Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Kylie decided to wear white capris and paired them with a navy blouse.
She pulled out white espadrilles from underneath her bed, where she lined up her shoes, and slipped them on.
She told herself that her usual shorts and T-shirt were not appropriate for dinner with Neville and Nellie.
The couple had always been kind to her, and she stopped at the diner once a week for an early breakfast before heading out on the water for the day.
Spritzing on a bit of perfume, she couldn’t lie to herself.
She wanted to appear attractive to Zane.
Kylie quickly took a blow dryer to her hair and left it loose, forgoing her usual ponytail.
While she didn’t wear eye and face makeup anymore, she did apply lipstick, giving herself a more polished look. That, too, was for Zane.
It was hard to figure out why she was so taken with him.
His money meant nothing to her, and she supposed she was the rare woman who wasn’t interested in his tax bracket.
He was sinfully handsome, with that head of black hair and those penetrating, amethyst eyes.
It was more than his looks, though. Kylie sensed something in him that instinctively drew her to him.
She did like that he was intelligent. He didn’t seem to take himself too seriously.
Then again, she had yet to talk business with him.
She had a feeling that tomorrow, a whole new Zane Wagner would appear, so she needed to be on her toes when that happened and not with her head in the clouds.
She decided to take a hostess gift with her, picking up a foil-wrapped loaf of banana bread she had baked this morning around four o’clock.
She had slept fitfully and awoke early, so she had used the last of her very ripe bananas to bake the bread.
Usually, she would have eaten a slice of it for breakfast, but she was too on edge about seeing Zane to do so, which meant the loaf was intact and would make for a perfect guest gift to Nellie and Neville.
Grabbing her purse, she drove the short distance to the Wagners’ house, one which they had lived in for as long as she could remember.
She thought of Zane coming here each summer, even playing basketball with people such as her own brother.
Had their paths ever crossed? If they had, she believed she would have remembered him.
Then again, she was always out doing things with her own friends.
Danny might have brought Zane to their house, and she could have missed seeing him there.
It was funny how it really was a small world, especially when it came to Driftwood Bay.
When she rang the doorbell, a wave of nerves flitted through her. Kylie tamped them down just as Zane opened the door. He was dressed in a lavender shirt that only deepened the hue of his eyes, and her heart sped up a moment, lost in those eyes.
“Come on in,” he said, stepping back.
Kylie entered the house, finding herself right in the living room. “I’ve got banana bread for your grandmother.” Looking to Neville, she said, “Hi. Thanks for having me over for dinner.”
Neville said, “The price just might be that banana bread you’re holding. What if we kept it a secret?”
“Keep what a secret?” Nellie said, appearing and giving Kylie a hug.
She offered the package to her hostess. “Banana bread for you—and Neville.”
“What do I get?” Zane asked, his voice deep.
She tried not to read any innuendo into it. “Whatever your grandmother gives you,” she said pertly.
“That a girl,” Nellie said, smiling approvingly. “Things are almost ready if you want to make your way to the kitchen.”
“I think since I provided the fish tonight, that should count for something,” Zane pointed out.
“All you did was drop a line over the boat,” his grandmother said. “Those foolish fish swam and took the bait. Kylie cleaned them. I cooked them.”
“See if I ever bring you any red snapper again,” Zane teased, slipping an arm around Nellie and kissing her cheek.
“Zane, pour everyone a glass of iced tea,” Nellie said. “Neville, get the coleslaw from the fridge. I’ll bring the rest. Kylie, dear, you just have a seat.”
“Yes, ma’am.” She knew a strong woman when she saw one, having been raised by one, and could follow orders with ease.
Soon, her plate was filled with both snapper and some of the mahi-mahi, black-eyed peas, and slaw. A loaf of piping hot French bread rounded out the meal. She buttered the bread and then took a bite of the snapper, moaning in appreciation.
“See, that’s what I like to hear,” Nellie declared. “How did Zane do today, Kylie?”
“He listened well. Showed patience, which is the chief quality any good angler needs. While he may have had a little beginner’s luck in catching the snapper, I think he’s found a taste for deep sea fishing.”
“It is different from when we used to go out in the bay, Gramps. I think you and I need to go on a Mayfield Charter while I’m in town.” He looked to her. “That is, if you have the room. Ben and Lisa were telling me how early they normally have to book to reserve their slots.”
