Read Online Stolen Chances by Elisabeth Naughton - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Elisabeth Naughton
Tags: Romance, Contemporary
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things hadn’t changed.
The screen door slapped closed as Drummer headed into the casita. When they were alone, Thad sobered and looked Patrick’s way again, intent on finishing the conversation they’d just started when Maren and Drummer interrupted them. “So…Declan…”
Patrick tossed the dregs of his coffee over the railing. “Off the coast of St. Kitts. Shipwreck there he’s just started scavenging. So far, my guys tell me he hasn’t even looked our direction.”
Thad rested his hands on his hips. Above, a bird cawed as it swooped low over the swaying palms. “That’ll change.”
“Not likely. Unless someone here feeds him information, and I know that won’t happen, we should be free and clear for quite some time.”
“Never underestimate the bastard, Patrick. Word will spread. The locals will talk. And no matter what, Declan will find out. He has a sixth sense about these things. You think Maren’s up for this?”
“Maren needed to get back on a dig. She’s ready. She can handle this. I know you don’t think so, but trust me, she can handle just about anything.”
Thad wasn’t sure about that. He’d seen her last night, and he knew she was still struggling with the hows and whys of being down here, but Drummer was right. She never did anything unless she wanted to.
He pulled the keys from his front pocket. “I’ll radio you from the boat later and give you an update.”
“Enjoy the sun,” Patrick said, moving down the steps and heading the other direction.
Thad crossed the camp just as Lisa was emerging from her hut. “Hey, Red. You working on the boat today, or here?”
Lisa stopped near the back of the Jeep. Thad yanked open his backpack and searched for his sunglasses. “Here. I work better alone. The camp should be deserted once Patrick gets his grunts out of the way. I’ll set up in the dining hall. By the time you all come back for dinner, I should have the seafloor mapped and will be able to tell you exactly where our ship is located.”
Thad chuckled. “You always were a cocky broad.”
Lisa grinned. “Someone has to be.” Backpack slung over her shoulder and a full coffee cup in hand, she started down the dirt road, then glanced back. “Be nice to each other.”
Thad looked over his shoulder. Maren stood a few feet from him. Her freshly showered hair was piled on top of her head, a few loose strands framing her face, and the familiar scent of pomegranates wafted in the air around her.
God, she smelled incredible. Thad fought from drawing in a deep whiff and went back to his bag. “Now why would she think otherwise?”
“I guess she knows us both pretty well,” Maren said.
Thad pulled his glasses out and slid them on, then turned to face her. And wow, she looked even better than she smelled. Short denim shorts, a thin white tank that showed off her small waist and hips and the supple curve of her breasts, a knapsack slung over her shoulder and dusty hiking boots on her feet that proved she was as rugged as the rest of them. He’d always been interested in girls who could get gussied up one minute but were just as comfortable dressed down, and she still definitely qualified. Awareness zinged through his body and shot straight to his groin.
Realizing where his thoughts were going, he cleared his throat and refocused on why he was here. The situation was going to be awkward anyway they sliced it. It was better to clear the air than just let things fester. “Look, Maren—”
“No, Thad. Let me start. You took me by surprise yesterday at the airstrip. As soon as I saw you, I knew Patrick had tricked me to get me down here. I shouldn’t have taken things out on you, and for that I apologize.”
Thad stared into her light blue eyes, a little taken aback. The Maren he remembered was as fiery as the girl who’d leapt out of his Jeep yesterday before they’d come to a complete stop. The one he was being faced with today was calm, collected, and
The screen door slapped closed as Drummer headed into the casita. When they were alone, Thad sobered and looked Patrick’s way again, intent on finishing the conversation they’d just started when Maren and Drummer interrupted them. “So…Declan…”
Patrick tossed the dregs of his coffee over the railing. “Off the coast of St. Kitts. Shipwreck there he’s just started scavenging. So far, my guys tell me he hasn’t even looked our direction.”
Thad rested his hands on his hips. Above, a bird cawed as it swooped low over the swaying palms. “That’ll change.”
“Not likely. Unless someone here feeds him information, and I know that won’t happen, we should be free and clear for quite some time.”
“Never underestimate the bastard, Patrick. Word will spread. The locals will talk. And no matter what, Declan will find out. He has a sixth sense about these things. You think Maren’s up for this?”
“Maren needed to get back on a dig. She’s ready. She can handle this. I know you don’t think so, but trust me, she can handle just about anything.”
Thad wasn’t sure about that. He’d seen her last night, and he knew she was still struggling with the hows and whys of being down here, but Drummer was right. She never did anything unless she wanted to.
He pulled the keys from his front pocket. “I’ll radio you from the boat later and give you an update.”
“Enjoy the sun,” Patrick said, moving down the steps and heading the other direction.
Thad crossed the camp just as Lisa was emerging from her hut. “Hey, Red. You working on the boat today, or here?”
Lisa stopped near the back of the Jeep. Thad yanked open his backpack and searched for his sunglasses. “Here. I work better alone. The camp should be deserted once Patrick gets his grunts out of the way. I’ll set up in the dining hall. By the time you all come back for dinner, I should have the seafloor mapped and will be able to tell you exactly where our ship is located.”
Thad chuckled. “You always were a cocky broad.”
Lisa grinned. “Someone has to be.” Backpack slung over her shoulder and a full coffee cup in hand, she started down the dirt road, then glanced back. “Be nice to each other.”
Thad looked over his shoulder. Maren stood a few feet from him. Her freshly showered hair was piled on top of her head, a few loose strands framing her face, and the familiar scent of pomegranates wafted in the air around her.
God, she smelled incredible. Thad fought from drawing in a deep whiff and went back to his bag. “Now why would she think otherwise?”
“I guess she knows us both pretty well,” Maren said.
Thad pulled his glasses out and slid them on, then turned to face her. And wow, she looked even better than she smelled. Short denim shorts, a thin white tank that showed off her small waist and hips and the supple curve of her breasts, a knapsack slung over her shoulder and dusty hiking boots on her feet that proved she was as rugged as the rest of them. He’d always been interested in girls who could get gussied up one minute but were just as comfortable dressed down, and she still definitely qualified. Awareness zinged through his body and shot straight to his groin.
Realizing where his thoughts were going, he cleared his throat and refocused on why he was here. The situation was going to be awkward anyway they sliced it. It was better to clear the air than just let things fester. “Look, Maren—”
“No, Thad. Let me start. You took me by surprise yesterday at the airstrip. As soon as I saw you, I knew Patrick had tricked me to get me down here. I shouldn’t have taken things out on you, and for that I apologize.”
Thad stared into her light blue eyes, a little taken aback. The Maren he remembered was as fiery as the girl who’d leapt out of his Jeep yesterday before they’d come to a complete stop. The one he was being faced with today was calm, collected, and
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