"The octopus is a master of disguise." Kurt stands in front of a large aquarium tank.
Through the glass, Kai's face is visible on the opposite side. "I give up, Dad! Where is he?"
Kurt reaches into the tank and gently prods the side of an ordinary looking rock. Part of the rock detaches itself grumpily, and an annoyed looking octopus swims away. Kai exclaims, "Whoa! That's so cool! How does he do that?"
"Well, my son, the octopus has thousands of colour-changing cells known as chromatophores just beneath the surface of its skin. And it can even change its texture from bumps to spikes using projections on its skin called papillae."
Kai stares dreamily after the disgruntled cephalopod. "I wish I could change like that."
Kurt laughs and claps a hand on his son's shoulder. "Octopuses use camouflage mostly as protection from predators, which you don't really need to worry about, Kai. They can flatten themselves to the ocean floor and resemble sand, or blend in seamlessly with seaweed. The Mimic Octopus can even use its superior disguising abilities to pretend to be other animals, like flounders, lionfish, and sea snakes." Kurt looks knowingly at the camera. "Sometimes, life requires us to pretend to be something we're not."
***
"Aria..." Kai spoke her name out loud, tasting it on his tongue, the way he hoped to taste her later. Feeling his body react of its own accord, he crossed his legs and tried to act casual. "A pleasure. Now, do you want to tell me how you managed to gate-crash my party tonight?"
Her delicate lips fell open in surprise, and Kai felt a savage burst of smugness from calling her out. He cocked his head and said, "I'm right, aren't I? I know everyone who received a personal invite, and if you were a plus-one, I doubt you'd be swanning around attempting to chat up old men like Gil."
A normal girl would have rushed to explain herself, gushing apologies and fawning for forgiveness. Aria clearly wasn't an average woman. She folded slender arms over the gentle swell of her chest and leaned back, analysing him coolly. She stared at him in silence, not even the barest attempt to justify herself.
It unnerved him. After about ten seconds, Kai broke. "Okay, fine, you don't have to tell me anything. But seriously, if you're looking for help with a cause, you should run it past me. I might be able to direct you to a good contact, so you don't have to spend the rest of the night wasting your time pitching to guys who are more interested in getting into your pants rather than your cause."
She gave him a look, and he knew exactly what it meant. "Yeah, I tried some moves too, I'll admit it. But I'm here to help now." He forced himself to stand. So far in the space of an hour, Aria had managed to sweep in and throw his world off balance. If he didn't find equal ground, he'd only embarrass himself further. "So, what do you say? Come outside for a quiet drink with me to discuss your pitch? Unless you don't really care about your cause...."
He shrugged as if he didn't really give a damn either way, but inside, his heart was pounding. What the hell do I do if she says no? His throat clenched tightly at the thought of having to walk away, but he turned and prepared to do so.
"Dolphins."
There. Her melodic voice that matched her giggle. Even just a single word was enough to halt Kai where he stood, causing him to spin awkwardly back to face her. "Wha... what?"
"Dolphins." She held his gaze with her glowing eyes and said, "I work with dolphins. That's my cause."
Kai released a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding. "Dolphins. Okay. Come and tell me all about them."
He extended a hand to her to help Aria rise. For a moment, she carefully studied his fingers, as if she was weighing all the pros and cons, then to his delight she accepted his gesture. As their hands connected, Kai experienced a flood of warmth along his arm, even though her fingers were cool.
Moving gently, like he didn't want to frighten her off, Kai folded her hand in the crook of his elbow, and began to escort her towards the back door of the ballroom. As they passed the other tables, Kai noticed the strange and suspicious looks from his guests; the women were either jealous or surprised, the men perplexed. Kai couldn't blame them. He had never been gallant. If he left the room with a woman, it was normally with hands in inappropriate places, not reverently cradling her fingers beneath his.
When they made it outside, Kai breathed deeply, inhaling the Queensland summer night air. The Gold Coast had been a good choice for the ball this year. He didn't have a fixed residence at the moment, spending equally short amounts of time at all of his properties. In Melbourne was his family's old home, a sprawling mansion in a leafy city suburb, while in Sydney, his abode was the top floor of a luxurious high-rise. Here on the Gold Coast he maintained a beachside home, and then in London and New York, he owned smaller but still lavish apartments.
On top of that, he strenuously avoided bringing women back to anywhere he called home, so he found himself constantly sleeping in hastily-booked hotel penthouses and suites. He'd grown used to keeping a complete set of clothing in every city, as well as maintaining an extensive overnight bag for unexpected sleep-overs. He was a gypsy; a wealthy gypsy with means mere mortals could only dream of, but a gypsy nonetheless.
