Page 3 of Beneath the Surface

Stay away from the ocean.

A hot breeze lifted his hair, not that it did any good. Sweat trickled down his back, distracting him. Jeez, he’d forgotten how hot the South was in the dead of summer. As he hurried to his car, he wished he’d tied his hair back that morning.

Not that he had anyone to impress. He was thirty-three, didn’t do relationships, and had no life to speak of outside of work even though he was well-liked by coworkers. Most of his relationships didn’t last more than six months, and the sex was… well, the earth didn’t move for him or for the other guy.

Stay away from the ocean.

He’d come back to deal with things—there was only him, after all. He never knew his mom, and he had no siblings. Since he was a Realtor, he used his contacts here to show the house, which had finally sold.

He’d taken two weeks off to deal with the closing and cleaning the place out. Now he was done, and he had a week of vacation left. Soof coursehis best friend, Brett, called. They’d roomed all through college together.

Kannon wasn’t shocked to hear Brett was going to marry Brooke. Hewassurprised to hear they planned to do it that upcoming Saturday. She and Brett had been together for the past ten years. Brett met her not long after he moved to the islands. Brett wanted Kannon to be his best man.

Kannon cussed silently as he drove out the driveway for the last time. Leave it to Brett and his last minute announcements. Once he returned to his hotel, he got on his iPad and checked flights. It was late Sunday afternoon, and the next direct flight left late Monday morning.

That would put him on the island Tuesday. Brett owned Blue Waters Resort, one of the largest resorts in the Seychelles. It was right down the beach from the one he and his dad stayed in when he was eighteen.

So much for staying away from the ocean.

“STILL AS beautiful as I remember.” Kannon stood in the doorway, staring at the dazzling blue water through the windows.

He closed the front door to the sweet little guest bungalow that was his for the next few days and dropped the keys in a chrome bowl sitting on a table by the entrance. Lord, he was tired. He just spent roughly seventeen hours on a plane trying to get here. Crossing to a bank of sliding glass doors, he opened them.

Sun, sea, and sand surrounded him—even if it did freak him out that the ocean was rightthere. Turning his back on the view, he focused on the living and kitchen areas. They weren’t large, but it didn’t matter since it was just him. Kannon made a quick tour of the place and found the bath and bedroom. Both were cozy with a comfortable feel.

He dropped his suitcases in the bedroom. “Well, now, that’s nice.”

The room featured a four-poster king-sized bed with sheer white mosquito netting and white bedding. Very romantic. It was a shame he had no one to enjoy it with. He returned to the living area. The bungalow’s deck was furnished with a wicker table and chairs.

Nature surrounded the bungalow on one side and a small, private infinity pool overlooked the ocean on the other. There were a few lounge chairs for sunbathing near the pool. A beachside outdoor shower right on the beach made it complete.

A knock on the door caught his attention, and moments later he heard his name shouted. Damn, he hadn’t even changed clothes. Throwing his suit jacket over a chair, he walked out front, loosening his tie. His best friend sat in a golf cart on the walkway, grinning.

“About time you got here.” Brett turned off the golf cart.

“You say that like you’ve been waiting long. I haven’t had a chance to change even.” Kannon stepped over to the golf cart.

“Well, technically, I have been. I’ve been trying to get you out here forever.”

The sun had kissed Brett’s already dark skin, and his short black hair was an artful mess from the sea breezes. His sleepy, sinfully dark bedroom eyes lingered on Kannon, a smile tilting his full lips.

Brett was just a little under six feet and muscular. Jesus, the man was sexy, but also straight as an arrow, and apparently about to marry his lovely girlfriend. He and Brett were the same age even though Brett looked younger. Or maybe he just felt older.

A breeze with just a hint of salt teased Kannon, and he ran his hand through his hair. “You know why I haven’t come before now.”

“Yeah, I’m still in shock to see you standing here.”

“Me too.” Brett knew what a big deal this was for him. He’d told Brett he’d had a bad scare in the water years ago, but he never told Brett athingwas responsible. Or that it dragged him under the water. Or kissed him. Or bit him. “So what were you doing? Watching for me?”

“I’m the one who sent someone to pick you up from the airport and bring you out here. So of course I was watching for you,” Brett said.

“Thanks for that, by the way. I’ve about met my quota on making decisions for a while. I just… I just… yeah. Shit.” Kannon pinched the bridge of his nose, his eyes stinging.

Brett hopped off the golf cart and hurried to where Kannon stood. “Hey man, it was the least I could do. I know things have been rough lately.”

“Rough. Yeah, that’s a good word for it.” Kannon let Brett hug him. He was so glad to see his friend. “It’s over now. The house sold, his estate’s settled, and I’m done with it all. Want to come in? I’m going to change. I’d offer you a beer, but, um…”

Brett released Kannon and followed him inside. “I stocked the kitchen for you. You won’t be fixing any fancy dinners, but you won’t starve either.”

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