In Deep Waters by Melissa McClone Page B

"I thought we'd find the Isabella on the first pass."
    Ben removed his hand, and a part of her wished he was still touching her. "Do you know the odds--"
    "Anything's possible. "
    "Let me guess," he said. "You buy lotto tickets?"
    "Not funny."
    "I'm sorry, Kayla." His voice softened when he said her name, and she felt a little catch inside. He turned her chair away from the monitor so she couldn't see it. "The Izzy is out there. We didn't find her tonight, but we will."
    Conviction laced each of his words. He smiled, and she felt a tiny bit better. Enough to smile back. "I do buy lotto tickets if the jackpot gets really big."
    "Knew it."
    "You?"
    "Never." His gaze held hers. "My dad's spent too much money trying to hit the big one. He's been searching for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for as long as I can remember."
    "Is he a treasure hunter?"
    "He wants to be a treasure finder. He's always been a big dreamer, but things never progress past the dream stage once he realizes how much work is involved."
    "Does he come out on jobs with you?"
    "No. He'd rather follow a rumor or wait for a hot tip and let instinct lead him to the buried treasure."
    Things were starting to make sense to Kayla. But she wanted--no, needed--to know more. "What about your mom?"
    "She's wonderful." Ben's smile spoke volumes about his love for his mother. "She supports my dad's get-rich-quick schemes. Spoils Madison and me rotten. And holds everything together. She deserves...so much more."
    This was the most open he'd been with Kayla. And she liked it. A lot. "After we find the Isabella, you can give her all she deserves."
    He nodded. "It's been a busy night. We're almost at the end of the line. It'll take hours to turn the ship around and start on the next pass. There won't be anything for you to see. Why don't you get some sleep?"
    "Okay."
    Ben looked surprised she'd agreed with him.
    Kayla didn't know whether it was his hug or his belief in finding the Isabella or hearing about his father, but Ben had made her feel better. They had started out on the wrong foot, and it was worth a second try. She would make things right between them.
    "See you later," he said.
    She smiled. "You can count on it."
    Counting sheep hadn't worked. Neither had reading a publication from UNESCO on international salvage rights. Alcohol wasn't allowed on board except for a couple of bottles of celebratory champagne, so a shot of whiskey was out of the question.
    Ben lay in his bed. Physically, he was tired. Mentally, he couldn't shut off his brain. He couldn't stop thinking about Kayla. The way she'd handled the pressure in the control room, the way she'd felt in his arms.
    So soft, so warm, so perfect.
    One whiff of her citrus-smelling hair and he'd been goner. Not even Monk's presence had made Ben end th hug when he should have. But holding Kayla's body in his arms had felt so good. He hadn't wanted to let go.
    Somehow he'd controlled his impulses, dammed up the testosterone, kept the blood from rushing to places he didn't want it to go. But now he was paying the price.
    He wanted to touch her. Kiss her.
    More than that, Ben wanted an explanation. A reason for what he was feeling. Yes, she was gorgeous. But he'd been around beautiful women before. He'd married and divorced one. His attraction to Kayla made no sense; his attraction to her broke every rule.
    Kayla Waterton was here not only as a representative of the museum and investors, but as a member of his crew. He couldn't think of her as anything but one of the guys. But he wasn't doing that.
    Hell, he'd told her about his father. Ben never opened up like that, but the look of disappointment on her face when she saw the exhaust stack had nearly ripped out his heart. He'd needed something, anything to take her mind off the wreck not being the Izzy. He'd punted. And scored.
    But at what cost?
    Even if the situation were different, his life wasn't. Ben only had room for two women in his life: Madison and the