Chapter Three
ELI
I’d leftthe windows open in the dive classroom to let in the morning breeze. I moved with purpose, my fingers deftly arranging scuba gear on the long table standing at the front of the room. Tanks gleamed like polished treasures, each one waiting for a new adventure beneath the waves. I double-checked the straps on the buoyancy control devices, methodically checking every inch. This wasn’t just my job. It was pure passion, a love letter to the ocean that had always been my home.
But even as I focused on the equipment, my mind drifted back to two nights ago at Conch Republic when I’d walked by Lacey and Julianne’s table. Despite being mad as hell at her and not trusting myself to speak, I’d noticed her, all right. How her dark hair flowed freely over her shoulders for once instead of the tight bun, framing green eyes. Dressed casually in a white sleeveless blouse, she looked damn attractive, almost disarming. I would have neveradmitted it to anyone, but I couldn’t help noticing how gorgeous she was when she let her guard down.
How different.
That thought made my stomach sour and I scowled. She didn’t deserve my admiration. Not after what happened with the dive computers. They were a vital piece of equipment that Ineeded, and now I was out of ideas on how to get them. I’d set up the rental gear with the old dive gauge consoles that morning—each twist of my wrench a reminder of her role in this mess.
But Julianne was the last thing I should be thinking about. Hell, I didn’t even like thinking about her. So I grabbed a clipboard and jotted down notes for this morning’s scuba lesson plan, trying to push aside the simmering irritation. In front of me, rows of sturdy plastic chairs faced the front of the room behind tables, each one positioned for optimal viewing of the whiteboard, where I’d scrawled my class notes and the upcoming schedule. A tall bookcase stood against one wall, filled with fish identification books and scuba certification course packs.
Just then, the familiar ring of the dive shop bell above the glass entry door broke my concentration. I perked up, recognizing Harper’s voice mingling with my nephew Finn’s excited chatter. I stepped out of the classroom and into the main dive shop area, the vibrant aquamarine walls greeting me like an old friend.
“Guess who just got a new mask?” Five-year-old Finn’s voice rang out, filled with glee.
“Let me see it!” I called out as I entered the large room. “Uncle Eli needs to make sure it passes muster.”
I leaned against the glass counter as Finn handed me a neon green mask. Like his mother, his hair was medium brown with a light wave, but his eyes were blue instead of brown.
“I don’t remember discussing this purchase, Finn,” I teased, but a quick inspection revealed it was solid quality. “Did you get a mask without my okay?”
“Yep, Mom surprised me with it today,” he declared, spinning around like an underwater superhero before stopping in front of a wall of fins. He picked one up and turned it around in his hands. The sight warmed something in my chest. He reminded me so much of myself as a kid, filled with wild dreams and boundless energy.
“Island Market had them on closeout, and I couldn’t resist,” Harper added with a smile and a shrug.
As I nodded and handed the mask to her, I caught sight of my mother entering the shop. She surveyed the area, her silver-streaked auburn hair swaying slightly as she moved. Her warm brown eyes scanned the racks of gear. “Everything looks great, Eli. You really kept this place organized.”
“Thanks, Mom. That’s the idea.” I flashed her a smile, but I wondered at the flicker of concern in her gaze.
“Diving is the one area of his life he doesn’t allow to fall to rack and ruin,” Harper added with a broad grin.
I reached up to scratch my cheek with my middle finger and her smile widened.
“Do you need anything before your class?” Mom asked, still studying the shelves lined with BCDs.
“Nope. I think I’m good.”
“Good to hear.” She smiled, but I could tell her mind was somewhere else entirely.
“Can we snorkel now? Can we, can we?” Finn tugged at Harper’s arm, his excitement bubbling over like a shaken soda can ready to explode.
“Soon, okay?” Harper kneeled to meet his eager eyes.
Finn took the mask from her and slipped it over his eyes, pretending to peer into the depths of the ocean as hetwirled around once more in front of a wall with an aquatic scene painted on it. This was what diving was all about—freedom, exploration, being part of something totally unknown to most people.
“All right, little explorer,” I said. “You’ll make a fantastic diver one day.”
“I know!” he shouted, puffing out his chest proudly. “I’ve got you to teach me.”
“That’s my man.” I turned to Harper. “Escaping the lobby this morning?”
Her smile faltered as she straightened up and brushed a few strands of hair off her forehead. “Yeah. A guest complained about a pothole in the parking lot, so I had to get a repair lined up. We need to grade the whole thing. Or better yet, pave it.”
“Sometimes it feels like we’re stuck between a rock and a hard place,” Mom added quietly, folding her arms across her chest.
“Maybe we just need to find a balance,” I suggested, trying to play peacemaker. “We don’t have to change everything. But… a little upgrade wouldn’t hurt, right?”
