Read Online Moonlight and Margaritas by Cindy Stark - Free Book Online

he needed to top off his morning was a lecture on how to dress.  He knew how to dress.  He wore a tie nearly every day that he'd worked at Stephens Shipping.  That was one of the things he'd enjoyed leaving behind.  "Of course.  I just stopped by to pick up my passenger list for this morning, and then I'll take my unprofessional appearance out of the hotel."
    Mario considered him for a moment and then turned to the computer.  "Give me a minute to print it."  The concierge typed on the keyboard, clicked his mouse and a sheet of paper slid from the printer. 
    Joe picked it up, smiled, and said his goodbyes. 
    He needed a hell of a shower to wash away the morning's frustrations.

*      *      *
    Elena pushed up her sunglasses, wishing desperately that she could adjust her bikini instead.  Her new black swimsuit didn't fit her as well as she'd hoped, and it seemed determined to creep up her left butt cheek.  She couldn't very well adjust it, though, standing amidst the small group of divers—all of them men, except her and Mercedes—on the sunny dock while they waited for their guide to arrive.
    Elena shifted, trying to get her bikini bottom to move, and she bumped Mercedes in the process.  Her friend frowned at her.  "Are you okay?  You know you don't need to be nervous."
    "Are you kidding me?  Coming face-to-face with a 60,000 pound whale shark doesn't intimidate you in the slightest?"  In all actuality, her rogue bikini was the least of her worries.
    "They don't attack," said the older, balding man standing in front of her.
    Elena sent him a smile that said "mind your own business".  He widened his eyes and turned away.
    "That's what makes it so fun, chica.  The danger, the excitement.  That's what you're looking for, remember?"  Mercedes nudged her arm.  "Just relax.  You're going to have the best time ever."
    Elena was still not sure how her friend had gotten her to agree to cancel their relaxing day at the beach in favor of a diving expedition, but she was pretty sure the phrase, enjoy life before we get too old , and the threat of searching out Joe for her entertainment had something to do with it.  Mercedes could be very persuasive. 
    She shifted again, and Mercedes frowned.  "It's my bikini, all right?" she whispered.  "It's hiked halfway up my rear-end."
    "Oh.  Hate that."  Mercedes gave her a look that seemed more like she was laughing at her than commiserating.  "But look, here comes our boat."
    Elena turned to see a cabin cruiser heading for the dock.  Her nerves increased ten-fold now that the boat was actually there.  She'd go along like she'd promised Mercedes, but at this point, she was reconsidering actually getting in the water.  She loved to dive and encountering the promised large schools of Manta Rays and other tropical fish would be fascinating, but the possibility of running into a whale shark intimidated her.  She preferred to swim with fish more her size, not sea giants.
    Her diving mates didn't appear to share her attitude.  The whole point of their expedition was to search for the gigantic whale shark, and the energy emanating from the five men and Mercedes was almost tangible.  Seriously, she could appreciate the adrenaline rush they were sure to get, but she wasn't sure it would ever be her kind of fun. 
    "Okay, people."  The representative from the hotel raised his voice.  "Your boat's here.  The hotel van will be back at four o'clock to pick you up."  He gave them a cocky grin.  "My man Joe will see that you have a good time.  Enjoy the sharks." 
    He winked and left.
    Joe ?  Elena swiveled around and tried to get a better view of the captain of the boat.  The bright sunshine reflecting off the cabin windows made it impossible. 
    What were the chances?  Like zero, the calm, sane side of her chimed in.  She mentally kicked herself for her moment of panic.  It wouldn't be her guy.  There were millions of Joes in the world.  Her Joe had