Once a Hero.... Jillian Burns

to attain in his life now, but seemed so far beyond his reach he wouldn’t know how to start.

      “Have you ever seen such crystal clear water?” Kristen appeared beside him against the railing at the rear of the boat, staring out across the ocean. She was using her hand to shade her face, but her eyes and nose were still adorably scrunched against the sun. Without makeup this morning she looked so fresh, so natural, he wanted to soak in her wholesomeness and save it for the lonely dark of night.

      Luke shook his head. “Where are we headed?” He had to shout over the roar of the motor.

      “Molokini Crater.” She caught a lock of hair that had escaped her ponytail blowing across her face and tucked it behind her ear. She motioned for him to follow her and headed around the cabin to the front of the boat. Then she squinted one eye and pointed. “You can just see the crescent-shaped formation ahead.”

      Luke was more interested in staring at her in a short, black wet suit that hugged her body and showed every womanly curve. An image flashed in his mind of his hands caressing his way down and around those curves.

      She turned back to face him and he jerked his gaze out to the rock she’d pointed at. “Um, so, that’s where the humpbacks are?”

      “Sometimes. But Molokini is mostly famous for snorkeling. I told Kekoa we’d go there since you and Amy are with us today. It’s a partially submerged volcanic crater, and inside the rim you can see the most gorgeous fish and coral, mantas, eels, even a few spinner dolphins. Kekoa has extra snorkeling equipment on board if you want to go in.”

      “I’d like that.”

      “Afterward, I’m going to dive the Backside. About eighty feet down are some rare species of fish, plus white-tipped sharks. The water is so clear—”

      “Hold on a minute.” Luke had to interrupt her there. “Did you just say sharks?” Hairs on the back of his neck stood up.

      “Oh, the shark caves are down about a hundred and twenty feet. It’s the current I have to worry about.”

      And this was supposed to make him feel better? “Have you dived here before?”

      “Of course. Well, not the Backside, but I’ll be fine. Kekoa dives with me and he’s very safety conscious, believe me. Oh, we’re almost there. Good. There’s only one other boat here so far. I better go tell him where I want to tie the moorings. We don’t drop anchor because of the coral.”

      As Kristen disappeared into the cabin, Amy came out and approached him. “Hey, I brought muffins, if you’re hungry. Blueberry, banana and cinnamon.”

      “Thanks. I’m good for now.”

      She leaned her forearms on the railing, but turned her head to look at him. “I’m so glad you came today, too.”

      “Why is that?” Luke couldn’t help but notice the redhead wore makeup and had a pair of expensive-looking sunglasses on top of her head holding her long hair off her face. But it still blew wildly in the wind.

      “Kekoa is diving with Kris, and I don’t want to sit up here all alone.” She pouted pretty red lips.

      Aah. He nodded.

      She wore a pair of white short shorts and a red halter that bared her midriff and a good portion of her cleavage. Plus a very impractical pair of wedged high heels. The motor sputtered off and the boat drifted to a stop in the bay. With her height and the way she was bent over leaning on the railing, Luke would’ve had to be blind or gay not to notice her ample breasts. But he got the feeling she wasn’t trying to be overtly sexy, it just seemed to be her style.