“That doesn’t sound like the image you want to portray,” Chase said before taking a sip of beer.
“Exactly! But you know how she is—joyless killjoy mode activated.” I huffed and forced my hand to relax around my beer glass. “Last time I asked for new wetsuits, she dragged me into an endless lecture about the budget and unnecessary expenses. She’s totally impossible. You should have never hired her, Harper.”
“Oh, stop!” Harper added with a laugh. “You’re just pissed off because she’s the one woman you can’t bat your pretty blue eyes at and have her melt. She’s damn good at her job.”
I leaned forward, lowering my voice as if sharing a secret. “She runs the place like it’s a military operation. ‘Expenses must be justified!’ More like ‘Eli must be punished at every opportunity!’”
“Okay, okay.” Chase laughed, shaking his head. “Butmaybe you’re exaggerating her nature a tad? Don’t forget I know her too.”
“Exaggerating? Me? Never!” I grinned, spreading my arms wide. “I’m a beacon of rational thought.”
“More like a beacon of drama,” Harper added with a smirk.
“Fine. Maybe I’m a little melodramatic,” I admitted, shrugging. “But she’s relentless. If there’s one person who can turn a casual chat into a miserable financial audit, it’s Julianne.”
“She’s just doing her job,” Harper said. “You know she cares about this resort as much as we do.”
“I doubt that. Plus, she could tone down theaccountant-from-hellvibe a bit,” I argued. “I mean, can’t a guy just ask for a few upgrades without feeling like he’s entering a courtroom?”
“Look, Eli,” Chase said, leaning closer. “Just try framing it differently. Instead of asking for money, present it as an investment. Show her how it could attract more divers, maybe even increase profits.”
“Investment, huh?” I mulled that over, picturing Julianne’s skeptical face. Her black hair pulled into that no-nonsense bun that fit her perfectly. I narrowed my eyes at him. “That sounds suspiciously like something a responsible adult would say.”
“Exactly!” Chase encouraged, then blew it by adding, “Julianne does have a point. It’s not like you’re exactly known for your budgeting skills, Eli.”
“So what? You two both manage to be responsible adults without carrying your own personal black cloud everywhere. God, I can’t stand that woman.”
“Well, she’s not exactly your biggest fan, either,” Harper added, her expression softening into a knowingsmile. “Just remember, sometimes it helps to be more professional. You might surprise yourself.”
“Professionalism is overrated,” I replied, waving a hand casually. “What’s wrong with a little charm? I thought I was running a dive shop, not a Fortune 500 company.”
“Charm can only take you so far,” Chase said, then heaved a sigh. “Well, whatever happens, I’ll be there to listen to your melodrama afterward.”
“Aw, thanks. You’re the best.” As I glanced over at Harper, who was staring into her beer again, guilt twisted inside me. She carried so much for everyone else, and I hated to add my burdens to hers. So I raised my glass in a toast, determined to lighten the mood. “To diving, family businesses, and maybe even new computers!”
“To new computers!” they echoed, clinking their glasses against mine.
I was glad to see those lines disappear on Harper’s brow as she grinned. As I laughed along, my humor felt a little forced. But hey, it was better than facing the reality of the battle with Julianne. That would come soon enough.
