Free Aquatic Attraction by Charlie Richards Page A

at her computer monitor. “What?” Holding up her wrist, she stared at her watch. 12:32. Hadn’t it read that the last time she’d looked? “Oh no! My watch stopped,” she wailed. Carlye jumped to her feet and started grabbing papers. She pulled a mirror from her purse and checked her make-up, grimacing at her shoulder length brown hair. She’d planned on doing her hair in the women’s room before the meeting, but now it would have to be pulled back into a ponytail. And she didn’t have time for her contacts either, she realized, pushing her glasses up further on her nose. “Unbelievable,” she moaned, piling several folders into her arms.
    Deb grabbed her shoulders and forced Carlye to stop. Staring into her eyes, she said, “Breathe, Carlye. It’s okay. Just breathe.”
    Her friend knew how much she hated public speaking. She was a scientist, one of the best in the company, not a people person. She didn’t give presentations often and had only agreed to this one because she had no choice. Her partner, Greg, who normally handled the chart explanations, was out of town on vacation, and Vance, her boss, had scheduled a last minute meeting.
    “Okay,” Carlye said after several deep breathes. “I’m fine. I can do this.”
    Deb nodded. “You can do this.”
    “There’s nothing to it,” Carlye added, though not sure she believed it.
    After a quick hug, Deb let go of her and whispered, “Good luck.”
    Carlye moved quickly through the halls, flipping through the papers in her arms. She turned a corner and crashed into a wall of solid muscle. Letting out a squeak as her folders went flying, she stumbled backward. A pair of large hands grabbed her shoulders, lending support. Tipping her head back, she looked up, and up, until her gaze met the most brilliant blue eyes she’d ever seen. Eyes like the sea on a calm clear day, and then she realized they sparkled with a healthy mixture of concern and mirth.
    “I’m so sorry,” she managed to get out.
    When Carlye tried to take a step back, he didn’t release her. “Are you all right?”
    His soft tenor washed over her like a caress, and she fought back a shudder. Wrenching her gaze from his eyes, Carlye again attempted to back away from the man. This time he let her go. “Yes. Thank you. I apologize. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
    His firm lips curved into a half-smile. “I could see that.”
    She glanced up at him again, and this time her scientist mind analyzed everything. Six foot two. Blue eyes. Blond hair. Handsome, aristocratic facial features. Sexy smile. Broad shoulders. Muscular build. Navy blue business suit. Expensive cut. Her eyes skipped past him to the two gentlemen behind him, first man two inches shorter, second man one inch taller, and both wearing similar suits.
    Shit! Did I just run down a client? Could this day get any worse? Dropping to her knees, she started collecting folders to hide the crimson burn staining her cheeks. To her horror, the man knelt beside her and helped.
    “Are you sure you’re okay?”
    “Yes, just a case of nerves. I’m about to speak in a meeting, and I hate speaking in front of others. I’d rather do anything else in the world.” And once she opened her mouth, Carlye couldn’t shut up. She willed herself to stop talking, but she couldn’t, “I’d even be willing to go surfing, and I can’t surf at all. I always end up face planting right into a wave and it hurts like the dickens! And I can’t swim well at all.” She felt his hand on her elbow as he helped her back to her feet.
    “Easy there, miss. Just take a deep breath and let it out.”
    Feeling utterly humiliated, Carlye did as she was told. She felt his hand skim from her elbow, up the back of her arm, and back down again. He repeated the move twice more. Each stroke sent a tingling heat through her system. Her breathing slowed, and a surprising sense of calm swept through her from his point of contact.
    “Better?” he asked