Page 4 of Deep Tide

“Oh. That was a while ago.”

“Yeah.”

“So... the vice squad, then?”

“Yeah. Mind if I sit down?”

“Not at all.”

Sean lowered himself onto the other end of the sandy log. He didn’t like the direction the conversation had taken so he steered it back to her.

“So, how long have you been a caterer?” he asked.

“Hmm... let’s see. I guess it’s been about three weeks now.” She turned and smiled at him, and he felt a hot jolt of attraction. “Why? Can you tell?”

“Not at all.”

“Right.”

“Well, the timing seemed a little bumpy.”

“Just a little.” She rolled her eyes. “We had several staffers no-show. It happens a lot in this business. People are flaky. Despite all my planning, you could say we were a bit rushed.”

Rushed was right. No woman had ever clapped at him before. He’d discovered it was a turn-on.

“Well, you pulled it off,” he said.

“Barely.” She closed her eyes and tipped her head back. “God, what a relief.”

A breeze wafted up, and her scent drifted over him—something spicy and sexy. She pulled her knees up and rested her bare arms on them.

“Okay, I want a straight answer.” She looked at him. “What did you think of the food?”

“It was amazing,” he said honestly. “I liked those ham things with the toothpicks.”

“Prosciutto-wrapped figs with balsamic.”

“Yeah.”

“Those were Miranda’s pick. Glad you liked them.”

Really, he’d liked all of it. The highlight had been the meat-carving station at the end of the buffet. The juicy beef brisket had melted in his mouth.

But Leyla seemed to have moved on from the topic of food. She smiled as she gazed out at the water.

“The waves are up tonight,” she said. “I’m surprised no one’s surfing.”

“At night?”

“Sure, why not? The moon’s perfect.”

He looked at the silvery foam rushing over the sand. He couldn’t think of the last time he’d swum in the ocean. It had been way too long.

“Must be nice waking up to this view all the time,” he said. “I bet it never gets old.”

“I wouldn’t know. I live over a bike shop. There’s a spectacular view of a parking lot.”

“Sounds loud.”

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