Chapter Eight
JULES
The gritty smellof stale beer and peanut shells hit me as soon as Lacey and I walked into Salty’s Tavern. I wrinkled my nose, noting the contrast to the polished mahogany and craft beers of Conch Republic, the usual haunt. Though Tropical Hops was a great hangout, my need to separate my business and leisure personas prevented me from spending my off-duty time there. So Conch Republic had been our setting for get-togethers for years.
But not tonight.
Eli’s teasing about my nickname made me remember that Ilikedadventure. But somewhere along the way, I’d forgotten that. So I suggested the local dive bar with a dubious reputation for our girls’ night out. Lacey had paused over the phone, then agreed. It was dark inside, with old playbills adorning the walls, and plenty of locals were celebrating Friday night. And my natural caution wasseriously considering whacking my adventurous side over the head with a hammer.
“All right, Jules. This place adventurous enough for you?” Lacey grinned, dragging me toward a sticky-looking bar.
“That’s one word for it,” I said, gingerly perching on a barstool. But as I sipped my beer—admittedly pretty good—my shoulders relaxed. The jukebox was playing an old Jimmy Buffett song, and the salty air drifting in from the open windows reminded me why I loved living on Dove Key.
“So.” I turned to Lacey. “Getting excited for the big day?”
Lacey’s smile faltered. “About that… I’ve been thinking. Are we sure about this whole underwater thing? I mean, what if I panic? Or flood my mask? Or?—”
“Oh, no.” I groaned. “Lacey, please tell me you’re not getting cold feet. We’ve put so much work into this.”
“Not about marrying Daniel!” Lacey bit her lip. “It’s just, scuba diving isn’t exactly my forte. Maybe we should rethink?—”
“Nope.” I cut her off and pointed a stern finger at her. “You are not backing out now. We’ll practice more, okay? Eli can give you some extra lessons if you’re nervous, and you’ll be a pro in no time.”
At the mention of Eli’s name, my traitorous heart gave a little flutter. I pushed the feeling aside, focusing on Lacey. “Trust me, it’ll be beautiful. Daniel will cry manly tears inside his mask when he sees you.”
Lacey laughed, tension easing from her shoulders. “You’re right. I’m just being silly. And hey, if we add another session, that means more time with Eli, right?” She waggled her brows at me.
I gave her a stern stare but couldn’t quite suppress mysmile. As much as I hated to admit it, I was thoroughly enjoying our scuba lessons. And Eli. He was a patient teacher and watching him glide effortlessly through the pool water was… distracting, to say the least. We’d had to postpone our next set of classes due to a conflict in Daniel’s schedule, and I hadn’t been able to deny the disappointment I’d felt.
A band strolled onto the makeshift stage in one corner and started tuning their instruments. Lacey glanced around the dark bar and smiled. “This place isn’t so bad. Maybe its reputation isn’t deserved, kind of like a Coleridge?”
I swept my gaze around, taking in the neon beer signs, the worn pool tables, and the eclectic mix of locals. There was something oddly comforting about the bar’s unassuming charm.
“It’s got character,” I replied, tracing a finger through the condensation on my glass. “And sometimes it’s good to step out of your comfort zone, right?”
Lacey nearly choked on her drink. “Who are you and what have you done with Jules?”
I laughed, surprising myself with how genuine it felt. “Hey, I can be spontaneous.”
“Sure, if by spontaneous you mean color-coding your planner instead of alphabetizing it.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but the truth was, she had a point. I’d been so focused on work that I’d let a whole side of my personality fade away. Maybe this change of scenery wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
“I’ll admit, it’s nice to do something different,” I conceded. Then I narrowed my eyes. “But don’t go spreading that around. I have a reputation to maintain.”
“Don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with me. Now, how about we order another round?”
I nodded, and Lacey flagged down the bartender. On impulse, I ordered a scotch on the rocks as a nod to stepping outside my usual beer or wine. As I tried not to choke on it, my mind drifted to Eli during our private scuba session. How he was continually surprising me. The way his humor, which used to irritate me to no end, now relaxed me when I was unsure about a skill. The way his dark-blue eyes crinkled when he smiled. How his strong, assured hands had steadied me when I’d wobbled…
“Uh-hmm.” Lacey’s loud throat clearing brought me back. “You’re thinking about him again, aren’t you?”
I straightened, adopting my most professional tone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh please.” Lacey gave me a saucy grin. “You get this dreamy look whenever Eli’s name comes up. It’s cute, really.”
“I do not,” I protested, even as a traitorous blush crept up my neck, and I took another gulp. I was feeling pleasantly buzzed now. “Eli and I have a strictly professional relationship.”
“Uh-huh. And I’m the Queen of England.”
