into the water, swift and smooth as a dart.
“Wait,” Simon said with sudden urgency. He leaned down, and she swam back to the shelf, holding onto it with her hands.He drew closer still, until their faces were merely inches apart, an invisible force driving him to those mesmerizing stormy sea eyes.
It wouldn’t hurt if he kissed her, would it? He didn’t know why he wanted to do it, only that he did. Fun, adventure-desiring Simon wanted to. He had to if she’d let him.
“Shanna,” he whispered, almost touching her nose.
She stared at him, unmoving, wide-eyed, and then she peeped, “You shouldn’t do it.”
