Chapter Four
JULES
The evening sunilluminated the open-plan living area of my townhouse in hues of amber and gold. I smoothed a nonexistent wrinkle from my soft-gray linen sofa, my gaze sweeping over the organized bookshelves and the tasteful beach accents that adorned the walls. Everything in its place, just as I liked it. The residential district of Dove Key was in the northwestern section of the island, which made for an easy commute to work, even if I couldn’t afford an oceanview home.
A rapid series of knocks at the door broke my moment of quiet contemplation.
“Jules! Open up!” Lacey’s muffled voice called from the other side.
I barely had time to turn the handle before she burst in, a whirlwind of blonde hair and infectious enthusiasm. “Oh my God, I can’t believe we’re doing this! How did it go with Eli? When do the lessons start? I need to know everything!”
I forced a smile, trying to match her excitement. “Hello to you too, Lacey. Why don’t we sit down first with a glass of wine?”
She bounced on her toes, following me to the kitchen. “Sorry, I’m just so pumped! This is going to be amazing.”
“Glad one of us thinks so,” I muttered under my breath, reaching for a bottle of Pinot Grigio. As I poured two generous glasses, a twinge of guilt pinched at my conscience. Two drinking sessions in one week? Not a regular occurrence for me, and something else I could lay right at the door of Eli Coleridge.
“What was that?” Lacey asked, accepting her glass.
I shook my head. “Nothing. Let’s head out to the patio.”
We settled into the wicker chairs on my covered rear patio, the salt-tinged breeze ruffling the potted palms that lined the space. Lacey took a sip of wine, her eyes dancing with anticipation. “So spill! When do we start?”
I swirled the wine in my glass, buying time. “About that… there might be a slight hiccup.”
Lacey’s face fell. “What? Why? Jules, you know how important this is for the wedding!”
“I know, I know.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “It’s just, uh, I may have had a bit of a disagreement with our esteemed dive instructor.”
“Disagreement?” Lacey’s eyebrows shot up. “What happened?”
I took a long sip of wine before answering. “We got into a fight. He agreed to do the class only if I approve his requisition for new dive computers. Expensive ones.”
At first, she just stared at me, then she bit the side of her cheek. I narrowed my eyes at her, but she finally couldn’t keep her laugh inside. “Really? That sounds like Eli.”
“It’s not funny!”
She chewed on her lip. “It kind of is.”
“He was dead serious when he gave me his ultimatum. Not amused in the slightest.”
“Well, new computers don’t sound so bad,” Lacey said, becoming serious again. “Don’t we need those for diving anyway?”
I set my glass down with more force than necessary. “That’s not the point. It’s the way he went about it. He’s trying to manipulate me, Lacey. Hell, he’s blackmailing me! Using you and your wedding as leverage.”
“Yeah, you two have always been oil and water. But, Jules,” Lacey leaned forward, her voice taking on a pleading tone, “if he needs them for safety?—”
“I know the equipment is justified,” I cut her off, my frustration climbing to the surface. “But the resort’s finances are already stretched thin. We can’t just throw money around because some charming dive bum bats his eyelashes.”
Lacey’s lips twitched. “Charming, huh?”
Heat crept up my neck. “That’s not… I didn’t mean?—”
“Uh-huh.” Lacey grinned, clearly enjoying my discomfort. “So what exactly happened with this charming dive bum?”
I sighed, slumping back in my chair. “I stormed out on him.”
Lacey’s eyes widened. “Jules!”
