Chapter Twenty
JULES
The warm glowof candlelight danced across Eli’s face, softening the angle of his jaw but doing nothing to ease the tightness around his eyes. I traced the rim of my wineglass, searching for words to bridge the distance that had opened between us at the renovation meeting yesterday. A distance I didn’t think I was imagining. He’d certainly heard a lot to think about, but was that all? Hoping to get to the bottom of the mystery, I’d called him and set up a date night at Rousseau’s, a local off-the-beaten-path favorite.
And now that we were here, the meeting seemed like a good place to start. I took a sip of red wine to fortify myself. “So, Chase’s proposals were certainly ambitious.”
Eli’s gaze flickered to mine, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “That’s one way to put it. I think astronomically expensive might be more accurate.”
I smiled back. “True. But many of his ideas have merit. The updated pool area and rooms could be a real draw.”
“With some real downsides.” His tone was light, but his eyes contained shadows.
I leaned forward, careful to keep my voice neutral. “We’ll need to crunch the numbers, of course. But with some creative financing and phased implementation, it could be feasible.”
Eli’s eyebrows shot up. “Creative financing? Who are you and what have you done with our by-the-book accountant?”
I rolled my eyes, fighting a smile. “I can be flexible when the situation calls for it.”
“Oh really?” Eli’s grin turned wicked. “I’ll have to remember that.”
I laughed in response, wondering if I imagined his reaction yesterday, and busied myself with a sip from my water glass. When I looked up, Eli’s expression had softened.
“Jules,” he said quietly, “about the meeting?—”
My heart leapt. “Yes?”
Eli opened his mouth, then closed it again, shaking his head. “It’s nothing. Just… a lot to process, you know?”
I nodded, forcing a smile. “Of course. It’s a huge decision.”
Eli’s shoulders relaxed slightly, and he reached across the table to squeeze my hand. “Thanks for understanding.”
The warmth of his touch reverberated up my arm, and for a moment, I let myself believe that everything would be okay. But as I met his gaze, nagging doubt lingered in the back of my mind. There was still something he wasn’t telling me.
I twirled my shrimp linguine around my fork, deciding to push a little. “So which of Chase’s proposals specificallydo you think the resort should work on first? Any thoughts?”
Eli barked a laugh, but it was devoid of his usual levity. “Oh sure, I’ve got plenty of thoughts. Like, maybe we could install a money tree in the courtyard? Or train the shorebirds to work as bellhops?”
“Come on, be serious.”
“Who says I’m not?” He winked, taking a sip of wine. “I hear mermaids make excellent housekeepers. Though the uniform might be an issue.”
“Eli…” I sighed, recognizing his deflection tactics. Part of me wanted to push harder, to peel back those layers of humor and get to the heart of what was bothering him. But another part held back.
What ifwewere what was bothering him?
He must have sensed my internal struggle because his expression softened. “Hey, if I’m distracted, it’s all your fault, not the resort’s. You look beautiful. That green dress really brings out your eyes. Not to mention cleavage.”
“Thank you,” I murmured, not mentioning that I’d chosen this dress specifically for that reason. I tried a different subject as I swept my gaze around the inviting dining room. “It was a toss-up between here and Salty’s, but I’m happy with my decision.”
As I’d hoped, Eli broke out in a smile. “I’m tempted to forbid you from ever entering that joint again without me. Dangerous territory there, Jules.”
“Forbid? Strong word.”
He raised his glass. “That’s why I said tempted. I know better than to forbid you anything.”
I touched my wineglass to his with a clink. “Smart man. But my one trip to Salty’s wasn’t exactly my jam. Present company notwithstanding, of course.”
