The small non-descript boat skimmed across the water, turning east out of the broad strait toward the docks. Although the sky was clear and blue out ahead, the squall line sitting behind it was dark and opaque, indicating the strength of the downpour that came with it. And although the shoreline was only a mile away, it was clear that the boat was going to lose the race.
Behind the wheel the tall tanned man hunched down as the first large drops of rain started falling. The company-issue t-shirt and khaki shorts he had on were perfect for a muggy cloudy day on the Puget Sound, but offered no protection from the cold rain. Alongside him a woman leaned forward, trying to make use of the small amount of cover that the wheelhouse roof offered. None of it helped, and within 30 seconds the pair was soaked through to the skin.
"Nice driving, pinhead, Could you have gone any slower?" Summer growled.
"Zip it, Sis, its not like you were keeping an eye on the weather." Dirk replied mockingly.
Dirk and Summer Pitt, the only children of the world-notorious Dirk Pitt of the world-notorious National Underwater Marine Administration, NUMA, were on a summer assignment to the Northwest, studying the effect of changing ocean currents on the local marina fauna. They had spent all of May and June in the sleepy town of Palhuckett, making daily jaunts into the strait, diving and surveying the water ways. Today the steamy hot weather had broken earlier than expected, and the pair had been caught by surprise out on the water when the cold front came through, bringing high winds and the drenching rain. They had grown up on the water, so safety in the rain and churning water was never the issue, but cold rain is cold rain no matter how skilled you are.
The docked the boat as quickly as possible and gathered up their gear. The rain hadn't let up a bit as they dashed from the pier to the hotel that had been there home all summer.
Up in their room they hung out the equipment that could be damaged by the water and then stripped out of their over clothes, Summer now in a plain but skimpy bra with matching panties, Dirk in striped boxers, just like every other pair he owned.
"Oh, let me guess, " Summer laughed as he dropped his wet shorts, "blue and green stripes? You need a woman to improve your wardrobe Dirky."
Both Summer and Dirk had inherited the their fathers athletics physiques, not tall, but thin and well proportioned. Not over-muscled, but taut and sinewy. Their school years were spent in every sport they could fit into their schedules, so their bodies had been chiseled almost from birth. Dirk was a bit over 6ft, with his father's black hair and green eyes. Summer looked more like their mother, light brown hair, with long legs and a small but perky figure.
The humid close heat outside was replaced by a stifling heat inside, and without even a breeze they realized quickly it was probably more comfortable outside.
Summer stretched out on the single King βsized bed in her slightly damp bra and panties. As she did, Dirk opened the window a bit, trying to coax some air flow into the room. The wind was not into that at all, and so a still muggy heat settled into the room. Dirk turned on the only working fan and lay down next to Summer. They had been staying in the small hotel room since they arrived in town, so the claustrophobic feel of the small room and single bed had worn off weeks ago.
"Well, no more measurements today. That squall surely stirred up enough sediment to throw off all of our readings until probably Friday."
"Yeah, but luckily we have this lovely town in which to entertain ourselves." Dirk laughed.
The only restaurant in town didn't open for another two hours, so they couldn't even take residence at the local pub. They had spent many a dull afternoon snoozing in the room, but today the heat made even that idea unbearable. Summer rolled onto her stomach and tried to lie perfectly still and let the sweat do its work.
Dirk took his notepad and tried to make some summary note from the mornings dive, but the humidity made the pages stick to his fingers every time he moved. After two minutes he gave up and joined Summer in trying to lay perfectly still. He glanced down and noticed the two beauty marks on Summer's lower back. He suddenly recalled the drawing he used to make when they were younger. He grabbed his pen and rolled onto his side. Drawing two circles, he turned the beauty marks into the droopy eyes of Tigger the Tiger, Summer's favorite cartoon character. Summer giggled as the pen rolled along her skin.