by Devyn Quinn
Eyes rolling skyward, Tessa huffed. That was Gwen. Hot for anything in a pair of tight jeans.
Folding her arms across her chest, she narrowed her gaze toward the oncoming man. He stood well over six feet, most of it long, endless legs. Lean and buff to the max, he appeared to have a strong physique. Broad shoulders ruled over a rippling abdomen and narrow hips. His short-sleeved work shirt revealed biceps well defined from heavy lifting. Though faded, his jeans were clean, fitting him like a second skin. His confident stride ate up the ground.
As the distance separating them narrowed, Tessa got a clearer look at his face. His features reminded her of the rough- hewn statues of ancient athletes: subtly, oddly imperfect yet nevertheless appealing. He wore his brown hair short and spiky, a style complementing the shape of his face. A pair of stylish sunglasses obscured his eyes, adding to his bad-boy vibe. A Harley was probably waiting for him back on the mainland.
There was something familiar about the man, something that made her inner antennae perk up and hum. When she’d first glanced at him, heat had risen in her core, as if she’d been plunged straight into a pot of boiling water. Without intending for it to happen, her interest in the stranger had definitely been piqued.
Tightening her grip on her screwdriver, she immediately tamped down her attraction. Oh, this was so not the kind of man to be paying attention to. He had a rough appearance, one suggesting he was most comfortable hanging out with the guys, drinking tons of beer, and slapping chicks on the ass.
Tessa mentally gritted her teeth and stiffened her spine. You ain’t staying on, dude.
The approaching stranger offered a smile. “Afternoon, ladies.” He lifted the motor. “I believe you’ve been waiting on this.”
Gwen beamed. “Yes, we are.” She offered her hand. “Thanks for coming out with Lucky, Mr.—”
“Randall,” he said, accepting her gesture. “Kenneth Randall.”
His name flew over Tessa’s head. She really didn’t care who he was. Her attention was focused on the precious motor.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Gwen Lonike.” Her sister made a vague gesture. “And the shrew standing beside me is Tessa.”
Tessa pulled a face. Bitch.
He offered his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
Ignoring him, Tessa reached for her motor. “I’ll take that.”
“All yours.” He handed it over.
She nodded. “Thanks for bringing in the parts.”
He shrugged. “No problem.”
Gwen pounced. “This is the third one you’ve ordered. You shorted out the other two, brand-new.”
Tessa rounded on her sister, then caught herself. Yes, it was true she’d burnt two motors to cinders with a bit of faulty wiring. She was sure she’d figured out the problem. The third time should be the charm. She just needed to do a little more tinkering. “I can handle it.”
Gwen ignored her. “You ever do any electrical work?” she asked the newcomer.
Kenneth Randall smiled enough to show his teeth, slightly crooked on the bottom. His eyes crinkled at the corners, revealing the beginning of crow’s feet. “I’ve done a little bit of everything.”
Tessa silently simmered. Oh, no! Gwen wasn’t the boss here.
“A little bit of everything isn’t a whole lot of experience for anything.” Her words came out, sharp and withering.
The tone of her voice immediately registered on Kenneth Randall’s face. “I didn’t come here looking for a job, ma’am.” Skimming a hand through his thick hair, he took a step back.
Giving herself a swift mental kick, Tessa silently cursed her rudeness. There wasn’t anything wrong with a man looking for honest work. And it wasn’t his fault he was human. She just didn’t like having them around. “What I meant to say is I don’t need any help,” she added quickly, trying to make amends. She softened her voice a little, proving she could carry on a conversation without being a complete ass.
“That’s okay. No harm, no foul.” Jerking a thumb over one shoulder, he offered an easy smile. “I just caught a ride with the old man because I wanted to come by and say thanks.”
Casting her sister a suspicious glance, Gwen’s fine brow puckered. “What for?”
He slid off his sunglasses, propping them on top of his head. His irises were deep brown, like puppy eyes. The hard-ass edge hovering around him evaporated. “Last year a lady living here fished me out of the water.” An ironic smile curved his lips. “Maybe you remember the naked idiot who tried to take a swim in the bay.”
