Page 9 of Wet and Welder

Cassandra rolls her eyes while Brian chimes in. Karl remains his normal, surly self but takes in all the machines and gadgets. This ship is loaded with top-of-the-line everything, but there isn’t a crewman on site. My worry grows, knowing this is pirate waters, and the boat seems to have no defenses.

It wouldn’t take much for the wrong kind of people to board this ship and take it over. But as I follow my crew into what appears to be the main headquarters, that thought takes a backseat. The room is full of people in their own conversations, but one voice stands out above all others, and that’s when I see her.

CHAPTER FIVE

MALLORY

Being a woman with a lead role on a multi-million-dollar expedition comes with its own challenges, such as arguing with the men under your command simply because they want to do something their own way and generally do not like taking directions from a woman. So, when the new crew members arrive, I don’t notice as Nelson fights me tooth and nail for time in the water.

“It’s just not the way it’s done. If you had more experience, you would know that,” he whines, taking the glasses off his face to pinch the bridge of his nose in frustration.

Holding my anger back, I take a deep breath before spouting off what I really want to tell him, like how he should jump off the deck. He would make a great shark snake.

“I think we’re forgetting our roles here, Nelson. Do I need to remind you that I’m the one in charge? You take your orders directly from me, so if I tell you to put the sub-camera in the water, it is literally your job to listen to me. If you choose not to, you and your team can pack up right now, and I’ll have your replacement here within forty-eight hours. If you keep undermining me and questioning my experience, that’s what’s going to happen, whether you want it to or not. I’m officially done entertaining your insubordination. Make your choice. Put my sub-camera in the water now, or get off my ship.” As soon as my order leaves my lips, I head for the upper deck.

That’s when my eyes land on a ghost from my past, and my feet stick like cement to the floor. My brain takes several minutes to catch up as a pretty blonde in blue overalls steps forward and starts introducing herself and the others. Unfortunately, everything sounds as if I’m underwater as my eyes focus on a man I thought I’d never see again. Mr. once-in-my lifetime one-night stand in all his giant glory and flannel button-up is standing with my new welding crew. If his face is any indication, he’s just as surprised to see me. My tongue feels too heavy and impossible to move, along with my feet.

I straighten my spine and shake myself out of my sudden shock. As with every other hurdle in my life, good and bad, I have to keep moving forward. If this crew of already unruly men finds out I slept with the welder, who’ll now be under my command, I’ll lose what little respect I’ve gained so far. This needs to be a fresh start. I just hope he goes along with it.

“Hi. It’s so nice to meet you. Sorry, what did you say your name was?” I ask the nice woman in front of me.

“I’m Cassandra. That there is Brian, Cooper, Karl, and the big guy in the back is Mic. We’re your new welders and just need to be pointed in the right direction.”

“Nice to meet you all, glad you’re here. I’m known as Montgomery around here and will be your superior,” I say with a pointed look at Mic. “Hope you’re not jet lagged because we’re diving in now. Follow me.”

This crew is supposed to be the very best, and so far, they do me the honor of nodding in agreement with no complaints, which is more than I can say of my own men on this ship. Unfortunately, I have to walk right past the man who gifted me the spiciest night of my life, the same man I ran out on without a goodbye. His eyes hide nothing as I pass him. The hurt is clear in those deep brown pools, but I also catch the way his eyes take me in from head to toe. Is that longing? It can’t be. One night together can’t make a man want more. It usually means the opposite. Plus, no one appreciates being ghosted after being so vulnerable unless he’s a playboy. Which is my bet, considering how we met.

“Your rooms will all be down that hallway. I’ll give you ten minutes to drop off your things, and then I need everyone to report to the top deck. The sub-camera is going in and I want divers in the water. I’ve been held back from exploring most of the ship until your arrival, so I’m eager to get the job going.”

“Understood,” Mic says, but it’s not a friendly tone. He seems to be agreeing to keep our night a secret even if he isn’t happy about the fact.

I nod and move up the stairs, leaving him behind me, but I still feel his eyes on me. I don’t dare look back in fear of reading too much into his expression. It doesn’t matter if he longs for something more. It was never an option. This is a job and nothing more. Soon, we’ll bring up the Egyptian artifacts my parents died for, and their pictures will hang up in the most prestigious museum in New York City, honored for finding and excavating the lost city of Nazar. It’s not been lost on me that the investors want the ghost ship to capitalize on their deaths. Making the exhibit much more entertaining to the masses who flock to see the artifacts and learn about the story. A tale that’s only possible because of my parent’s dedication to Nazar for the last twenty years. Everything will be possible because of them, and they won’t even be here to see any of it.

My head spins with memories, reminding my heart how much I miss them both. Everyone on the deck is in motion, following orders and getting all the equipment ready and in the water. The sky above is dark, with gray clouds rolling in, and I fear Nelson’s predictions will be right, and we’ll be met with a storm. He’d love to report that back to Arnold.

Footsteps behind me alert me to the welding crew already in their wet suits and gear packs.

I waste no more time thinking about what ifs and direct them all, including Mic, to the location of the dive and the places on the ship that need repairs. Mic delegates jobs to everyone except Cooper, who must be his apprentice because he’s ordered to stay with him on the biggest repair. That must mean Mic is the original welder I was looking for that night at the bar. How was I so distracted that I didn’t even put two and two together?

From now on, I make a promise to myself that I’m letting my brain lead this mission and not my troublesome vagina.

CHAPTER SIX

MIC

The ship is easy to find, tucked into a reef. A storm seems to be brewing above, darkening the waters even more.

“Shark to your left, boss,” Cooper says, hurrying into the ship's opening marked with bright orange flags for us to enter.

Looking over, I see the beast, unsure what kind of shark it is. Doesn’t matter, though, because it’s far more interested in the school of fish swimming by to care about us. Quickly, the shark changes course leaving us in bubbles before I have the chance to worry.

Slipping inside the ship is easy since someone has already turned on the trail of lights for us to follow. Cooper is already making his way to the back, where we’ll be patching up a massive hole. When I join him, we surface to the large pocket of air.

Lights are set up around the room, and I shrug off the equipment I’ve been carrying along with the fucking mask that’s making my beard itch.

“Never been so thankful for an air pocket before,” I say, scratching the wool on my face.

“What about that time you and Karl got trapped inside that boat off the Atlantic?” Cooper counters me because, of course, Mister Analytical would correct me.

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