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Movement caught Sara’s eye, and she glanced out the glass door at the boat approaching the pier. “They’re back, and my client should be along any time. I’ll get out of the way.”
Moving to the edge of the wooden dock near the stairs, she enjoyed watching the hive of activity surrounding the boat. That day Alex was captain, with Jack and April as divemasters. Sara had spent a couple of lunches with April in the restaurant kitchen.
After the guests headed toward their bungalows, Jack and April each took an armful of wetsuits to dunk in the freshwater tanks, chatting amiably back and forth. Sara’s attention sharpened when April straightened and looked back toward Surface Interval, and a small smile crossed her face. Then it fell, replaced by a wide-eyed expression of pure, unadulterated longing.
O-ho! Is April crushing on one of the guests?
With gleeful anticipation, Sara turned, already working out how she could set April up with the guest. Alex strode confidently down the pier and a wide smile crossed his face as he looked toward the dive shop. Sara’s heart dropped to her feet as she glanced back at April. There was no mistaking it. She was looking straight at Alex. Hope stepped out of the dive shop and headed straight for her husband, and it was clear Alex didn’t even see April. The two embraced as he boosted Hope to eye level for a kiss. Sara glanced back at April, who now had a neutral, guarded look on her face. She bent to the open trough, swirling the wetsuits in the soapy water with Jack.
Oh my God! There’s no way I misconstrued that.
The memory flashed of their girls’ night out, when April had mentioned the man she was interested in who had chosen someone else. Sara straightened, focusing on April with laser-beam intensity. Oh, no. This won’t do at all. Time to get her fixed up with someone, pronto. Does Hope know?
Then her gaze zeroed in on Jack, standing next to April. He’s never mentioned a girlfriend, and they have a lot in common. Opportunity is knocking! Sara approached the pair, leaning casually against the side of the building. “Good morning, you two?”
“Really good,” April said with a big smile. “We saw a pod of dolphins on our surface interval.”
Alex and Hope joined them. “They played in the wake of the boat for a long time,” he said. “I had a great time driving today.”
Hope patted his chest. “I need to get back in the dive shop. I’ll see you later.” With a wave, she disappeared inside the door.
April was watching Alex again, and Sara pounced. “Well, Jack, you’re lucky to have someone as nice as April to show you the ins and outs of the operation here. You two look like you work really well together.”
He and April gave her polite nods but didn’t say anything.
“I’m just saying a good working relationship is hard to find. You two are lucky.” Then Sara’s client walked around the corner. “Time for me to run. Alex, you treat these two right. They make a great team.” With a regal nod, she turned and led her client to the stairs.
One final glance revealed Alex staring straight at her, his brow furrowed. She gave him a jaunty wave before heading up the stairs.
April and Jack are perfect for each other. Operation Sara to the Rescue is officially commencing.
CHAPTER 10
Jack unslung a BCD from his shoulder and hung it up as April replaced the coiled regulators on their pegs. She glanced at her watch. “I think that’s about it. Now I get to move on to my next job.”
He smiled at her. “Yeah, I’ve got two gigs too. See you next time.”
As April moved out the door, Jack’s thoughts returned to Sara, and he shook his head. Was she pushing him toward April for some reason? He liked April but didn’t have any romantic feelings toward her. Why would Sara even care?
He still couldn’t get over her being his neighbor. She was the last person he’d expected when he’d opened his front door the other night. At least you managed to keep from causing her bodily harm. Then he winced. Though it wasn’t exactly smooth to invite yourself over for dinner. What got into me? That was the mystery. The words had tumbled out of his mouth before the thought had fully formed. At least they were on more cordial footing now.
He made his way to the dive shop, where Alex and Hope stood behind the counter. Alex nodded, and Jack stopped across from him. “I was just looking at the dive schedule for the next week,” Alex said. “We’ve got two full-day trips scheduled. Robert told me he’s got a photo shoot, so do you want the hours?”
“That would be great.”
“I’ll put you down, then.”
The bell above the door jingled and Robert walked in with Patti hot on his heels. He carried a large, flat cardboard box, and shot Alex and Hope a brilliant smile. “How ‘bout that? Just the two I wanted to see!” He placed the cardboard box on the counter and nodded to Jack.
Patti peered over his shoulder. “He’s bein’ very mysterious. Just said he had a present for you two and wanted my opinion.”
Hope wrapped an arm around Alex’s waist and pulled him close, saying, “Well, don’t keep us all in suspense.”
Still smiling, Robert carefully opened the package with a box knife, revealing something flat covered in bubble wrap. “Everyone ready?” Eyebrows arched, he glanced around the assemblage.
Jack grinned as Patti poked Robert in the side with one ebony index finger and said, “Get on with it already.”
With a flourish, Robert broke apart the taped bubble wrap and held up a large glass photograph. The room went silent as everyone studied the photo of Hope and Alex on their wedding day. Robert had taken the picture as Alex boosted Hope into the air before him, but Jack’s attention was drawn to the dress-white Navy uniform Alex wore.