Tessa barely kept her jaw from dropping off. Recognition crashed in like a ton of bricks. Oh shit.
There was no way in hell she’d have compared this tan, fit specimen of a male with the drenched man she’d pulled out of the water last year. Now she understood why her first impression had been one of familiarity. When she’d last seen him his hair was shoulder length, his body whipcord thin from the neglect that came from missing regular meals. When she’d reached him he’d been half-drowned. He almost hadn’t survived.
A chilling thought flashed through her mind. Her stomach clenched painfully. He wasn’t supposed to come back.
Tessa tightened her grip on the motor, thankful for its anchoring weight in her hands. Her heart sped up, thudding heavily against her ribs. She’d deliberately tucked the day away, forcing herself to forget it and move on.
That was a damn near impossible thing to manage.
Throat squeezing tight, she vividly recalled the feel of his naked, chilled skin pressed against her own warm flesh. Her stomach squeezed, blood heating from the fleeting memory of holding him in her arms. She’d sensed his need to touch and to be touched, and she’d answered in the only way she knew how. With her body.
Tessa drew a long breath.
What if he remembers?
Fighting to collect her wits, Tessa licked her papery lips. It was taking a supreme effort to think, to keep her thoughts on track.
She needed to get rid of him, and double quick.
Vaguely aware some response was expected, Tessa cleared her throat. She set the motor down, trying to hide her trembling hands. “I was just doing my job.” She tried to keep from looking him directly in the eyes. She was too afraid of what she might find if she looked into their depths a second time. “You don’t owe me anything.”
“I owe you my life.” Unwilling to let her off the hook, he cocked a brow toward the swamp cooler. “So why don’t you let me repay you by lending a hand? I’ve done my share of work on those old puppies. Not hard to fix at all.”
Tessa frowned and shook her head. “Really, you’re not obligated in any way. What I did for you, I’d do for anyone.”
Lines of disappointment furrowed his brow. “Is this where I pick up your hint to leave?”
Tessa stubbornly held her place. Getting him to go away was priority number one. “Yeah, pretty much.”
Gwen broke in. “If he’s offering a hand, you should take it.” Disapproval colored her tone. “You’ve already been rude enough.”
She was about to get a little ruder.
Grabbing her sister’s arm, Tessa shoved Gwen to one side. “I have my reasons,” she gritted. “I just want him gone.” Later, when they were alone, she’d explain things. She’d never shared the details of the day, not even with her sisters.
Kenneth Randall couldn’t fail to overhear. “I think that’s my cue to catch a ride out with Lucky.” He turned and simply walked away. A moment later he disappeared around the corner.
Watching him go, Tessa felt her tension drain away. Thanks be to the goddess. He wasn’t going to be an ass and force himself into a place he wasn’t wanted.
Tessa ran her palms across her face. Her skin felt clammy, cold. That was a bullet she didn’t care to dodge again. The fact he’d come looking for her was a bad sign. What if he remembered that part of that day, including the fact she’d been in the water, wearing a tail? Being busted was simply not an option. Mers already had a hard enough time surviv
ing in this unfriendly world.
She shot a surreptitious glance toward her sister. Gwen would have a stroke if she knew Tessa had been swimming around any humans in full Mer form. It wouldn’t matter that the man was more than half-drowned and close to death.
Best not think about that now. She’d deal with the fallout, when and if it arrived.
Tessa switched back to the problem at hand. With temperatures climbing past the nineties, the relief of a cool house would be welcome. “Now I can get back to fixing this old piece of junk.”
She didn’t quite get the relief she was counting on.
Gwen stepped in to continue the fight. “This time I’m putting my foot down,” she insisted, taking up where they’d left off. “You don’t know your ass from a hole in the ground.” She threw up her hands. “Look at this place. All you’ve done since Mom and Dad died is let it go to hell in a handbasket.”
Startled by the intensity behind Gwen’s attack, Tessa’s hackles rose. “I’m doing my best. But you know as well as I do money’s tight and finding someone who’ll work for a reasonable wage is damn near impossible. Not to mention the cost of materials to do the repairs. I can handle things, but only one at a time.”
