In Deep Waters

She sounded like a high school cheerleader. All she needed were the pom-poms and a short little skirt. Ben liked the image forming in his head. But this wasn’t a football game. No “rah-rahs” or “go team, go” cheers necessary. She wasn’t part of his team. “We’ll be done with this search soon.”

Hope glimmered in her eyes. “And then?”

A beat passed. “We’ll see.”

Kayla didn’t want to see. She wanted action.

Unfortunately, all she could do was wait. Wait for Ben to return from helping Madison in the bathroom. Wait for Ben to make a decision about the search coordinates.

“Hey, Kayla.” Monk, the best-looking of the crew, with sun-bleached blond hair, clear baby-blue eyes and a sexy Southern drawl, sauntered over to the pool. He pulled his T-shirt over his head and winked. “Your turn, darlin’.”

“You’ve got to be kidding.”

“Fitz makes jokes around here.” Monk’s eyes twinkled. “I make love.”

Kayla managed not to burst out laughing. She felt like the housemother of a fraternity, but somebody had to rein these fellows in for Madison’s sake. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Anything, darlin’.”

“Do you consider your behavior acceptable for a three-year-old to witness?”

He glanced around. “Madison isn’t here.”

“She’s in the bathroom with Ben so she might be able to hear you. But that isn’t the point. I’m sorry to lecture you, but do you want Madison to grow up believing this—” she pointed to his shirt on the deck and to him “—is how a woman should be treated by a man?”

“Hell, no.” Monk grimaced. He picked up his T-shirt and put it on. “Aw, Kayla. I never thought about it that way. I’ll do better. Really.”

As Monk left the “beach,” Kayla paced in the small pool. The saltwater made her legs feel better. A way they hadn’t felt since coming on board. She must have hit the rail harder than she realized. But a few aches and pains were nothing to worry about when the expedition was on the line.

No question about it. Ben had to change course. It was her responsibility, her duty, to make that happen. She was going to tell Ben her true position at the museum and order him to go to her coordinates.

Madison ran back to the pool. “I went potty.”

Kayla hadn’t spent much time with children and didn’t know the proper response. Clapping, cheering, a standing ovation? She decided on words. “You’re such a big girl.”