Page 111 of Summer Tease
“Didn’t you already burn through it saving manatees?”
He blows a breath out. “It was crazy, GG. Wish you could’ve seen it, except it was also kind of heartbreaking. The mom and her calf got into waters that were too shallow—over in the mangroves. The calf got stuck in some fishing line with multiple hooks, and she must have panicked. So, I spent the day trying to pretend I know how to render first aid to manatees while waiting for people to arrive from the mainland whoactuallyknow how. They did, only to realize they couldn’t just free them; they needed to be transported and taken for observation.” He sighs and slides the fingers of both hands through mine. “But they’re in good hands now.”
“Me too,” I say with a little smile. “I assume you have paperwork to fill out tomorrow?”
He shuts his eyes. “So much.”
“Will you even have time to prepare for the meeting?”
“I’ll make it work,” he says. “Don’t worry about it.”
“I feel like I’m abandoning you. But I just don’t think I can go in front of the council after what happened. I’d end up saying something I regret and ruining what you’re working toward.”
“Gemma,” he says, running his hand down my arm and leaving chills in its wake. “I get it. I really do. And you don’t need to feel bad about it.”
Maybe he’s right. But Idofeel bad about it. “The buyers pulled out.”
He grimaces. “I’m so sorry.”
I shake my head. “I think I knew they would. It still sucks, though.”
He nods. “So, what does this mean?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. I don’t know anything right now, honestly. I’m feeling torn in all sorts of directions. I want to stay on the island, but I alsodon’twant to—and I don’t even have the option once the house sells, which I don’t actually want to happen, but it has to.”
He pulls me into his arms again. “I’m going to throw my weight behind the pull from Sunset Harbor. I want you to stay, Gemma.Reallywant you to. But I understand it’s not that easy for you.”
I swallow and shut my eyes. Never have I wanted to grant a wish so badly. He has no clue how much power he has over my desire to stay. “Beau, I have no job, and even if I did, the houses here are way out of my price range. Unless you’re offering me a place at Seaside Oasis? Some kind of grandkids-stay-free deal?”
He chuckles and pulls back to look at me. “There are people on the island you could stay with, GG.”
I shake my head. “It’s not just that. Maybe I’m being too prideful, but I don’t know how to live in a place where so many people feel the way they do about me and my family. And I know you think I’m wrong, but why? The evidence I see says we’re not appreciated or wanted here.”
His phone goes off, and he lets his head fall back in aggravation as he pulls it out. The man needs a break. He looks at the number and grimaces. “I’ve got to take this.”
I nod. “And then get some sleep.”
“Definitely that. We’ll talk more later, okay? Don’t give up on Sunset Harbor yet, though.”
“Okay.” Later means tomorrow, which is fine with me. I mean, not really. I don’t want to be away from him even that long, but I’m trying to rein in this monster that is my feelingsfor Beau. Especially if whateverwe have going on between us is dead on arrival.
He steals a quick kiss before putting his phone to his ear. “This is Officer Palmer,” he says, walking toward his house. He turns his head when he reaches the gate and blows a kiss to me.
I love him.
When I wakeup the next morning, I have two texts from Beau. One is a goodnight text from well past midnight, which means he didn’t get to go to sleep right after he left to take that call. The other is from just a half hour ago.
Beau
Totally forgot about the fundraiser for the community pool. I’ve got to be at the Belacourt Resort to help out.
I breathe deeply. I’m not letting the community pool thing ruffle me today. It’s not worth it. Let the island scrimp and save for the pool they could have had all these years if they’d just appreciated my dad and his work. Not that they’ll have to scrimp and save. Walker Collins—pro golfer and Sunset Harbor resident—is headlining the fundraiser, which means they’ll probably raise what they need pretty easily.
I do some more job searching, clean the house, then get takeout from Sunrise Café—steak and cheese sandwiches. For old times’ sake. I get a call from Cat Keene midway through eating.
“Hey,” she says a bit breathlessly. “I don’t have much time since the fundraiser is underway right now, but I have a quick question for you.”
“Sure,” I say. “Shoot.”