He led Aria over to the poolside, closed to hotel guests for the evening. The water shimmered under azure and purple lights, and on the surface, clear balls in mirrored colours floated in meandering circles.
A bamboo table and chairs setting waited for them, and Kai reluctantly released Aria's hand to allow her to sit. Trying to pretend his pulse wasn't fluttering girlishly, he used his deepest voice to say, "Okay, Miss Aria. Pitch me. Tell me about your dolphins."
As she tilted her head, he noticed the pulse beating in her pale neck, and the urge to lean forward and cover that patch of skin with his mouth was almost overwhelming. Instead, he managed to drag his attention back and listen as she said, "I'm a former employee of Marine World."
"The dolphin park down the road?" Kai grinned. "I'm friends with the CEO there. We play golf whenever I'm in town."
The scowl that crossed Aria's angelic face told Kai he wasn't scoring any points. "I quit last year, after the park stopped caring for rescue animals."
"What? Are you sure?" Kai frowned. "Marine World are always in the media for rescuing stuff. Wasn't there a whale caught in shark nets a while ago that they helped?"
"Last July. Just after that, your friend, the CEO, decided that rescue animals weren't worth doing, from a monetary point of view." There was a bitterness to Aria's tone.
"Well, I can give him a call, if you like...."
"Do what you like. I'm not here to beg favours from Marine World." Aria cleared her throat, and spoke as if she'd been practicing her words for a while. "I'm looking for investors to help me establish a new dolphin sanctuary, here on the east coast. I'm a qualified vet who specialises in marine life, and I can train staff and volunteers to work under me. I have a location sourced, and quotes from contractors to fit it out for our needs. All I need now is the backing."
Kai nodded, deep in thought. "It's a worthy cause, and I don't think anyone would argue that with you. But I have to ask - where's your revenue stream coming from?"
"That's what people do argue with me about. There isn't one."
"Not-for-profit?" Kai shook his head. "That's a big ask."
"I know. But at the moment, there's nowhere for these animals to go." Aria's eyes grew larger and more determined as she leaned towards Kai. "If the Queensland coast guard find injured seals, they have to send them all the way down to Taronga Zoo in Sydney. When they find hurt dolphins, they have to be put down."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes. I've spend most of the last year working out of my boat, treating as many animals as possible. I've encouraged the coast guards to call me before they destroy an animal, but there's only so much I can do without a proper rehabilitation facility."
As she spoke, Kai found himself listening, truly listening. It was something he rarely did anymore; it was easier to skim over conversations with people rather than deep-dive into anyone else's problems. With Aria, he simply sat there and absorbed her words, feeling her passion through his pores. "Okay, I'm convinced. What kind of figures are you looking at?"
She named a number to establish the sanctuary, and another yearly sum to keep it staffed, maintained and supplied.
Kai whistled. "Look, that's a lot - even for a sponsor to buy in, they'd be terrified of the ongoing costs. I'm starting to think you don't need a benefactor anyway."
Aria smiled slightly, her face softening. "Oh? And what do I need?"
Me. All over you. Kai caught an image of the two of them, naked on a sun-warmed deck, the bow of the boat bobbing in time to the rhythm of their bodies... Kai rubbed his eyes vigorously, trying to stay present. "You need an angle. Charity these days is a product, just like everything else. You don't just give to a worthy cause; you buy into it. What you need is an expert to help you find the right buyers, a strategy that will work."
"Do you know someone like that?"
"I do." He pulled out a business card and handed it to her. "Have you got time to meet tomorrow?"
She clasped slender fingers over the card, and they touched his briefly, setting off another reaction inside his body. "Yes."
"Good." It wasn't just good - it was great, amazing, stupendous. Kai wanted to crow in triumph that he'd see her again, that she wouldn't just fade into memory. "Text me tomorrow with a time, and I'll bring him to you."
"Thank you, Mr Isaacs."
Although she'd said it with warmth, his skin grew numb at the sound of the same title that his father had been known by. Even after so many years, the knowledge that his dad would never answer to his name again could still slap Kai with cold, stinging shock. "You're welcome. And, please, call me Kai."
"Good night, Kai." She stood swiftly and in a flash of sea-green and blonde, she was gone.
Kai blinked. She was almost mythical, this strange, semi-silent girl with the pale hair and emerald eyes. He'd never wanted a woman more in his life, but he suspected that he'd have to work harder for this one than all the rest combined - and it would all hinge upon him pretending to be something he wasn't.
