Free Moonlight and Margaritas by Cindy Stark Page A

massive creatures.  Instead, gorgeous blue-green water lapped at their boat with the beaches of the Baja peninsula off in the distance.  A soft breeze blew, creating small whitecaps across the ocean, but it shouldn't be enough to lessen their visibility underwater.  All in all, it seemed like a perfect, peaceful day.
    She knew better.
    Elena followed the other divers and began to prepare her gear.  Joe joined them at the back of the boat and started pulling their air tanks out of a nearby locker.  He glanced at her several times as she slipped off her shorts, not a friendly feature on his face.  What a difference a few hours could make.  She had to admit she preferred his hot and lusty gaze to this expression. 
    She scanned the faces of her fellow divers.  Thomas caught her eye and smiled.  She smiled back, hoping a little friendly flirtation might improve her mood.  As she turned, she found the older, balding guy also watching her.  She smiled at him, too, mildly regretting that she'd been rude to him on the dock.
    Great.  She laughed to herself.  Leave it up to Mercedes to sign them up for the testosterone dive.  
    Then again, that would be exactly why her friend had chosen this particular activity.  She could flirt to her heart's content, all the while playing Little Miss Matchmaker.  At least it had worked out well for one of them.
    The hot sun glared down on her, making the thought of diving into the water more appealing.  Maybe Joe had missed his mark, and there weren't any whale sharks in the area.  She could only hope, because there was no way she could stay on the boat now while the others dove.  Her best option was to stick with the group, keep a low profile, and try to enjoy herself.
    Sitting on the edge of her seat, she pushed a foot at a time down into her wetsuit and then shimmied the fabric up her legs.  As she stood, she managed an inconspicuous tug on her bikini bottom.  From there, she squeezed into the rest of the suit, grateful that there was one discomfort she could put behind her.
    Her suit was fairly snug, as it should be to keep her warm.  She tugged and pulled until the fabric fit better.  Leaning forward, she bunched the suit between her fingers, gripped the zipper and pulled.  It came halfway up her abdomen and halted an inch below her breasts, squeezing them together and emphasizing her cleavage.  She yanked the zipper again, trying to finish the job.  The damn thing was stuck.  She unzipped it a bit, trying to locate the problem.
    "Need some help?"
    Elena looked up and found herself face-to-face with a pair of brilliant blue eyes.  Thomas was a little better looking up close, the sun a bright halo around his thinning blonde hair.  Not a terribly handsome man, but his intense blue eyes intrigued her, and he looked pretty good in his blue swim trunks. 
    "My zipper is stuck."  She jerked again.  "I think I can—"
    "I've got it, Thomas."  Joe butted his way in between them.  "You need to get your gear on."
    Thomas hesitated and then nodded.  "Yeah, sure."  He walked to a seat and picked up a wetsuit, his attention bouncing between getting on his suit and watching her.
    "Problem here?"  Joe was still all business, but the fact that he’d run off Thomas lightened her mood considerably.  Maybe there was a chance to make amends after all.
    "I can't get the zipper up."  She tugged again.
    He reached in, his knuckles grazing the skin under her breasts, and Elena clamped down on a sigh.  He struggled, pulling the zipper down and up again.  "These damn things the hotel rents are worthless."
    His fingers were warm against her skin, and she couldn't resist studying his face while he was so intent on her wetsuit.  A few wrinkles edged his eyes, and a light stubble covered his chin.  The same stubble that she'd noticed that morning when she'd woken up with him in her bed.  The look so worked for him.
    "I didn't know you were a diving guide.  I thought you said you