Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
ELI
The warm evening wrapped around me as I leaned back in my chair, letting the humid air settle into my bones.
A gecko chirped from its perch on the wooden fence of my courtyard, casting a shadow that danced along the wood.
I swirled the amber liquid in my pint glass, pretending to focus on Chase while my mind wandered off somewhere much more intriguing.
Yesterday, Jules had popped into the dive shop while I was alone to ask if I wanted to go for another dive.
Her voice had been sweet and inviting. But that wasn’t all it promised.
“Eli, I’ve got a lot of ideas for the renovation.” Chase’s voice registered dimly. “I think we can really make the place shine.”
“Uh-huh,” I murmured, trying to sound engaged. “Time to get those new beach umbrellas in, right?”
“Exactly!” Chase’s enthusiasm surged as he leaned forward and set his beer down next to the growler I’d brought home from Tropical Hops. “We could increase the outdoor seating, maybe even add some cabanas—”
“Chase,” I interrupted, not quite able to contain my grin, “that brings up images of South Beach and the whole Miami party scene. Yuck.”
“No! It’s all in how you design it.” I always got a kick out of how excited he could get about buildings. “Besides, imagine the Instagram potential.”
“Right. It’s all about the Insta.” I took a long swig of Braden’s latest IPA, savoring the hoppy bitterness, but couldn’t stop my thoughts from slipping back to Jules and the way her hair was so silky and soft, how the glint in her eyes made my heart beat faster than any dive encounter ever could.
“Are you even listening?” Chase huffed, crossing his arms.
“Of course! Totally focused on your brilliant ideas for cabanas.” I gestured dramatically, adding, “Tell me more about how you’re going to revolutionize beach lounging.”
“Okay, clown.” He shook his head, but there was warmth in his tone. “Glad to hear it. I need your input here.”
“Don’t worry. I got you.” I waved him off, though I felt a tug of guilt at my inability to pay attention.
The gecko was still chirping, and my gaze drifted into the shadows beyond my courtyard, where the tropical plants swayed with secrets.
Chase’s voice faded into the background as he passionately discussed an idea he had—something about new flooring and energy-efficient lighting.
But all I could hear was Jules whispering my name.
Chase paused mid-sentence, his brow furrowed. “Eli, are you okay?”
I shook my head, forcing a grin. “Yeah, just… this heat wave we’re having, man. It’s like an oven out here.” I lifted my beer, taking a sip that didn’t do anything to cool the warmth pooling in my chest.
“Right.” He raised an eyebrow. “And your dreamy smile? That’s definitely a side effect of the humidity. This about Jules?”
“That’s bullshit.” I tried to sound dismissive, but the corners of my mouth betrayed me, twitching upward. I could almost feel the warmth of her skin against mine. Dammit.
“Seriously. You’re as subtle as a brick to the face.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “What’s going on?”
I sighed. My best friend was a lot of things. Stupid wasn’t one of them. “Okay, fine. It’s Jules.”
“Ahhh. Has something changed between you guys? Lacey told me Jules was finishing her class.”
“Yeah, you could say that.”
“Spill. Clearly, we’re not going to talk about the reno.”
“We’ve been seeing each other… like every night since her checkout last weekend.”
Going on two weeks now. Two weeks that had confirmed that our first day and night together hadn’t been a fluke. We fit together like a lock and key.
“Every night? That’s some serious commitment for you,” he teased, but there was concern there too.
“It’s more intense than I expected.” I stared into my beer, swirling the golden liquid around. “I feel like I’m stuck in this whirlwind, and part of me is worried about getting swept under. But the other part? The other part wants to dive right in.”
He laughed, then his expression shifted as he sensed my unease. “What’s really bothering you?”
I set my glass down, but now my hands were fidgety.
I twirled my thumbs. “Well, it’s not just the romance.
I had this nightmare last night. Mom found out about us, and she flipped out.
Like, forced me to fire Jules.” When I described it out loud, it sounded stupid.
But I’d woken up with the blankets wrapped around my legs tight and breathing hard.
The only positive was I hadn’t disturbed Jules, who lay in blissful sleep beside me.
“Yikes.” Chase’s eyes widened slightly. “Did she at least give her a severance package?”
“Very funny.” I grinned, but the humor felt thin. “It felt so real. I woke up sweating, thinking I’d lost something before I even had it. I was super relieved to see Jules next to me, oblivious and sleeping. I mean, what if Mom does find out?”
“Well, your mom isn’t exactly known for her rage against the world. But doesn’t she have a rule about employees hooking up?”
“Bingo. Mom’s not one to rage, but worrying? That’s her superpower. She likes things neat and tidy, and this… whatever this is with Jules? It’s anything but.” I ran a finger along the rim of my glass and watched the condensation drip onto the table. “What if it blows up in my face?”
I suppressed the urge to squirm as Chase inspected me closely. “You two have been together, what? Two weeks? Isn’t it a little early to be worrying about all this?”
“Probably. I told Jules I wasn’t worried. That it was a stupid, obsolete rule and I could talk to Mom if and when the time came.”
“Sounds reasonable. Do you think your mom would go that far?” Chase asked, his brow lined. “I mean, firing Jules?”
I laughed at the thought now out in the world, shaking my head. “No. If anyone got shitcanned, it would be me. Jules is too damn good at her job.”
“Hardly. You’re the favorite son.”
I rolled my head toward him. “There’s plenty of competition for that title. But you’re right. It was just a dream and didn’t mean anything.”
“Did you tell Jules about your dream?”
