Zeke now saw the tub had impossibly worn rigging and a badly scratched hull. He wasnt sure the damned thing wouldnt sink when the woman kicked off her oversize swim fins and swung herself onto the sagging rope ladder.
He found himself holding his breath until she landed on deck and shimmied out of twin air tanks. Dispassionately, Zeke studied the boyish body encased in an ugly green, one-piece bathing suit that brought to mind an undernourished frog.
Flesh not covered by the ghastly suit gleamed oyster-shell paleexcept for crimson shoulders that more or less matched her freckled nose. Had no one warned her that the Galveston sun wasnt even at its zenith yet? It was still early in June. But if she persisted in her folly for many more days, shed turn into a crispy critter. Of course Zeke was here to ensure she didnt continue divingat least not in this spot.
Maam, he said politely, shading his eyes. Im explaining to your partner why you cant go on doing whatever it is youre doing in this part of Galveston Bay. Within the week, Ill have a dozen tugs hauling in underwater drill equipment on flatbed barges. Believe me, you dont want to get caught in that mess.
Grace Stafford accepted a towel handed her by Jorge Boudreaux, who pronounced his name Horhay Boodrow. She realized the gentle old soul whose boat shed rented was practically quaking in his sisal flip-flops. That immediately raised her hackles. She didnt know who this tall, slightly shaggy, melt-your-socks-rugged guy thought he was, but she couldnt afford to let anyone intimidate the only person in Galveston whose boat she could afford to rent by the hour. Shed barely begun her quest. She couldnt give up now. Especially not to please the kind of snake-charmer Grace had, for the past twenty-nine years, done her level best to avoid. For good reason. She imagined the father shed never known as just such a smiling, fast-talking stinker. To say nothing of the fact that shed recently had personal experience of a jerk just like this.
I appreciate your concern for my safety, butthis is exactly where I need to be, she said, pausing to prop her air tanks against an open sea chest before she joined Boudreaux at the break in the railing.
The handsome stranger kept shaking his head.
Grace explained again, deciding that a more formal approach might be the way to go. After seven months of online sea chart study, combined with detailed analysis exchanged with naval and Coast Guard underwater explorers, Ive got reason to believe my grandfathers Grumman Duck, J2F-6, was blown off course here in a hurricane. That he went down near this very spot. The plane is an historic relic, Mr.sorry, I didnt catch your name. Not that exchanging names matters. In the interests of being neighborly, though, let me introduce myself. Im Grace Stafford. From San Antonio, she added, wringing out her wet ponytail. Back at my hotel, I have documents issued by the naval department, giving me exclusive rights to excavate the ocean floor within a half-mile radius in any direction from where Jorge is currently anchored. In other words, my search is government sanctioned. Im prepared to raise the plane as soon as I locate her. But I have no idea when that will be. Could be a week, a month or with lucktomorrow, she said, smiling sweetly down at the face now scowling up at her.
Zeke mulled over not only the womans too-smooth explanation, but the content of her statement. He hated the words historic and environmentally unsound almost as much as he hated women who camouflaged hidden agendas with sweet-as-pie smiles. Either could cause a man massive headaches. Zeke had learned both of these things the hard way during his wildcatting days in West Texas. And back then, few things rattled Zeke Rossetti. Those were his footloose, fancy-free years, when he followed his slightest whimsomething he definitely couldnt do these days. Now he had obligations. To his son, his mom and to Pace Kemper, who had faith that hed excavate a string of productive wells.
Look, Ms. Stafford, Zeke began again, attempting equanimity. Im sure this salvage is important to you. However, my company stands to lose up to a quarter mil per day in various fees if you persist in your little venture. Zeke figured he wouldnt get anywhere being totally unreasonable. Hed especially hate to be accused of badgering a fragile, bean-pole, city gal, who obviously had no idea how drilling operations worked.
He thought if he appealed to her sense of fair play, theyd get somewhereif women grasped a concept such as fair play. Zeke knew that to some women the term was foreign Trixie Lee, his ex-wife, being a prime example. He forced himself not to think about how Trixie had suckered him into marriage and continued to sucker him with her sporadic custody threats.
He made an effort to appear relaxed and friendly toward the dripping woman on the rickety tub.
Grace considered her response as she smoothed back flyaway strands of red-gold hair that had come loose from her ponytail. Those same strands were beginning to dry, curling in the corkscrews she detested, curls shed never been able to tame. Her hair gave the wrong impression; men tended to see her as young and flighty. And the teacher in Grace wanted everything orderly. Be that as it may, uhsir. I have clearance from the U.S. Navy to proceed. Ive got letters from two departments at the Pentagon, if youd care to have me fax you copies from my hotelprovided my historic hotel has a fax. Plus I have a personal interest in raising the plane. So I must insist you let me get on with it. She ended abruptly, wishing she hadnt mentioned the personal part. Men took advantage of women when things became the least bit emotional.
If ever Zeke had seen determination oozing from anyone, Missor more likely, Ms.Staffords sea-colored eyes hardened with just such resolve. Clearly, he needed to go back to his office and make a few calls to find out how solid her claim was. And now he was starting to worry about why his permit wasnt in the mail stacked on his desk.
Cursing roundly under his breath, Zeke yanked twice on the rope coiled around his outboard. The motor roared to life, enabling him to swing the runabout in such a tight turn he slammed a series of waves broadside against the boat. Too bad if the damn thing capsized. Hed happily see Ms. Uptight Stafford and her war documents join her supposed wreck at the bottom of the bay. He sped on, quelling an instinct to glance back.
Shading her eyes, Grace rode out the sway from his back-wash while following his retreat. He was irritatedand decidedly irritating. There was no mistaking his frame of mind, and Grace wasnt foolish enough to think a man like this would give up easily. Anxiety brought pangs to her chest and knots to her stomach. Why had she been rude to him, letting him get under her skin based on nothing but a sexy appearance? Making enemies of locals wasnt in her best interests. She seemed to have a habit of dealing poorly in face-to-face negotiations with men.
Grandmother Nell was always chiding her about that. But excellent teacher that Grace was, there were some traits shed simply never been able to change. And this salvage was so important. Shed launched the exploration with the sole intent of easing her grandmothers mind in what could well be the last days of Nell Dugans life. Grace didnt have the luxury of time with which to bargain.
Graces grandmother had raised Grace by herself after Nells only child, a daughter, turned out to be too irresponsible to raise the kid shed brought into the world. Vanessa Stafford was beautiful, but vain and totally selfish. Grace had only glimpsed her mother twice. And for all she knew, her father didnt exist, since her mother didnt bother to marry him or anything else.