***
Aria wanted to pace, needed to distract herself and burn up some energy, but the tiny bathroom on board her boat didn't allow for her to even raise both elbows out to a right angle, let alone provide walking room. Attempting to soothe her clanging nerves, she smoothed her hands over her French braid and nodded sternly at her reflection. You look fine. Why are you even worrying what you look like?
As she left the bathroom and headed above deck, she ignored the obvious answer; because last night, she'd been someone else, disguised as a girl in a gown who cared about her hair and was comfortable around strangers. Today, the dress was returned to the store, and she'd just be Aria, a marine vet whose idea of wearing makeup was the layer of skin-tone zinc she wore to protect her pale face from the powerful Queensland sun.
Still, as she leaped off the gunwales and onto the dock, she couldn't help but play with her skin-tight wetsuit, the outfit she wore almost around the clock. She never knew when she'd have to leap into the water for a swift rescue, and although the air was warm, the ocean was not. The light blue fabric clung to her slight curves and allowed her plenty of movement. Straightening her shoulders, she decided to own her uniform; if Isaacs' marketing guy didn't accept her in a wetsuit, they wouldn't be able to work together anyway.
Leaning back over the rail of her boat, she looked at the clock above the steering wheel. She'd texted Isaacs' - Kai - and said to meet her at the marina at eleven. It was only 10:55. Turning around, she hooked her elbows over the railing and closed her eyes, allowing herself a moment to daydream.
Kai. She hadn't wanted to feel attracted to the man, but she'd found him invading her dreams all night long, his azure eyes tugging her down into their depths. She tried not to read into it; he was well aware of his charisma, and she didn't doubt that every woman who crossed his path felt something twist in their bellies at his wicked grin and outrageous confidence. Still, a girl could dream...
"Well, good morning, sunshine."
Aria snapped upright, finding Kai smiling at her. In his suit the night before, he'd seemed like a movie star. Today, he wore bone-coloured cargo shorts and a fitted sky-blue tee, which showed off every line and dip of his chest. A battered cap was plonked on his silky dark hair, and underneath, his eyes explored her body. "I like your outfit," he said, nodding at her wetsuit. "You should have worn that last night."
She wasn't sure if she could have responded, even if she'd thought of something halfway intelligent to say. Kai had sucked the air from her lungs, and she could sense the heat building under her skin, craving his closeness. Concentrate! Looking around for the marketing guy, Aria realised there was only Kai standing there, and she gave him a questioning look.
"Ah, wondering where the expert is? You're looking at him!" Kai gave a little bow and then laughed at his own cleverness.
What? Frustration pulsed against Aria's temples; she didn't have time for games. She'd done her best not to get her hopes up, and with the realisation that Kai had just been toying with her, she knew she'd failed. They hadn't just gone up - they'd been sky high.
She wanted to scream, but fled instead, springing back into her boat. Scampering into the little cabin, she slammed the door and waited for Isaacs' to leave.
"Aria, wait!" The walls were thin, and his penitent voice carried through clear as a bell. "It's not what you think. I'm the man you need to help launch the sanctuary, that's all I meant. I've got influence and ideas - hell, my entire empire is based on my dad's marketing concept! Do you know why he agreed to film the Defender of the Deep series?"
Sitting on the tiny kit bed in the corner of the cabin, Aria wanted not to listen, but she couldn't help it.
"He wanted to fund different causes, but he was just a marine biologist, working for the government, checking water temperatures and algae growth. He could barely afford to keep me fed and clothed, let alone support a bunch of charities. But you know what he did have? Passion. He made a demo tape and sent it to a bunch of producers, and the show was picked up almost immediately."
His voice softened. "My dad's passion inspired a generation of people to care about the ocean. It's the same passion I see in you, Aria. Please, let me help you."
Her pulse thrummed in her neck as she strained to work out if she was resisting for the right reasons or the wrong ones. Leaving the internal debate for another time, she raised up off the bed and opened the door.
Kai still stood on the wooden boardwalk, and his face brightened as she stepped out. "So, should I take your return as a yes?"
Aria nodded.
"You're not much of a talker, are you?" he observed. "Has anyone ever told you that before?"
"My mum," said Aria, unable to keep the weariness out of her tone. Her mother's voice echoed in her head; Aria's just a little slow, she'd whisper to guests and friends when Aria was young. What nobody worked out until Aria reached high school, was that she was actually hyper-intelligent. She was first in her graduating class, won a full scholarship at university to study veterinary science, one of the most sought-after courses in the country, and landed the job of senior vet at Marine World over dozens of other applicants.
