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“Well, if Heather gets the job, he’ll have to figure out something to say.” Sara took his hand and they strolled down the beach. “But we’ve got a party to attend.”
* * *
The champagne cork arced across the great room, rebounding off the wall above Cruz’s bed. The dog flinched and raised his head, sending the happy assemblage a grumpy look before rising to scratch at the sliding-glass door. Wearing a guilty look, Alex hurried to let him out. “Sorry, buddy. I didn’t think that would fly so far.”
Laughing, Sara accepted the filled flute from Hope and leaned closer to Jack. He pressed a hand against the small of her back before moving it lower and giving her a healthy squeeze. Without changing her expression, she bumped his hip with hers. Jack sent a sly glance her way, but returned his hand to her back, accepting his own champagne.
As Alex returned to the group clustered around their kitchen island, Hope pushed a glass toward Dexter before finishing with hers and Alex’s. She raised it and a smile lit her face. “To Half Moon Bay, complete once again. And to the importance of family too.” Her smile widened after she directed the last sentence at Dexter, and five champagne glasses clinked over the granite island.
“My son is gettin’ my new cottage all ready,” Dexter said with a laugh. “He’s beside himself with excitement. My house in Frederiksted goes on the market next week, right after I move. And I don’t mind tellin’ you, all this extra money will come in handy too.”
Jack clapped him on the shoulder. “We’re all really happy for you, Dexter. This will be a great move for you. I can feel it.”
Sara swallowed a lump in her throat, watching Jack. He is such a good man. And I almost lost him because I was too afraid to admit how I felt. Too proud.
“I think so too. It just took some time to come around to it.” Dexter turned his lined face to Hope and Alex. “And havin’ you two buy that property was fate. Don’t try to convince me differently.”
Alex planted a kiss on top of Hope’s head as she smiled back at Dexter. “You don’t need to convince us. Alex and I know something about fate.”
“I’ve been driving into Frederiksted in the afternoons,” Alex said. “Keeping an eye on Wayne’s sailboat. It didn’t take too much digging to find out where he was tied up. And I am extremely happy to announce he took off yesterday. Hopefully never to return.” A round of cheers went up, and Alex opened another bottle, topping everyone off.
“You know,” Hope said, “I have very mixed feelings about Serenity. I never would have rented your apartment if I had known he owns it. Yet, if I hadn’t done that, you and Jack might not have gotten together.”
“Possibly,” Sara said. “Or Jack might have just tried to kill me for several more months before we figured out we didn’t actually hate each other. Being neighbors just sped up the process.”
Jack grinned at her. “Who knows how much damage I might have done?” He shook his head. “I’ve always winced at rent time, but now I really do, knowing I’m lining that guy’s pocket.”
Dexter laughed. “Yeah, you guys might want to think about somewhere else to live.”
Sara smiled to herself and took another sip. She and Jack had one more stop to make, but he didn’t know that.
Dexter and Jack became engrossed in a discussion about Dexter’s new adventure. Hope touched Sara’s hand. “Thank you for sending Heather our way. I talked to her just before I came up here, and thought she was great. Plus, she’s another Wayne Timmons refugee. What’s not to love?”
Sara scowled. “She said Wayne fired her for ‘excessive tardiness’, but I believe her side of it.”
“Oh, I don’t have any doubt. When she indicated she wasn’t interested in him personally, she was of no further use. I asked if she wanted to pursue a harassment claim, but she just wants to put it behind her.”
Hope glanced toward the front of the house before turning back to Sara. “Come with me. I’d like to show you something.” She led the way to her home office, unfurling a large architectural drawing on top of her wooden desk.
Sara joined her, peering over her shoulder. “Ooh, drawings for the new bungalow outdoor showers?”
“No, this is something else. But it’s part of the same first phase, along with Half Moon Grotto. Alex and I will be going to Miami soon for another auction. But I want to show you this specifically. I just got the drawings yesterday.”
Sara studied the schematic of a large rectangular structure, puzzled. “It looks like a big building.”
“Yes, it is. The extra property on the bay finally gave me exactly the location I’ve been looking for. This building will be situated at the north end of the resort. One long side of the rectangle will face the ocean with the other facing the jungle, showcasing both aspects of the resort.” She looked up and met Sara’s eyes. “This is the plan for the new spa.”
Goose bumps rose on Sara’s arms. “That sounds incredible. The building looks huge.”
“It will be. The idea is to make it a destination spa, so it will entice locals and even guests from other resorts. Is this more of your idea of what Hibiscus should be?”
“This is my dream,” Sara whispered.
“I know. It’s part of mine too. But I can’t make it a success—this isn’t my area of expertise. Only you can. Design it from the ground up, Sara.”
Sara gasped, her heart thrumming as everything came together in her mind. “Now I know why I didn’t want to spend the $100,000. I want to put it toward this. Can I buy an ownership stake?”
“Of course. That’s the whole point, silly!”
