Page 36 of The Billionaire's Teacher

“Wes?” I turned to him.

“Just a good dive site for moderate skill levels. I don’t think I’d bring beginners this far. We found enough easy spots farther north.”

My lips twitched and I fought a smile at Wes’s bland tone. He obviously saw through Danny.

I glanced at Danny. “I was thinking the blue hole. But I wasn’t sure if it was still good. I know there was a late fall storm near there.”

Danny shrugged. “The storm missed it. That’s a good spot. You staying on island after?”

“I don’t think so.” I didn’t want to give Danny any ammo to push for us to crash at his place. It was one of his favorite tactics.

“Then I’ll meet you out there. Give me thirty before you start?”

“Okay. Thanks, Danny.”

Danny lifted an eyebrow. “You’re paying, right?”

“Of course.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone. I’d slid money into the case that morning. I tugged it free and held it out.

Danny plucked the bills from my hand, counted them, and nodded. “Thanks.”

I turned and started back toward the boat.

Wes jogged a few steps and caught up. “Great guy.”

“He’s not…ugh. Yeah. But he’s one of the best. I’ll give you info on the other two people I like here and you can reach out. They’re just not diving today.”

“Because of the weather.”

I glanced over. It hadn’t been a question, but I nodded an affirmative anyway.

“Are you sure we’re safe?”

“I am. But if you’re worried, we’ll wave off. We can either hunker down here or we can zip along to the next port and plan to hunker there.” I paused and bit my lip. “I’m not sure we could get back to Puerto Rico in time for you to get a flight out, since that’d be heading in the direction of the storm. But we could also hightail it to Grenada. They should be out of any of the paths, and they have a good airport. Your call.”

“Let’s keep that as a backup, I guess.”

“You’re nervous.”

He nodded. “A little, yeah. I’m not used to hurricanes.”

I patted his arm.

He flashed a wry smile. “I don’t want to be a chicken. I also don’t think lost at sea is going to make my mom and The General happy.”

“You mentioned the general. That’s who again?”

“Stepdad. Sorry. He’s great. But even Mom calls him that. He just kind ofishis rank.”

I’d known men like that. I wouldn’t normally call them great, though. Sounded like Wes’s mom had found the one who was the exception to the rule. “You get along with them?”

“Yeah. Mostly. They’re not on board with my fervor for, as they call it, all the Jesus stuff. But they recognize I’m an adult. And they’re better about it than my dad.”

“Sorry.”

Wes shrugged. “Thanks. I’m used to it. Mostly. Although lately Dad’s been big on asking me for investment money.”

“I see those air quotes.” I smiled, trying to lighten the mood.

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