Page 18 of Mermaid For You

“There’s no time for that. I have to?—”

Rosemary’s laughter reaches our ears as she begins walking down the stairs.

Alexi appears with a wide grin. “Never fear, for I am here. Ready to ensure you have the most pleasurable experience.”

“What the fuck,” Van whispers.

I roll my eyes. “He says that.”

Van narrows his eyes, but then they go wide again. Before I can stop him, he’s going over the side of the boat. My heart plummets. Did he jump or fall? Without a second thought, I go to the ledge and allow myself to take a leap of faith and… leap.

The water isn’t too cold. My muscles easily push through the water to Van. Before I can speak, he holds a finger to his mouth. We swim toward where a willow tree provides a hiding place.

Water laps against our bodies as the boat powers forward. I find some footing where I somewhat stand on my very tippy-toes. Strong fingers wrap around the back of my neck and bring my face to Van’s. His lips press against mine, passion pouring out of him. Hidden behind a curtain of willow branches as the water pushes and pulls out in a dance, I allow my lips to part and welcome him. His tongue massages mine. Arousal and frustration mix together so suddenly that I’m almost lightheaded. When he pulls away from me, we don’t say anything. The only sound now is the water lapping and our heavy breaths.

What are we doing? Do I trust him? Am I even capable? Why did he jump, and if he didn’t, why was he running and so worked up that he fell off the boat? What’s his last name? Nobody knows and Margie won’t tell.

His hand moves from behind my neck, allowing his arms to encircle me, pressing my body closer to his. “Hug me back, please.”

The please almost breaks me. He sounds so incredibly sincere and desperate. I do as he asks. My cheek falls against his shoulder, and I inhale the scent of nearby flowers and his, mixed with a hint of coconut. Must be his sunscreen. Forcing my mind to turn off for a moment, I relax and fall into his embrace. Our bodies mold together perfectly, as if made for each other. It reminds me of the best friend charms. Two jagged halves of a heart forming seamlessly together to make a whole one.

His body stills and his grip tightens. “Don’t move.”

“What is it?”

“There’s something in the water. I think it’s a reptile.”

A snake? An Alligator? Oh no, no, no. I struggle to control my breathing. I’ve been in these waters hundreds—no, thousands—of times swimming as a mermaid for boat tours and shows, but I’ve never come to the secluded parts. Now that I glance around, it is thick and overgrown. It’s the perfect place for scaley predators to be lurking. I’ve come right into their lair. This is what I get for following my needy, lustful vagina. She wanted to play with a one-eyed snake, not anything with fangs!

“Ava,” Van whispers, and I look into his wide eyes. “Are you okay? I was just saying we need to ease to land. I’m not sure what I’m seeing, but it’s coming toward us.”

I can’t stand the not knowing. I quickly spin around as Van yells out. Slowly, I look over my shoulder back at Van. “I almost went into cardiac arrest over a turtle!”

This man is going to either make me stroke out or go insane—possibly both. I use all my arm strength to splash him in the face with water, then I climb out, leaving him with the “dangerous” reptile, who again, I hope bites his dick off. Should be an easy target now that it’s at full attention. Meanwhile, I walk away only more frustrated and confused than when I jumped off the damn boat.

* * *

I go in search of Alexi. The boat should have returned by now. He’s laughing with a woman but immediately halts midlaugh when he sees me.

“What happened to you? Did you go for a swim in your clothes?”

“I dived off the deep end. Literally. Figuratively. Emotionally.” I turn to the woman sitting on the barstool as I slide onto the one next to her. “Ava. Nice to meet you.”

Alexi quickly apologizes. “Sorry. Daphne, this is Ava. Ava, this is Daphne. She’s from Candy Cane Key as well.”

“Nice! Are you here visiting Alexi?”

She smiles kindly at me as she shakes her head. “No. I came here on business. I have a small business specializing in wedding dresses. Which reminds me, I need to get going. Great seeing a friendly face and meeting a new friendly face.”

“Bye, Daphne!” Alexi tells her. “Good luck.”

When she’s gone, I burst out, “I have feelings for Van! Real feelings. Which is beyond crazy because I barely know him, and what I do know, I don’t even like!”

Alexi wipes the bar and listens to me ramble about the boat incident.

Then I scowl. “You didn’t even notice I was gone.”

“Yeah, I’m a horrible friend.”

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