Free Love Bites: A Sugar City Novella (Entangled Bliss) by Ophelia London Page B

meters south,” Pax reported. “This might be the last we get today. I’ll go out for it.”
    “I’ve got it,” Jeff said, breezing by where she sat on the leaning post. “Grab some tucker and shade, mate.”
    “Sure you don’t need a break?” Pax asked.
    Jeff squinted out at the blue, rippling ocean. “Bogie’s driving the boat, water’s calm as glass, no need for three. Unless…” He glanced at Sharona. “Why don’t you come out?”
    It was the first time he’d spoken to her in hours. “Are you sure? Don’t want to be in your way.” She cringed at the bitter, immature tone in her voice.
    Jeff looked at her. “I wouldn’t suggest it if I thought you’d be in the way.” His tone matched hers. “But if you’re not up to it, no worries. I just thought you’d like a different perspective than what you see on your list there. More to report back.”
    Well, this was true, and it wasn’t as if the speedboat was an inflatable raft. It was bigger than her car at home. And so what if Jeff was all business? Hadn’t he said that was the way it had to be, anyway? And like an idiot, hadn’t she agreed?
    “Okay,” she said.
    Jeff cocked his head. “Ladies first.”

Chapter Six
    “Look, I know you don’t want me here,” Sharona said under her breath as she walked beside Jeff toward the chase boat.
    He caught the hostile tone in her voice. What had changed in the past three hours? They’d discussed it and hadn’t they both agreed they were there to do their jobs?
    Sheilas… Who the hell knows what they’re thinking? He couldn’t figure this one out at all, and he wasn’t sure he should want to so badly.
    His mind replayed the other time he’d allowed his business life to mix with his private life. That fatal slipup had cost him a year of research, and set the Old Faithful project way behind schedule because his early data had been pinched from right under his nose.
    How could he have known the woman he’d trusted with his whole heart enough to marry could have betrayed him like that?
    “You’re pissed that I’m here,” Sharona said. “I get that, and I’ve been trying to stay out of your way—as much as humanly possible given the circumstances. Just remember, you’re the one who invited me to retrieve the transmitter. And you’re the one who…you know…in the helm. So don’t go saying I muscled my way in.”
    Jeff stared at her, feeling even more baffled. Though he did enjoy that her feisty, sharklike attitude was back. After she huffed and turned away, he shook his head and stepped onto the speedboat. Despite those long legs, it was a bit of a jump for her, so he reached out a hand. She glared at it, acting stubborn.
    “Give me your damn hand, Sharona, unless you’re hankering for a dip.”
    “Fine,” she muttered.
    Once he had ahold of her, he gave her arm a tug. She stumbled on her landing, crashing into his chest. He caught her easily, not unhappy about the misstep bringing her body straight into his arms.
    “Luckily you didn’t have a drink in your hand,” he said. Sharona exhaled a little laugh. “You can sit.” He pointed to the bench seat attached to the back of the small helm. “Or stand,” he added, gesturing to the spot next to him, trying not to be overly pleased when she took that spot beside him, taking a firm hold on the railing. Bogie didn’t drive very fast, and the floor of the boat was deep enough that only the wave of a breeching humpback would knock her around on a calm day like today.
    Once they were both in place, Bogie pulled away from the mother ship.
    Jeff had the walkie to his ear, relaying Pax’s direction toward the floating transmitter out in the open ocean. With their course locked in, he turned his attention to Sharona, taking in her long dark hair blowing in the breeze. She was holding it back in a ponytail with one hand, exposing her long neck. Why hadn’t he kissed her there? Suddenly, it was all he could think about.
    “How far are we