Mac would rather throw herself to the sharks than let him touch her.“I could pay a girl to get close to him and roofie him,” she suggested; that had more appeal than pretending to be interested in him.More than one woman on the island found him attractive with his tall height and well-built body he showed off on his morning runs in just a pair of shorts.
His body, looks, and charm did nothing for her because underneath it all, she knew he was a murderer.
“Jus le id go.”Burt finished his drink and stood up.
“You know I can’t.”She could never stand idle while her sharks were being threatened.They were more than just animals to her.Movies made them out to be bloodthirsty killers that killed everything in sight, when in fact they were highly intelligent and interesting creatures.There was so much information people didn’t know about them, and at the rate things were going in the world, there wouldn’t be sharks much longer, and then the oceans would be in real danger.Well, not while she was around.
“The fin a ma and foret aboot id fo a or or so.”Burt gave her a saucy wink.“I see ya tomerow an we fin the harks.”
Mac wished she could be so optimistic, but she feared the longer Miles Banks was here that more of her sharks would continue to disappear.This was her life’s work, and she couldn’t just let it go.“I’ll see you tomorrow.”Mac pasted on a smile she didn’t feel; no sense in continuing the conversation where only she thought something more nefarious was going on.
Since she was a child and had seen her first shark at the aquarium, she’d been fascinated by them.She had traveled all over the world studying different species and habitats.The Caribbean had a fascinating ecosystem with an array of different species which was why she’d chosen to remain here.
Now this hotel chain owner was threatening it all.Not that she could prove it, but shortly after he’d bought the land, sharks slowly started disappearing.Take from that what you would.
He may not be doing it personally, but he had a fleet of personnel at his disposal to do his dirty work for him.She needed to find a way to get him to confess or, better yet, make him leave.The question was how.
“You have the look of a woman who wants to harm someone.”
Mac’s gaze shifted from the shark murderer to the newcomer as she looked up.Mac clamped her mouth shut so it didn’t fall open as she stared at the tall, gorgeous man.
Sandy brown hair that was cut short on the sides and curly and untamable on top.He had golden eyes that seemed to take in everything around him.He reminded her of a lion.His face was pulled into a kind smile.A lion that could devour her and she wasn’t going to complain about that one bit.
Her sex clenched.Whoa, easy girl.It had been a while, but that didn’t mean she was ready to jump in the sack with the first guy who drew her attention.
Her eyes travelled down to his broad shoulders and tapered waist that couldn’t be hidden even under his loose-fitting powder blue short-sleeved shirt.She noticed the prosthetic right arm that started at his elbow.Designs were etched into the fiberglass that mimicked a tattoo.The table blocked out the rest of the view of him, but she got the gist.
His accent was American.Not uncommon in this area.Tourists flocked here all throughout the year, wanting to escape the weather or just life in general.
“Maybe I do, what’s it to you?”
“Because I saw the look, I could be considered a witness.If I’m to be a witness, I’m curious what causes such a murderous look.If questioned,” he added.
He was funny, she’d give him that.Out of all the pick-up lines she’d heard in her life, this was a good one, but she wasn’t going to be swayed just yet.Mac didn’t make a habit of flirting with strangers or tourists for that matter, but there was something fun about it this man, and she wasn’t in a hurry to send him away.“Why, are you going to tell the local authorities on me?”
“Hardly, who do you have in your sights?”he asked as he pivoted on his heel to gaze back where her angry stare had been at a moment ago.
“His name is Miles Banks.He owns a hotel that’s being built on the beach up a ways,” she answered.The name might not mean anything to this stranger, and since she wasn’t actually contemplating murder, she wasn’t worried this man would rat her out.
The stranger turned back to look at her.“Do you have something against hotel owners?”
“Do you always question people you don’t know?”
The man shrugged as if her answer didn’t make a difference to him.“I find myself curious why a woman in paradise looks anything but happy.”
It wasn’t the first time the island had been considered paradise.Who could complain about good weather and being surrounded by the ocean?“One person’s paradise can be another person’s hell.”Not that she found the Caribbean hell.She loved it here.It was hot and humid, but she enjoyed it.It was amazing to fall asleep and wake up to the sound of the waves crashing against the shore.Hurricanes could be a problem, but there was no place in the world that didn’t have something negative.
“If you find it hell, why don’t you leave?”he inquired, taking the vacant seat Burt had left open.Mac wasn’t sure yet how she felt about him taking the initiative to sit down.She was used to being in charge of every situation, and this man had just walked in and now sat down like he had the right.
“I didn’t say it was my version of hell.Nor did I invite you to sit down.”
“Is it paradise then?”he asked instead of taking her hint that she hadn’t invited him for an extended conversation.
“It is to me.What about you?”
The stranger looked around.“It has its appeal.”
“When did you fly in?”
