Ocean of Love (4 page)

He returned her gaze with an arched brow.
His heated stare was too much, and she lowered her gaze down his
body, stopping at the bulge in his pants. A quiver released between
her shoulder blades. Wyatt’s manly equipment had her salivating.
She swallowed, afraid any second she’d become a drooling fool. Her
client had no idea her psyche verged on shattering by his mere
proximity. In this state, her sense of smell and hearing were
out-of-control.

She muttered, “Some clients are rather
select about their packages… I mean vehicles.”

“
Darling, that vehicle is
the least of my worries. It’s now or never, sugar. The shore isn’t
about to come to us, so I guess we’d better get a move
on.”

“
Are you sure you don’t
want to go down by the shore alone? To get a sense of the site. I
can wait up here at the boardwalk.”

“
Miss Silverpointe, I’d bet
the
view
around
here changes rapidly depending upon a state of relaxation. Doesn’t
it, sweetheart? Besides, you gave me your word. It’s you and me.
Undivided. Shall I get a lasso to keep you near me?”

She ignored his comments. To feed into his
teasing would unhinge her further. “That goes hand in hand with any
ocean-front property. I imagine you’ve learned to plan for all
sorts of contingencies. After developing into what is it now, 24 or
25 beachfront residences, you, more than anyone, would know how
volatile the ocean can become.”

“
I’ve got immense respect
for Mother Nature. I also understand how to harness and stabilize
wild forces and untamed energy. All it takes is a steady, firm
hand. And patience. I’ve got both. The only thing I’m missing at
the moment is a realtor.”

“
Duly noted,” she muttered
softly to herself, unable to stall him any longer.

He held out a large palm to
her, wicked humor spilling out in his tone. “Well, either we can
dance or sit on the sidelines? I want you with me now and in the
future. You signed on for this deal. I expect your opinion on all
issues. Twenty-four-seven. You promised,
mi vida
.”

His deep voice, tinged by a seductive drawl,
jolted her. She was dumbfounded again by his clear blue eyes,
mirroring the cloudless sky above his head. He took hold of her
hand, tugging her out of the car. “Let’s go, baby doll. The sea’s
a-calling.”

“
I guess I’m as ready as
I’ll ever be.” She grabbed her oversized purse and swung her feet
onto the pavement. His intense gaze pierced to the quick. She felt
a thump in her chest as her heart kicked up in
response
. Jesus, just standing near the
man was utter insanity.

He appeared more at home here on the beach
than she with her pale complexion. Wyatt’s suntanned skin reminded
her of honey-butter, making her wish he’d strip off his pull-over
to prove her imagination wasn’t dreaming. When he smiled, she noted
the edges of his eyes crinkled. His grin, coupled with an
impossibly sexy body, stunted her train of thought.

He squeezed her hand as if thoughts bubbles
appeared above her head. For a second time, bursts of pleasure
scattered on a relay race around her body. “I was wondering if you
wanted to walk along the water’s edge?”

She hesitated. “Sure. I wasn’t joking about
bringing my camera.”

“
Ever take a dip like the
natives?”

If he only knew.
“Not lately,” she whispered. She bit her lip,
hard, and then harder. Her pulse decided to do a sprint, making
speech an Olympic feat.

Chapter Three

“
Are you feeling okay?”
Wyatt asked, concern written across his face.

She swallowed what seemed
like a bucket of sand. All she could do was nod.
Great. Just what she needed
. A gorgeous, former-hardass of a client who also possessed a
chivalrous, sympathetic side. Wyatt’s multifaceted personality
unnerved her. Lucky for her, the shoe was not on the other foot.
Should he decide to try his hand at sales, she’d buy him out. Lock,
stock, and smoking good looks.

She peered toward the beach, taking in the
shimmering, blue-green water. A mesmerizing, high-pitched hymn
unfolded. He wouldn’t be able to hear song tossed about by the
waves. She listened, transfixed until the cold edge of fear,
prickly as seaweed, wrapped around her.

