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Once again, Jack was the only person at the table who had no idea what was happening. He quickly glanced at Sara, and her expression had changed too. Her eyes were wide, and she swallowed hard, reaching for her water glass.
Alex spoke softly, his face still unreadable. “I don’t think this is the place for that conversation.” He signaled their server, asking for the check. “Let’s call it a night. All four of us are working tomorrow.” He insisted on paying the bill, even over both Jack’s and Sara’s protests. Jack tried to hide his relief. The wine alone was probably two hundred dollars.
Both Alex and Hope had tried to include him, but Jack felt like an outsider. Maybe his insecurity was running amuck, but he couldn’t ignore the fact that this wasn’t just a friendly dinner between two couples. Another unpleasant ripple went down Jack’s spine as he watched Alex sign the bill.
He isn’t just a concerned brother-in-law.
When he was on the boat, Alex was so friendly and easy-going it was easy to forget his past. But it was like the man could flip a switch and become someone completely different. Someone Jack did not want to get on the wrong side of. Of course Sara was comfortable around them—she was family.
Tonight, Jack couldn’t help feeling he wasn’t.
Sara regained her light-hearted, happy mood as they drove back to Serenity. “That was fun. We should make it a regular thing.” Jack remained silent, one hand gripping the wheel. As he turned off the engine, she leaned over with a smile. “You want to come upstairs? We don’t have to end the evening yet.”
“I’m pretty beat. Tommy, Alex, and I have a full-day trip tomorrow. I need to get a good night’s sleep.” He could hardly resist her soft, effervescent glow, but he needed to. Her face was inches away, and he pressed his hand against her cheek. His heart was trying to jump in five directions at once. “You’re so beautiful, Sara. How about tomorrow night?”
She tilted her head. “Are you all right?”
No. I’m in love with you, and I don’t know what to do.
“Of course,” he said instead. “Let’s meet up after I get back from the dive.”
“I’ll miss you, you know.”
He kissed her, then opened his mouth. She tasted like red wine and danger. He wanted nothing more than to take her to his apartment and make love all night long. “I’ll miss you too. More than you know.”
CHAPTER 28
Jack was in a decidedly grumpy mood when he pulled into the parking lot at Ocean Surf, and absently ran a hand over the stubble on his chin. After a restless night, he hadn’t felt like shaving and had several days of growth. Maybe I’ll just grow it out into a beard.
Even a week after the dinner with Alex and Hope, he was still stressed about his relationship with Sara. When he wasn’t with her, she was all he could think about. But her presence was a reminder of the ice he was skating on, and he hated feeling insecure. The situation was too much like his marriage. Do I need to pick one? Sara or my job? With a scowl, he left his truck and headed toward the dive shop. Mark stood in the boat, which was tied up on the other side of the boardwalk. Surprised, Jack headed his way.
Mark glanced up from his clipboard and lifted his Ocean Surf Resort cap to swipe a forearm over his brow. “Morning. Martin called in sick, so I’m driving today. It’s been a while, but I’m sure I can remember. You mind loading tanks? I need to go over the boat, and Cameron is checking in the divers.”
Of course he is. And no doubt checking out the divers. The last time Jack had worked, Martin, their usual captain, complained that Mark was letting too much slide. So, Jack wasn’t entirely surprised he wasn’t there.
The dive shop door opened, and two bikini-clad twenty-something women stepped out, laughing as Cameron trailed just behind. Jack tried not to glare. Cameron tightened his manbun and led the women on board, turning to Jack with a gleeful smile. “Nothing’s set up yet? I need to show Stacy and Allie their equipment, man. Chop chop.” Cameron sat on the side bench, patting the spots on either side as he beckoned the two women to sit.
Jack quickly schooled his face and hurried toward the gear room, doing his best to remain professional. At least there were plenty of filled tanks. Jack tossed them in the cart with more force than was strictly necessary, trying to burn off his irritation. And his indecision about Sara.
“Great. These are my two options,” he muttered to himself. “Half Moon Bay, where work is an emotional minefield because I’m dating Sara. Or here, where everything’s a mess and I have to work with an asshole.” The third option was what had kept him awake the previous night. He could continue at Half Moon Bay but not date Sara any longer. Break it off now before things got any more serious. Before he got in any deeper.
He glared at the pile of BCDs that had regrown in the corner despite his efforts to keep the area clean, then pushed the cart through the door. “Get on with it. You’ve got a job to do.”
The morning didn’t improve Jack’s mood, but he kept his seething irritation hidden. Cameron was even more of a dick than usual. He asked Stacy and Allie out to lunch, and Jack was stunned when Mark looked the other way.
As they motored back to the resort, the boss beckoned Jack over to the console. “I’ve missed having you here, but I understand you wanting a full-time job. I hope you’ll still fill in here.”
Jack hesitated, his path forward becoming clearer with every passing moment. Ocean Surf was a disaster. “Feel free to call me when you need help, but I’m not sure how available I’ll be. Alex said Half Moon Bay is about to get pretty busy.”
When they pulled up to the dock, Cameron was talking to the two women, leaning close. Jack grabbed an armful of wetsuits and headed for the gear room, miserable. Am I really ready to break up with Sara? Maybe I could work more here and stay with her?
He was just entering the room when Cameron called out behind him. “Hey, Jack. Wait up.” He dumped the wetsuits in the rinse tank as Cameron approached, a giant smile on his face. He knew exactly what Mr. Manbun was going to say. “I’m going to break for lunch. Those two chicks can’t get enough of me. If you clean up today, I’ll make it up to you.”
That’s it.
Jack whirled around, his fury erupting. “Oh, like you usually do? You’re the laziest son of a bitch I’ve ever worked with, Cameron. How do you even keep a job? I have no idea why Mark doesn’t fire you.”
Cameron, his grin now a snarl, stepped nose-to-nose with him. “Oh, shut up, you sanctimonious asshole. We’re divemasters on a tropical island, for God’s sake. Lighten up and have a little fun for once in your life.”
