Chapter 2
and adjusted the navy sheath dress she wore, tugging at the lace sleeves that ended just above her elbows. She hung the strap of the small matching purse on her shoulder and fingered the simple stud earring on her right ear. Her hair was pulled back into her usual bun, although she’d tried to make it look flowing and pretty. And she’d opted for a dark lipstick instead of her usual pale pink.
Brad would likely be here.
But it wasn’t her ex who’d been on her mind earlier, as she’d gotten ready for the evening. Her thoughts had wandered instead to Alec Galloway.
A dark haze of gray hung in the sky, and a gust of ocean wind blasted against her. She turned her face away to avoid getting dust in her eyes and hurried toward the reception area of the Monterey Peninsula Country Club in Pebble Beach, taking short steps because of the heels she wore.
Once inside, she paused to check the state of her hair with multiple pats of her hand. As if that ever fixed anything. She was contemplating a trip to the lady’s room when Missy Rembert approached.
Grace grinned at her friend, the knot in her stomach lessening, and admired Missy’s outfit—a snug sequined bodice with a flared black skirt.
“Gracie, I love your makeup.”
Grace brushed her fingers over the smooth silk of Missy’s skirt, then gave it a playful tug. “Snazzy. And you did curls tonight. You look cute.”
Missy’s brown hair was swept away from her face and landed in soft waves on her shoulders. She emitted a low growl. “Cute wasn’t what I was going for, but I guess I’ll take it.”
Grace pressed her lips together. “You know that these events are a terrible place to meet a guy. Most of them are already married.”
“A girl can dream, can’t she? I can’t live with fish forever.” Missy also worked in marine sciences, except she was based in San Francisco. “And why the dramatic makeup?”
“Just trying to change it up,” Grace said.
“Please don’t tell me it’s for Bozo Brad’s benefit.”
Grace smiled. “No, but maybe for whatever bimbo he’ll have on his arm tonight.” That had been the case for previous work dinners, which was essentially what this was.
Grace scanned the crowd milling about.
“He’s inside already,” Missy said.
For a crazy moment, Grace thought Missy was referring to Alec Galloway, but she hadn’t told her friend that the lanky filmmaker with California surf-boy good looks would be here this evening.
Missy means Brad, shark researcher and asshole ex-boyfriend.
Grace now understood why workplace relationships were frowned upon. She would be perfectly happy never to interact with the man again.
Missy didn’t wait for Grace to respond. “I heard from Stewart that he hired Alec Galloway to film your doc, but I thought you’d said no to him.”
Grace brought her attention back to Missy. “I did.”
“You never did tell me why.”
“He knows Brad.” Or so Michaels had told her. Repeatedly.
Enlightenment dawned on Missy’s face. “Got it. Birds of a feather flock together, right?”
“Something like that. I didn’t feel like going on an expedition with Brad and a Brad clone.” As soon as she said it, however, she knew she was wrong. Galloway wasn’t like Brad. The first five minutes with him had told her that.
But striking Galloway off her list of potential filmmakers had seemed easier than hashing out whether he might be another jackass she would have to work with. This expedition was too important to muck it up with people who might have other agendas. It was bad enough dealing with Brad.
“He’s inside as well, you know.” Missy nodded toward the banquet room, visible through two open doors. “I wonder if he has a girlfriend.”
“Why?”
“I’m single. He’s hot.”
“What if he’s just like Brad?” Grace asked, irritation rising across her skin like an outbreak of hives. The hot flash of jealousy struck her like a wayward thunderbolt. What the hell? She barely knew Alec Galloway.
“Your mistake with Brad was that you tried for a relationship with him. He’s only good for short-term hooking up.”
Grace’s mistake had gone deeper than desiring a commitment from her ex. Brad was worse than a bad boyfriend; he was a professional snake. It still galled her that she was forced to work with him, but if she played her cards right, this expedition would change that.
“So you’re looking for a quickie with Galloway?” Grace’s voice squeaked, annoying her.
Missy shrugged. “I’ve been having a dry spell lately.”
