Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Ugh, that ugly feeling tightening around my insides that I have no right to is super annoying. “That would be fun, but I’ve already paid for my excursion.”
“Get your money back.”
“I don’t think it works like that.” I laugh. “Plus, you guys are going out tonight, and I want to go early, since I was told that’s when I have the best chance of seeing some of the more unusual fish,” I tell him as we walk down a long hall with black marble floors and deep-red walls showcasing different pieces of floral art.
“They’re going out,” Walker cuts in, and I look up at him.
“Pardon?”
“The whole club scene is Otto’s thing, and Ham is going with him, because we’ve had to bail him out of jail when he’s drank too much and done stupid shit. Twice.”
“Defending my soccer team was not stupid,” Otto mutters.
“Yeah, and pissing on the road right in front of a cop, or the time you got into a fight but didn’t get arrested just because the cops were worried about the dude killing you if you were locked up together?” Ham asks.
“There were no bathrooms open, and I didn’t know the cop was there,” he defends, then adds, “And that guy was being a dick to his girl. Someone needed to kick his ass.”
“Whatever,” Ham mutters.
“And that’s why I don’t have the patience Ham does when it comes to dealing with your shit.”
“No, you’re just old.” Otto grins at Walker over his shoulder, not offended in the least, and even though I could tell from his looks that he’s younger than Ham and Walker, his attitude makes it that much more obvious.
“Whatever,” Walker mutters, giving my hand a squeeze, and I glance up at him. “I’ll go with you to your excursion tomorrow, and when the guys wake up, we can rent a boat and take it out for the afternoon.”
“Yes!” Otto hoots, knocking Ham in his chest with the back of his hand. “Now we have to track down those chicks.”
“I’m not sure women like being referred to as ‘chicks,’” I inform him as we reach the restaurant.
“It’s better than bitches.”
“I guess that’s true,” I mutter, and Ham sighs while Otto grins.
“You’ll get used to him.” Walker rests his hand on my back, ushering me through the door of the restaurant before him, and I bite my lip.
Yep, I’m definitely in over my head, and it’s obvious I need to call April and have her explain the ground rules for a vacation fling.
CHAPTER 4
walker
Tracking Hanna as she walks away from the table to go use the restroom, I try to figure out what it is about her that’s got me so fucked up. I’ve had more than my share of beautiful women over the years, but I never reacted to any of them like I do her. Like something I don’t even recognize inside myself is urging me to mark and claim her so every single man around will know she belongs to me.
Jesus, I’m fucked. I’ve known her for less than twelve hours, and this is the shit going through my head already.
“You good, man?” Ham asks low, and I drag my attention off where Hanna just disappeared and focus on him.
“All good.”
“You sure?”
“Yep.” I pick up my water and force myself to relax.
“I got a call from Toni this afternoon. He tried to get ahold of you, but you didn’t pick up.”
“What’d he want?” I glance up at the waitress and smile when she places the check on the table.
“He was letting us know that when we get back, we should plan to be out for two weeks, depending on the weather.”
Fuck, I had a feeling that would happen. Actually, I knew it would, and for the first time, I’m annoyed with my job for keeping me off land for so long.
“He wants us to go back over the area where we found the bars,” Otto says, using his chopsticks to pick up one of the last sushi rolls from the plate in front of him. “It doesn’t make sense to me, but he’s convinced we missed something.” He shrugs, shoving it in his mouth.
“I’ll call him in a couple of days and talk to him.”
“I tried to talk him out of it already.” Ham picks up his beer. “You know how he gets when he’s convinced he’s right. And since he’s not paying us based on what we find but on our dive time, I’ll look in the same spot for the next year if he wants me to.”
“Truth,” Otto mutters, and I glance across the room just in time to watch Hanna as she walks back toward our table. It’s obvious I’m not the only one by his next comment. “She seems cool, and it doesn’t hurt that she’s easy to look at.” I turn to glare at him. “Just making an observation.” He holds up his hands in defense.