Page 294 of Hidden Depths

Calle spun the wheel.

Sea Whisper banked hard toward the east.

Ward grabbed the edge of the helm with one hand and wrapped his other arm around my waist to keep me from falling.

For one breathless second, I was pressed against him.

His heart pounded beneath his shirt.

Not with fear.

With adrenaline.

Then he set me back on my feet.

“You good?”

“Yes.”

His eyes searched mine.

As if he needed to make sure.

As if losing Tonya hadn’t changed the fact that his first instinct was still to protect me.

Maybe that was who Ward was.

Maybe he would protect anyone standing beside him. I knew he was that kind of man.

I couldn’t allow myself to believe it meant more.

Not now.

The fishing boat adjusted course.

“They’re following,” Piers said.

Calle pushed the remaining engine harder.

The port engine still ran, but barely.

Steam drifted from the exhaust.

“We have three minutes before I shut it down.”

“We’ll reach the reef in two,” I said.

Ward looked ahead.

From where we stood, the sea appeared completely open.

Nothing but blue water and rolling waves.

But I could see the subtle change beneath the surface.

Dark blue becoming turquoise.

Turquoise becoming pale green.