“Oh, I love the blues.” She shifted her shoulders with the guitar slides, letting the rhythm carry her.
“You’d be a awesome dancer. If you know, you had… legs.” He swallowed hard, hoping he hadn’t offended her.
“I dance, in my own way.”
“Yeah?” He could imagine her underwater, twirling and spinning like the Weeki Wachee mermaids, only much more graceful.
“Yeah.” Her tail twitched as she looked him over. “Come with me. I’ll show you.”
Fear held him in place. What if Grandpa had been right? What if she took him to where she lived, and never brought him back?
She laughed. “You should see your face. Like I’m going to eat you or something.”
“No, I was only trying to picture it, that’s all.” He adjusted the tuning of a string.
“Come with me, and you can see for yourself.” The moonlight made her face radiant. Her expression mixed challenge and skepticism.
He’d be underwater, with her arms around him. “All right.” If he drowned, he’d be with her, at least.
“Take your shoes off. They slowed me down the other day.” In seconds, she disappeared into the waves.
Leaning his guitar securely against the rock, he removed his shoes, stood and went to the edge. The waves washed over the rocks. He dipped his hand in. “Whoa. Kind of chilly.”
Her hand gripped his upper arm and pulled him underwater to her open arms, which wrapped around him. The cold bothered him less than the pressure as they shot through the sea to beyond where the waves broke.
As they surfaced, he sputtered, gasping for air. “Give me a little warning next time so I can catch my breath.”
She released him and glided behind him. “Sorry. You didn’t like it?”
“Yes, I did.” He liked the feel of her holding him, and wished she’d do it again. “So show me.”
Her tail curled around his legs as she floated around his side and came face to face with him, her breath sweet on his face. “You won’t sink from exhaustion if I leave you here, will you?”
Moonlight lit the surface of the sea, let him see her clearly.
“Leave? Why?” The lights along the shore looked to be maybe a mile away. He could probably swim that far, if he had to.
“Only for a minute. How else can I show you?”
“Yeah, I…”
She slipped beneath the water.
“…guess.” He treaded water as she raced around him in a circle, faster than any dolphin. He wished he could see better, watch her every move, rather than the blur spinning around him. In a huge splash, she whooshed high out of the sea until her tail glided past the moon. Twisting in a somersault, she dove down, fingertips first. The water barely moved with her entry. If she were human, she could be an Olympian. Like a torpedo, she spun just below the surface away from him, then toward him.
“Wooo!” He laughed as she glided to a stop in front of him. “That was so cool.”
“It’s more fun at home. More room to do what I like.”
“Oh.” He hoped she didn’t plan to take him there now. He was having second thoughts about dying in her arms.
Her voice became wistful. “Too bad you can’t see it. It’s so beautiful down there.”
He glanced toward shore. “Are we drifting further out?”
“Do you want to go back now?”
“Well…”
She floated closer and put her hands on his waist. “Say when.”
He no longer needed to tread in her powerful grip. Like an insistent drumbeat, his heart pounded in his chest, yet the moment seemed frozen in time. A storm might be raging in his head, but she remained the center of calm.
He let his hands drift to her shoulders, into her hair. “How can this be real? I feel like I’m dreaming.”
Her tail brushed his legs, her breasts pressed against his chest. “I’m real.” Her hands slipped around his waist, the slow swooshes of her tail kept them afloat.
As he’d imagined, he cupped her face with his hands, brought his lips to hers. Not the sloppy, almost harsh kisses he gave other girls. Her lips were tender, wonderful. Her mouth moving against his felt better than sex. Almost. He could drown in her kiss and never come up for air.
Slowly, he lifted his lips from hers and gazed into her eyes.
She looked toward shore. “I should bring you back.”
“No.” It burst from him too abruptly. He softened his voice.” I don’t want to leave you.”
“I have to go soon. I’ll get in trouble.” Her eyes searched his. “Then I won’t be allowed to come back.”
