Chapter 1
The trainer
Riley steps off the plane and breathes deeply, savouring the new air. The island breeze, the palm trees, the ocean—everything feels surreal. Riley is not in Canada anymore.
Someone pinch me, she thinks.
Beyond the boundary stanchions, she spots her new boss, Cam, scanning the tarmac. He's one of the smartest and funniest people she's ever met, and when he sees her, he gives a wave and a big smile.
Riley never expected she'd end up on a Caribbean island, but here she is. The ocean's the limit on what she can achieve. With a Bachelor of Science degree in her backpack and seven years of training Atlantic bottlenose dolphins under her belt, had all led her here, maybe she was dreaming?
"Cam! Thanks so much for picking me up from the airport. I knew it was beautiful here, but I never imagined how beautiful. And that air—whoa! Did you arrange for the island breeze to blow the smell of salt and coconut oil for us newcomers?"
He smiles, ready for a handshake, but Riley goes for a hug. The gesture turns into an awkward mix of Cam jabbing her in the belly and her falling onto his shoulder.
"Let's try to make this more embarrassing!" Cam chuckles, moving his arm back. Riley, swept up in the moment, giggles, suggesting they chest bump to end things. Tears of joy brim, but she covers them up.
"Shoot, I didn't want to make you cry," Cam blushes, but Riley's too happy to care and gets that hug, and she's happy Cam hugs her back.
She didn't grow up in a family of huggers, but since she's been on her own working away from home, she's realized how much that human contact can mean when you're homesick.
"Cam, you have no idea how much this opportunity means to me. This is my dream job! I can't wait to get started!" Riley puts a hand over her mouth to stop more nervous chatter from escaping.
"Let's settle you first, before you start at the Lagoon.
I planned a quick tour of the key spots you'll need to know on the island.
After that, we can check out your temporary staff housing.
I've booked a few places for you to see on Friday, but you can stay in the temporary housing for a while.
No new hires are coming for a few months, and no TV or movie crews need the place. It's not perfect; but it's free."
Riley looks at Cam. They met at a conference, and as soon as someone introduced them, she knew she wanted to work for him one day.
His Navy career was impressive, but it was his passion for the Lagoon that sealed it for her.
He was handsome in a low-key way. It seemed so cliché, but he was tall, dark, and handsome with the best tan she'd ever seen.
His hazel eyes were a contrast to his dark hair that she could tell would get unruly fast if he let it grow out longer than it was.
Not quite military cut but a smidge past and some waves in it that made her wonder if he had longer hair when he was younger.
"I appreciate all your help. I did not know how to find a place that would be available?"
"There's plenty available, but everything here is word of mouth. It's all about who you know, and I know everyone, so you're in excellent hands!"
"Well, I better keep you smiling then! I'm partial to bribing with baked goods.
Anything you miss eating?" Riley knew from her decade in the industry that almost every dolphin trainer who moved away from home missed simple things like favourite foods, restaurants, or meals with family.
Once settled, she had already asked her family to send her Nanaimo bars, her favourite sweet treat and a truly Canadian dessert.
"Oh, I haven't had a good chewy chocolate brownie in years. Can you make them with nuts?"
"Of course! Brownies without nuts are rude!"
"Sold! No one else on the team bakes, but you're going to be spoiled by Daniel and his BBQ skills. And Declan with his international cuisine. I think we're the best-fed team anywhere."
As they walk to Cam's jeep, Riley can't help but smile. She hadn't met her new co-workers yet, but any mention of food was a bonus in her books—this is going to be great.