Whirlpool: Forces of Nature, Book 2

by Vivian Arend

  Chelsea examined him more closely. Even as he smiled and moved confidently through the room, something was wrong. There was a tightness to his body, a narrowing at the corners of his eyes. He looked tired. He looked…withdrawn. “Sounds like a bit of physical break would be good. After we’re done today, I can take you out and introduce you to Thomas. I think you’ll like him.”

  “Old boyfriend?” Jamie asked, raising a brow.

  Chelsea bit back the shriek of laughter that wanted to escape. “He wishes. Seventeen years old and thinks he’s God’s gift to woman already, but he’s a little young for me. Still, he’s a great guide and pretty fun to be around.”

  “Sounds perfect.” He winked at her and turned back to his work, and the uneasy feeling in her belly settled a little, but didn’t completely go away. What was he up to? Something had definitely changed.

  Of course, the fact she and Braden were together now might be part of the explanation. Chelsea sighed and came back to help clean up the pile of trinkets. Guys were so confusing at times.

  Jamie clapped in admiration as Thomas back-paddled rapidly and expertly spun his kayak on the spot. When he’d been introduced to the youth, he wasn’t sure he felt comfortable with a seventeen-year-old as his guide. But the kid obviously had the skill and experience needed. “Okay, I trust you. Now can we go for a tour? This kayak is the same size as my one at home, so I’m comfortable I’ll be able to handle it solo.”

  The young man grinned and nodded toward the distant cliffs. “Since it’s your first time on the water in a while, we’ll still take it easy. I’ll show you some of the more accessible caverns from the ocean side. Later if you want, we can plan a trip to the wrecks. Jaffrey’s Cove gets a lot of people who come out for the diving and explore the shipwrecks.”

  “I saw some fliers advertising tours in the shop.”

  Thomas shook his head. “You don’t want to go on any of those tours, Mr. Powell. You’d be bored silly inside of five minutes.”

  “Jamie, please.”

  They paddled for a while and Jamie enjoyed the sensation of being on the water again, the surf lifting his kayak with a rolling motion. The ocean floor skimmed past under them, the crystal-clear water sparkling in the afternoon sunshine, reflecting off the sand below and dazzling his eyes.

  “Hang on a second,” he called to Thomas who was paddling in the lead. He rested his paddle across his lap. They floated slowly forward as Jamie patted all his pockets in search of his sunglasses.

  The bright red prow of the other kayak slid next to him. Thomas grabbed the gunwales of the cockpit to hold their boats together.

  “Chelsea said you might need a hand keeping track of these.” He held out Jamie’s sunglasses, a smirk lighting up his face.

  “Thank you, but where did you get them?” Jamie slipped them on, relaxing as they cut the extreme brightness dazzling his eyes.

  “You left them on the counter in the rental shop when you went to pick out your equipment. Chelsea said I should keep track of them for you. That it would be easier than carrying spares.”

  Damn, she had his number already. “Again, thank you. Only I’ll have you know I’m not totally incompetent.”

  “Just…forgetful?”

  The boats separated and Jamie picked up his paddle and sent a deliberate splash of water in the youth’s direction. “Only about some things. I have a very good memory for others.”

  “Really?”

  Jamie heard the cocky challenge in Thomas’s voice. “Really.”

  “Then tell me four things in the dive shop that aren’t usually in a place like that.”

  They continued paddling, the salt air rushing past exhilarating and refreshing. Jamie pictured the room, letting the images roll in his mind’s eye like a video replay. “There was a pair of snowshoes, a bubblegum machine. The stuffed polar bear sitting in the Kevlar kayak at the back wall and…” He hesitated. “I can only think of three.”

  “You’re shitting me. You actually saw all those things? Damn, you are good.”

  Not good enough. It was going to bother him until he knew what he’d missed. “What’s the fourth thing?”

  “There’s a map of the moon. Craters and all.”

  “I thought it was related to ocean tides and currents.”

  Thomas laughed. “I bet you’re right. You’re better than I thought.”