“Promise me you will.” His desperation came through in his tone.
With mock solemnity, she said, “I will, Andrew James.”
He caressed her cheek, her neck. “When? Tomorrow night?” It felt strange, not being the strong one, depending on her for his well being. Somehow he liked being under her control. He’d do anything she asked. Let her do anything she wanted.
She swirled them like a whirlpool, leaning her head back and laughing. “Yes,” she said, slowing. “Tomorrow.” Releasing her hold, she turned away from him. “Hold on.”
He grabbed her waist as she propelled them toward shore, slowly this time. Her tail undulated against his legs. He splayed one hand along her rib cage and held her hip with the other, imagining her beneath him in his bed.
But that wasn’t possible. She couldn’t live on land. And he couldn’t live under the ocean.
The beach drew near too quickly. Maybe he should ask her to take him home with her. He’d grab his guitar… but how could he play it underwater?
She twisted to face him, and set him on the shore. “Good night.”
He grabbed her waist and pulled her to him. “Wait.” He lifted his lips to hers, his hands ran down her spine to where skin became fin, and down the soft curve.
With a moan, she shuddered against him and pressed her lips hard against his. His heart raced and his blood rushed as fast as when she’d whooshed him through the water.
She leaned away. “I have to go.”
“Are you sure?” His lips reached for hers.
With a quick kiss, she pushed against his shoulders. “I’ll be back.”
He held tight. “I’ll be waiting.”
She slid down against his chest, her slow smile burning into his heart.
He waited until her form blurred to nothingness beneath the water, then sat watching the moonlight ripple across the surface. In the distance, she leapt from the sea in a twist, making his heart leap, too, then plunged and disappeared.
He stood. “Cassiopeia.”
Only the breeze through his wet clothes moved him, singing her name in different variations as he stepped along the rocks. He stopped at the rock where he’d set his guitar. He felt sure he’d leaned it against the opposite side. He sat and reached for his shoes, but found only one. He put it on and stood. The other lay a foot away. Definitely not where he’d left it.
Someone had been here. “At least they left my guitar. My luck must be improving.”
He hummed as he made his way back to his grandfather’s house.
Tomorrow, he’d tell Chaz the deal was off. He couldn’t take any chances.
Chapter Fourteen
As AJ suspected, Chaz cornered him first thing in the morning at the employee lockers.
“So how was your date last night?” Chaz leaned his shoulder against the locker next to AJ’s.
“Good. Real good.” Much as he’d tried to suppress it, excitement edged his voice. He couldn’t think about her without his pulse racing. Without wanting to sing. And twirl, arms wide open under the sky, as she’d twirled him last night.
“So what’s her name?” Chaz’s tone sounded casual, but his intense scrutiny told AJ he was anything but.
He kept his answers short and sweet, and tried to sound dull. “Cassie.”
Chaz fired the question at him. “Does she live around here?”
“Yea
h uh, I don’t know exactly where she lives. I don’t want to meet her parents yet, you know?” He twirled the lock’s tumbler and tucked in his shirt.
Chaz’s voice deepened as he finally got to his point. “So what night do you think you’ll be free?”
AJ slid past and headed for the door. “Not for awhile. I want to see this girl as much as I can. Before she figures out what a loser I am and dumps me.”
“And what about our plan?” Anger came through in his voice.
Maybe AJ could reason with him. He paused in the doorway. “Look, Chaz. It’s a waste of time anyway. We both know that.”
Chaz surveyed him head to toe. “Do we?”
His sharp tone put AJ on edge. Almost like a challenge. Like he had a reason to doubt him.
AJ faced him head on. “Yes. The only mermaids around here are the ones in the Underground Theater.”
The light in Chaz’s eyes, his soft voice creeped AJ out. “Oh, my man, I think we both know that’s wrong.”
For a moment, they stared at one another. AJ’s jaw began to pulse.
Until Chaz smiled, with a knowing smile, a taunting smile. “So I should definitely count you out?”
