Atlantis Rising Tide by Allie Burton

Author:Allie Burton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Alice Fairbanks-Burton
Published: 2013-06-17T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Guy Gullet

After drying off, Cuda and I sat on the blanket facing the sea. “How did the sea lion save your life?”

“The day the bridge collapsed and I fell, Samantha came to my rescue.” Samantha and I had become insta-friends. “I wonder how she found me.”

“Sea lions are intelligent. Maybe she was one of the sea lions in the large group the other night and hangs around this beach.” He touched the shell that always hung around his neck. “How did you recognize her? How did you know it was Samantha?”

I ground my teeth together, unsure how much to admit. “The other day she had a bad tear on her flipper.”

I should stop there, not admit anymore. I didn’t want him to think I was weird. Telling my best friend that I could breathe underwater was one thing, blabbing to Dirk had been a mistake. But I really liked Cuda and didn’t want to blow my chances.

“And?” He expected more.

“That’s it.” I bit my lip. “That’s how I recognized her.” Which was a true statement.

He turned his upper body to stare at me and took hold of my hand. The intensity of the look felt like he searched my soul. “I’m glad she saved you.”

Me, too. If she hadn’t, I wouldn’t be here right now with him. “I was surprised to hear you panicked when I fell off the bridge.”

Even now, the thought warmed and comforted. Cuda never panics. Nothing ruffles him. He’s always that in-command type of guy.

Rolling his shoulders, he let go of my hand. Redness flagged on his cheeks. “You’re my responsibility.” His super serious tone made resentment flare inside.

“You mean, I’m your employee.” After the kiss we’d shared, I was hoping for more.

“I care about what happens to you. I care about you.” He leaned toward me and gave me a sweet kiss that curled my toes.

But the kiss wasn’t enough to make me forget my uncertainty. Uncertainty about whether it was responsibility or likeability that I was here today. Uncertainty about why he’d gone with Tori for pizza and met her near the pier. Uncertainty about any kind of future with him, even a future date. “Why did you fall off your chair when you first met Tori?”

“What?” Confusion settled in lines around his eyes.

“In the lifeguard office, when Tori walked in you fell out of your chair.” I stuck my toes in the sand. How jealous did I sound? “I thought you were stunned by her looks.”

The confusion changed to understanding. A slight smile appeared on his face. “I was stunned by your name. Your real name.”

Some of my uncertainty stripped away. So he hadn’t fallen off his chair because of Tori’s beauty.

“Marisabel?” Lots of people shorten formal names. “Why?”

“I’d heard of someone with that name before, from my island.” He stared off at the ocean, the breeze ruffling his hair. “So, how did you like the game?”

Interesting change of topic. Guess he wasn’t ready to say more. Starting a relationship was complicated.

I hadn’t dated very much.

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