Read Online Gillian’s Island by catjohnson - Free Book Online

her. “You’re stalling.”
    “No. Well, yes, but I really am curious. You know more about
everything than anyone else I know.”
    “I know a little bit about a lot of things. That doesn’t
mean I know everything about everything. I’m a professor in the
anthropology department at the University of Chicago. Since we’re
playing question and answer, what do you do?”
    “I’m a boring old accountant.”
    “You’re not boring or old.”
    “I’m so boring I had three years worth of vacation days
stored up because I never do anything or go anywhere. That turned out
to be lucky, though, since I’ve used them so I could help my
sister with the wedding.”
    “Lucky indeed. Now enough stalling. Are you ready?” He
held the fork up.
    She wrinkled her nose. “You first.”
    Jamie sighed dramatically while rolling his eyes and was rewarded
with a smile from Gillian. He slurped down the custard-like fish then
licked his lips. “Mmm. Good. Your turn now.”
    Gillian watched him closely, as if waiting for him to keel over or
blow up like a balloon.
    “I think you’re lying to me about how it tastes.”
She squinted at the small pile of spiny creatures he’d caught.
    “Only one way to find out.” He picked up another urchin,
prepared it the same way he had the first and lifted the loaded fork.
    She hesitated a beat and then her lips parted and she waited for him
to feed her. His breath caught in his throat as he watched the golden
food enter her mouth. His eyes never left her while she swallowed.
Then her pink tongue appeared and licked those luscious lips and he
had trouble swallowing himself. “Good?”
    “Not as bad as I thought.” She shrugged.
    “Glad to hear it.” He finally remembered to pull his hand
with the fork back from her. “Ready for some kelp salad?”
    Gillian laughed. “Sure. Why not.”
    Earlier, he’d made a dressing for the sea kelp with ingredients
he’d found in the galley, and then put the salad into bowls.
She took it now, poking at it with another fork. “It looks kind
of normal, I guess.”
    “It is. Just like lettuce, but it grows in the sea.”
    Those gorgeous lips twisted. “You mean like sea weed?”
    “Try it.”
    She sighed. “Okay.”
    He watched as she chewed. Yeah, it would be a little rubbery but that
didn’t mean it didn’t taste good. Meanwhile, he was
imagining what that mouth could do to him. To distract himself, he
started talking. “Sea kelp is very high in protein, fiber,
vitamins B and E, and manganese.”
    Looking less than impressed, she swallowed. “Oh, good, because
I’ve often thought how I don’t get enough manganese in my
diet.”
    Now his lips twisted. “Admit it. It’s not that bad.”
    Rolling her eyes, she finally smiled. “It’s not that
bad.”
    He returned her smile. “I told you so. Ready for some abalone?”
    A short laugh burst from Gillian. “I don’t know. Am I?”
    “Yes.” If she wasn’t, he would have to get her
ready because the meat was nearly gone and would be too warm to eat
soon anyway. Unless they tried making jerky out of the limited
leftover steak, this was what they would have to survive on until
they were rescued.
    He began a detailed lecture about abalone, making it sound as
attractive as possible. “Some people say the flavor is richer
than scallops. The texture is supposed to be firmer than calamari.
It’s a delicacy, prized by the Chinese.”
    “I don’t usually eat my scallops or my calamari raw. In
fact, deep fried and greasy and smothered in red sauce is how I
prefer my calamari.”
    “We don’t have to have the abalone raw. I mean, it can be
served raw in sushi or ceviche, but it can be grilled too, or even
fried.” Abandoning his bowl, he got up and pulled two aluminum
foil packets from the coals at the edge of the fire. “I wrapped
it with a little white wine, lemon, salt and pepper.”
    Her eyebrows shot up. Had he actually impressed her? “You are
quite the survival chef, aren’t you? Perhaps