Shaken Not Stirred (Mixology) Read Online Free PDF

me more determined to follow through with the
plan.
    “You can say we forced you.” Macon grinned.
Noticing I wasn’t smiling in return, he continued. “Even if we did
get caught, which we won’t, my boss wouldn’t press charges.”
    “You say that now.”
    Macon stopped walking and took my face in his
hands. “We are not going to jail. This is going to be fun.”
    I nodded, and that must have been enough for
him because he continued onto the boat.
    Macon barely waited for us to sit before
starting the engine. My stomach did flip-flops. I liked scuba
diving, but doing it at night seemed different. I kept picturing
all the sea creatures that were scary enough when I could see
them.
    Macon stopped the boat and put down an anchor
with a line. “You can even hold on to the line on the way
down.”
    “Gee, that makes it so much better.”
    Macon tossed me a wetsuit before stripping
down to his swim trunks and stepping into his own suit. “Just get
changed.”
    Despite my reservations, I couldn’t turn down
the challenge. I pulled off my t-shirt, hesitating with my skirt
once I noticed the two sets of eyes on me. “Umm, is there a reason
you’re both staring at me?”
    “Do we really have to answer that?” Brody
grinned.
    “I’m one hundred percent certain you’ve both
seen girls in bikinis before—including me.” I stepped out of my
skirt and started to put on my wetsuit. At some point if I kept
diving, I needed to get my own. It always felt gross wearing
something close to my body that I knew lots of other people had
worn.
    “It’s different watching you take off your
clothes.” Macon started pulling out more gear.
    I sat back down and sorted through the
equipment he gave me. “You’re going to double-check I do this
correctly.”
    “Of course. You’re in good hands.”
    I waited as Macon checked my regulator and
gauges. He helped me into my BC and defogged my mask. Although the
scuba gear worked great in the water, the equipment felt cumbersome
on the surface.
    Completely outfitted, I stood by the railing.
“How are we going to find the boat? What if it moves?”
    “It’s not moving. I won’t let you out of my
sight, and I promise you’ll be safe.” Macon was done making fun of
me. Maybe he realized I was nervous.
    “How are we going to see?”
    “With this.” He handed me a tiny
flashlight.
    “This? Aren’t the lights supposed to be
bigger?”
    “This is plenty considering how bright the
moon is.” He glanced up at the full moon illuminating the sky.
    “Want me to go first?” Brody asked Macon.
    “Sure. I’ll make sure Maddy gets in
okay.”
    Ordinarily, I might have complained about the
insinuation that I couldn’t jump into the water myself, but
considering how nervous I was, I didn’t mind.
    Brody jumped in, and I followed. Macon came
behind me.
    Under the water I realized what Macon meant
about the light. The moon lit up the water with an eerie glow. I
stayed close to the guys and marveled at how different everything
looked. There was something surreal about spending time under the
water, and it was only enhanced by the night.
    I shuddered as something brushed against me.
I turned and came face-to-face with a giant set of teeth. I started
to panic, ready to head back up to the surface when Macon put his
hand on my arm. His touch calmed me down enough to really look. It
was grouper. A goliath grouper.
    After my near freak-out, I spent a few more
minutes enjoying the reef before moving back up to the surface
after a brief safety stop.
    Back on the boat, the adrenaline hit me.
“That was awesome!”
    Macon laughed. “I told you it would be. And
the grouper didn’t eat you.”
    I hit him on the arm. “That thing was
scary.”
    “I know. You did really well.”
    “Thanks.” I beamed at the compliment. “I
would totally do that again.”
    Brody gasped. “You’d risk the felony?”
    “Maybe next time we’ll do it with
permission.” I stripped off my wetsuit and grabbed a