Grace took in her friend’s appearance and, for one brief wild moment, wondered if Galloway would find Missy attractive. Where Grace was slender and athletic, Missy was shorter and more rounded. They were both strong—their work in the water demanded a level of fitness—but Missy was a bit more fun-loving, and in Grace’s eyes, that made her appear more feminine. They’d met several years ago in the Bahamas while interns at the Shark Lab in Bimini, and Missy had been more of a partier than Grace.
Grace shook off the green-eyed monster. Why should she care if Missy had a fling with the rather compelling filmmaker? Missy was always supportive of Grace’s romantic highs and lows; the least Grace could do was return the favor.
“I suppose a quickie would be just the ticket with Galloway,” Grace said, forcing her voice into a neutral cadence. “He admitted to me that he’s never home.”
“You’ve talked to him?” Missy asked in surprise.
“Yes, last night. He came to my lecture.”
Missy tucked a strand of curly hair that had drifted loose behind her ear and laughed. “I guess he heard of your reputation as The Bulldog and wanted to interview with you directly.”
Grace glared at her and asked in exasperation, “Do people really say that about me?”
Missy made a face and shrugged. “Just a smidge, Gracie. You’re rather obsessed about your little shark babies.”
Grace exhaled in frustration. “I don’t go on expeditions to make friends. Getting drunk and rubbing elbows seems like a waste of time. I’ve got a job to do. And I don’t have time to entertain so many acquaintances. It’s too much work.”
“Hmm, thanks, I think.”
“You know I don’t include you.”
Missy tugged on Grace’s arm. “C’mon. Let’s get inside and start mingling. I want you to introduce me to Galloway.”
of his beer as he considered the man opposite him. It had been almost ten years since he’d last seen Brad Michaels. It was Michaels who had phoned him a few months ago to catch up and present the opportunity of filming a documentary for the Institute. Dark-haired and more compact in stature, Brad had always been cocky, and that blustery demeanor was still in full-swing. Alec hadn’t cared for it back in high school, especially when Brad’s cowardice at Mavericks had left Alec banged up on the rocks, his surfboard broken in three pieces.
“Looks like you got the job,” Brad said as he sipped a whiskey on the rocks.
“Looks that way.” Stewart had informed him this morning that CMI had approved the contract with Galloway Films, but Alec feared that Dr. Mann still wasn’t on board. And he wanted her to be.
Brad leaned forward. “It’s going to be a fantastic expedition. The sonar array is going to be a game-changer in shark conservation. You’ll be glad you’re a part of it. And if Grace Mann gives you a hard time with shooting, just let me know. She’s such a freaking perfectionist. Personally, I think she’s one of those women always on their period.”
Alec slid a sympathetic look to the very young woman trying hard to appear at ease at Michaels’ side—the one he’d not even bothered to introduce. Apparently, Brad hadn’t outgrown being a dick.
Alec extended his hand. “I’m Alec Galloway.”
The doe-eyed girl with porcelain skin smiled in gratitude. “I’m Sidney.”
“Is your dad still surfing?” Brad asked.
“When he can.” Alec swung his gaze to the right and froze. Headed straight for them was Grace Mann, looking damned impressive in a form-fitting dress the color of the deep blue sea and a face that put him in mind of supermodels. He took another swallow of his drink to douse the impulse to stare at her curves.
“Big Jim Galloway,” Brad said. “He was such a legend.”
Alec reluctantly returned his focus to Michaels. “He still is.” His old man wasn’t in the grave yet. He felt the heat of Grace’s presence as she came to a stop beside him.
“Why is your dad a legend?” she asked.
Alec gazed at Dr. Mann and, for a moment, let his admiration for her show. “He was one of the original big wave surfers.”
Her cheeks flushed a pinker hue.
Pleased that she’d read his signal, he let a half-smile reach his lips, adding, “It’s nice to see you again, Dr. Mann.”
She gave a nod and cleared her throat, her elegant brows slightly furrowed as she shifted her attention to Brad and his date. Grace reached her hand to the girl. “I’m Grace Mann. It’s nice to meet you.”
“This is Sidney,” Brad cut in, his tone brusque.
