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Then, he leaned in closer, dark brown gaze locked on hers. Hollis could smell the salty sea air still on his skin mixed with the fresh scent of soap, and she swallowed hard. Dylan Ford was so very masculine and so very dangerous.
“Don’t you wanna know what it was about?” he asked.
Hollis shook off whatever trance she’d been in and pulled back, feeling like a minnow being circled by a shark.
“Are you drunk?” she asked.
“No. I don’t think so. Maybe.” His non-repentant smirk sent another flare of heat to her face and a flutter in her belly. He breathed in and the smirk turned into a full-blown, charming smile. “You smell like coconuts.”
“Can you focus?” she admonished him. “I want to know how you knew.”
He chuckled, took a long drink as though he needed to cool off. “Maybe I just have a sixth sense for women who need me.”
She rolled her eyes. “I don’t need you. “
Dylan’s gaze slid down the curve of her face then settled on a scratch that marred the table. “Do you trust me?” he asked.
“Hell, no,” she answered without hesitation.
He said nothing to reassure her. Only finished his drink, tossed some money on the table and stood up. “See you around, Hollis Quinn.”
Seriously?He was just going to leave and not answer her questions?
Infuriating man.
As he sauntered away, Hollis couldn’t help but check out his broad shoulders, imagining all those tempting tattoos beneath his button-down shirt. His waist tapered in just the right amount and his ass looked edible in a pair of jeans that hung loosely, and probably a little too low, on his straight hips.
When Dylan reached the door, he looked back over a shoulder and his mouth edged up in that crooked smile that annoyed her to no end.
Then, he walked out.
But, this was far from over. “Yeah, see you around, Dylan Ford,” she murmured, and finished her drink in one last swallow.
Chapter Six
Eyes closed, head back, Dylan wore a pair of worn cargo shorts and lounged in a lawn chair, soaking in the sun like a big cat. Fisher lay at his feet, stretched out and running in his dream.
Last night, Hollis had asked how he knew about the 13th ship, but he didn’t tell her. It’s just something else that would probably piss her off and he didn’t want to fight. He just wanted to look at her while he drank the rest of his beer. He wanted to absorb the way her copper hair glowed in the candlelight. Enjoy the memory of his dream from the night before.
When it came to Hollis Quinn, he couldn’t seem to do anything right. So, when she found out that her Dad had sent him a file on the 13th ship, he had a feeling that all hell would break loose.
And, for whatever reason, Dylan would be at fault.
Dylan needed to blow off some steam and the one thing that allowed him to do that was when he played. He hadn’t gone out with the band on a gig in over a week and he itched to stroke his fingers over the black and white keys of a piano.
Some people eased their tension by having sex, but Dylan just needed a piano. Since he didn’t own one, he couldn’t play unless he and the guys booked a club. Hopefully, that would be happening again soon.
In his mind, nothing compared to jazz. It had so many different elements and styles, but it always maintained its central character no matter what other influences it absorbed. It didn’t matter if it were blues, swing or Dixieland-- Dylan loved them all. He especially enjoyed the improvisation that came whenever he played and he could just let loose, go wherever he wanted.
When Fisher growled low in the back of his throat and a shadow blocked the warm sunlight, Dylan opened his eyes and saw Tony Burke.
“Dylan. Thought I’d stop by and see what you’re up to, you ‘ol pirate.”
Dylan sat up straighter, instantly on alert, yet maintaining an air of nonchalance. “It’s okay, Fish,” he said and stroked the dog’s head. “Same old, same old. How about you?”What the hell is Tony Burke doing here?he wondered. Asshole had a lot of nerve coming here.
Tony warily glanced down at the dog then wandered over to a window sill and perched on its edge. “I actually came into some interesting information about the 13th ship. I could use a partner. Whattya say? For old times’ sake?”
Oh, shit.How in the hell did Tony know about the 13th ship? There was no way he should have any idea of its existence. Dylan played it off, though, and let out a low laugh. “Last time we were partners, you left me high and dry. Remember?”