I gaped at him. “Are you kidding? What am I supposed to say? ‘Hey, baby, I had a nightmare where my mom turned into a monster and made me fire you?’”
I laughed, but as soon as the words left my mouth, my gut twisted.
Because I also hadn’t told her about that other dream.
The one I’d had that first night we’d spent in her bed.
That had been a wonderful dream—the complete opposite of last night’s.
We’d been snuggled up on the couch out here watching the stars at night. Just… together and happy.
“So who all knows about your new love connection?”
“Only you, so let’s keep it that way. Besides, I’m pretty sure Lacey will pry it out of Jules soon enough.”
“Exactly.” He leaned forward to emphasize his point. “This is a small town. Secrets have a way of leaking.”
“Relax, Sherlock. We’ll be fine.” I waved my hand at him. “I mean, how hard can it be to keep a romance under wraps?”
“Famous last words.”
An uneasy knot tightened in my stomach. I tried to shake it off. “Besides, nobody pays attention to anything around here unless it involves drama or bad sunburns.”
“And I don’t need to remind you what category you and Jules fall under,” Chase shot back.
“Why do you think I’m keeping this a secret? I’d rather put my head in the sand than deal with Mom’s disapproval right now.”
“Head in the sand? More like head in the clouds,” he countered, tilting his head. “Eli, you seem… different this time. With Jules.”
“Different?” I laughed, but it felt hollow. I lifted my beer in mock salute. “Seriously, Chase, we’re good. I promise. Let sleeping dogs lie and all that.”
“Sure, but remember that sleeping dogs sometimes wake up and bite.”
“True. But if they do, I’m more than capable of dodging and smacking them on the nose for their misbehavior.”
The moon hung lazily above us, casting a silvery glow over the courtyard. I straightened up in my seat, my smile falling as chagrin replaced it. “Sorry, man. I got sidetracked there with Jules, and you came over to talk about your proposal. Let’s dive back into it.”
He took a drink and nodded. “I know you love the place, and it represents happier days to you. But, Eli, the roofs of both room blocks are practically begging for help, and the pool area has seen better days. Like, decades ago.”
I ruffled a hand through my hair and exhaled a long breath. “You’re right. I know we can’t keep kicking the can down the road. But it just feels…”
“Weighty?” he suggested, eyebrow raised.
“Yeah. It’s hard not to think about how much is riding on all of this. Not just for me, but for everyone who depends on the place.”
“And that’s why these renovations are crucial. Even the budget-friendly fixes will require a financial commitment. And Band-Aid fixes aren’t going to cut it. We need to arrange a meeting with the key players. I’ll leave who that is up to you.”
I thought about it for a moment. “Jules and Harper for sure. And any of my brothers who want to come too. But for now, I think we should keep Mom out of it. She wants to step back from resort operations, so this would be the perfect time to start.” I kept quiet about the fact that she already had major reservations about the whole process.
“Sounds good to me.”
“I’ll set up a meeting. Just don’t expect me to wear a suit or anything fancy.”
That made him smile. “I think everyone would stroke out from shock.”
“Fine, I’ll be professional. Or at least as professional as someone can be while smelling like saltwater and sunscreen.” I poured out the last of the beer into our glasses.
“Good.” Chase nodded, satisfaction lighting his eyes. “We’ll figure this out together, all right? Just keep your head screwed on straight.”
“Thanks for the reminder, Captain Responsibility.” I smirked, but deep down, I knew he was right. I had to find a way to balance everything—the resort, my family’s future, and the secret romance that seemed to complicate it all. “I’m glad to have you on board, man.”
I expected a smart-ass comeback, but Chase stared back evenly.
“Thanks. I am too. I’m feeling hemmed in at work lately. I always thought I’d enjoy the security of a big firm, but lately, all the corporate bullshit is driving me up the wall. A big project like this is just what I need. Who knows, maybe I’ll strike out on my own someday.”
I cocked my head. “Your own firm?”
Chase stared into the distance, his gaze unfocused. “I’ve tossed the idea around a little. It’s a big risk, though, so it’s not something I’m looking at near term. Let’s get back to Sunset Siesta. That place is plenty of work to keep me occupied for a while.”
As we resumed discussing the details, my thoughts whirled. The idea of working closely with Jules on the project was definitely enticing, but it also stirred some worries about getting in over my head. Which, as a dive instructor, was something I usually didn’t worry about.
“Well, I’d better get going,” Chase said after draining the last of his beer. “That will give you time to catch up with your beloved tonight.”
“Shut up, asshole.”
His broad grin made me smile.
“More like it’ll give me some time to see how I can add Jules to the renovation team without setting off any landmines.”
“Landmines? You mean like your mother finding out about your little secret?” He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.
“Among other things.”
“Look, Jules is good at what she does. Her financial expertise is necessary for this whole project.” He paused, letting that sink in. “But you have to be careful, man. Keeping things quiet won’t be easy.”
“Yeah, I know.” I held up the dregs remaining in my glass. “To keeping life interesting.”
Chase left, and the silence that filled the space was thick enough to slice. My eyes landed on my phone, a rectangle I’d been trying to ignore all night. Whether I should call her.
Just to say hi.
Or to casually suggest she come over for a nightcap.
Except none of that was casual.
Neither was wanting to see her every single night. And that was a problem. The nagging, familiar fear of getting close clawed at me. This was new territory, and I hated being so unsure of myself.
“Hey, it’s just a phone call,” I reassured myself, settling in my chair again. I closed my eyes as the breeze brushed the hair off my forehead, but it couldn’t chase away the reality that I missed her.
When I opened my eyes again, they immediately landed on my phone.