“I can look at the reservations list and see if we can work the two of you in. Today was easy to do so because we had a cancellation. It was a party of four. A dad, two sons, and a son-in-law.”
“Why did they cancel?” he asked.
“The son-in-law’s wife—the dad’s only daughter—went into labor a month early. Someone ran a red light and hit her car. She broke her wrist, and her water broke.”
“Oh, I hope she’s okay,” Nellie said worriedly.
“She is,” Kylie assured them. “Mom talked to the new grandfather, and the baby was already just over six pounds. Mother and daughter are doing well. They promised to rebook next summer.”
“Losing their deposit, I suppose,” Zane said.
“Yes. We require twenty percent down. Dad is the softie. If he were in charge of the books, he would simply give people their money back every time. Mom has more of a head for business, so no refund will be issued. They’re good clients. They’ll be back.”
“Speaking of money, I owe you for today’s charter.”
Kylie shook her head. “Nope. That was on the house. We were getting to know one another. I invited you to come aboard, so there was no expectation of you paying. You were our guest. Just thought it would be nice for you to see one part of what we do in the Bay.”
She thought he would press her about the money, but he changed the subject.
“I think before we sit down and talk about transportation, I should actually ride the ferry over to Tidewater. When does the earliest one leave?” Zane asked.
“Six-thirty tomorrow morning,” she replied. “A lot of the people on it will be resort workers. You could simply stay aboard and return immediately.”
He shook his head. “While I’m there, it would be hard not to get off and see Tidewater brought to life.
I’ve been familiar with the concept and know the blueprints inside and out.
Frankly, I’m itching to see it.” Zane paused.
“Would you like to come with me? Or would you rather wait and be a guest this coming weekend?”
“Oh, I’m not scheduled to be a guest,” she informed him.
“No?” He looked confused. “I thought Sullivan told me next weekend and into next week, he had people from his friend group—and even some of their parents—coming to stay and testing the facilities for feedback.”
“Yes, I know, but I had work. I didn’t want to desert Dad.”
“Then you need to come with me tomorrow,” he insisted. “I can see how the ferry operates. We can walk the resort and then return to the Bay in plenty of time for our meeting. What do you say?”
Kylie was eager to see what Tidewater looked like. In fact, she had been slightly jealous that her friends were going to be guests at the luxury resort, dining in the various restaurants, using the amenities, and sending for room service.
“How long do you think it would take us to see Tidewater?” she asked.
“Probably two hours. Maybe a little less. What time is the next return ferry we can catch?”
“There’s a nine-thirty crossing from Tidewater,” she told him. “It takes about a quarter-hour from the Bay to Tidewater, so that would put us there around a quarter till seven tomorrow morning.”
“Perfect. I know you were probably going to dress professionally for our appointment, but I suggest you wear something more casual for us to walk the property.” His eyes twinkled. “And if we reach the Bay by a quarter till ten, we would still make it to the library without any problems.”
“Library?” Neville asked. “Why are you going there?”
“I rented a conference room for us to conduct our business,” Kylie told the older Wagner.
“Couldn’t you just do that at Tidewater?” Neville asked. “As long as you’re there. I’m sure they must have conference rooms, even if it is a resort for people on vacation. Some fellas always seem to have business to do.”
“He’s talking about my dad,” Zane said to her. “Even when he comes to visit here in the Bay, work is always calling. Gramps is right. With no actual guests until this weekend, we can use whatever facility we need.”
Kylie didn’t have to think about it. “No, thank you. I’d rather we stick to the original plan. Talking at Tidewater gives you home field advantage. The library is neutral territory.”
Zane gave her an admiring glance. “Good move on your part. I’d still like you to come to Tidewater and spend a little time before it opens. You said Karl sometimes subs in for you. Maybe he could work a charter with your dad and give you a day off.”
“We’ll see,” she said, not wanting to commit to anything personal until the door to all business between them had been closed.
They finished their meal, and Kylie said, “Mom is a terrific cook, especially when it comes to fish, but this dinner was outstanding. Do you mind if I ask how you cooked the snapper?”
“I usually pan sear most fish, like I did the mahi-mahi,” Nellie said. “For the snapper, though, I baked it in the oven.”