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As her client signed the charge slip, Sara swept her gaze across the room. Yes, Hibiscus was small, but nicely furnished and decorated. Professional and yet homey. You stuck your neck out and nearly got it chopped off.
The woman was their final client for the day and Selena sighed. “I’m out of here. I need to check on the beach cottage. Uncle’s got a prospective tenant, so I need to make sure it’s presentable. See you tomorrow.”
Sara quickly locked up and descended the stairs. Surface Interval was tied up, and Alex was spraying down the deck, the water pouring over the stern platform. Her mind now free to imagine the meeting, the flutter in Sara’s stomach returned as she joined him. Alex saw her and smirked as he shut off the water. “As tempting as it is, I’ll refrain from blasting you with the hose.”
“Good plan, unless you enjoy sharing Cruz’s bed instead of Hope’s.” She peered into a bucket which contained a large branching length of coral. “What’s this?”
“A damaged coral piece I came across and brought back. There’s some empty space on one of the trees and this would be perfect. You want to help start it?”
She smiled at him. “Of course. Thanks.” Shading her face with her hand, she gazed toward the house reef. “And by now, you and Hope might be new prospective owners. Have you heard anything?”
“Just that they’re done and on their way back.” He grabbed the bucket and moved it under the protective canopy as voices echoed down the pier. Both of them quickly stepped off the boat as Hope approached, with Jack and Dexter just behind. All three were smiling.
“Mission accomplished!” Hope held both arms up in a touchdown signal.
Alex shook Dexter’s hand. “Congratulations.”
“It does feel pretty good,” Dexter said.
Sara gave Hope a hug, then moved to Jack’s side, finally feeling like some good may have come from the whole Wayne disaster.
“Alistair said we should be able to close within a couple of weeks, since it’s a cash offer,” Hope said to Alex. “I have a copy of it. You can add your signature and we’ll send it back to him tonight.”
“What was the final price?” Alex asked.
“$1.7 million, exactly what the analysis determined was fair market value.”
Jack scowled as he turned toward Dexter. “I’m really glad you didn’t sign a contract with Wayne.”
Dexter broke into a rough laugh. “Not as glad as I am!”
“Best of all, when he contacts you, he’ll be too late,” Sara said, a warm glow spreading through her.
Dexter’s face fell. “Oh. I forgot about that.”
“What?” Jack asked.
“He called me this mornin’. I told him I was havin’ second thoughts and wanted some more time to mull it over. Before I knew it, he had talked me into meetin’ him at the property first thing tomorrow mornin’. At eight o’clock.”
“Just call him back and tell him you already signed a contract with someone else,” Hope said.
Dexter shook his head. “Don’t like the idea of that. Seems weaselly. I gave him my word that I’d be there.”
“But there’s no reason to meet him now,” Sara said.
He straightened, jutting out his chin. “Doesn’t matter. Better to meet in person and get it over with. Can’t say I’m lookin’ forward to it, though.”
“I’m off tomorrow,” Jack said. “So I’ll go with you. I don’t like the idea of you facing Wayne alone. Especially after he finds out he’s been outwitted.”
Dexter scoffed. “He wouldn’t hurt an old man.”
“Hopefully not, but I wouldn’t put it past him,” Alex said. “I think I’ll join the party too. April’s working tomorrow morning. I’ll tell her an emergency came up and she’s going to have to combine both groups.”
Dexter was still frowning. “You don’t have to go to all that trouble. Jack and I can talk to him.”
A slow smile crept across Alex’s face that sent a shiver down Sara’s spine. “It’s no trouble, I assure you,” Alex said. “In fact, I’m looking forward to it.”
“You expecting trouble?” Jack asked.
