“Captain.” He took my shoulders and sat me down, reaching to adjust my gear. “I meant to ask you before we got all the way out here …” I looked at Jenks for help, but he was laughing at me. “Damn it,” I swore. “I’m sorry, Marshal. I’m out here on false pretenses.”

“I’m flattered, Ms. Morgan,” Marshal said, glancing up under his hairless eyebrows. “But you paid for a dive on my wreck, and I feel obligated to do my best to fulfill it. If you’re going to be in town a few more days, maybe we can have dinner.”

My jaw dropped, and I realized why he had been watching me. Oh God. Debbie wasn’t the only one who thought I was interested in him. Suddenly I saw my stammering attempts at trying to talk to him in an entirely new way. Jenks snickered, and I felt myself blush.

“Captain Marshal,” I said firmly. “I’m not looking for a date.”

The man’s face slowly lost its expression, his faint smile wrinkles easing to a smooth nothing as he straightened. “I, uh … You’re not? I thought you two were brother and sister.”

“He’s my partner,” I said, adding a quick, “business partner.”

“You like women?” Marshal stammered, backing up a step and looking like he was going to die of embarrassment. “Shit, I hate it when I misread people. God, I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s not that either.” I said, wincing as I pulled the hair out of my mouth, which the wind had tugged from my braid. “You’re an attractive man, and any other time I would be salivating at the idea of a private lesson at your pool … pooal … but I need your help.”

Marshal zipped his coat up, looking uneasy. I glanced at Jenks and took a breath. “My old boyfriend is on that island, and I need to rescue him without anyone knowing about it.”

Smooth features blank, he stared at me, the sun glinting off the top of his head.

“I’m an independent runner,” I said, shuffling in my waist pack and handing him one of my black business cards. “A pack of Weres kidnapped my old boyfriend and they’re holding him. I need to get over there undetected, and you were in the book. Uh, if I could borrow a second set of gear and tanks for him to swim out with, that would be … great. I’m prepared to pay for it. You, uh, have my credit card on file, right?”

Brown eyes blinking, Marshal brought his gaze up from the business card. Squinting, he peered at Jenks, moving his head this way and that like an owl. An intent look came into his eyes, almost predatorial. Jenks backed up a step, and nervous, I watched. “What are you doing?” I finally asked.

“Looking for the camera.”

My jaw clenched. “You don’t believe me.”

“Should I?”