Worth the Risk by Anna J. Stewart

Author:Anna J. Stewart
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-10-14T15:36:50+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

“DON’T YOU WANT to join us, Alethea?” Declan treaded water and looked to where she stood stone stiff at the railing. “You wore your bathing suit!” She’d ditched her sweatshirt and jeans, and stood beneath the cloudless, sunny sky in her suit and an oversize Flutterby Wheels T-shirt. Her hair had been tugged free by the wind, her eyes scanning the horizon as her bare feet seemed to have become glued to the deck.

“I got on the boat,” she called with a stern eye. “Take your wins when you get them.”

Declan nodded. He did take her coming out here as a win. Along with the fact she’d confided about the loss of her best friend. He couldn’t fathom what a loss like that felt like and he hated that Alethea had gone through it, was still dealing with the grief and guilt. He pivoted in the water, turned and watched Luke Saxon nearby, coaxing his twelve-year-old son to join them.

The catamaran rocked and bobbed in the waves a good forty-give minutes from shore. It was a perfect day for diving, a perfect day to be out on the water. Monty was staying low-key, giving Mandy free reign as acting captain as the five of them headed out. From swim vests to flippers, goggles, snorkels and everything else a diving expedition would need, SeaFarer was stocked to the gills for a day out on the water.

Alethea’s reluctance was nothing compared to Simon Saxon’s. The fact that Luke had forbidden his son from bringing any electronics with him had definitely not earned Luke many dad points. The fact Luke had somehow managed to coax Simon into a swim vest seemed a small miracle.

“How’re you doing, Simon?”

“Okay.” Simon’s lanky frame and pale white skin definitely spoke to why Luke was hoping to get the boy more physically active. Given what he’d been through, Declan wished everyone was as active as they could be. “Dad said I should at least try.” He sat down on the edge of the boat and dangled his feet in the water. “He also said there aren’t any sharks in here.” Simon leaned over, peering intently, as if he expected one to jump out at him. He clearly did not believe his father.

“I told you if you read up on this part of the ocean, you’d see that for yourself.” Luke swam forward to hold on to the side of the boat. “You research everything else you do.”

“Yeah, but everything I do is on dry land. I don’t like the water.”

“This is the first time—” Luke started.

“I went fishing with you and Grandpa, remember? I threw up twice.”

“Oh, yeah, right.” Luke grimaced and glanced at Declan. “Sorry. I forgot about that. Still, maybe give this a try, Simon? You might be surprised.”

Simon scooted his feet up. “I don’t want to be surprised.”

“Your sister and brother are going to start swim lessons pretty soon. Are you going to let them get ahead of you?”

Simon’s eyes sharpened on his father and he set his jaw.

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