Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
JULES
I snugged the two Conch Republic IPA cans I’d just taken from the fridge into two Sunset Siesta cozies, wondering if Braden was missing out on revenue by not having the ability to make cans of his beers. Then I snorted, realizing I was trying to distract myself.
From that kiss.
And the fact that I’d jumped Eli Coleridge.
As I recounted the kiss to Lacey, I left out that last tidbit. Surreptitiously, I wiped my sweaty palms on my shorts and made sure my face was neutral as I handed her the beer.
“And then we both agreed to step back,” I said, pleased at the steadiness of my voice. “It meant nothing. We got carried away in the moment and both agreed it won’t happen again.”
Lacey pressed her lips together to hide a smile. “Sure. And I’m the Queen of England.”
I shot her a glare. “I’m serious, Lace. We can’t… I can’t…” I trailed off, unable to finish the thought.
“Can’t what? Have some fun? Live a little?”
I flopped onto the couch, opened my beer, and took a long pull. “You don’t understand. This isn’t about fun. It’s about my career, my future at Sunset Siesta. I can’t afford to lose sight of my priorities. What if I let myself get swept away? What happens if things go wrong?”
“Jules, you realize that worrying about what-ifs is one of your superpowers, right?”
“Ha-ha. Very funny.”
She sighed. “Jules, honey, you’re allowed to have both. Fun and a career.”
I looked up, meeting her gaze. “Am I? Because from where I’m sitting, it feels like I have to choose. And I’ve worked too hard to throw it all away for… for what? A fling with Eli?”
Lacey slowly spun the cozy in her hand, reading it, then stared me dead in the eye. “We’re totally ignoring the elephant in the room here.”
I frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“The fact that Eli is the first guy I’ve seen you get this distracted over. Which means it’s probably the first time since college. Since Travis. How could this whole situation not bring all that bad juju up?”
I stared at the fronds of a palm tree dancing outside my window. She wasn’t wrong. “Yeah. That’s part of it. I’ve spent years protecting myself. I’ve gone on plenty of dates and had a fling or two, but I don’t like to get close. And now I’m having a… a…”
“Non-relationship?” Lacey added helpfully.
“Not even that.” I pointed at her. “I’m not going to get close to this guy. My God, Eli Coleridge’s picture is in the dictionary next to Commitment-phobe. No more kissy face—therefore no getting hurt.”
“Sounds very logical and well thought out,” she said, and I ignored her sarcasm.
The memory of his lips on mine, the feel of his very obvious arousal grinding against me, flashed through my mind.
I pushed it away, clinging to logic like a lifeline as I stood and began pacing.
“It’s not just about the resort. Eli’s family.
He’s not going anywhere. But my job? That could disappear in an instant if this goes south. ”
Lacey sighed. “Possibly, but isn’t that a bit dramatic? You’re overthinking this.”
“I’m being practical,” I countered. “I’m good at practical. It’s what I do.”
“And how’s that working out for you?”
I ignored her question, focusing instead on the dive kit.
“There was an accident this morning and now Eli needs a whole new scuba kit. Which is a huge expense but an important one. The dive operation is one of the few profitable parts of the resort. So I spent hours doing financial hocus pocus to find the money while rejecting other purchases. And I’m still not finished. ”
Lacey’s eyes grew sly. “Sounds like a purely business decision.”
I nodded, guilt gnawing at me. “Exactly.”
“Uh-huh,” Lacey said, unconvinced. “And it has nothing to do with a certain dive instructor?”
I squared my shoulders. “No! Besides, Sunset Siesta has a rule against workplace romances, so there’s another reason we need to keep our hands off each other. I can handle this. It’s just a matter of compartmentalizing. I’m good at that.”
Lacey shook her head, a sad smile on her face. “If you say so, honey. But remember, relationships have a way of forming whether you want them to or not. And no amount of logic can change that.”
“It’s not that complicated. We’re adults. We can be professional.”
Lacey’s gentle laugh made me raise my head. “Oh, sweetie. When has anything involving the heart ever been simple?”
