Read Online Treasure Tides (The Coins) by Deniece Greene - Free Book Online

forehead this
time, like some child, and simply walk away without a backward glance.
Well, that was fine, just fine! She had plenty of offers. Unfortunately
none of them compared to the oh-so-perfect male specimen now pulling
his clothes out of her dryer.
Royce closed his eyes as he heard tears in Becki’s voice. It almost
killed him to know he had hurt her. His heart ached with the knowledge
that he had to walk away from her, and walk he would. His life was
dangerous.
The Council had obviously not given him the full story
concerning the coins, and who or what might be launching recovery
efforts. He couldn’t, wouldn’t involve her.
He walked back into the kitchen. God, if she had thought he looked
good in swim trunks, the sight of him in faded blue jeans and a black
tight-fitting T-shirt took her breath away.
“Becki,” he returned softly, purposely keeping his distance. He knew
if he touched her again he might not have the strength to leave. “Becki,
it’s for the best. I have a job to do. I’m on a tight schedule and running
behind.” Running two years behind, if you wanted to get technical.
Her tear drenched eyes suddenly dried, and shutters immediately
dropped down over any expression remaining there. “I’m getting in the
shower. Lock up when you leave,” she said evenly, “you never know
who might just walk in.” With that, she brushed past him moving
quickly toward her bedroom.
Doors opened and slammed; drawers slid open and then banged shut.
“A tight schedule,” she mumbled furiously. “What an ass .”
She was mad now which was preferable to the tears he had seen
earlier. Royce felt a smile tug at his lips as he listened to her slam things
around and mutter curse words directed toward him. Her temper had
bubbled over, and he sure wished he had time to take on that temper.
The knowledge that she was getting naked in the next room made it
difficult to even think about leaving.
Had circumstances been different,
had they met in a different time and place--.
He heard the shower
running and knew he had to go, now .
Royce saw the rental car pull up in front of the house-- a black SUV,
how cliché. Sean had a twisted sense of humor; he knew Royce would
rather have been riding in a red sports car. He was going to have a
serious chat with that kid one of these days. Time to get moving, he had
a lot of ground to make up. He locked the front door and pulled it shut
behind him.
Becki replayed this morning’s events in her head becoming more
frustrated and confused by the minute. “That’s what I get for waking up
before noon,” she muttered. Natie should be calling soon. If she
hurried there was enough time for a quick trip to the dive-shop. She had
her eye on a pink snorkel and fin set, and God knew she needed a little
retail therapy.
By the time Becki finished getting ready, the house was empty. Royce
had gone, and she felt a great heaviness in her chest, a sadness she didn’t
care to dwell on. He had made it very clear; he was busy and had things
to do, and she didn’t fit into his schedule. “His loss,” she announced to
herself flippantly. But if she were being honest, she was the one feeling a
loss; feeling it all the way to the pit of her stomach.
#
    “Heyyy Girl,” Vickie called as Becki strolled into Supreme Scuba.
“What have you been up to?”
Vickie owned the local dive shop and had worked hard to “sex-up”
the hobby.
Her new line of female scuba fashion had taken off like
gangbusters. She had all the newest gadgets with bling galore.
“You here for the pink set?” Vickie asked knowingly.
Becki had fallen in love with the new hot-pink snorkel and fin set as
soon as she had spotted them.
“You know it,” Becki grinned. “I’ve gotta look good out there.”
“You always look good, and you know it,” Vicki scoffed. “Did you
score some teeth for me yesterday?” she asked, her eyes shining in
anticipation.
“No, but we did find a crate of some sort,” she said