Excerpt of Deep Tide by Laura Griffin

Sean Moran slipped away from the party. The bride and groom had left under a shower of rice, but people were still milling around beneath swags of twinkle lights, drinking their booze and enjoying the breeze off the water. Sean would have liked another drink, but he needed to get back to his condo. As he crossed the wooden bridge spanning the sand dunes, he spied a woman on the beach with a champagne flute in hand. 

Leyla Breda. 

Her form-fitting dress looked silver in the moonlight, and it shimmered against her body as she strolled toward the surf. Nearing a piece of driftwood, she dropped her shoes to the sand and sat down. She nestled the flute at her feet, then lifted her arms and twisted her dark hair into a knot at the top of her head. 

Sean stopped at the end of the bridge. He had about a hundred things left to do tonight, including contacting his boss.  

Instead, he walked over to Leyla. 

“How’s the champagne?” 

She jumped and turned around. Recognition flickered across her face, and her shoulders relaxed. 

“It’s good.” She held up her glass. “You didn’t have any?” 

“Nope. Can I get you a refill?” 

She smiled. “What, are you a waiter now, too?” 

He stepped closer. “I’m Sean Moran, by the way.” He held out his hand. “We never actually met.” 

“Leyla Breda.” Her handshake was brisk and businesslike, but the warm look in her eyes gave him hope. 

“Joel’s little sister,” he said. 

“That’s me.” 

He turned toward the water so he wouldn’t be tempted to stare down the front of her dress. 

“I didn’t get a chance to thank you earlier,” she said. “Things got really hectic.” 

“Looked like you had your hands full.” 

“So, are you here for Joel or Miranda?” 

He looked at her. “Joel.” 

 She tipped her head to the side as she gazed up at him. “And you know him from…?” 

“Work.” 

She frowned. “Here?” 

“No. We go way back. We were in the same academy class in Houston, spent some time at HPD together.” 

“Oh. That was a while ago.” 

“Yeah.” 

“So… the vice squad, then?” 

“Yeah. Mind if I sit down?” 

“Not at all.” 

Sean lowered himself onto the other end of the sandy log. He didn’t like the direction the conversation had taken so he steered it back to her. 

“So, how long have you been a caterer?” he asked. 

“Hmm… let’s see. I guess it’s been about three weeks now.” She turned and smiled at him, and he felt a hot jolt of attraction. “Why? Can you tell?” 

“Not at all.” 

“Right.” 

“Well, the timing seemed a little bumpy.” 

“Just a little.” She rolled her eyes. “We had several staffers no-show. It happens a lot in this business. People are flakey. Despite all my planning, you could say we were a bit rushed.” 

Rushed was right. No woman had ever clapped at him before. It was something of a turn-on.