Deep Blue by Kat Martin Page A

magazine would probably be satisfied with the first article in the series and perhaps a brief follow-up months later when the search came to a disappointing end. The last thing she wanted was a quick fling and a sad good-bye.
    On the surface, Hope seemed the most self-assured of the three Sinclair sisters, the coolest in an emergency, the strongest, the one the others could always count on. Her own personal, well-guarded secret was that she was also the most soft-hearted, the most sensitive, the most easily hurt. To compensate, she put on a tough façade and kept most people at a distance.
    Other than her family, Richard was one of the few who had discovered the truth. He had used that knowledge against her, taken advantage, and broken her heart.
    She wasn’t about to let it happen again.
    Or even take the slightest chance that it might.
    Which was why, on this bright Caribbean morning, with the sun beating down on her face and a soft ocean breeze blowing in off the sea, she was determined to keep her distance from Conner Reese.
    “I spoke to the guys at the airport on Pleasure Island,” he said. “The plane’s coming in this morning. They’ll be waiting for us at the airport when we get there.”
    He was all business this morning, and relief trickled through her.
    “That’s good news,” she said just as mildly, stepping out of the room dressed once more in her white shorts and coral blouse, the purple dress stuffed into her oversized purse.
    “I’ve already eaten but we’ve got time for you to get something if you’re hungry.”
    “I don’t eat breakfast. But I could use a cup of coffee.”
    He got her a cup to go from the pot in the lobby of the motel, then drove directly to the airport. As promised, the plane was there, a Beech/Raytheon Duke, Conn told her, an expensive twin-engine with The Villas logo of a palm tree over three wavy blue lines painted on the side. It sat on the tarmac, the cabin door open and the stair inviting them in, ready to fly them back to the island.
    It didn’t take long to reach their destination, less than a hundred miles away. Chalko stood next to the Jeep at the edge of the private airstrip, along with Tommy Tyler, who had been busy shooting photos of the lush vegetation, waterfalls, and mountains.
    “I heard you got stuck in Jamaica,” Tommy said, tossing a speculative glance between her and Conn. He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and grinned. “Tough duty, but someone’s gotta do it.”
    At the looks he received in return, the grin slid off his face.
    “We had work to do,” Conn growled.
    “Neither of us could afford to waste the time,” Hope snapped.
    “Unfortunately, out here things happen on ‘island time.’ There’s not a whole lot you can do about it.”
    Hope made no further comment. It definitely would have been better if they could have returned. At least it would have been safer.
    They all climbed into the fringe-topped Jeep and Chalko drove them down to the harbor.
    “I don’t see her,” Conn said, scanning the waves for the Conquest, which should have been visible somewhere along the reef.
    The handsome young black man just smiled. “Cap’n Bob moved her a little. Joe wanted to take a look at the area south of the reef.”
    Conn swore softly.
    “I take it that wasn’t your plan,” Hope said.
    “Joe’s always been a hothead. We’re supposed to be sticking to the GPS grid. That way we cover every inch of the ocean floor and don’t chance missing anything.”
    “Maybe he ran across something interesting.”
    He grunted. “One can only hope.”
    They didn’t say more as the Jeep pulled into the parking lot. Though the day was cool, the sun was hot, and heat radiated up from the pavement as they climbed out and walked down to the dock, where the powerful white speedboat bobbed in its slip. Once they were out on the water, Chalko skillfully avoided the reef, using the channel at the entrance, then powering the sleek craft into the open