He laughed, and the sound was so unforced and honest that I nearly found myself smiling back.
“I’m pretty sure you’re the first student I’ve ever had who actually read the damn thing. Well done.”
I arched a brow. “Did you just compliment me?”
His smile fell as he screwed one eye shut in concentration. “Oh, shit. You’re right. But I think you said something nice to me too. About me being such an amazing instructor and all that. Ready for the first pool session?”
The four of us were scheduled for our first underwater breathing session later in the week, and I couldn’t feign boredom about it. “I am. I’m realizing I haven’t done much in the way of excitement in a while, so I’m looking forward to it.”
“Ah, there’s that sense of adventure again.”
“Some of us take different paths in life. You seem to be living your adventure every day under the water.”
Eli lit up like Times Square, and this time I couldn’t help the smile that rose on my face. “That’s a good way to put it! Nothing beats being out on the ocean. You discover something unusual or unexpected all the time. It’s amazing. But trust me, there are days when leading dives is a very tough job.” He paused and studied me for a moment. “You might think about diving into something more than just numbers someday. Life’s too short to stay tethered to a desk.”
Heat rose across my cheeks as he leaned back, clearly enjoying our exchange. And just like that, he broke themood. Eli Coleridge was the last person I was going to take career advice from. I picked up a stack of papers and straightened them. “Right, because you’re such an expert on responsibility.”
“Fair enough,” Eli conceded, holding up his hands in mock surrender. And not acting at all upset that I’d needled him. “But maybe there’s room for both adventure and responsibility. You might surprise yourself.”
I arched an eyebrow. “I think I’ve had quite enough surprises in my life, thank you very much.” His gaze sharpened, and a pang of vulnerability twisted my gut. I’d already shared much more than I’d intended. Pressing my lips together, I tried to regain control of the conversation. “You’re lucky, you know. To have grown up here, with such a big family, and with Sunset Siesta at your doorstep. It must be nice having such deep roots.”
A crooked smile grew on his lips. “Oh, we’ve got roots all right. More like weeds, if you ask some of the locals. The Coleridge clan has a bit of a reputation for stirring up trouble.” He laughed again, shaking his head. “You should hear some of the stories about my oldest brother, Ben. Let’s just say for years, he made it his personal mission to keep the island gossip mill running.”
I couldn’t help but smile at that. “I’ve heard some of those rumors.”
“Hey now,” Eli protested, but his eyes were twinkling. “We’re not all bad. Just… colorful. Makes life interesting, you know?”
I felt a twinge of envy at the obvious affection in his voice. “Ben has been making a determined effort to turn his life around. I think that’s obvious to everyone now. Still, you should appreciate what you have. Not everyone is so fortunate.”
Eli’s expression softened. “You’re right. I do appreciateit, more than you know. Well, Dove Key, and maybe even Sunset Siesta, does need its share of responsible folks. Keeps the chaos at bay, I suppose.”
I blinked, thrown by the sincerity in his voice. Once again, he’d disarmed me. For a moment, the air between us felt charged. I cleared my throat and tore my eyes from his, scrambling to regain my professional demeanor. “Yes, well. Someone has to keep this place running smoothly.”
Eli leaned forward, bracing his forearms on my desk, a playful smirk creeping back onto his face. “And you do that very well, Jules. But I’m starting to suspect there’s a little adventurer hiding in there somewhere. I dare you to let her out.”
I crossed my arms defensively, trying to suppress the flutter he sparked with those words. What happened to that child who used to plan elaborate adventures and treasure hunts with her best friend? The college girl who was the first to suggest a new place to explore?
You know what happened to her. Life happened. Travis happened. Kala happened.
I straightened in my chair. “You think coaxing me into the water is going to unleash some hidden mermaid? I hardly think so.”
He laughed, and the sound warmed the air between us. “You said it yourself. That it’s past time to have a little adventure, and I think diving is just the thing. Plus, I’ve got a secret weapon. Me!” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
I bit my cheek to keep from laughing. “I guess we’ll find out Saturday, won’t we?” The idea of spending more time with him made my stomach twist in an unusual, fluttery way. “You’ve already done enough today. I need to get back to work, assuming you’d like to get paid.”
“All right.” His eyes danced as he stood and headedtoward the door. “See you at the pool session, Jules. Don’t worry. I promise not to let you drown.”
I managed to delay until he was out of sight before I let my full smile escape. And with a lighter mood, I turned back to the payroll reports.
The poolat Sunset Siesta glittered under the afternoon sun. A chorus of excited chatter and splashing filled the air, but the resort guests were in a section entirely removed from where the five of us were. I stood at the edge, tugging self-consciously at my one-piece swimsuit as Eli strode confidently to the center of the group.
“All right, future merpeople!” Eli called out, his voice carrying easily over the din. “Today, we’re going to take the first step to becoming bona fide scuba superstars. Or at least get you comfortable enough not to panic when a curious grouper decides to say hello.”
A ripple of nervous laughter spread through the wedding party. I fought the urge to groan but couldn’t help noticing how at ease Eli seemed, his tanned skin practically glowing as he gestured animatedly.
“Now, we’ve got some key skills to cover,” he continued, his gaze landing on me with a mischievous glint. “I’m sure Jules here will be a natural at the fine art of regulator recovery. After all, it’s only fitting for our resident Verne to lead us on this underwater adventure, right?”
I groaned out loud. “Coleridge, your jokes are horrible.”