  The waves pushed them closer to the shore and Jamie had to stay alert to keep the kayak from being forced against the jagged rocks extending above the water’s surface. The physical exertion was good. It helped clear away a few of the cobwebs that had crept into his mind over the past days.

  “This feels amazing.” His many concerns and questions seemed small in the midst of the beauty around them.

  “If we swing close to the next bank the cavern pops up really well.”

  Thomas sounded like he was having a blast and Jamie caught his enthusiasm. They raced toward the bay, their double-bladed paddles flashing in the sunlight. Farther out to sea a pod of dolphins breached the surface and Thomas whooped out loud, waving his paddle in the air for a second before glancing at Jamie in embarrassment.

  “Sorry, just…”

  “No worries. I think that’s one of the most amazing sights on earth.”

  “Really?”

  “Seriously. The innate beauty of the patterns and the fact it’s mostly for fun, not a side effect of food gathering or mating rituals makes them even more fabulous to watch. Their society is fascinating.” Thomas gave him a curious look and Jamie swore softly. “Sorry, don’t know why I’m lecturing you. You probably know way more than I do.”

  The youth choked for a second, flushing red. “Well, I’m not sure about that.”

  Interesting reaction. “Don’t be modest. You’ve grown up here all your life, and if you’re half as skilled as the owner of the dive shop said, I think I can skip the sermon.” Jamie toned it back. Whatever it was that had made Thomas nervous was another item to add to the things-to-ponder list.

  They fell into a rhythm with their paddling. Jamie continued to glance at the dolphins as they streamed through the water. There was something majestic in their movements, and the enjoyment of watching them reminded him again he needed to play more.

  It was a constant issue in his life. Getting so focused on the job he couldn’t see the important things happening right under his nose.

  Now, here in Jaffrey’s Cove, Jamie didn’t want to fall into the same trap. He didn’t want to miss seeing what was the most important discovery in the midst of glancing through a few baubles. If his suspicions were correct, the real treasure of the sleepy ocean-side village wasn’t contained in the Coltens’ home.

  They rounded the corner and the visual impact stole his train of thought. If there had been a palace carved into the cliffside, he couldn’t have been more impressed. A smooth even arc ascended above their heads, creating a perfect natural cavern. Like the caves over Mesa Verde, the sheer walls rose up to become a roof with natural ledges and staircases scattered all along the feature.

  When Thomas spoke, his voice echoed along with the low rumble of the waves around them, and Jamie imagined the place would be deafening during a storm.

  “During high tide the back wall reaches the water, but at low tide there is a small passageway that divers access to go spelunking. I’ve heard that at neap tide, the lowest low tide of the year, you can walk through into another set of tunnels, but that’s more rumor than anything else.”

  “Hidden pirate’s treasure that can only be accessed at certain times or death awaits?”

  Thomas nodded. “Something like that.”

  Jamie twisted in his seat, staring out from the shadowed protection of the cave over the sunlit ocean. He took a deep breath, soaking in the experience. Enjoying the play of the breeze over his skin, the salty scent of the ocean filling his nostrils. This was good. If he could take the time daily to experience the beauty of Jaffrey’s Cove, it might help settle the longing th
at burned in his belly.

  A flash of desire teased him and he forced the thought aside, trying not to dwell on the images of Braden and beautiful blonde Chelsea that rose in his mind far too often. Sensual images of them together, with him.

  Like a siren’s call seducing him.

  Chapter Nine

  “Holy shit, what a mess.” Jamie’s voice was filled with disgust.

  Braden dumped another piece of glass into the garbage before looking over his shoulder to see Jamie striding into the condo. “Yeah. Seems our painters upped the ante.” Braden pointed to the heap of papers and electronics tangled together on the table. “Sorry to call you away from your work early, but I thought we should start figuring out what we need to do. You want to go through that pile, and the rest of the apartment, to see if there’s anything of yours missing?”

  “Ahh, damn it…not my computer.” Jamie dropped into a chair at the table. He held up the broken body of his laptop, the lid swinging by a wire. Pieces of the inner workings slipped out to clatter on the floor.