“Brad,” Grace acknowledged, her voice devoid of inflection. She stepped to the side as another woman joined them. “This is Missy Rembert.”
Missy leaned around to shake Alec’s hand. “Mr. Galloway, it’s always a pleasure to meet an underwater filmmaker. Didn’t you work in the Cocos Islands a few years ago?”
“I did. I was part of a team doing a project for IMAX.”
“I thought so. It was very nice.” Missy turned to greet Sidney.
Grace turned to Alec. “I heard that you and Brad were surfing buddies.”
“We were both on the competition circuit when we were kids,” Alec replied, “and then we progressed to big wave surfing.” He wanted to add that they weren’t really buddies but let it go.
“Wow,” Missy said. “That must be exciting. Any big wipeouts?”
“A few,” Alec conceded.
Brad finished his drink and waved the bartender over. “What were you and your brother called?” He snapped his fingers. “T and A, that was it.”
Sidney giggled.
Missy raised an eyebrow. “How risqué.”
Alec chuckled. “Not really. My brother’s name is Tyler. It was just shorthand for Ty and Alec. I seem to recall your nickname was Frog,” he said to Brad.
Brad took hold of a new drink. “Yeah, yeah. That was bullshit.”
“Let me guess,” Grace said. “You rode the waves like a frog.”
Alec leaned toward her. “That’s about right. When we were kids he’d do this weird thing with his legs bowed out.”
Everyone laughed while Brad cursed under his breath, the ice in his glass clinking as he took a large swallow.
“Can I get you ladies a drink?” Alec asked.
“I’ll have a Miami Vice,” Missy replied with a bright smile.
When Grace didn’t answer, Alec looked at her and asked, “A Malbec?”
A smirk of laughter escaped Brad. “Galloway’s got you figured out already, Grace.”
Brad’s proprietary tone made Alec want to step between the man and Grace.
“I’ll have a shot of tequila,” Grace said, the statement clearly meant to defy Brad.
Michaels was a burr under Grace’s skin, and Alec wondered why. He caught the bartender’s attention and ordered the drinks.
“What do you do, Sidney?” Missy asked.
“I’m an exotic dancer.”
For a moment, everyone was silent.
Finally, Missy blurted, “I’ve never actually met a woman who does that. You must be in fantastic shape.”
“Yes, I work pretty hard at working out. Do you both research sharks like Brad?”
Grace nodded.
Missy shook her head. “I study cephalopods.” At the girl’s clearly confused expression, Missy added, “Octopus.”
Sidney’s head bobbed up and down, and her mouth formed an O-shape. “Do you have one of those doctor titles too?” she asked Missy.
“Yes.”
“Octopus are kind of creepy, huh?”
“Actually, they’re quite intelligent.” Missy softened her answer with a smile.
Brad set his glass onto the bar and unbuttoned his suit jacket. “Gracie’s not really a shark researcher.”
Alec narrowed his eyes as Sidney gifted Grace with an inquisitive look. If the suddenly chilly atmosphere and the tension coming off Grace were any indication, Alec half-expected her to punch Michaels in the stomach.
“If we’re going solely off academics,” Grace replied, her voice as edgy as a razor blade, “then Brad’s right. I only have an undergraduate degree in Marine Biology. My doctorate is in Computer Science.”
Her announcement surprised Alec. “How did your dad feel about that?” If he remembered correctly, Eddie Mann had passed away several years ago.
Grace’s rigid stance lessened a bit when she answered him. “He died before I finished high school, but I think he would’ve been proud. He was a closet programmer and got me hooked young. I was taking college-level programming classes when I was in the 12th grade.” Her eyes shifted back to Michaels. “I wonder how well your array would work without me, Brad.”
“It’s just programming. There’s a dozen people who could do your job.”
Alec was certain he heard Missy mutter dickhead under her breath.
“Then give it a go,” Grace challenged.
Brad grimaced. “Just don’t screw it up, Gracie.”
“I could say the same to you.”
The discord between Grace and Brad was palpable. It appeared filming the sharks would be the easiest part of this project.
With the discomfort level peaking, it was, oddly enough, Sidney who sought to defuse it. “Brad says he’ll take me diving to see a shark up close soon. I’m so nervous. What if it bites me?”