Gwen pressed her lips into a line, and she crossed her arms over her chest. “That’s the trouble. Nothing’s getting done. This place is too much for one person and the money’s running out. It’s true I can funnel more cash over from the hotel, but I’m not inclined to do that anymore. As much as you don’t like it, you’ve got to face facts. It’s time to let the island go.”
Tessa felt a stab of anger-driven pain so sharp it went straight through her core. “I’m not selling the island. This is my—our—home. It’s the only place we belong.”
Gwen slowly shook her head. “It’s time to give it up, Tess. Move onto the mainland and live a normal life.”
Normal? What was normal about their fucking lives? As much as she tried to act human and play the part, Gwen knew damn good and well that mermaids and humans didn’t mix well.
Planting her feet as though the act would anchor her to the ground, Tessa glared daggers. If looks could kill, Gwen would be pushing up daisies about now. “I’m the oldest. I decide what happens here. You tell Addie I’m not selling it. Not today, tomorrow, or ever.”
Gwen countered with her own fierce glower. “We each have an equal share, and Addison agrees with me. Two votes add up to the majority, and we’ve decided to sell.” Her sister’s ultimatum hit like a blast of arctic air on naked flesh.
Tessa gasped. She’d hoped Gwen wouldn’t feel compelled to make that threat.
A chill snatched the air from her throat. She’d been outplayed. Her sisters could sell everything out from under her and she was powerless to stop them. “Fuck you both,” she mumbled, feeling like she’d been pummeled to tiny pieces.
Gwen sighed heavily. “This didn’t go as well as I’d hoped.”
Irritation flickered. “I think I’ve heard enough.”
Gwen raised her hands, palms out. “Just listen. Please.”
“Why should I?” Tessa replied, forcing her eyes open wide so she could stall the threat of tears. There was no way she’d let her younger sibling see her cry. Hell would freeze over first.
Gwen paused, pursing her lips. “Because we won’t sell if you’ll just hire someone to help out.” She spread her arms. “It’s that simple.”
It was the same old dilemma, except Gwen had some serious leverage behind her threat. And while Tessa didn’t want to share the island with a human, she also didn’t want to be packing her bags to move to the mainland.
Tessa considered her options. None. It felt like Gwen had cut her legs off at the knee. She was down and had no way to get up. “Fine. You find a guy who wants to work for nothing and he’s hired.” She didn’t need to look at her checkbook to know the balance was perilously low. The island was considered a prime piece of real estate and even though it belonged to her family, the taxes on the land weren’t cheap. Uncle Sam was eating her sack lunch, leaving only crumbs behind.
To Tessa’s surprise, Gwen wasn’t the one who answered.
Kenneth Randall reappeared, easing around the corner of the house. “I couldn’t help overhearing,” he said, offering a sheepish grin and a shrug. “Maybe I can help out.”
Tessa launched a glare his way. He was supposed to be gone. For good. “Eavesdropping isn’t polite.”
Dark eyes met hers. He was too confident—and too damn sexy to easily ignore. “Neither is walking away when someone needs help.”
His heavy gaze burned right through Tessa, causing her body temperature to inch dangerously higher. She clenched her jaw against the tremor of awareness flooding her veins. He affected her on such a physical level.
Tessa swallowed over the lump in her throat. “I’m not a charity case. I can do for myself.”
“I didn’t say you were.” An easy laugh escaped him. “I’m in between jobs, so I’ve got time on my hands.”
Nostrils flaring, Tessa looked at him doubtfully. “There’s a lot to do. The house needs a new roof, a fresh coat of paint, and it’s got a few plumbing issues. Not to mention the lighthouse.”
“And the cracked front window,” he reminded.
Tessa winced. The list was endless. No wonder she’d gotten so far behind. “I could use an extra pair of hands.”
Kenneth caught her gaze, holding it for a long moment. “If it helps, I’m a certified mechanic. And I did a lot of construction to pay my way through college. Hell, I could even drag up a reference or two if necessary.” His reply was natural and sincere. He clearly meant every word he said.
