AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh yeah. And with the three grandkids runnin’ around, there’d be plenty to keep me busy.” He ran a gnarled finger over the white gauze. “Maybe livin’ alone isn’t the best idea anymore. But I’ve never lived anywhere except St. Croix.”
“It’s hard to start over. I’ve done it myself. But it sounds like you’ve got a lot to look forward to also.”
Jack drove Dexter home, the older man’s head bobbing on his shoulders as he dozed. While he changed into pajamas and got ready for the night, Jack cleaned up the blood in the kitchen. There was plenty on the counter, now mostly dry several hours after the event. No, you definitely shouldn’t be living alone anymore, Old Timer.
By the time Dexter shuffled into the small kitchen, the air was filled with pine scent from the bottle of cleaner the divemaster had found under the sink. “Ah—you didn’t have to do that!”
Jack laughed. “I wasn’t going to leave it like this. And you need to rest. Can I get you anything else?”
“No! Go on. I’m sure you have to work tomorrow.”
“It’s not even eleven o’clock. I’ll get plenty of sleep.” He headed toward the door, weaving through the cluttered living room. “I’ll check on you tomorrow morning, ok?”
Dexter nodded. “Thanks again, Jack.”
When Jack parked his truck, the lights were still off in Sara’s apartment. Is she asleep, or is she out with someone? He stared at it for several minutes before trudging into his home and retrieving a Leatherback from the fridge. He took a seat on his back patio, too keyed up to go to bed right away. Replaying the evening, he shook his head. Dexter was smart enough to ask for help when needed and strong enough to face up to uncomfortable truths. Jack raised his bottle in an imaginary toast. “Good for you, Dexter. Maybe some of your common sense will rub off on me.”
CHAPTER 32
“I really had higher expectations from a resort spa.” Lucille frowned at Sara in the mirror. The sixty-five-year-old woman had arrived with shaggy dark-brown hair, complete with three-inch steel-gray roots. She wanted Sara to dye the whole thing chic gray. She had given Lucille a blunt bob and deep conditioning treatment, followed by a new color in a stunning soft silver. But the woman hadn’t stopped complaining the entire time. Now finished, she turned her head this way and that, inspecting her new hair. “Well, this looks reasonable, so at least that’s a consolation.”
“I’m glad you like it. We’re looking at ways to expand the spa right now.”
Lucille narrowed her eyes. “Good, but it’s too late for me. I really wanted my massage on the beach. I can’t understand how that isn’t an option here. The woman who owns this place assured me it was a high priority. At least she has some idea of minimum standards, even if she’s not meeting them.”
“Yes, Hope mentioned that she’d had a very encouraging discussion with a guest who gave her lots of ideas. That must have been you! She was very excited when she told me about it.” Sara said all this with a straight face, ever the professional.
Hope had actually plodded into the spa first thing that morning, declaring to Sara and Selena, “Brace yourselves. Queen Bitch of the Universe is coming in here today. Do I need to hide the scissors, Sara?”
Sara had laughed and assured Hope she could refrain from stabbing anyone. But after an entire afternoon with Lucille, she wasn’t sure anymore. The woman had booked their full package, a massage followed by a mani-pedi and finished off with a complete makeover. It was a four-hour package that had felt like four years.
“You really have a lot of work ahead of you if you want to position this place as an elegant boutique getaway, especially this sorry excuse for a spa. The resort might be sufficient for divers,” Lucille sniffed the word with a wrinkled nose, “but some of us have higher tastes.”
The worst thing was, Sara couldn’t disagree with her. Though she doesn’t have to be such a bitch about it. Sara whisked off the plastic cape as Lucille shifted herself from the chair. “Maybe you’ll come back next year,” Sara said, trying to stay positive. “We might have a beautiful new facility then.” Yeah, right.
Lucille signed the room charge receipt with a heavy sigh. “I sincerely doubt that. I know how slowly things happen in these places.” She raised her head sharply, inspecting herself in the mirror before turning her attention to Sara. “But I admit you’re excellent. You really should reevaluate your employment here. You can do better.” Raising a bony index finger tipped with a lavender acrylic nail, she pointed at Sara. “Think about it.” With a regal nod, she turned and walked out the door.
As Sara drove home, her frustration threatened to boil over and she banged her fist on the steering wheel. “Do I really want to see Jack every day at work? It’s over. Hope wants the best for me, and if that means striking out on my own, she’ll support me. I know that.” She marched into her apartment and grabbed a Leatherback out of the refrigerator. As she took a long pull, Lucille’s words played like a movie in her head. She slammed the bottle on the kitchen counter. “Maybe the horrible old hag is right. It’s time to think about my future, and finally step out of Hope’s shadow. And Wayne’s more than a little interesting—I know what I’m doing.”
She hurried to a drawer in the kitchen island and lifted Wayne’s business card. She stared at it, drumming her fingers on the quartz counter. This could be one hell of an opportunity, in more than one respect. “If I want a quick answer, I’d better call.” Quickly tapping out his number, it went to Wayne’s voice mail, so she left a message. Maybe I’ll email too. She had just opened her laptop when her phone rang. She picked it up with a smile. “Hello? This is Sara.”
“Sara Collins,” Wayne drawled, and a small thrill rippled through her stomach. “My evening just got better. What can I do for you?”
“I was wondering if your tour guide offer was still available.”
“It is, but I’m afraid the price has gone up.” The smile was clear in his voice. “You might have to join me for a drink again.”
A grin rose to her lips as well. “Is that right? I guess that depends on how impressed I am by what you show me.” She held her breath, but he didn’t strike her as a man who was intimidated by a bold woman. He laughed, a long, confident sound, and it did wonders for her ego. Confidence flooded through her.
“I’ll be at Serenity the day after tomorrow. Can you make some time during the afternoon?”
She leaned her elbows on the counter, letting her voice become smoky. “That’s my day off. I can make all the time in the world.”
“Excellent. Why don’t you meet me in the lobby at 1 p.m. and I’ll drive you to the site? We can investigate it together. I’m pretty sure you’ll be impressed.”
“Don’t go getting my hopes up too much, Wayne. I’d hate to be let down.”
“I can assure you, that is the last thing on my mind.”
