Chapter 6
Chapter Six
JULES
The next afternoon, I was knee deep in payroll when Eli sauntered through my office door, his artfully disheveled dark-blond hair still damp.
A waft of clean scent like fresh rain drifted toward me, letting me know he’d just showered after his ocean adventures.
I tried not to notice how good he smelled.
He leaned casually against the wall. “Hey there, Jules. Working hard or hardly working?”
I bristled at the nickname, my fingers tensing on my keyboard. “I go by Julianne while at work. Because unlike some, I take my responsibilities seriously.”
Eli’s grin widened. “Come on, Jules. Why the secrecy? What’s the story behind that nickname, anyway?”
I exhaled slowly, willing myself not to rise to his bait. “If you must know, my mother gave me the nickname as a child, as a nod to Jules Verne. I used to devour his books when I was young.”
“No kidding?” Eli’s teasing tone softened, curiosity creeping in as he moved to inspect the books in my bookcase.
“Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea was my favorite growing up,” I continued. “Something about exploring the unknown always called to me. I dreamed of having adventures like that.”
“So what happened to that adventurous spirit?” Eli asked, settling into the chair across from my desk.
I stiffened, kicking myself for revealing even that small tidbit. How did he manage to slip past my defenses? “Life happened. The need to be a responsible adult and find a career. I went to Ohio State for accounting, and it was a good choice for me.”
“You’re a Buckeye, huh? So where did Jules grow up?”
I was tempted to respond with something icy and acerbic, but despite him using my nickname, I couldn’t detect anything other than curiosity in his manner. “Columbus,” I replied neutrally. “Not exactly a hotbed of adventure, you know.”
“Maybe not, but it sounds like you had a pretty lively imagination,” he said, crossing one ankle over the other knee. “What was it like growing up there?”
I could see the flicker of interest in his eyes, and it unsettled me. I didn’t trust this sudden interest, but it couldn’t hurt to be on more civil terms. “It was fine. Lots of books, a best friend, one younger sister.”
“How come you left Ohio?”
I stilled, and when I saw my fists had clenched over my keyboard, I forced them to loosen.
I wasn’t about to get into that story with Eli Coleridge, of all people.
“I was ready for a change. I’d had enough snowy winters to last a lifetime, so I chased the sun and it led me here.
Why are you so friendly all of a sudden? ”
He smiled, though there was an edge to it. That dimple appeared on his cheek again. It made me want to grind my teeth. “I’m a friendly guy, Jules. You’re the only one who has never seemed to notice that.”
I sighed. “You’re not going to call me Julianne, even if I ask. Are you?”
“Nope.” Then his smile softened, became something almost endearing. Almost. “Besides, we’re spending more time together, right? Time to bury the hatchet and all that. Using your nickname is just my way of getting to know you.”
“Huh. And I could have sworn it was to get under my skin and irritate me.”
“Are you irritated?”
Admitting that would be a huge mistake. I straightened my blotter. “Irritated? No, Eli, I’m just marveling at your ability to turn every conversation into a comedy sketch. It’s truly a unique talent.”
His grin became devilish. “Oh, I’m just getting started. Stick around, and you might even get a front-row seat to my one-man show.”
“A front-row seat? Not if we were the last two people on earth. I’m sure watching paint dry would be far more entertaining.”
“You know, Jules, for someone who claims to be uninterested, you’re surprisingly good at keeping this conversation lively. Admit it, you’re having fun.”
“Fun would be a stretch. And there’s my nickname again. Guess I’d better get used to it.” It really was a miracle that Chase had kept it from him all this time. Lacey’s brother was a paragon. It was baffling how he and Eli could be best friends.
“Oh, absolutely.” Despite his exaggerated casualness, there was no denying he spent many of his work hours in hard, manual labor. It showed.
Dammit. Why couldn’t he be physically repulsive?
“I can live with it if you can.” I shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “But if we’re admitting to being surprised, I guess I should say that you’re a much more prepared and professional instructor than I anticipated. That introductory document you sent was very thorough.”
He laughed, and the sound was so unforced and honest that I nearly found myself smiling back.
“I’m pretty sure you’re the first student I’ve ever had who actually read the damn thing. Well done.”
I arched a brow. “Did you just compliment me?”