“
The ocean…” she stammered.
“It’s strange. I don’t come down here that much. Odd, considering
the type of property we deal with.”

She couldn’t just tell
him.
See, she was nervous, well downright
scared to death that somehow she’d get wet and turn into
a…a
… She couldn’t even finish the
thought.

Wyatt stared at her, but he wasn’t gazing at
her face. He studied her chest. His expression made her forget her
fear.

“
Man, what a rarity. Are
those real?”

Frozen, she gaped at him. South Beach was
vested with an aura of tell-all, as if nude sunbathing equaled a
need to be forthright. Did men from where he hailed speak openly
about body parts? She flinched not knowing what he was referring to
until his fingers gingerly picked up the pendants she wore around
her neck.

“
Those are beautiful. Are
they real?”

“
Come again?” She choked
back indignation.

His fingers trailed over her skin before he
tugged the chain around her neck. “Some museum pieces? May I?”

An innocent mistake. Of course he wasn’t
talking about her breasts.

“
This is antique gold,” he
murmured, squinting down at her necklace.

“
A stack of stamped coins,
one on top of another. A couple hundred years old, or so I’ve been
told.”

Darn, Wyatt had snuck within her physical
comfort zone, past the point where she should have reared back.
Marissa had no choice and waited, every one of her nerves stretched
taut. She caught herself admiring his dark chest hair on display
between the unbuttoned collar of his shirt and hastily looked
away.

He spoke as if he were talking to himself.
“Appears as if the rubies are embedded from years of being
underwater. This is something from a shipwreck rescue isn’t
it?”

The distinct urge to bury her face into his
shoulder held her in a tug-o-war. He raised his face, connecting
with her gaze, expectation of a response in the arch of his brow.
There was no way to adequately describe her necklace. A gift from
her mother and a treasure she’d had for years. Wyatt had a way of
unlocking her vault of feelings. The memory had Marissa coming
undone as she furiously blinked back tears. A tide of emotions
lodged in her throat. She stepped back, far enough to make him
release her necklace.

“
A family heirloom,” she
said, facing away from him while the breeze lapped at her face. She
wiped away pooling tears, pretending to fix strands of her hair
floating in the wind.

“
Pirate’s booty at some
point. Lovely for the setting. I didn’t know such pieces were
available. Your family must have quite a connection.”

His innocent comment struck her like a whack
to her middle. The truth, he’d have no reason to know, and she had
to get ahold of herself. She glanced back at him, absorbing the
heat from his eyes. There was no denying, each time he came close
sparks flew deep inside her. This surge of uncontrollable
excitement raced over her skin and in turn frightened the bejeebers
out of her.

“
Nothing of the sort,” she
murmured. Again, she was reduced to a dithering fool in his
presence, caught up in the sound of his voice and the desire for
one taste of his mouth.

Wake up.
Wyatt was her client, forbidden fruit, especially
considering her need for complete secrecy. He was dangerous,
something she must avoid, and yet when she returned his gaze, her
trepidation did a tap dance off stage, leaving her avidly
aroused.

“
Let’s look at the site in
front of us. Shall we?” she asked, throwing up a diversion, time
needed to recoup her common sense.

“
Beautiful. The best
marketing tool. I picture my building right here.” He held up his
hands, pushing his thumbs together. Wyatt’s palms spanned in front
of his face, forming a viewing box.

She hugged her portfolio and studied the
beach. Slowly sipping air. Nothing too hard. After counting to
four, she pivoted toward her client. Wyatt’s bicep came up in front
of her face. She’d never seen arms with so many bulges, cuts, and
sinews. More like the production of a sculptor’s imagination rather
than tanned flesh and muscle.

“
Take a look.” His gaze
lingered on her face. He exhaled a laugh and nudged her shoulder
with his. “I have a good feeling about being here with you. The
first step is always memorable.”

He leaned closer to
Marissa, filling her nostrils with the scent of smoke and leather
and some hint of citrus. His scent infiltrated her to the core,
tearing down her defenses, making her too aware of him. The
reappearance of a zing of metallic fear took hold, winding away
inside her along a current she was powerless to resist. She
shuddered, gripping her portfolio. She needed to refocus.
Architectural and engineering drawings would be
needed
.