  “Sorry, man. I hope you backed up recently. I’ll totally cover you for the replacement costs, but your data…”

  “I’ve got it set to auto backup to the Internet. I won’t have lost anything but the time it takes to download everything to a new computer.” Jamie plopped the remains back on the table and poked at the papers before joining Braden by the windows. “And you certainly don’t owe me anything. I’ve got insurance, and I can afford a new computer. I was thinking about upgrading anyway.”

  Jamie tugged the garbage bag from Braden’s fingers and held it open. Braden nodded his thanks and grabbed the dustpan, scooping up the smaller bits of glass and shredded paper. “I guess I spoke too soon when I said we didn’t have any real crime in the area. There were a couple of other official thefts today.”

  “Shame it had to be your place that got hit.” Jamie glanced toward the back of the condo. “Ballsy to break-in during broad daylight. Did they do a lot of damage throughout the whole place?”

  Braden shook his head. “The windows are the biggest things. A couple of cushions got shredded and a few files dumped. For the most part it was plain old vandalism again.”

  Jamie looked around the room. “They didn’t touch your stereo or your TV.”

  “No, none of the easy-to-resell items were hit. And my old computer is still sitting on the desk in my office. I mean, it was under a few things, but why didn’t they take it?” Braden stood and motioned for Jamie to help him tip the couch upright. “I don’t understand why they smashed your laptop instead of stealing it. Something’s just not right.”

  “You said there were other break-ins this time too?”

  Braden nodded. “Helen got called out this morning to a private residence. Plus a couple of the shops on the boardwalk reported stolen objects. Damn, it’s like the place has gone insane. We never have crime like this.”

  He picked up the bag of garbage and carried it out onto the deck. Now what was he supposed to do? The condo was in no shape for Jamie to stay in, but the last he’d heard the motel was still stuffed to the rafters.

  Jamie wandered through the living room, continuing to pick up and tidy the mess left behind. Braden dragged a hand over his scalp. He could offer to have Jamie stay in the spare room at the Coltens’, but he wasn’t sure that was a good idea. His relationship with Chelsea was still so new and…

  Damn it, he wasn’t sure what he was feeling. It wasn’t jealousy at the thought of having the man around, and that surprised him. He knew he usually reacted too rapidly when it came to other men and Chelsea, but contemplating having Jamie around didn’t upset him.

  He faced out to the ocean and forced himself to confess the truth. In spite of the newness of his and Chelsea’s relationship, he couldn’t stop thinking about Jamie as well. It wasn’t just physical attraction. Somehow he didn’t worry about Chelsea as much when she was with Jamie, and that alone struck him as slightly bizarre.

  “Braden, are you here?” Chelsea’s voice sounded from the door.

  “He’s on the deck,” Jamie shouted.

  Braden stepped through the broken doorframe and approached as she wandered into the chaos, concern written all over her face. “What happened?”

  “Vandals.”

  “Someone broke into the sheriff’s apartment? Are they insane?” She looked around in shock. “Either they are visitors and don’t know who lives where, or they have a lot of chutzpa.”

  Braden snorted. “It’s not like being sheriff makes me immune to crime, baby. It’s okay. We’ll get it cleaned up. In the meantime, I—”

  “Jamie can’t stay here.” Chelsea crossed her arms. “There’s room for him at the house.”

  She sounded determined, completely convinced, and Braden struggled to find the correct response. His first reaction of “hell, yeah” might not be the right one to utter.

  Jamie’s soft chuckle broke through his mental ramblings. “Why can’t I stay here? We’ll put something over the broken glass temporarily, and I’ll be fine.” He kicked a few loose feathers. “Although we’ll have to hit the hardware store before they close for the night.”

  Chelsea frowned. “You can’t stay here. It’s not safe.”

  “They didn’t come in with machetes and axes. They were vandals. They make messes to make themselves feel big. I’ll be fine.”

  She shook her head again and turned to face Braden. “Tell him. He can have the main-floor room.” She stared, her eyes moist as if on the verge of tears.

