“Trident,” was the first word she uttered.
“Brilliant deduction, baby.”
“Don’t call me baby.”
Jackson shrugged.
“Which one of the assholes are you?”
“Assholes?” He took offense at that. Especially considering she was the one throwing the term around so blithely.
“Assholes, owners—same difference.”
Jackson laughed bitterly. “I hardly think so, princess. Ask your good friend Brian all about assholes. He came about thirty seconds away from blowing me and everyone else on your father’s team sky high eight months ago.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Suit yourself. Either way, you’re wasting your time here in paradise. Go back home to Chicago where you belong.”
Her arms crossed over her chest, Loralei glared at him. “If that was true you wouldn’t be bothering to tell me. You’d just laugh at me from the deck of your ship like the world-class prick you are. What do you have against me?”
“You personally? Nothing.” Yet. “But your dad and his crew? Plenty. They nearly got me killed, fired me and then stole from me.”
“They stole from you? According to Brian you’ve been stealing our clients for months.”
“It isn’t stealing, princess, if they want to leave. And I promise, taking them was so damn easy. I didn’t even have to undercut your price by very much. Most of the clients were more impressed with our professional, experienced and safety-conscious company.”
Her mouth worked for several moments, no doubt holding back the stream of words she wanted to fling at him. He had to give her credit for controlling her reaction.
“But let’s go back to the stealing issue. Where do you think your father got his research on the Chimera? I can promise you it wasn’t by spending every spare moment over the last decade tracking ocean currents, researching historical records and meticulously plotting out potential courses for the ship.”
Loralei shook her head. He could see the denial clouding her eyes. She didn’t want to believe what he was saying, not about her father.
He understood. There was a time in his life, long ago, when he hadn’t wanted to believe his own mother was capable of abandoning him without a second thought or glance back.
Sometimes reality wasn’t fun. That didn’t make it any less true. And everyone had to learn to deal with the dirty truth. He certainly had. Loralei would survive learning that her old man wasn’t who she thought he’d been.
Or she’d reveal that she was just like him.
Either way, he’d at least know where he stood with Lancaster Diving and could plan his next move accordingly.
“Leave,” she said finally, her lips barely moving on the low, menacing word.
Pushing slowly out of the booth, Jackson did as she’d asked. He watched her take a deep, calming breath as the space between them grew. He understood the instinct, felt the urge to clear her from his own lungs so that he could think again.
Instead, he stood at the end of her table and stared down at her.
“Think about what I said, Loralei. Your dad didn’t get all my research, so the chances are you won’t be looking in the right location. You’re wasting time and money. And if my information is correct, you can’t afford either right now.”
* * *
LORALEI WATCHED THE brute of a man walk away from her. Her mind spun drunkenly, as if she’d had several of those damn drinks instead of a few measly sips before wasting good alcohol to soak his head.
She assumed Jack was short for Jackson Duchane, one of the owners of Trident. Brian had told her something about each of them. If she’d been paying attention and not trying to drown her neuroses in alcohol she might have clued in to who he was before giving him the chance to humiliate her.
Just remembering the way her body had reacted to him sent a wave of embarrassment across her skin. Great. Just what she needed.
The things he’d said about her dad... They’d hurt.
Could they be true? She’d always thought of her father as a big, distant, honorable guy. On the few occasions he’d come inland and spent time with her, he’d always admonished her to be a good girl. A good person. Stay away from drugs. Don’t let boys pressure you into doing anything stupid. Follow the Ten Commandments. Listen to your grandparents.
What part of those rules allowed him to steal from Jackson Duchane and his partners?
None of them.
But she was old enough to realize parents sometimes said one thing and did another. She’d just never gotten that impression with her own father. Not that he’d been around enough for her to really know.
And that was the damn kicker.
She couldn’t look Jackson in the eye and call him a liar because she didn’t know.
Her gut told her it was possible. Lancaster Diving was in serious financial trouble. And, according to Brian, her dad had blamed Trident for that situation. If that was the case, would he have felt justified in bending the rules?
Possibly. Probably.
Damn it!
So, what the hell was she going to do? She’d put all of her eggs in this one basket. This salvage was her salvation. Their salvation. All the guys who’d spent their lives following her father around the world, taking jobs wherever they had to in order to make a living.
She couldn’t ask Brian if what Jackson said was true. He’d probably just lie to her.
Or maybe it wouldn’t be a lie.
If her father had stolen from them, why hadn’t Trident pressed charges?
Because they couldn’t prove it.
Sitting there alone in the booth, Loralei came to a stunning realization. The asshole was playing mind games. He knew they were after the same treasure, and he was trying to cut her off at the pass. Convince her to walk away before the fight had started.
What irked her even more was that he’d used his beautiful body, dangerous charm and sex appeal to do it. He hadn’t hesitated to crowd into her personal space, kiss the hell out of her and get her all flustered before dropping his verbal bomb.
Dirty, nasty fighting.
And she’d fallen for it.
But she wouldn’t again. Nope. Next time she’d be prepared for Jackson Duchane. Maybe she’d turn the tables, give him a dose of his own medicine.
She smiled gleefully. This was going to be fun.
More fun than she’d ever expected when she’d boarded the plane for a damn island.
* * *
JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH, what had she been thinking?
Loralei crept across the deck of Jackson Duchane’s ship. She hadn’t intended to board the ship when she’d come to the marina but...
Honestly, she had no idea what she’d intended. Opportunity had presented itself. She’d been watching the ship, trying to get a feel for Jackson’s setup and crew. One thing was for sure, his equipment was better than theirs.
Loralei tamped down a brief spurt of jealousy mixed with anger. Of course his equipment was better. He was taking all of their work and money.
As she’d loitered, the entire crew had