Free CAYMAN SUMMER (Taken by Storm) by Angela Morrison

of the reef.
    We finish off the dive, toss around in the boat until we motor back inside the reef where it’s calm enough to wait out the interval without all the divers puking their guts up. So far no one’s blown chunks. Good day in East End.
    I change over all the gear while Alex cuts up fresh fruit and passes out bottles of water. I figure I owe her. I don’t mind doing the heavy work.
    Second dive is shallow, strong surge, and too short. A couple of my divers suck through their tanks too fast. I let the rest explore this easy site on their own, get the goons topside and safe on the rocking boat, and when I go back the rest are surfacing, too.
    As the boat makes the dash through the break in the reef, I notice somebody lying on the beach. Nobody much uses this beach. It’s kind of there for show. Everybody who comes to this resort dives all day long. We get closer, and I recognize Leesie.
    I hustle, heaving up gear bins and empty tanks. The other boat got in before us, so there are lots of hands to help. Alex is strong as a guy. She hands up tanks and gear almost as fast as I do.
    I climb out of the boat, pick up my gear bag, and dump it in the soak tank. I’ll deal with it after I check in with Leese. She hasn’t moved since I first saw her.
    “Hey, mate.” Brock calls after me. “When do we get to meet your fiancé?”
    I stop, turn back. “Now’s good. She’s down on the beach.”
    “I’ll gather the mates, and we’ll present ourselves to your lady. See you in ten.”
    “Cool.” I hustle down to the beach to warn her.
    She’s sleeping in the sand wearing only that ugly T-shirt I bought her and the bikini bottoms. She looks way too sexy like that to meet her new apartment-mates.
    “Hey, babe.” I nudge her with my toe.
    She doesn’t stir.
    I drop onto the sand on all fours hanging over her. “Babe.”
    She opens one eye. “Hey.”
    I sit next to her and speak low. “What’s with the wet T-shirt contest?”
    She yawns and opens both eyes. “I couldn’t tie those stupid strings.”
    “You could have left your bra on.”
    “My sling covers everything.”
    “Not everything. Here.” I hold out my towel. “Use this. The guys will be here in a few minutes. They want to meet you.”
    “You don’t want them”—she glances down at what’s showing through her damp T-shirt—“to see that?”
    “No.”
    “You’re jealous?” She sits up and takes the towel.
    “Protective. These guys seem nice—divers and all—but did you see the bathroom? Animals.”
    “I can clean it up for you.”
    “Don’t go near it. It’s toxic. You’ll end up back in the hospital.”
    “I’ve cleaned up after guys back—” She closes her eyes tight and puts her hand over her mouth to hide her trembling lips.
    I sit next to her, wrap my towel around both of us, loop my arms around her shoulders and pull her in tight. “It’s okay, babe. You can tell me.”
    She shivers and puts her head on my shoulder. “I found his T-shirt mixed in with my stuff.” Her whisper is so quiet I can barely hear her.
    I chafe her shoulders. “That’s why you’re down here half-naked?”
    “I guess.” Her voice quivers. “I dropped it. Couldn’t pick it up. Isn’t that stupid? It’s still on the floor.”
    I squeeze her. “Not stupid at all. I’ll go up and take care of it.”
    A shudder runs through her body.
    “Do you want to meet these guys later?”
    “I already met one. Why didn’t you tell me there was a guy asleep in the other bedroom?”
    “I had no idea. Was he nice?”
    “Hardly.”
    “Must be Seth. I guess he has a right to be grumpy. I heard Ethan and Cooper had to pull him out of some bar late last night. He must’ve been sleeping it off.” I start to get up. “I’ll go tell the others you’ll meet them later.”
    She holds me next to her. “Too late. They’re here.”
    I stand up, leave Leesie the towel. “Hey guys—this is Leesie.”
    She stays sitting in the sand, waves and even manages