And she'd done it all without needing to blather on about everything and nothing. Aria knew that words mattered, and it was important to choose the right ones. Her animals didn't need a lot of conversation, and most of the time now, she was alone. What had truly spooked her was how easy it seemed to chat with Kai by the poolside the night before. With him, the words had been meaningful and effortless, and that was terrifying in itself.
Rather than explain all of that, she tried to start small. "Would you like to come in?" she offered, waving an arm towards the minute space she called home.
Kai grinned, and her skin crawled with heat. He said, "I'd love to take you up on that offer, but I'm not sure your cabin will fit two people. I've got a boat moored here as well - will go there with me?"
"Okay." She took his hand, and allowed him to help her step from the boat back onto the jetty again. When he slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow again, she let it happen. Just as it had in the ballroom, walking arm in arm with Kai seemed right, and she'd never been more aware of the presence of another person. With every breath, Aria could almost taste Kai, his masculine scent infusing her senses, and bodily reactions beyond her control were occurring inside her wetsuit.
Mind over matter, Aria. "If you have a boat here, do you live on the Gold Coast?" she asked as they strolled along.
"I'm here once every couple of months or so. I like having the boat ready for when I'm in town." His words weren't boastful, just factual. Aria reflected that in his world, the world of money, paying to maintain a boat he barely used would be par for the course.
"Do you like Queensland?"
"I love it up here. Every time I'm here, I rediscover my favourite thing about this state."
"What's that?"
"The bikinis."
He laughed; she didn't. Aria wasn't a bikini girl. She had a few tired pairs she wore under her wetsuit or beneath board shorts, but she wasn't like the other women of the coastal town, who wore designer swimsuits that cost hundreds of dollars and were made to be lounged in, not swam in. She had no doubt that Kai also enjoyed the holiday mindset of the ladies in her city, who were all about having a good time, not a long time.
Keeping her judgement to herself, she bit her lip. Kai noticed her withdrawal. "I'm kidding, kind of. I love the beach attitude, that's what I should have said. People up here love to be active and around the water - it's cultural. You guys surf and swim and jetski and wakeboard. It's refreshing. Hey, this is me."
They'd walked to the far end of the marina, where the super-yachts were moored. Aria was prepared for Kai to own something impressive - after all, the son of the most famous marine biologist of all time was bound to have a decent boat - but when she saw the sheer size of the vessel, her jaw fell open.
"You like her?" Kai grinned like a much younger boy. He led her to the gangplank of the massive boat, which could have swallowed hers up like a wide-mouthed whale. "Welcome aboard the Tempest. There's two bedrooms and bathrooms, a lounge, an office, a full kitchen, even a hot tub."
He gave her the tour, and although Aria could see the boat was designed for luxury, with elegant trimmings and stunning furniture, it had also been created with speed and safety in mind. If I had a boat like this... Aria's head filled with the reach she'd have, how many animals she could rescue if she could travel further and faster. Her little boat was limited by size; she had to watch the weather reports anytime she ventured out to sea or risk capsizing.
The tour finished on the top deck, where there was a cushy outdoor lounge and the promised hot tub. "So, shall we discuss your sanctuary?" As Kai lowered himself to sit, Aria attempted to divert her eyes to somewhere on Kai's body that would keep her out of trouble and still the naughty thoughts that brewed when she pictured how he might look in the hot tub, shirtless and glistening.
Kai obviously took her silence for reluctance. "Aria, I know I'm coming across as a creep, but I swear, I genuinely want to help you with your cause. I think... I know my dad would have loved the idea of a privately funded dolphin rescue centre, and he'd be disappointed if I didn't do everything in my power to help you get this idea off the ground."
Aria caught the flash of grief that passed over Kai's face as he spoke about his dad. Still, she paused, and he tried again. "What do I need to do? Promise that I will stop making moves on you? I actually thought I'd been pretty well-behaved today, but if that's what it takes, you have my word. We are colleagues only - nothing more. Deal?"
Was that disappointment she felt course through her? Of course not. She'd been concerned that Kai was only assisting her because he saw her as a conquest. With this promise, she wouldn't have to worry about that anymore.
She stuck out her hand and shook his warm fingers, ignoring the way her body called to him. "Deal." She sat opposite him as they began to talk strategy, and the entire time Aria kept reminding herself that the reason her heart was racing and her cheeks were flushed was because her dream was finally being realised, and not because of the man beside her.
So - just two chapters to start with, but there's more on the way! Please vote and share if you're enjoying the story so far. See you soon! Much love, Kate