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“Tomorrow will tell.”
Selena tilted her head quizzically. “You don’t look too excited. You were just about glowin’ when you and Jack first started goin’ out.”
“I’m being more cautious this time.” Jack’s face entered her mind, and she tried to push it away. His thick hair and those big, brown eyes. Stop it. Move on with your life. “He’s a lot of things Jack isn’t. Sophisticated, dashing.” Hell, he has his own empire. And she respected that he had worked hard for his accomplishments. No silver spoon for Wayne. “At least I’m not making the same mistake twice.”
* * *
When Sara got home, Jack’s lights were on and she determinedly ignored them, climbing the stairs to her apartment. Her phone rang as soon as she entered, and the ringtone brought a wide smile to her face as she rushed to answer. “Marissa!”
“Well, you’re happy to hear from me.”
“Of course I am! I miss you.”
“Is that right? The phone works both ways, you know.”
Sara flopped onto the couch. “I’m sorry. I haven’t done a great job keeping in touch.”
“It’s not your style. You’re an out of sight, out of mind kind of girl, so I forgive you. How is life without your enemy to lover, back to enemy?”
“We’re hardly enemies. Just not lovers anymore.” Sara rubbed her eyes. Wayne was confident and alluring, but Jack was... Jack. And every bit as good looking in other ways. God, I miss him.
“I hear regret in your voice, Sara.”
“Doesn’t matter. He broke up with me.”
The sound of a long held breath came over the phone, then Marissa rushed it back out. “You gave me the impression you were very casual with Jack, but it doesn’t sound that way now. Are you in love with him?”
Sara stared with unfocused eyes out the dark window. Marissa was always a good sounding board, but it still felt strange to admit it out loud. “Yeah, I am. I didn’t realize it until we broke up, and now it’s too late.”
“Sounds like you two should talk about this.”
Sara frowned, her gaze sharpening again. “Hell, no. I’m moving on. I’ve got a date tomorrow.”
“Really? Are you moving on, or moving away?”
“Does it matter? Jack never said he loved me. He broke up with me because he was afraid his job would be threatened.”
“Because he didn’t want to get involved any deeper. I think both of you were more serious than you’d admit.”
Sara sighed. “Maybe. I’m having a tough time deciding what I want. In my job and in a relationship.”
“This is the first time I’ve ever heard you so contemplative. Maybe you are ready to settle down in St. Croix.”
“Hold your horses. I’m going out with Wayne tomorrow night. He’s the successful real estate developer I told you about.”
“Since when have you cared what a man did?”
“I don’t really. But it’s a good feeling that someone like him is interested in me. He’s actually been pretty persistent.”
“Sara, any man with half a brain would be interested in you.” She sighed. “Well, have fun with your tycoon tomorrow. But I want to go on the record here that I think you and Jack have some unresolved issues. Talk to you soon.”
* * *
Late the next afternoon, Sara stood beside Wayne on a stretch of gravel just behind a salt-and-pepper beach. In the distance to their north was the restaurant where they were going to have dinner. To the south was scrub brush, but most of the land had been cleared and leveled. The sand sloped sharply to the waterline, where the waves crashed onto the shore. The sound was loud and powerful.
“What do you think?” Wayne asked.
“It’s not nearly as peaceful as the other site. The vibe of this place isn’t nearly as tranquil.”
