“Miss?”

I jerked, bringing my attention back to find myself eye-to-chest with Captain Marshal. My God, he was tall. And really, really…hairless. Completely. Not a hint of hair on him marred the even honey tone of his skin. No beard. No mustache. No eyebrows, which had bothered me yesterday until I realized that like a lot of professional swimmers, he probably used a potion to remove it. Earth charms aren’t very specific, taking off everything, which might sound like a good idea, but isn’t unless you don’t mind being bald. Everywhere.

He was smiling, his brown eyes expectant. The man was in his late twenties by the look of his lean muscled legs, bare to the wind, and the defined abs stacked above his tiny Speedo. Bald looked good on Marshal, I decided. Well-defined legs, wide shoulders, and in between was mmmmmmmm good. And he was a witch with his own business. My mother would love this one, I mused, then grimaced, remembering the last time I’d thought that.

“I’ll be your guide today,” he said, glancing from me to Jenks, now standing behind me. “We’re going to let the dive team get out of the way, and then we’ll follow.”

“Sounds good,” I said, hearing a forced cheerfulness in my voice, but inside I was scrambling. There were too many people. I wanted to ask him privately, but I was running out of time.

“Here’s your charms,” Marshal continued, handing me a plastic bag with two redwood disks in them. His gaze landed on my neck, still bruised from Karen, and fell away. “They’re already invoked. You can put them on now, though you’ll be toasty until you get in the water.”

“Uh, thanks,” I stammered, fingering them through the insulating plastic. They were stickered with his name and license number on one side. All I needed to do was put one on so it touched my skin and even the slight chill from the morning would be gone.

I handed the bag to Jenks, who immediately shook one into his palm, sighing in relief at the warmth. Satisfied they worked, I gave serious consideration to shooting everyone with a sleepy-time charm and just stealing everything. “Um, Mr. Marshal…”

He ducked his head, smiling at me to show even white teeth. I could smell the heady scent of redwood coming from him like spice. He made his own charms; I could tell. “Captain Marshal,” he said as if it was a joke. “Marshal is my first name.”

“Captain Marshal,” I amended. “Look, I’ve got to ask you something.”

Debbie called, and he put up a long finger. “Just a sec,” he said, and walked away.

“Damn it!” I exclaimed under my breath. “What in hell is wrong with that woman! Can’t she do anything without asking him?”

Jenks shrugged, squinting at the morning sun as he took off his knit hat and messed with his gear. “She thinks you like him,” he said, and I blinked.

“Miss?”

I jumped and spun when Marshal’s hand landed on my shoulder.