HIGH TIDE by Maureen A. Miller Read Free Book Online Page A

small one. No one but us even noticed it.”
    ***
    Nick laced his fingers together and watched Briana. Her face was aglow with the blue reflection of the monitor. Her hair tumbled forward, nearly obscuring his view. When she turned to look at him, he was rapt by the slanted azure eyes, trying to discount the very physical effect that gaze had on him.
    “They noticed alright,” he remarked. “The fishermen would have detected the anomaly, and many a tale of angered Gods are probably spinning in some of the seedier bars in Kaneohe right now. The point isn’t so much the size, but where it came from, and if more will return.”
    Briana reached for the coffee mug and sipped from the steaming rim. “Why is it always about size with men?”
    He laughed. “Ahh, actually I believe it’s always about size with women . But in this case we will have to ensure it doesn’t get bigger. It’s accepted that the North Shore will encounter anywhere from ten to forty foot waves, and knowing this, it’s accommodated for. But take waves of that impact on the Windward side, where the livelihood of many Hawaiians depends on the tranquility of the sea, and the tourists depend on gentle beaches for their children...”
    Rubbing at the base of his skull, he sighed. “I know I’m getting carried away, but I don’t want any surprises, that’s all.”
    “Okay, so what do we do?”
    “We?” Shifting forward, he brushed his calf against hers. The contact was kinetic.
    “Don’t you see that by helping you find the source of the problem,” Briana declared. “I distract you from snooping around my site.”
    It couldn’t be helped, his gaze dropped right into the collar of her silky blouse, and lower to the skirt that concealed only a third of her endless legs. “Oh, you distract me alright.”
    He could hear her breath draw in. T he sensuous sweep of her eyes produced effects that were becoming difficult to hide. In an attempt to do so, he grabbed his coffee cup and rested it atop his thigh.  Careful not to spill it, he wheeled towards a stack of pages droning out of the laser printer.
    “Nothing . No volcanic activity, no underwater landslides. The weather checks out. There are no occurrences further out in the Pacific that would just be reaching us now, the ocean is—”
    “A shrewd predator .”
    Nick’s chair tipped forward with a click. He watched her for a moment, and then said softly, “That’s an unusual depiction, care to elaborate?”
    She shrugged to deflect the comment. Edgy, she searched the tight walls of the den, eluding his gaze.
    Newspaper clippings, Geology and Earth Science degrees, and a lovely painting of Waimea at sunset spanned the wood-paneled wall. A beach in soft strokes of gold and peach seemed to come alive with the rustling sound of the banyan leaves outside. On the canvas, a figure was concealed within a thicket of arched coconut palms.
    “The painting is beautiful, did you do that?” she asked.
    Nick looked up at the artwork. “No. My mother did.”
    Fascinated, she rose and traced her fingers along the redwood frame. “It’s beautiful. Has she done more?”
    Bemused, he nodded. “There are a few in the living room.”
    “Who’s the boy behind the trees?”
    “You have good eyes.” He was impressed. “Mom blended him with the shadows, secretive little devil that he was—always hiding when she called, always wanting to stay by the shore and watch the sun set, then wait and watch it rise again—”
    “You.” It was a statement, not a guess, and Nick confirmed it with a tip of his head.
    “Is she—where does she live?”
    “Hawaii Kai. Got herself a fancy little condo—tons of friends. She’s sold enough of these to make herself comfortable.”
    “That’s nice.” Briana turned around. “Your father—?”
    “He passed away last year.”
    “I’m sorry.” She seemed earnest .
    “He was a good man,” Nick managed. “He came to Hawaii looking for peace, and he found my