He’d do it a thousand times over. He only wished he’d been able to come to Dani’s rescue two years ago, when she’d really needed him.
He’d never forgive himself for letting her down. Playing the hero this time didn’t erase his guilt, or make him forget about all the mistakes he’d made in the past, but it helped to soothe a raw place inside of him.
Taryn’s embrace soothed him further.
She wasn’t the one he wanted to hold the most, but he enjoyed having a woman in his arms and his feet on the ground.
“I thought you were going to get killed,” Taryn said, her hands on his face. “I thought a shark would eat you.”
“I’d be a poor meal for a white, after a diet of fat sea lions.”
“True,” she said with a teary smile, smoothing her palms over his shoulders. “You’re all muscle and bone.”
He didn’t want to give Taryn the wrong impression, so he let her go. He’d held her a little too close, for a little too long. Sharing an innocent hug with her was no big deal, and Taryn didn’t mean anything by it, but maybe his motives were suspect.
Using her to make Daniela jealous was pathetic. Not to mention futile.
“They probably wouldn’t come back for more than one bite,” Jason agreed. “But you’d still bleed to death.”
It was a common misconception that white sharks were indiscriminate diners. Although they would investigate almost anything, and rip it to shreds in the process, they usually wouldn’t continue to feed on lean meat. It was unknown whether attacks on humans were the result of mistaken identity or idle curiosity, but man was not part of their preferred diet.
Unfortunately, an exploratory bite from a great white was often fatal.
One glance at Daniela revealed her concern. Her face was pinched and pale, her eyes dark with emotion. She had been worried about him. And he’d comforted Taryn instead of her. Feeling like an insensitive bastard, he faltered, fumbling for the right words to make it better. As was all too common in his experience, they wouldn’t come.
So he scowled at Jason. “Was that observation really necessary?”
Jason shrugged, taking the oars from Brent. “Let’s get back to the landing so I can take a look at the engine.”
Jason was angry with him now, too, which figured. He’d wanted the starring role in Brent’s documentary—a part Sean had just stolen from him, unwittingly. And, perhaps because his attraction to Elizabeth wasn’t going anywhere, Jason also seemed interested in trying out for Daniela’s leading man.
This level of competition could generate some real hard feelings between them.
While the others walked back to the house, Sean and Jason stayed behind to take care of the whaler. It couldn’t be left at this location without sustaining serious damage to the hull. Sean untied the ropes and they waded through the water, climbing aboard once again.
Rowing the boat back to the landing wasn’t easy. In wet clothes, they were cold and uncomfortable. After pulling the whaler in, Jason’s arms must have been burning from exertion, and Sean was tired after a hard swim, but neither of them complained.
“These oars are from the supply shed,” Sean commented.
“Yep.”
“Any idea where the original ones went?”
“Nope.”
“When did you check them last?”
“I counted the life jackets last week, but I don’t remember noticing the oars. There’s no reason to remove them.”
“Maybe one got broken, and someone meant to replace the set, but forgot.”
Jason grunted a noncommittal response, rowing harder over the last stretch. Sean shut up and followed suit. The feat should have boosted his spirits, but it hadn’t. Knowing the toll his actions had taken on Daniela, he only felt…numb.
The instant they returned to the house, he went upstairs and changed into dry clothes. As he headed back down the hall, he noticed that the door to Daniela and Taryn’s room was slightly ajar.
He paused, rapping his knuckles
He’d never forgive himself for letting her down. Playing the hero this time didn’t erase his guilt, or make him forget about all the mistakes he’d made in the past, but it helped to soothe a raw place inside of him.
Taryn’s embrace soothed him further.
She wasn’t the one he wanted to hold the most, but he enjoyed having a woman in his arms and his feet on the ground.
“I thought you were going to get killed,” Taryn said, her hands on his face. “I thought a shark would eat you.”
“I’d be a poor meal for a white, after a diet of fat sea lions.”
“True,” she said with a teary smile, smoothing her palms over his shoulders. “You’re all muscle and bone.”
He didn’t want to give Taryn the wrong impression, so he let her go. He’d held her a little too close, for a little too long. Sharing an innocent hug with her was no big deal, and Taryn didn’t mean anything by it, but maybe his motives were suspect.
Using her to make Daniela jealous was pathetic. Not to mention futile.
“They probably wouldn’t come back for more than one bite,” Jason agreed. “But you’d still bleed to death.”
It was a common misconception that white sharks were indiscriminate diners. Although they would investigate almost anything, and rip it to shreds in the process, they usually wouldn’t continue to feed on lean meat. It was unknown whether attacks on humans were the result of mistaken identity or idle curiosity, but man was not part of their preferred diet.
Unfortunately, an exploratory bite from a great white was often fatal.
One glance at Daniela revealed her concern. Her face was pinched and pale, her eyes dark with emotion. She had been worried about him. And he’d comforted Taryn instead of her. Feeling like an insensitive bastard, he faltered, fumbling for the right words to make it better. As was all too common in his experience, they wouldn’t come.
So he scowled at Jason. “Was that observation really necessary?”
Jason shrugged, taking the oars from Brent. “Let’s get back to the landing so I can take a look at the engine.”
Jason was angry with him now, too, which figured. He’d wanted the starring role in Brent’s documentary—a part Sean had just stolen from him, unwittingly. And, perhaps because his attraction to Elizabeth wasn’t going anywhere, Jason also seemed interested in trying out for Daniela’s leading man.
This level of competition could generate some real hard feelings between them.
While the others walked back to the house, Sean and Jason stayed behind to take care of the whaler. It couldn’t be left at this location without sustaining serious damage to the hull. Sean untied the ropes and they waded through the water, climbing aboard once again.
Rowing the boat back to the landing wasn’t easy. In wet clothes, they were cold and uncomfortable. After pulling the whaler in, Jason’s arms must have been burning from exertion, and Sean was tired after a hard swim, but neither of them complained.
“These oars are from the supply shed,” Sean commented.
“Yep.”
“Any idea where the original ones went?”
“Nope.”
“When did you check them last?”
“I counted the life jackets last week, but I don’t remember noticing the oars. There’s no reason to remove them.”
“Maybe one got broken, and someone meant to replace the set, but forgot.”
Jason grunted a noncommittal response, rowing harder over the last stretch. Sean shut up and followed suit. The feat should have boosted his spirits, but it hadn’t. Knowing the toll his actions had taken on Daniela, he only felt…numb.
The instant they returned to the house, he went upstairs and changed into dry clothes. As he headed back down the hall, he noticed that the door to Daniela and Taryn’s room was slightly ajar.
He paused, rapping his knuckles
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