I opened my mouth to retort, but she cut me off with a sheepish smile.
“And speaking of complications… I have some news.”
My stomach dropped and I stopped pacing. I knew that look. “What did you do?”
She twirled a strand of blonde hair around her finger. “So Daniel and I were talking, and we decided we don’t want an underwater wedding anymore.”
“What?” I blinked, processing. “But the dive lessons, the planning—”
“I know, I know,” Lacey rushed to say. “We’re thinking of a nice park ceremony instead. More practical, you know?”
“So are you guys finishing the class with me?”
Lacey shook her head. “No. Sorry, Jules.”
I groaned, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Lace, do you have any idea how much time we’ve already invested in this?” And what I had to go through to make it happen? I added silently.
“I know, and I feel terrible.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me down to sit next to her on the couch. “But isn’t it better to change plans now rather than later?”
I wanted to be mad, but one look at her earnest face and my irritation melted. This was classic Lacey—impulsive but always well-meaning.
“I suppose,” I conceded. “But we’re so close to finishing. The open water dives will be incredible, Lace. Are you sure you don’t want to continue?”
She shook her head firmly. “Nah, even after extra practice in the pool, I don’t feel like I’ve got the hang of it at all. I keep having nightmares about panicking during my wedding, and that’s not the vibe I’m going for at all. But hey, you should totally finish! You’ve worked so hard.”
I bit my lip, unable to deny that she had struggled with many skills. I was torn between practical concerns and the traitorous flutter in my chest at the thought of solo checkout dives with Eli. “I don’t know…”
“Come on.” Lacey nudged me. “It’s obvious you love diving, and unlike me, you’re good at it! When’s the last time you did something just for you?”
I couldn’t remember, and that realization hit harder than I expected. “You’re right. I’m not even sure.”
“Daniel and I just have too much going on right now, and Randy only signed up because he had to. This is fate stepping in, Jules. You need to stay in the class.”
I nodded firmly, decision made. “You know what? You’re right. I’m going to finish the certification.”
Lacey clapped her hands. “Yes! That’s my girl!”
“It’s only logical,” I explained, ticking off reasons on my fingers. “I’ve already invested the time. And the class is nearly over—it’d be wasteful not to see it through. Plus, it’s a valuable skill.”
Lacey’s smile turned knowing. “Absolutely. And the fact that the class is only you and Eli now?”
“Please,” I scoffed, hoping my voice didn’t betray me. “This is about finishing what I start.”
“Sure, sure,” Lacey said, clearly unconvinced. “Eli isn’t quite the guy you thought he was, is he?”
I sighed, unable to deny it. “No, he’s not. He’s skilled. Rescued a guest in trouble today. And he’s passionate about diving.”
“And hot,” Lacey added helpfully.
I rolled my eyes. “That’s irrelevant.”
“Is it?” Lacey challenged.
I stood up, needing to move. “Look, I can acknowledge that Eli has… qualities I didn’t see before. But that doesn’t change anything. We’re utter opposites. Coworkers, nothing more.”
“Just coworkers. Got it. So when you see him next, you’ll be perfectly calm and collected?”
“Of course. There’s no reason things should be awkward.”
Lacey’s skeptical face spoke volumes, but I ignored it. I had to believe my own words. The alternative was far too dangerous to contemplate.
The next morning, I stood before the bathroom mirror, methodically twirling my hair into a bun as I practiced the conversation about the underwater wedding being off. Each precise movement was a silent mantra.
Professional. Composed. In control.
“It’s just another day at the office,” I told my reflection. “I’m simply informing a colleague about a change of plans.” But as I fastened the last button on my neat white shirt, my fingers trembled slightly.
The drive to the resort was a blur of rehearsed phrases and steely determination.
I was able to distract myself for a few hours by finishing my financial wizardry to allocate the money for the new scuba set.
Nothing out of bounds or illegal, but my new desktop was looking like a distant pipe dream now.
As I approached the gear room, a sweltering, glorified shed next to the dive shop, my carefully constructed facade began to crack.
I hesitated at the door and the muffled sounds coming from within.