His smile fell as he screwed one eye shut in concentration. “Oh, shit. You’re right. But I think you said something nice to me too. About me being such an amazing instructor and all that. Ready for the first pool session?”
The four of us were scheduled for our first underwater breathing session later in the week, and I couldn’t feign boredom about it. “I am. I’m realizing I haven’t done much in the way of excitement in a while, so I’m looking forward to it.”
“Ah, there’s that sense of adventure again.”
“Some of us take different paths in life. You seem to be living your adventure every day under the water.”
Eli lit up like Times Square, and this time I couldn’t help the smile that rose on my face.
“That’s a good way to put it! Nothing beats being out on the ocean.
You discover something unusual or unexpected all the time.
It’s amazing. But trust me, there are days when leading dives is a very tough job.
” He paused and studied me for a moment.
“You might think about diving into something more than just numbers someday. Life’s too short to stay tethered to a desk. ”
Heat rose across my cheeks as he leaned back, clearly enjoying our exchange.
And just like that, he broke the mood. Eli Coleridge was the last person I was going to take career advice from.
I picked up a stack of papers and straightened them.
“Right, because you’re such an expert on responsibility. ”
“Fair enough,” Eli conceded, holding up his hands in mock surrender. And not acting at all upset that I’d needled him. “But maybe there’s room for both adventure and responsibility. You might surprise yourself.”
I arched an eyebrow. “I think I’ve had quite enough surprises in my life, thank you very much.
” His gaze sharpened, and a pang of vulnerability twisted my gut.
I’d already shared much more than I’d intended.
Pressing my lips together, I tried to regain control of the conversation.
“You’re lucky, you know. To have grown up here, with such a big family, and with Sunset Siesta at your doorstep.
It must be nice having such deep roots.”
A crooked smile grew on his lips. “Oh, we’ve got roots all right.
More like weeds, if you ask some of the locals.
The Coleridge clan has a bit of a reputation for stirring up trouble.
” He laughed again, shaking his head. “You should hear some of the stories about my oldest brother, Ben. Let’s just say for years, he made it his personal mission to keep the island gossip mill running. ”
I couldn’t help but smile at that. “I’ve heard some of those rumors.”
“Hey now,” Eli protested, but his eyes were twinkling. “We’re not all bad. Just… colorful. Makes life interesting, you know?”
I felt a twinge of envy at the obvious affection in his voice. “Ben has been making a determined effort to turn his life around. I think that’s obvious to everyone now. Still, you should appreciate what you have. Not everyone is so fortunate.”
Eli’s expression softened. “You’re right. I do appreciate it, more than you know. Well, Dove Key, and maybe even Sunset Siesta, does need its share of responsible folks. Keeps the chaos at bay, I suppose.”
I blinked, thrown by the sincerity in his voice. Once again, he’d disarmed me. For a moment, the air between us felt charged. I cleared my throat and tore my eyes from his, scrambling to regain my professional demeanor. “Yes, well. Someone has to keep this place running smoothly.”
Eli leaned forward, bracing his forearms on my desk, a playful smirk creeping back onto his face. “And you do that very well, Jules. But I’m starting to suspect there’s a little adventurer hiding in there somewhere. I dare you to let her out.”
I crossed my arms defensively, trying to suppress the flutter he sparked with those words. What happened to that child who used to plan elaborate adventures and treasure hunts with her best friend? The college girl who was the first to suggest a new place to explore?
You know what happened to her. Life happened. Travis happened. Kala happened.
I straightened in my chair. “You think coaxing me into the water is going to unleash some hidden mermaid? I hardly think so.”
He laughed, and the sound warmed the air between us. “You said it yourself. That it’s past time to have a little adventure, and I think diving is just the thing. Plus, I’ve got a secret weapon. Me!” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
I bit my cheek to keep from laughing. “I guess we’ll find out Saturday, won’t we?” The idea of spending more time with him made my stomach twist in an unusual, fluttery way. “You’ve already done enough today. I need to get back to work, assuming you’d like to get paid.”
“All right.” His eyes danced as he stood and headed toward the door. “See you at the pool session, Jules. Don’t worry. I promise not to let you drown.”
I managed to delay until he was out of sight before I let my full smile escape. And with a lighter mood, I turned back to the payroll reports.