AJ decided to warn Cassiopeia tonight about this dude. He had to keep her safe, far away from him. “Yes.”
His expression remained pleasant except for the twitch of his eyes.
AJ had to watch Chaz. His every move.
Chapter Fifteen
Darkness could not come fast enough. Days stretched longer before giving over to evening, stealing more time than AJ wanted to allow. He had so little time with Cassie as it was.
He went to the same spot with his guitar, and arranged the blanket in the same spot. He’d come too early. Couples littered the beach, a man jogged by–twice–and a woman walked her yappy dog, its short legs taking forever to move fast enough to take them away down the beach. The tweener girls from the other day walked by in a giggling huddle, then hovered too close as he played his guitar. With a frown, he glanced at them twice. If they came any closer, he would tell them to get lost. Everyone needed to go home, leave him alone.
Maybe the full moon brought everyone out. After the sun sizzled into the sea and the moon floated up like a silver spotlight, a couple walked the shoreline.
At just past ten thirty, finally, her head rose from the water at the end of the rocks.
A thrill went through him. “Cassiopeia.”
With narrowed eyes, she scanned the beach.
He scooted toward her. “I was worried you weren’t going to come.”
“I almost didn’t.” Leaning up on her elbows, she glanced backward at the ocean. “I’m not supposed to be here now.”
“What happened? Did you get in trouble?” She’d mentioned it last night, but at the time, he’d thought it just an excuse. He crouched as close as he could.
“My parents are so controlling.” She sounded like a teenager.
He smoothed her hair from her cheek. She seemed to be about his age, but how old was she really? Maybe they didn’t measure age because they were immortal. Were mer people more strict than humans? “Sorry if I got you in trouble.”
Her smile was sly. “It was worth it.”
The thrill returned with double strength. “Yeah. I hardly slept all night, thinking about you.”
Breathlessly, she said, “Me, too.”
He leaned in and touched his lips to hers. Her warmth surprised him. The sensation of falling tightened his hold on her, as if she were the only thing that could save him.
When she pulled away, her eyes looked sad. “I have to go.”
“No, not yet.” He held strands of her hair.
She held his gaze. “I can’t stay tonight, AJ.”
His only consolation was it seemed to pain her as much as him. “Can you come back tomorrow night?”
“I’ll try.” She kissed him so sweetly, he nearly tumbled into the water when she slipped away from him.
His body trembled with the effort of fighting the urge to follow her. Maybe she really was magical. He felt as if he were under her spell.
Not until he stumbled his way into his bed did AJ realize he’d forgotten to tell her about Chaz.
Tomorrow. He’d tell her tomorrow.
Chapter Sixteen
The day passed quietly. Weeki Wachee Springs drew about half its capacity. Less crowds left AJ feeling exposed as he walked to the Wilderness Cruise, then to lunch and back. He managed to avoid Chaz until the end of the day, as he walked down the hall to the exit.
Even in the dim hallway, the strut was undeniably Chaz. His head thrown back as if ready for a rumble, his smile conspicuously absent. “AJ the lover boy. How’s your love life?”
Without slowing his stride, AJ said, “Fine.”
Chaz paused as he walked by. “Oh, you’re in a hurry. Must have another hot date, eh?”
“Yep.” He pushed open the glass door, not bothering to check whether Chaz followed.
The door clicked shut. AJ breathed a sigh of relief, but tensed when he heard it click open again.
Chaz fell into step with him. “Before you go rushin’ off, you might want to hear what I have to say, my man.”
“Oh Chaz, will you lay off? Leave me alone.”
Chaz pressed closer. “I think you’ll be very interested in what I have to say.”
They rounded the trees at the edge of the parking lot.
Chaz gripped AJ’s neck and forced him behind the dumpster. “You little prick. You thought I wouldn’t find out?” His grip tightened, and he whirled AJ to face him.
Instinct made AJ bring his knee to Chaz’s groin. Chaz doubled over with a loud groan.