Andrea had already informed me where Eli was, so with one last steadying breath, I pushed the door open.
The dim room was stiflingly hot, the whir of fans doing little to dispel the oppressive warmth.
A sheen of sweat broke out on my skin immediately.
And there was Eli, bent over a row of tanks, his damp T-shirt clinging to his back.
The giant air compressor, quiet now, stood on one side of the room, and neat rows of BCDs and regulators were lined up like soldiers across the back wall.
“Morning,” I called out, wincing at the slight waver in my voice.
Eli straightened, turning to face me. His easy smile faltered for a moment as he stared at me, and I felt a ridiculous surge of satisfaction that I wasn’t the only one affected.
“Jules.” His tone was carefully neutral. “What brings you to my humble domain?”
Professionals, colleagues, coworkers…
I clasped my hands tightly, willing them not to fidget. “I needed to inform you of a change in plans.” My words were clipped and formal. “Lacey and Daniel have decided against the underwater wedding, and they no longer want dive certifications. And Randy is dropping out too.”
Eli’s eyebrows shot up. “Seriously? After all that work?”
“Indeed. It’s rather, uh, frustrating.”
He shrugged, some of the tension dissipating as he swiped a forearm over his brow. “Classic Lacey, huh? Chase is always complaining about how she can’t make up her mind.”
I allowed myself a small smile as I took a step forward, like I was being pulled toward him. “You have no idea.”
There was a beat of silence, and I couldn’t tear my eyes from him. How his sweaty shirt clung to his chest. I cleared my throat. “Anyway, I wanted to let you know that I intend to continue with the certification. Solo.”
Eli’s gaze sharpened, and heat crept up my neck that wasn’t exactly due to the room’s temperature.
“Oh?” His tone remained maddeningly steady.
I forged ahead, the words tumbling out like rocks. “It would be a waste to stop now, after all the classroom work and pool sessions. I believe in finishing what I start, and… well, I’d like to experience the ocean dives. You’ve told me so much about them.”
Eli nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving mine. “Makes sense.” There was a hint of something in his voice I couldn’t quite place. Amusement? Skepticism?
I raised my chin but held his eye. “Maybe I remembered what it’s like to have an adventure. Maybe I remembered that I like it. Maybe I want more of that.”
Eli’s expression changed, softening and becoming assessing and… approving. “I like the adventurous side of you. The one I’ve seen in class and outside. I agree you should let it out more often. Good things might happen.”
I shifted on my feet, acutely aware of how close we were standing in the cramped room. The male scent of clean sweat wafted off him. The air crackled with tension, a stark reminder of our last encounter. “Then we should continue.”
“You’re right.” His tone was low and smooth. “Stopping now really would be a mistake.”
My pulse quickened. Was he talking about the certification, or…?
“I mean,” he continued, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth, “you’ve come this far. It’d be a shame not to see it through.”
I swallowed hard, willing my voice to remain steady. “Exactly. That’s… that’s what I was thinking.”
Eli took a step closer, and I caught another whiff of his scent. The intensity of his gaze sent a jolt of desire through me. My carefully constructed composure threatened to crumble.
“Tell you what.” His words were soft and persuasive, like honey poured over velvet. “Why don’t we move the open water dives up to this weekend?”
This weekend? My mind raced. That was so soon, and yet…
“This weekend?” I echoed.
Eli simply nodded. My heart hammered in my chest. I should say no. I should take the extra week to make sure I was immune to him. But as I stood there, drowning in those indigo eyes, I realized I didn’t want to wait. I wanted to be with him. And that was both exhilarating and terrifying.
“I… I’ll have to check my schedule,” I managed, clinging to the last shreds of my self-control.
“Of course,” Eli replied, his tone maddeningly casual as that sexy smile raised his lips further. He stepped back toward the tanks, completely in control, damn him. “Just let me know.”
I turned to leave, my knees wobbling and panic fluttering through my chest. But as I hurried down the pier, I already knew what my answer would be. I glanced at the gentle ocean, imagining the world underneath. Would finishing the class with Eli—only Eli—plunge me deeper into chaos?