AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Alex clenched both hands into fists, but kept his voice quiet. “As long as you explore them far from us. I mean it, Timmons. If you set foot on Half Moon Bay, I’ll flatten you.”
Jack kept his face expressionless, presenting a unified front. He had no doubt Alex could pound this guy into the pavement if he wanted to.
Timmons took a sip, a bored look on his face. “Last time I checked, it was still a free country and a free island, Monroe. But you’ll be happy to know I can’t think of any reason to visit your little resort. I’m not in the market for a dog any time soon.”
Dog? What the hell?
“Good. Stay away, Wayne.” With a final glower, Alex spun and headed toward the exit.
Jack had to hurry to catch up. “That was interesting. I’m gonna go out on a limb and answer my own question. Definitely not a friend.”
Alex hissed through his teeth as they climbed into his car. He started the engine and they headed toward the resort. “Hardly. He showed up at the resort in his sailboat a few months ago and caused all sorts of trouble—in just a couple of days. You’ve seen Cruz, right? Hope’s dog?”
Jack nodded.
“About a year and a half ago, Cruz just showed up out of the blue. Scared of everyone and everything. But Hope eventually won him over. Hell, he even likes me now. Then Timmons ties up at our dock and it turns out Cruz used to be his dog.”
Alex barked laughter that wasn’t amused. “He went apeshit when he saw Cruz with Hope, yelling at her and demanding his dog back. He even grabbed her arm and threatened her. Cruz attacked him, and then I got involved. Wayne ended up going on his merry way—without Cruz—and I hoped we’d seen the last of him. Apparently not.”
Jack stared at him, scenarios running through his head over what “I got involved” meant. “He went apeshit over a lost dog?”
Alex darted a glance at him, then laughed before turning back to the road. “You had to be there.”
“Well, it doesn’t sound like he’s planning on visiting Half Moon Bay any time soon.”
“He better not, for his sake.”
CHAPTER 19
As Sara tossed several throw pillows onto her bed, her gaze caught on the nightstand. She opened the drawer, revealing a half-empty box of condoms. More importantly, the thin cardboard container behind them was revealed. Her contraceptive patches. Jack had left her apartment a short time before, off to work at Ocean Surf. They had been together for several weeks now, and it was time for the exclusive talk.
Sara still had several boxes of patches from her prior relationship, and had applied one the previous week. Now they were fully operational, and the time had come to ditch the condoms. Not something men were generally opposed to. Plus it would make a nice Christmas present, which was only days away. Jack was working at Ocean Surf on the big day, so they had decided on a low-key holiday without presents. When we meet up tonight, I can make Jack a happy man. The thought brought a smile to her face, and she headed out to work.
The day was heavy with threatening rain, and Sara’s blouse became stuck to her skin during the short trip from her car to Hibiscus. When she walked in, Selena was preparing the beds inside the inside massage room. Hope had followed through and ordered two more tables, and couples were scheduled several times a week now, both inside and out. The spa was appropriately festive, with a small, decorated tree and garland hanging from the check-in counter.
“Going to be an indoor massage day, huh?” Sara asked, fanning her shirt.
“I sure hope so. Though some people want their massage outdoors, no matter what the weather.” Selena came into the reception area and squinted at a distant squall line on the ocean. “Looks like the divers are goin’ to have some rain today.”
“I don’t suppose it matters if they get wet, does it?”
Selena laughed. “No, I guess not. I saw Alex and Robert workin’ this mornin’. You miss bein’ separated from your sweetie durin’ the day?”
Sara frowned at Selena’s broad grin. “We can manage to be apart for a few hours.”
Selena guffawed, bending at the waist. “I still can’t believe you two are together! At first, you practically hissed every time he came near.”
“I might have possibly misjudged the man.”
Selena had stopped laughing, but her smile remained. “I think you two make a great couple. And who knows? Maybe Half Moon Bay will have another weddin’ soon.”
Sara reared back. “Jeez. Hold up there, Selena. We’ve been together less than a month. I admit he’s very cute, but I like being a single girl. I’m not in any rush to get tied down.”
“Really? I can’t wait to get married and have a family.”
Sara leaned against the counter. “I will admit watching Hope and Alex together has warmed me to the subject a little. But Jack and I are pretty casual. And I plan to keep it that way.”
* * *
