Charley laughed. “Well, at this point, I’ll take cautiously optimistic over stressed-out zombie.”
He chuckled. “Fair. I’ll call him back and let him know. You need anything?”
“Nope, I think we’re good for now. Thanks, John.”
“Alright. I’m just going to finish patching that one wall up, and then I’m going to head out.”
“Sounds good. Thanks for everything. Your crew, as well as all the subcontractors, have done an amazing job with the transformation of this place,” she told him.
He smiled. “We’re happy to help out,” he said before turning and disappearing down the hall.
Just as Charley set her clipboard down, her stomach growled loudly. It was so loud that it echoed through the quiet lobby, making her freeze mid-step.
One of the workers walking by raised an amused brow and chuckled. “You’d better get some food in that stomach,” he called over his shoulder, still laughing as he disappeared down the hall.
Charley groaned as she pressed her hand against her stomach. She hadn’t eaten since early that morning, and even then, it had only been a sad-looking blueberry protein bar she had scarfed down while answering emails. Now, with the clock ticking past three in the afternoon, her body was staging a full-on protest.
Since she had a few hours to kill before the cabinet crew was due to arrive, she decided to run out to pick up something to eat. She grabbed her wallet and sunglasses from her backpack under the table. There was a smoothie place just down the road that also served sandwiches. Plus, it was a beautiful day, so a nice walk with some fresh air would be good. Since the smoothie place was across the street from the beach, Charley decided to take the longer route and walk on the beach. She quickly changed into flip-flops and headed out the door.
As soon as she hit the beach, she kicked off her flip-flops and let her toes sink into the soft white sand. It was a gorgeous afternoon, with the sun shining brightly.
The salty breeze tousled her hair as she strolled along the sand with her flip-flops dangling from her fingers. The afternoon sun beamed down on the ocean as the waves crashed onto the shore. As she walked, she made a mental list of tasks she wanted to get completed before she went home for the day.
As she walked, loud shouting drew her attention toward the water’s edge. When she turned to see what was going on, she smiled as a group of SEAL recruits shouted at one another as they ran towards the water carrying zodiacs above their heads.
She slowed her steps, watching as they dropped the boats and then ran in and out of the waves as their instructors barked orders from the beach.
The first thing, or person that popped into her mind was Pierce, the SEAL instructor she had met two weeks ago when she was stranded on the water.
She’d admit that even with her focus on the foundation, there were times she had thought about the handsome man. She regretted not getting his number. But then again, who was she kidding. When it came to guys, she was shy. Plus, the last thing she wanted was to be mistaken for a frog hog, the kind of woman who threw herself at Navy SEALs for the bragging rights. Shedefinitely didn’t need that type of reputation, especially with her position at the Foundation. Not only that, but she had a full plate with getting herself settled. Dating wasn’t a top priority on her current “to-do” list.
Even as she thought that, Charley scanned the instructors, hoping to catch a glimpse of him, but with all of them dressed in the same cargo pants, navy blue T-shirts, and ball caps, it was impossible to tell one from the other. After a few more moments of watching the recruits struggle through the sand and waves, she continued her walk toward the smoothie shop.
When she arrived, she pushed open the door and was greeted by the sound of blenders and upbeat island music. The little place had bright orange walls and lots of tropical foliage, adding to its tropical vibe. The energy in the place brought a smile to her face.
She got in line and scanned the menu, though she already knew what she was going to order. When it was her turn to order, she smiled at the cashier. “I’ll have a large strawberry-banana smoothie and a chicken salad croissant, please. And could you please add the protein powder to the smoothie?”
The cashier rang her up, and Charley tapped her card on the credit card machine to pay.
“It’ll be up in a few minutes,” the cashier told her, and Charley nodded as she stepped off to the side to wait.
As she stood there scrolling through more emails, a woman approached. She was older than Charley, but most of the people she interacted with were older, considering Charley had just turned twenty-five. The woman with long black hair, pulled into a loose ponytail, smiled at Charley.
“Hi, I don’t mean to interrupt, but I noticed your shirt. Are you with the Jacob Hardesty Foundation?” The friendly woman asked.
Charley glanced down at the blue T-shirt that Alex ordered for all the volunteers.
She smiled at the woman. “I am,” she said. “I’m Charley, the Executive Director of the West Coast expansion.”
The woman’s grin grew bigger. “Oh, my gosh! I know Ace and Alex. My name is Jessica,” she said, holding her hand out.
Charley grinned as she shook the woman’s hand. “How do you know Ace and Alex?” she asked.
“My husband is a commander here on the West Coast. He and Derek Connors are really good friends and attended BUD/s together.”
“Oh, wow! Small world,” Charley said laughingly. Derek was not only Alex’s adoptive dad but also Ace’s commanding officer.
The woman grinned. “It sure is. So, how are things with the foundation here coming along? If I read the email I got correctly, isn’t it set to open in a few weeks?”