Tessa wavered. “I can’t pay much,” she admitted. “In fact, it’s almost nothing.”
He ignored the fact. “If you’ve a place I can stow my stuff and can throw me a sandwich now and again, I’m good.”
“We do!” Gwen clapped her hands. “And I can hit the deli and stock up today.”
Tessa drew in a long, shaking breath. Everything was slipping out of her control with alarming speed. It all sounded too good to be true. Kenneth Randall seemed too good to be true. “You’d do that?” she asked, still a little dazed by the sudden turn of events. “Work for free?”
“Not for free,” he corrected. “I’ll work for room and board.” A slow, wry smile parted his lips. “If nothing else, maybe it’ll keep me out of the water.”
“You’ve got a job, then,” Gwen said, sealing the deal by offering her hand.
Tessa opened her mouth, trying to think of a reasonable protest but nothing came out. Just like that, a decision had been made. On some secret, selfish level she was relieved to be spared further argument. But that didn’t stop her stomach from rolling over. Whether or not she agreed with the notion, she had no choice.
She’d have to share her island. With a man she’d seen at his most vulnerable, stripped bare and struggling to find the will to live.
A man she couldn’t help but admit she desired a little.
A flush pricked Tessa’s skin even as her heart sped up, filling her mouth with a vaguely coppery taste. Sweat plastered her thin T-shirt to her back. Thinking about her new handyman undressed and aroused was like grabbing on to a hot-wire fence. Hang on tight and she’d get one hell of a buzz.
Foreboding sent a chill down her spine. She had a feeling the island wasn’t going to be big enough for both of them.
Chapter 2
Asmile tugged at the corner of Kenneth’s mouth as he followed Tessa Lonike up the narrow circular staircase leading to the second floor of the lighthouse.
As befitting the warm afternoon, Tessa was casually dressed in a pair of shorts and a tank top. A sports bra hugged her breasts, a no- frills undergarment that nevertheless managed to look sexy beneath her stained work shirt. The shorts accentuated her slender waist and peach-firm rear, their high cut displaying endless, tightly muscled legs. She’d twirled up her long hair, securing it with something that looked like a set of cho
psticks. Her locks shimmered with a thousand flames, fiery to pale reds and effervescent coppers. A few stubborn strands refused to be tamed, straggling around her face and neck. Aside from a delicate gold chain holding a simple crystal pendant, she wore no jewelry. Her body undulated with a particular feline grace each time she lifted a foot.
Kenneth had already imagined brushing those curls off her slender nape before planting a soft kiss on the enticing curve. But her tight shoulders and distant attitude indicated making time with the boss wouldn’t be one of the perks of the job.
At this point she was being civil. Nothing more. Nothing less. Considering he’d made himself welcome on her turf, he didn’t blame her. But if taking the job meant he could remain on the island, then he’d gladly roll up his sleeves and go to work.
He still wanted to know what the hell was in the water.
As for the perks, he had to admit following Tessa around wasn’t a bad way to spend an afternoon. Truth be told, he was having the time of his life. If nothing else, the view was terrific. Even more interesting was the fact her bare arms were heavily tattooed with some sort of a tribal pattern. The design appeared to continue down her back and over her abdomen, reappearing again on her legs. The pattern ended at her ankles, just above the unlaced combat boots she wore. On any other woman the design would be vulgar. On her the tattoos were strangely alluring.
Kenneth winced. That much needlework had to be extremely painful. “The tats are awesome,” he said, eager to break the silence hanging between them. She didn’t seem to be the chatty kind, speaking only when spoken to.
Tessa didn’t stop walking, nor did she turn her head. “Thanks,” was all she said.
He tried again. “Must have taken years to get done.”
She kept on climbing. “Seems like a lifetime.” Her tone was noncommittal. She simply answered, giving no invitation to continue the conversation.
Kenneth pressed on anyway. He’d had enough of silence in his life lately. Surely it wouldn’t hurt her to talk a little. “How’d you come up with the design? Tribal, isn’t it?”
