“Great!” A British businessman on his first trip to Mexico clambered back onto the deck. His face was reddened by the sun but he didn’t seem to mind. “When can we go down again?”

With a laugh, Liz helped other passengers on board. “You have to balance your down time with your surface time. But we’ll go down again.”

“What was that feathery-looking stuff?” someone else asked. “It grows like a bush.”

“It’s a gorgonian, from the Gorgons of mythology.” She slipped off her tanks and flexed her muscles. “If you remember, the Gorgons had snakes for hair. The whip gorgonian has a resilient skeletal structure and undulates like a snake with the current.”

More questions were tossed out, more answers supplied. Liz noticed the American who’d stayed with her, sitting by himself, smiling a little. Liz moved around gear then dropped down beside him.

“You did very well.”

“Yeah?” He looked a little dazed as he shrugged his shoulders. “I liked it, but I gotta admit, I felt better knowing you were right there. You sure know what you’re doing.”

“I’ve been at it a long time.”

He sat back, unzipping his wet suit to his waist. “I don’t mean to be nosy, but I wondered about you. You’re American, aren’t you?”

It had been asked before. Liz combed her fingers through her wet hair. “That’s right.”

“From?”

“Houston.”

“No kidding.” His eyes lit up. “Hell, I went to school in Texas. Texas A and M.”

“Really?” The little tug she felt rarely came and went. “So did I, briefly.”

“Small world,” he said, pleased with himself. “I like Texas. Got a few friends in Houston. I don’t suppose you know the Dresscots?”

“No.”

“Well, Houston isn’t exactly small-town U.S.A.” He stretched out long, skinny legs that were shades paler than his arms but starting to tan. “So you went to Texas A and M.”

“That’s right.”

“What’d you study?”

She smiled and looked out to sea. “Marine biology.”

“Guess that fits.”

“And you?”

“Accounting.” He flashed his grin again. “Pretty dry stuff. That’s why I always take a long breather after tax time.”

“Well, you chose a great place to take it. Ready to go down again?”

He took a long breath as if to steady himself. “Yeah. Hey, listen, how about a drink after we get back in?”

He was attractive in a mild sort of way, pleasant enough. She gave him an apologetic smile as she rose. “It sounds nice, but I’m tied up.”

“I’ll be around for a couple of weeks. Some other time?”

“Maybe. Let’s check your gear.”