  Braden pulled her into his arms and rubbed her back slowly. “If he feels safe you can’t make him move, but if you’d like to join us in cleaning up that would be a big help.”

  He’d never seen her react like this before. Jamie was obviously becoming more important to them both, digging his way into their affections.

  “Really, Chels, I’m fine. You want to come check out the damage in the back with me? You can hold the garbage bag while I stuff it.” Jamie waited patiently as she stood on tiptoe to kiss Braden on the cheek. She took Jamie’s hand as he led her toward the back. Jamie glanced over his shoulder at Braden and nodded slowly—comfort and caring evident in his every move.

  Astute, for a human.

  Strange how both he and Chelsea seemed so attracted to Jamie. He had no merfolk blood, Braden was sure of it, but in the midst of chaos, the man was a point of calm.

  It was both reassuring and alarming, and for the first time since having the responsibility of the pod laid upon him, Braden wished he could talk with his matriarch. She would have the skills to help them figure out just what the hell was going on. In Jaffrey’s Cove, and in his personal life, because none of it was normal.

  None of it made a lot of sense.

  From the back of the condo Chelsea’s bright laugh rang out and the knot in Braden’s belly tightened. Jamie had managed to make Chelsea laugh after how worried and concerned she’d been. The man entangled himself deeper into their relationship without even trying and suddenly Braden wasn’t sure what it was he felt anymore. Gratitude? Companionship?

  Interest?

  He gathered a few cleaning supplies and headed to the back of the condo to join them. Answers would have to wait.

  “I’m glad you decided to dive today, Jamie. I don’t think I could stand another minute inside that shop. If I hear one more person mention how there’s never any crime in Jaffrey’s Cove, I’m going to go nuts.”

  Jamie passed the air tanks out of the back of the truck to the youth. “But you know, there isn’t usually crime here. Braden said that the run of break-ins is unusual for the area.”

  Thomas groaned. “Please…”

  Jamie laughed. “You let me know your triggers.”

  Their gear was laid on the shore when the sheriff’s vehicle rolled up and Braden cranked open the window.

  “You got room for one more on the tour today?”

  Jamie glanced past Braden into the vehicle. “You’ve got someone hidden i
n there?”

  Braden slid out of the driver’s seat and reached into the back to pull out another tank. “Actually, I’m talking about me. Hell if I can stand another minute of that chaos. I need a chance to get away from it. You boys mind if I join you?”

  Jamie concentrated on getting his gear together. The instant rush of pleasure that swept over him at getting to spend time around Braden raised questions he didn’t feel comfortable answering.

  Thomas let out a delighted howl. “You mean it? Damn, you haven’t come out diving forever. I thought you hated tanks…” The kid trailed off again but not before Jamie spotted a flash of annoyance on Braden’s face.

  “Where are we headed?” Braden asked Thomas as they walked toward the shore with his equipment.

  “Cutter’s Reef and the wreck of the Diana. I thought Jamie would enjoy it.”

  Braden nodded his approval. “Have you shown him the caverns yet? Sunstar Hideaway?”

  Thomas’s face lit up. “If you’re along we can go. I can’t take solo divers into the caves yet since I’m under eighteen.”

  “Sunstar Hideaway? Is that the one you told me about the other day?” Jamie asked. It had sounded like a glorious, if dangerous, location.

  Thomas nodded. “With the sky clear like it is today it should be amazing.”

  The three of them worked together in an easy rhythm, putting on their tanks and slipping into the clear waters of the Pacific.

  As they descended into the rich blue of the ocean, all sound grew muted. Long-distance noises carrying on the air became outweighed by the more intimate whisper of air bubbles escaping. The rush of blood through his own veins. Thomas motioned to him and they kicked together toward the intact skeleton of a sunken vessel.

  Colorful fish darted around them, flashing in schools away then back as they passed the coral ridges. Jamie slowed to touch the delicate arch forming between two ridges of rock, minute creatures turning the ocean floor into a gallery of art painted with streaks of sunlight from above.