In Deep Waters by Melissa McClone Page B

Jason Water-ton."
    She nodded. "The sea took both my mother and my father."
    "Oh, Kayla." Ben wanted to comfort her, to hold her, but a touch would have to do. He covered her hand with his. "I...I don't know what to say."
    "No one does. Not even me. I thought it was all a mistake. He was one of the leading shipwreck historians in the world. He knew everything about the ocean. How a ship might sink, where it would settle on the bottom, everything. His percentage of finds was astronomical. How could this have happened to him? I kept waiting for him to come home. But he never did. He was gone. And I was alone." She pulled her hand away. "Still am alone."
    "You're not alone."
    She glanced down at the water. Dark, unfathomable, unforgiving. "Yes, I am."
    Ben raised her chin with his fingertips. The hurt in her eyes hit him full force. "What about us?"
    "Us?"
    "Me, Madison, Wolf, Monk, the rest of the crew." Ben wanted to help. He wanted to wipe away the tears and make her feel safe and secure, but he didn't know how and feit out of his element. "We might not be the prettiest bunch of characters, you and Madison excluded, but you're one of us. One of the crew."
    Her eyes glimmered. With happy tears? he wondered and hoped. "Me?" she asked.
    Ben heard the hope resting with that one word. He didn't know how to answer. Not when he couldn't believe he'd spoken those words in the first place. The beginnings of a smile appeared on her face. This was important to her, more than he possibly realized. Any regrets he may have had about including her with his ragtag crew disappeared.
    "Think about it." Ben liked how her gaze never left his. "You fit in better than anyone expected. You've contributed more than anyone thought."
    She was intelligent, caring, strong...and a hell of a lot prettier than anyone had imagined.
    The corners of her mouth tipped upward. "You make it sound as if you thought I'd only take up space."
    "And eat food." A satisfied smile formed on his lips. "Admit it, you didn't have a high opinion of any of us v when you stepped on board."
    "Only because--"
    "We were looking in the wrong place."
    "Do you blame me?"
    Not for that. But she was one-hundred-percent responsible for the tingling feeling in the pit of his stomach. Ben didn't get it. He never tingled. "Let's put it behind us. The past is the past. No sense dredging it up again."
    "Does that mean putting, uh, everything behind us?"
    Ben stared at her. "You mean the, uh, what happened the other morning?"
    She nodded.
    He was getting an out, a free pass. He'd be stupid not to take it. "Yes. Kissing members of the crew is against the rules. We've got a lot to do and I don't want any of my crew to be distracted."
    "By your kisses?"
    He laughed.
    She pursed her lips. "Any other rules?"
    "I treat all members of my crew the same, so don't expect any special treatment."
    "I wouldn't want it any other way," she said. "I just want to be one of the guys."
    "No problem." Easier said than done, he realized once the words were out.
    "Thanks." Kayla smiled. "You're very sweet, boss."
    Ben looped his thumb in his belt loop. Being called "sweet" ranked up there with "nice." But this time it didn't bother him so much. No, he was more concerned with her calling him "boss."
    Chapter Eight
    The days passed quickly.
    Kayla wanted to find the Isabella, but a part of her hoped it took a little longer. She couldn't believe she felt this way, but it was true. She loved being part of the crew. Loved the camaraderie. Loved the squabbles over everything from what targets should be reexamined to whether the Titanic should be considered a gravesite or not.
    She glanced at her watch. Time was meaningless out here with three exceptions--shift times, mealtimes and naptime. "Come on, Madison, time for your nap."
    Madison sat at the railing with Baby Fifi on her lap and stared at the water, waiting for the merman to appear. Once again, he'd been a no-show. "Four more minutes."
    "One."
    "Three."
    "Two