more crew members get here, because as soon as they get settled in, I’ll be recruiting some of the scientists to try my parents’ earplug design for equalizing pressure during dives. Then schedule some dive time with them.”
His brows practically hit his hairline. “What? What do you mean?”
The shock on his face made her realize she should have told him about the earplugs before, since he’d be diving a lot for his work here. Why hadn’t she, when that was a big part of the reason she’d come to Antarctica? The obvious truth hit her. Feeling this constant push/pull of attraction every time he was near, and not wanting to feel that way, had knocked all thoughts of recruiting him straight from her brain.
“My parents have designed a device they hope will eliminate, or greatly reduce, problems with barotrauma. I’m an experienced diver and I’ll be testing it here, and asking for volunteers to be part of the trial.” She licked her lips and made herself ask the question she knew would result in them spending a lot more time together if he agreed. “Do you… Are you interested in being part of the trial, and diving with me sometimes?”
ZEKE STARED AT HER, stunned. If she’d told him she wasn’t really a surgeon at all he wouldn’t have been more surprised. “You’re a diver?”
“Yes. It’s my parents’ hobby. Their passion, really, after medicine. I told you that both worked as doctors in international hospitals, and I grew up diving with them all over the world. My dad studied biomedical engineering before deciding on med school, and he’s sort of an amateur inventor. My mother loves to do underwater photography, has even sold some photos to magazines. I tried to dabble in that, but don’t seem to have her artist’s eye for it.”
It took him a moment to respond, still astounded that in all their conversations about his work she hadn’t said a thing about being a diver herself. “What is this device they invented?”
“Earplugs that equalize underwater pressure on the ear canal, without the diver having to clear their ears manually. They’ve just begun testing it various places. When I got this chance to come work in Antarctica, we all thought it would be a great opportunity to see if there are any differences in the way they perform in extremely cold waters.”
“And you need volunteers to wear them. But why would you be diving, too?”
“Obviously, working in the clinic and hospital, I’d only be able to come along on dives occasionally. But I want to do that to record divers’ thoughts right away, take their vital signs when possible and…okay, I admit it.” A small smile played on her lips as her beautiful eyes met his. “I can’t wait to see what it’s like under the ice. Excited and scared, both, to be honest.”
“Scared? Why?”
“You know as well as anyone that it’s got to be different diving beneath ice than in the Caribbean. Isn’t it?”
“It is.” And he suddenly knew that, more than anything, he wanted to be the one diving with Jordan for her first time here, making sure she felt safe. “I’d be happy to be part of your trial. The rest of the marine biologists will be coming on the next boat. How about I talk with them about your trial as soon as they get here? And you and I can plan on a dive as soon as we can make it happen.”
“Sounds perfect. I should have known that you’d dive right in…ha-ha—” she sent him an adorable smile “—and take over to help make it happen. And you know what? I’m getting rid of that independent streak you’ve scolded me about to tell you I really appreciate it. Having you be part of the trial and talk with your colleagues about it is going to be hugely helpful.”
The smile on her face and the way she was looking at him seemed to show she felt sincerely pleased, and his chest felt like it was expanding as he thought about how good it would feel to help her. About how it would feel to spend more time with her and dive with her. Then he forced himself to remember that he couldn’t let himself get attached to Jordan, that he’d be there for her when it came to working and diving, but anything more was out of the question.
He couldn’t deny that the attraction he felt for her seemed to grow every time he saw her. But how he felt didn’t matter. She might not be interested in a relationship, anyway, but if she was, she deserved someone she could rely on in every way.
He definitely wasn’t that man.
Zeke doubled down to get everything ready for when the rest of the crew arrived so he and Jordan could get diving as soon as possible. He and some of the station crew spent the entire day out on the ice shelf, using chain saws, drills and heating equipment to cut two dive holes about twelve meters apart. Having them finished left him feeling satisfied and excited about getting down there to see what they’d find this trip, and to see how Jordan felt about diving under the ice.
His prediction? She’d love it, and he was counting the hours until the next ship would arrive with the other scientists, so he could get busy with his grant work and go underwater with her.
With the dive holes ready, he finished the aquarium setup and tested it to make sure it was operating properly. He checked the filter systems he’d had up and running for the past twenty-four hours, then the water quality. Pleased that all systems were go, he knew the other marine biologists would be glad he’d come early to get this done. Once they were diving, they’d bring back algae, zooplankton and other marine life samples to test, study and, in some cases, tag and return to the sea.
He forced himself to do paperwork so he’d have it behind him when everyone arrived. The ship should have left Chile an hour ago, which meant only two more days until he’d have dive partners as anxious as he was to get in the water.
Revision of his most recent academic paper, soon to be published in a science periodical, was the first priority. That study was complete, and an important piece of the complex data he’d be presenting to get his new grant application finished.
His current research project would take the full five months he’d be down here, but initial data had to be compiled in time for the first grant deadline, which was in just less than a month. For every grant available there were at least ten applicants, and getting the fieldwork done, the initial data compiled and the preliminary paper finished by early November would take hard work and a lot of hours.
Being one of the first to submit the application was critical. As a presenter at next year’s international climate summit, he needed to have additional, irrefutable evidence of how the ozone hole above the Antarctic would continue to affect coastal cities and its inhabitants. Proving ways to reduce the amount of ice melt and disturbing water temperature rise, which was affecting the size and impact of hurricanes and typhoons, was what his life’s work was all about.
He knew, firsthand, that people were dying because of it. Many more, if he failed.
Zeke drew in a deep breath. He’d get it done. Then he’d knock the socks off various nations’ leaders and private enterprises interested in making corporate changes, and the global impact of all that would save lives around the world.
His grandfather’s laughing face, his grandmother’s sweet one, floated in his mind’s eye, and with the ache and guilt came a familiar feeling of determination. He made a call to