“
Yes. This piece of
property might do well. I’d like to see the final plans to be sure.
I sent your office an update for these two properties this morning.
We requested the architectural revisions, but so far your office
hasn’t released the latest set. I’ve worked with the corporate
boards on both properties. They graciously provided me with the
heads-up. Rezoning passed last week. Permits were just approved.
There’s another site with less foot traffic just about two miles
north of here. Those two boards won’t hold off listing the
properties by the end of the day. Only a signed contract will stop
them. I’m working at getting the pricing lowered.”

“
Sinclair said you were the
one. He wasn’t wrong. You’ve an amazing eye for detail. Same ocean,
same setting, but the ability to stand out from the rest. This is
exactly what I’ve been searching for. I’ll get you the updated
plans.”

“
I’ll need to request an
inspector for an immediate site review.”

“
We both know there will be
more revisions, but nothing to upset zoning. We could review them
over dinner if you’re interested?”

“
Dinner tonight. Sure.”
Dinner, business, nothing unusual in his invitation—apart from his
hard arm brushing against hers. Without thinking, she edged closer,
as if she were iron and he a magnet.

She didn’t miss his scalding gaze sweeping
down her body. Or the way he inhaled, standing so close to her. So
primal. And so out of her league. This man was stealth in his
ability to go from a mere client to standing so close in front of
her, the ocean breeze couldn’t find passage between their bodies.
Maybe this was all just flirting, and she had been terribly
mistaken about his intent. Didn’t he come to Apex with an
attractive companion? Girlfriend or fiancée. Marissa hadn’t checked
him out personally, and didn’t know his status, aside from what her
body responded to standing next to him.

Wyatt was the package deal from her personal
purgatory.

And she was a fool standing on Ocean Drive
facing two forces that would be her undoing. Wyatt Herndon was an
immanent danger. And saltwater, with an ability to unleash her,
free her, unveil her.

She desperately needed a slingshot that
would break these bonds. It was one thing to be close to the source
of danger. It was another to be shoulder-to-shoulder with one while
gazing at the other. If Wyatt didn’t believe she was some foregone
conclusion, he’d be wrong on many levels.

Her eyes were no better than anyone else’s
at Apex. Wyatt’s spoke of invitations, liaisons, and brokering a
deal. The man teased with the finesse and surety of a major player.
Maybe that’s why Sinclair had handed him off. There were plenty of
married men who tried to play the field with her.

But that was ridiculous. She wasn’t the only
single broker at the office. Except the other young woman would eat
Wyatt up and spit him out.

Marie Bluntstone had worked at Apex for
years. She chewed up good-looking men in a night. Clients,
husbands, the competition, no one was safe around Marie.

Put someone like Marie together with Wyatt
and the sparks would fly. Too risky for business deals at this
level. Easy to go up in smoke. For Sinclair, Apex, and Wyatt to
garner a business deal, Marissa was a better fit. If you judged a
book by Marissa’s Brooks Brother’s cover. Albeit, totally out of
place on the beach.

“
Let’s go take a look. Up
close.” Wyatt pulled her arm. His fingers were firm on her flesh,
pressure points of pleasure. The depths of his eyes held her in
place.

“
Yes, I suppose that’s why
we’ve come.”

She risked not only her commission but her
life. If the water came in contact with her body, there wasn’t
enough money in the world to help her. The truth would make a
prisoner out of her, a freak of science, at best a tabloid
headline. A haze of dizziness clouded over her. She pressed a
couple of fingers to her temple, nibbling the corner of her
mouth.

Wyatt removed his shoes, one by one. Darn.
even his feet were beautiful. Tanned, long, and strong. And she
imagined the correlation between his feet and hands and the healthy
bulge in his pants. The skin over her face flamed. Marissa took a
gulp of ocean air. She toe-heeled her pumps off. She collected her
shoes, tucked them and the portfolio into her bag.