AJ pushed him to the ground. “You stay away from me.” He walked away, and his hand shook as he ran it through his hair.
Footsteps thudded behind him, and AJ was thrust to the pavement, Chaz’s fists in his back.
“You’re not double-crossin’ me, you little shit.” Chaz twisted him onto his back, and slammed his head against the blacktop. Anger contorted Chaz’s features into a grisly mask, inches from his face. “I saw you with her. Don’t try to deny it.”
AJ blinked away the sweat. “What?” Oh, God. That explained how his guitar got moved, and his shoe. How could he have been so stupid?
Chaz flicked open his pen knife. “I followed you last night, and the night before. To the beach. I saw her take you out to sea.” He laughed, and a drop of spittle fell on AJ’s cheek. “Man, I thought you were a goner. But she brought you back.” He stared at AJ in wonderment, then anger flashed in his eyes. “You thought you’d cash in on it all by yourself? I don’t think so.” His finger jabbed AJ’s chest. His downturned mouth twitched to a smile. “Tonight, you’re going to see her again, aren’t you?”
AJ didn’t answer. The dude looked like a madman.
Chaz clenched his teeth. “I already know you are. You can’t stay away. I can see it in your eyes. I can hear it in your voice. You tell me everything without even realizing it.” He twisted AJ’s shirt in his fist, held the knife at his throat. “You’re going to tell her to come to the bridge tomorrow night.”
The images springing to AJ’s mind horrified him. Chaz forcing the net around her, threatening her with the knife. Touching her. A surge of anger mixed with his fear.
Chaz’s smile relaxed, recognizing AJ’s fear. “I know you’re crazy about her. I know you won’t be able to stay away from her. So if you don’t tell her tonight to come to the bridge tomorrow night, I will follow you the next night and every night after that until I see you with her again. And then I will aim my scope at her head–so you can watch her die first–and then I’ll take you out of this world, too.” He relaxed his grip. “Then you can be together when you’re both dead chum, floating out in the open sea. Shark food.”
Easing away from AJ, he stood. “So you decide. Just know I’ll be there tonight. Watchin’.” He winked. “I’ll talk to you, after you talk to her.” He aimed a finger at AJ
, then pretended to pull the trigger. He walked away laughing.
Shaken, AJ pushed himself up. How his legs held him up, he couldn’t know. He walked aimlessly, block after block. Every possible scenario ran through his head, but every time, it ended with Cassie hurt.
He’d go to his grandfather for advice. But his grandfather would frown, tell him he was a stupid know-nothing, always in trouble. And now he’d dragged a mermaid into the worst dredges of human nature.
He wouldn’t show up tonight. But Chaz would. And he’d catch sight of Cassiopeia and shoot her.
He had to go to the beach, tell her about Chaz, tell her never to return. But then AJ would never see her again. Would he be able to stand it? And what if she came back anyway, and Chaz saw her?
AJ had no doubt Chaz would follow through on his threat.
There was only one choice. Go along. For now.
Chapter Seventeen
Clouds roiled over the ocean as AJ waited. Unable to sit still, he paced along the islet. His nerves jangled in his skin. He should have gone home for his guitar, but he couldn’t face Grandpa. He wasn’t sure he would be able to face Cassiopeia, but he had to. To save her life, he had to lie to her. After he’d taken great care to gain her trust. Chaz was going to destroy it. And AJ could do nothing to stop him.
Yet.
A while ago, the sky spat drops of rain. He’d looked back to see how many people were still on the beach.
Only one.
Chaz.
AJ knew it was him, but he stood there, ominous as a shadow.
Without the light of the moon, Chaz might miss his first shot at Cassie. But he’d sure as hell not miss his second.
Maybe AJ should ask her to take him with her, to her home. He’d never see his guitar again. Or Grandpa. Or his mom.
If only he knew more about where she lived. About her.
He hardly knew her.
Surfacing Page 9
