HIGH TIDE by Maureen A. Miller

emerged from the depths. His head cracked the surface as he hoisted the mask atop near black hair, grinning up at her.
    “Were you worried about me?”
    Briana released her trapped breath. She stepped back as he hoisted himself over the rail.
    “Absolutely not.”
    He dropped his gear with a thud into the growing puddle on deck and shook his head to snap some water from his hair. Black waves framed the straight planes of his face. Briana’s gaze dropped to his chest where rivulets trailed through damp curls into the waistband he was now unbuttoning. Awkwardly she turned around and scowled when she heard quiet laughter behind her.
    “It’s beautiful down there, Br ee. Maybe someday I’ll convince you to go diving with me.”
    Refusing to look over her shoulder, she vowed, “Not on your life.”
    “Whatd’ya find, Nikolo?”
    “Not so much what I found, but what I heard. A motor, faint—”
    “That boat over there.” Briana studied the unmanned vessel and chanced a glance back at him, pleased to see that he was now dressed in a pair of navy shorts, but not thrilled to feel the effects of that attire. Tan, muscular thighs made her swallow several times before she added. “It must be theirs.”
    Nick stepped up alongside her, his hands gripping the rail as he leaned forward. “No. Sound travels well under water. This was far away, almost indistinguishable, probably one of the marine vessels.”
    “Aren’t you concerned about them? I mean there’s no one on board. Where are they?”
    He touched her shoulder. “They’re over there.” His head nudged to the right. “See? The anchor is dropped, and there are two lines overboard. I heard them, didn’t see them though.”
    The touch on her shoulder lingered seconds longer than necessary.
    “Look,” his voice was gruff, “we’ll get you on shore, and then you better high tail it back to the office until they confirm the cause of death of those tuna.”
    For whatever reason, he seemed to want to goad her. She nearly succumbed to the taunt, but corralled herself.
    “I could have already been at my desk, enjoying my third cup of coffee by now if I hadn’t been snatched from the beach by some marauding pirate.”
    “I like that.” He held his hand to his chin. “Marauding pirate. Hmmm, did you ever stop to think you wouldn’t need so many aspirin if you laid off the coffee?”
    Exasperated, she moved away from the balustrade, and away from him.
    “Briana.”
    He stepped forward.
    S he retreated.
    “Briana,” he repeated huskily.
    “Don’t,” she challenged in a quiet voice.
    “ Nikolo?”
    Nick’s head snapped at the invasion as Keo’s beefy shoulders jutt ed out the cabin.
    “They’re calling you back to the lab.”
    Nick turned towards Briana, but she had already withdrawn. Evading his gaze she clasped the balustrade, watching the ocean. Loving it.  Fearing it.
    ***   
    As the Inquiry’s motors hummed and propelled the huge vessel into a wide arc, a snorkel emerged just thirty yards off its starboard side. Several seconds later, another joined it. Two water-masked faces studied the path of the diminishing cutter. With a calculating nod they submerged below the surface.
       ***
    “So what do you think?”
    “Gee, Takanawa, I just got here. I haven’t even had time to develop an opinion yet.”
    “But she’s beautiful, isn’t she?” Naoki gazed longingly through his Grandmother’s kitchen door, into the dining room.
    Briana followed that puppy dog glance and confirmed that indeed the woman known only as Joy, was an attractive creature, with her svelte muscular frame and glossy black hair.
    “Dinner’s coming.” Briana announced, suspending a tale of love and loyalty in Japan, and Keito’s proclamation that loyalty was such a commendable trait in women.
    “The rolls,” Briana prompted, “Keito, come with me and get the rolls.”
    With an apologetic smile at the young female guest, Briana disappeared back through the door, her