“It’s always the shark you don’t see that does,” Grace murmured.
Concern pinched Sidney’s face.
“It’s very safe,” Brad said. “Right, Alec? You’ve been in the water with all types of sharks when you’re filming.”
“Grace is right,” Alec said to the girl. “Be aware of your surroundings at all times. If a shark bites, it’s because he’s curious. Sharks are ambush predators, so if you see one coming, you can easily avoid them. If you make eye contact, most sharks will divert.” Elliott Marsh flashed in his mind, and he took a steadying breath to put the memory back in the basement.
The bartender set the drinks that Alec had ordered on the counter. As Alec handed Missy her colorful red-and-white concoction, she smiled and angled toward him, despite Grace being positioned between them. She thanked him as both of her hands closed over his to take the glass. The flirty behavior wasn’t lost on him, but she was clearly a friend of Grace’s. He wasn’t about to enter that arena, not when his job with Grace was still possibly hanging in the balance.
He stepped back and motioned for Grace to take his place at the bar so that she could have access to the tequila shot as well as the lime and the salt. Spurred by an urge to protect her from Brad, he indulged a brief touch at the base of her back, noticing the edge of a scar on her neck that peeked out of the fabric of her dress.
He didn’t linger, and she didn’t pull away as she made fast work of the tequila. Alec reached in front of her to grab his beer on the far right, close enough to enjoy her scent—a subtle, flowery aroma that made him think of sunny days, blue seas, and gentle swells.
Apparently, he was in the mood to flirt, and the woman on his radar wasn’t friendly Missy, but instead a prickly blonde.
“All ready to head to Guadalupe?” Grace asked.
“Of course,” Brad quipped.
“Where’s that?” Sidney asked, an earnest expression on her face.
A knowing glint in the girl’s eye, however, made Alec realize the young woman was purposely taking hold of the conversation.
Michaels was in over his head and didn’t even realize it.
“Guadalupe Island is off the coast of Baja California,” Grace replied. “Starting in October, a large great white population migrates to feed on the seal colony that resides there. It’s also thought that the sharks mate and that many of the females give birth, although most scientists suspect they swim into the Sea of Cortez for that. Neither activity has ever been witnessed, let alone recorded, so we keep returning in the hopes of learning more. There’re also several outfitters who take tourists to the area.”
“That sounds extraordinary.”
Grace shifted her attention across the room. “I really should speak with Stewart. If you’ll all excuse me.” She stepped out of the circle and left them. Alec debated whether to follow, since she’d likely be discussing his position on the expedition, and whether she would let him stay.
“Let’s go eat,” Sidney said, tugging on Brad’s arm and thankfully he relented. The buffet on the far side of the room appeared open for business.
“Let’s catch up more later,” Brad said to Alec.
Alec gave a nod but hoped to avoid it. Now it was just him and Dr. Rembert.
“How long are you in town?” Missy asked.
“Just until tomorrow.”
“Too bad.”
Alec didn’t take the bait. “What’s the problem between Grace and Michaels?”
Missy gave a slight roll of her eyes. “Oh, that. Sorry it slid out of control. Usually Grace is able to keep her claws retracted.”
“Is there something I should know?”
“Well, they are at odds professionally, but I guess the real problem is that they used to date.”
Alec wasn’t too surprised by the news, but it still chafed. “I’m guessing he moved on, and Grace hasn’t?” Damn. He didn’t like his conclusion. “Did he dump her for that toddler with him tonight?”
Missy laughed. “Brad’s got a different girl for every event, and they keep getting younger and younger; although an exotic dancer is a new one.” She took a sip of her drink. “But I don’t think Grace is still hung up on him. She’s the one who broke it off. I have to admit I never understood what she saw in him in the first place.”
Hope sprang back to life. “Why do you think she’s against me filming her? Does it have something to do with Brad?”
Missy wrinkled her nose. “I plead the fifth. But I’ll be on the expedition, so maybe I can put in a good word for you.”
Alec set his empty glass on the bar. “I appreciate the help, but I’ve a feeling Grace makes up her own mind.”