Dark Waters (2013) by Toni Anderson

swift and silent as a cougar out of the shadow of the trees. She stared into his bright blue eyes, more than a little disconcerted to realize just how handsome he was in daylight. Tall and rangy, he had rugged features and a bold straight nose. Lines of experience etched his face, but a dimple cut in and out of his cheek and, combined with the vivid sparkle in those eyes, it was hard not to stare. Plus, he was shirtless and the torso she’d worked so hard not to ogle in the moonlight was once again on full display with wide hard pecs and those smooth blocks of muscle pulling taut across his abdomen. She hadn’t known that sort of muscle tone existed outside men’s underwear commercials.
    Her eyes shot back to his face. Wet, sunbaked blond hair, unshaven scruff darkening his jaw, and a full bottom lip that would have most normal women drooling. She wasn’t normal, but her pulse took a leap anyway.
    “Anna.” He cocked a wary brow.
    Water glistened like diamonds all over his chest. Wet board shorts clung to him like a second skin. He’d obviously been swimming. She whipped her eyes back up again as her cheeks heated. Not her type. Definitely not her type—but he had her mouthwatering with basic female appreciation because, while she might be screwed up, she wasn’t dead.
    Brent Carver was
not
someone she was comfortable with. Sexy as hell. Oozing testosterone. Definitely not her type. She voted team beta in every way. “I always pictured you as the same age as my father.”
    He lifted the other brow.
    “Dad talked about you in his letters.” They’d written to each other every week after he’d gone to prison. Being arrested had forced him to grow up. It had been painful to see him lose his childlike spirit even though it had been his own stupid fault.
    Guilt rose up. Guilt and grief, and terrible swirling regret. She closed her eyes and tried to remember good times. Cleared her throat. “He told me how talented you were. Said you were going to be famous one day.”
    “Famous? I never wanted to be famous.” His mouth thinned into a stern line.
    “You seem to enjoy the trappings.” She swept her hand at the private beach and massive house.
    “I’ve always lived here.” Words were drawn out reluctantly, like he’d forgotten the art of conversation. “I just wanted a house that would withstand the squalls.”
    “This is where you grew up?”
    “Yup.”
    Anna stared around. It was beautiful, but…“Don’t you ever get lonely?”
    “Hell, no.”
    “You don’t find it a little isolated?”
    Thick brows crunched over his eyes. “Not isolated enough, apparently.”
    Ouch
. She turned away and cinched her arms over her chest. “I apologize that I dumped this on you.”
    He moved closer. Only a step, but it made her senses spring to life and the muscles of her feet flex as if preparing for flight.
    “Your father was right to tell you to come to me. I’m just not real good with people.”
    “No kidding.” Her voice shook. Brent Carver’s rugged maleness was something she didn’t trust. That was why she dated guys like Peter. Too bad she couldn’t trust them either. “I probably overreacted, coming here.” She eased away from him. She felt stupid and irrational, and she was never irrational. She was calm and levelheaded and always in control.
    “Losing your dad is a good reason to overreact.” Sympathy softened his voice and it stroked over her skin like a caress. “For what it’s worth, I think you did the smart thing to disappear when you did.”
    Something in his voice made her tilt her face toward him. “Why?”
    He bent down and picked up a white shell. Polished the smooth surface with his thumb. Eventually he met her gaze.
    “I spoke to a law enforcement friend of mine last night.”
    “You have law enforcement friends?”
    “Wild, huh?” The wind blew his hair in his eyes. Sand dusted his bare feet. He looked like everyone’s fantasy castaway. He bent over and picked up his