AllFreeNovel
Share Us
With a small smile, Hope turned around and continued to the bar, a double-sided wooden structure with stools along one side and submerged swim-up stools along the other. Scattered around were several tables, some on the tile floor under the thatch roof and some on the sand. Lilting island music played from speakers suspended from the bar ceiling as Clark worked the bar. Hope sat on a stool in front of him.
“How’s it going today, Clark?”
“Always a good day! What’re you in the mood for?” He grinned, his silver tooth glimmering.
“Well, I’ve been cleaning Steve’s things out of the house all day, so I’m pretty thirsty. What kind of beer do you have?”
“We got Red Stripe, our local craft beer made by Leatherback, and some crappy American stuff.”
She laughed and ordered a Leatherback, which tasted cool and delicious after working in the stuffy house all day. A soft breeze blew past, and she was relieved to finally be unwinding.
“I see you have good taste in beer,” said a voice behind her. She turned around as Alex walked up to the bar, and she looked at him closely, trying not to react.
How did I not notice yesterday how good looking he is?
Fit and tall, he was over six feet. “I’ll take one too, Clark.” He turned to her and smiled politely. “May I join you?” Alex spoke in a deep, confident voice.
“Of course, please.”
Alex sat next to her. He had vivid blue eyes, short light hair, and a strong chin.
It would be inaccurate to say alarm bells went off in her head. It was more like klaxons, air-raid sirens, and multiple searchlights.
Oh, Hope. You need to keep this guy far away.
Still, she would be seeing him nearly every day. Taking a deep breath, she would strive for friendly but aloof.
He tilted his beer toward hers, and they clinked them together. “I hope you’re having a better day than yesterday.”
“Well, that wouldn’t be too hard. I spent today getting settled in the house.” She took a drink. “How was the diving today?”
“Pretty decent.” He was serious now. “No one died, so that was good.”
As her eyes grew larger, a wide smile crossed Alex’s face. “I’m kidding. The conditions have been perfect lately. This is why people come to the Caribbean.” His eyes sparkled, and she withdrew, moving further away on her barstool. He cooled a bit at that.
Hope searched for something to say. “So, did I see you swimming this morning?”
“Guilty as charged. I swim most mornings before I start work.”
“You start early.” Hope rubbed her brow. “I’m a little confused. Do you live here at the resort?”
“Oh! I guess there’s no way you would know, huh? Yeah, I live in an apartment on the pier right over the dive shop.”
She turned to Clark. “What about you?”
Wiping a wineglass, he shook his head. “No, you and Alex are the only ones who live on site.” Then he smiled at Alex. “He earns his keep. Every once in a while, we get his help with a rowdy guest.”
“Sometimes someone drinks a little too much. I, uh, encourage them to go back to their bungalow. Well, him. It’s always a guy.” Alex pointed a finger at Hope. “And it’s almost never a diver, I’ll have you know. You should come out on the boat with us. Are you certified?”
Hope shook her head, trying to ignore how at ease he made her feel.
I can see why he’s popular with guests. Not gonna work on me though, buddy.
“No. I went snorkeling once in Jamaica. It’s really beautiful down there. The fish are so colorful.” She spun a coaster on the bar as she tried to avoid looking at him. “I don’t think diving is for me, though. It sounds scary. A lot could go wrong.”
“You can’t own a dive resort and not dive,” Alex teased, relaxed and confident as he leaned on one elbow before becoming animated. “Open water certification is more than just breathing off a regulator. I’d make sure you were comfortable with all the skills you need to learn. During the class, you learn how to respond if anything goes wrong. And, if it makes you feel better, equipment failure is extremely rare. I maintain our scuba equipment myself, so I can vouch for all of it.” He turned to Clark. “Maybe you and Clark can take the course together. I’ve been trying to get him to dive for a year now.”
With wide eyes, Clark shook his head. “No way, man. I’m not afraid of the water, but I’m not goin’ near no sharks. Uh-uh.”
