The American Earl by Kathryn Jensen Page B

sputtering, laughing and shrieking at Matt in mock indignation. “You scared me to death!”
    â€œGood.” He shook the water out of his eyes and grinned wolfishly at her. “Meant to.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œSo you’d cling to me for safety.”
    She laughed. “Fat chance.”
    He lifted a dark brow. “When I was under, I saw a sand shark.”
    Abby threw her arms around his neck and drew her feet up to her chest. “Out! Get me out of here this minute.”
    He was laughing at her. “It was just a baby, harmless. Come on, let’s go back for the masks and fins. I want to show you my pets.”
    She scowled at him as he slid an arm under her knees and started carrying her toward shore. “If your pets are larger than a bread box and have teeth, forget it.”
    He grinned. “You’ll love them.”
    A few minutes later, they were back in the water, and Abby was enjoying the ease and speed of swimming with big blue flippers on her feet. Although she wasn’t a strong swimmer, she had no trouble keeping up with Matt as they kicked toward the reef. She dipped her face into the warm water as they neared the coral outcroppings that sheltered the cove, and breathed through the snorkel.
    The water was clear and she could see bright flashes of color flitting here and there ahead of them. Matt pointed out and named them for her. Blue and yellow butterfly fish. Black with white angel fish. Silvery needle fish almost as clear as the water. Comical Sergeant Majors, so curious they swam right up to her mask.
    She lifted her head and treaded water while pushing the breathing tube from her mouth. “Your pets?”
    Matt lifted his mask. “Mine and everyone else’s. There are dozens of species living in the waters around Bermuda.”
    â€œThey’re so bright, they don’t look real,” Abbysaid. She replaced her mask and swam a little farther, fascinated by the graceful little creatures. This was a dreamworld she never wanted to leave.
    They swam for another hour. Eventually her legs began to feel wobbly, and hunger made land look appealing again.
    â€œHad enough?” Matt asked softly. There were underlying meanings in his tone. She looked away, unable to meet his dark eyes.
    â€œFor now,” she said. “Can we come back in after lunch?”
    â€œIf you like.” He took her hand in his as they swam back toward the beach. When they were in shallow enough water to stand, she put her feet down in the soft sand. The water lapped delightfully around her, lifting her breasts with each subtle undulation.
    Matt stopped in front of her. “You seemed to enjoy yourself.” He pulled off his mask and snorkel then tossed them along with Abby’s and the rest of their equipment up onto the sand.
    â€œI loved it.” Abby’s eyes sparkled up at him. “Thank you.”
    He couldn’t imagine why he hadn’t thought her the most beautiful woman on earth the first moment he’d set eyes on her. Without makeup, her hair slicked back from her face, droplets clinging to her eyelashes—she was no less than perfect.
    He had no alternative but to kiss her. Moving his free hand quickly behind her neck, he brought her forward to meet him. He kissed her deeply, savoring the taste of the sea on her lips. He was lost.
    In the next seconds, only scattered thoughts registered in his mind. The beach was deserted but for them. He moved her a few feet farther away fromshore, into deeper water. Her eyes widened questioningly but showed no fear. Good, he thought, if she’d been afraid of him, he would have had to stop.
    He only meant to play…just a little bit, for a short while. To kiss. To touch beneath the water. To give her a brief preview of the sensations she might look forward to when… if they slept together. He didn’t think of what he was doing as seduction until his hand slipped beneath the warm water,