Free HIGH TIDE by Maureen A. Miller Page A

Although, no one had ever kissed her quite like that, and no one had ever enticed her into the water.
    Briana flipped a curious seashell with the tip of her toe. With her focus on her feet, she nearly missed the wave that collapsed into her calves.
    What the hell?
    Swallowing down a ridiculous scream, she backed judiciously away. She would have sworn she was at a safe enough distance. The water here was as docile as a birdbath. But now as she looked out, she could see a ripple of agitated swells, as if a huge boat had just passed by.
    But there was no boat. On the horizon there were two bulky shadows. They could be anything from fishing vessels to yachts, but whatever they were...they were anchored and had not produced a wake.
    Yet, still those little waves persisted. Anomalies in a placid sea.
    “Briana!”
    Recognizing the voice, a tremor coursed through her. She turned to see a red jeep at the top of the slope.
    He came.

 
     
    CHAPTER SIX
 
                   
    Watching his jeans hike down the knoll, Briana felt a little queasy. Too much sun, perhaps? Or was it the intense expression on a man that was just too damn sexy for someone like her. She needed Joe Corporate . Calm.  Refined.  Professional.  Boring.
    “Hi.”
    One husky word and he set her to trembling.
    “Hi,” she whispered. Clearing her throat, she added, “I didn’t think you would —I thought maybe you had a meeting—”
    Get a grip, Briana!
    It didn’t help that he wasn’t smiling. It didn’t ease her nerves when he stared at her like he was about to verbally drill her into the ground— or physically drill her .
    For a moment, he glanced away and she could see his broad chest expand on a deep breath. “I didn’t think you would be here,” he said quietly.
    “I—” God, she couldn’t get her eyes off his lips. “I noticed the waves again.”
    At that moment the high-pitched squeal of youth broke the stillness. Calling to his mother, the young boy hopped about in the wet sand. The woman in the red floral Kimono ambled towards him, her dress dipping into the water as she grabbed him under his armpits and hoisted him from the sea with a sharp berating. A howl of protest ensued and faded as they returned to the shade of the palms.
    Nick jogged over to the stretch of beach where the toddler had been playing . Briana started after him.
    Stooped before her, his shoulders swelled as he leaned forward. She peered around them and detected a sparkle of fish scales.
    “What is it?”
    “Yellow fin tuna.” He leaned back on his heels.
    It was huge! With an ugly golden serrated spine like that of a dragon.  What was worse was that not much further away was another.
    “Now there are dead fish on Manale Beach,” she sighed. “I think the Gods are looking to sabotage me.”
    Nick rose, and her petulance evaporated. He did not look pleased.
    “This isn’t good, Briana. You may not be far off base.”
    “What?” She stumbled backwards when he started to march up to the jeep. She sprinted to catch up and tugged on his arm.
    “Nick, it’s all just coincidence, right?”
    Halting, he didn’t look at her, but instead glanced up at the stagnant treetops. “No wind. No wakes...there should be no waves. And dead tuna belong on a boat, not on shore.”
    A chill broke the perspiration on the back of her neck.
    Something told her this wasn’t going to be a lunch date.
    “I have a call into the Hilo office to see if any underwater disturbances have been observed. If they don’t send a team over, I will get some of our guys to go take a look. The marine biologists will be here soon to address the tuna. Do you have security here? If you could send someone over to make sure no one touches those tuna. We have to be sure they aren’t diseased.”
    “Oh God. Is it possible?”
    “It’s possible, but combined with the strange tidal pattern the past few days...”
    His voice drifted off. They had reached the grounds of Manale Palms and