Alex protested.
“Never as in, you never want to hear about Date Tournament, or never as in…what, exactly? You are divorced, right?”
“Of course. I meant, I’ll never regret what I did. It was necessary.”
“Why?”
Alex was silent. Why? We were going different ways? We didn’t know one another to begin with? It was as simple as…Alicia Farr? No, that was ridiculous. It was complex, as most such matters were. It was his needing adventure at all costs, her needing to be a real trainer. It was…
“Oh my God!” Laurie gasped suddenly, staring at her. “Was he…he was abusive?”
“No! Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Then…?”
“We just went different ways.”
“Hmph.” Laurie toed a little crab back toward the water. “Whatever way he was going, I’d have followed him. But then, I’ve had the experience of Date Tournament, which you haven’t—and which I thought you wanted to hear about.”
“I’m sorry. I’m being a horrible friend. I’m in shock, I think. Having this lovely time with John Seymore, and then…up pops David.”
“So what?”
“It’s uncomfortable.”
“But you and David are divorced, so what are you worried about? Enjoy John Seymore. He’s a hunk, too. Not like anyone I met at Date Tournament.”
“There must have been some nice guys.”
“If there were, I didn’t happen to meet them. Now let’s get back to your love triangle.”
Alex grinned. “There is no love triangle. Let’s get back to you. You’re gorgeous, bright, sweet and intelligent. The right guy is going to come along.”
“Doesn’t seem to be too much wrong with Mr. John Seymore. Did you know he’s an ex-navy SEAL? But there you go. Apparently, when my right guy comes along, he wants to date you.”
Alex arched an eyebrow, surprised. “I hadn’t realized that…that…”
“You hadn’t realized ‘that’ because there was no ‘that’ to realize. I hadn’t even talked to the guy until today. Then there’s your ex-husband.”
“He’s certainly a free agent.”
“He’s your ex. That’s a no-no.”
“I repeat—he’s a free agent.”
“One who sends you into a spiral,” Laurie noted.
“I’m not in a spiral. It’s just that…I was married to him. That makes me…I don’t know what that makes me. Yes, I do. It makes me uncomfortable.”
“You never fell out of love with him.”
“Trust me—I did. It’s just that…”
“All you’ve had for company since your divorce has been a bunch of sea animals?” Laurie suggested, amused.
“Neither one of us has dated in…a very, very long time,” Alex agreed.
Laurie sighed glumly, setting her hands on her knees and cupping her chin in them. “Think it might be due to the fact that we’ve chosen to live on a remote island where the tourists are usually married, and the staff are usually in college?”
Alex laughed. “Maybe, but you’d think…sun, boats, island—fishing. Oh, well.”
“What do you mean, oh well? At least there’s excitement in your life. You’ve got the triangle thing going. Husband, lover.”
“Ex-husband and new acquaintance,” Alex reminded her.
“Ex-husband, new almost-lover. Vying for the same woman. And you know guys. They get into a competition thing. What a setup for jealousy and…”
Her voice trailed off, and she stared wide-eyed at Alex, like a doe in the headlights.
“Oh my God!” Laurie gasped.
She stared at Alex in pure horror. Alex frowned. “What? Come on, Laurie. Believe me, it’s not that serious. You think that they’ll get into some kind of a fight? No, never. In our marriage…David just didn’t notice. Didn’t care. I can’t begin to see him decking someone—and sure as hell not over me.”
“Oh my God,” Laurie breathed again.
“Laurie, it’s all right. Nothing is going to happen between David and John.”
Laurie shook her head vehemently and slowly got to her feet, pointing. “Oh God, Alex. Look!”
For a moment, Alex couldn’t quite shift mental gears. Then she frowned, standing up herself.
“What?” she said to Laurie. She grasped her friend’s shoulders. “Laurie, what in the world is it?”
Laurie pointed. Alex realized that Laurie hadn’t been staring at her at all during the last few moments—she had been staring past her.
She spun around.
And that was when she saw the body on the beach.
Chapter Two
“I’ve read about you,” John Seymore told David. “In the scuba magazines. That article on your work with great whites…wow. I’ve got to admit, I’m astounded to see you here. This place must seem pretty tame to you. It’s great to get to meet you.”
“Thanks,” David said.
Seymore seemed pleasant. He was good-looking, well-muscled probably naturally, since he’d said he hadn’t been out of military service long. Despite his surfer-boy blond hair and easy smile, there was a rough edge about him that betrayed age, maybe, and a hard life. David had a feeling his military stories would be the kind to make the hair rise on the back of the neck. Just as he had a feeling that, no matter how pleasant the guy might seem, he had a backbone of steel.
They’d started talking during the swim, and when Seymore had suggested a quick drink at the Tiki Hut, David had been glad to comply. He was interested in what would bring a man of John Seymore’s expertise to such a charming little tourist haven.
“I know the people here,” David told John. “The guy managing the place, Jay Galway, is a part-time thrill seeker. He’s been on a few of my excursions over the years. I like coming here, but this is the first time I’ve stayed. The cottages are great. A perfect place to chill, with all the comforts of home, but you feel as if you’re off somewhere in the wilds. What about you?”
“I know the water pretty well, but I’ve never had any fun with it. I’ve been out on the West Coast. I left the military…and, I’m afraid, a painful divorce.”
“So
