Page 56 of The Billionaire's Teacher

“Get a grip, man.” I sighed and continued trudging toward the beach. I wasn’t going to let those thoughts derail the happy news that there was an airstrip. That was important. More important than anything else.

I passed the house, pausing again to look up and imagine what it would look like fixed up. I might need to add some guest cottages. The main house would work for eating and hanging out in the evenings though. I’d have to see how horrible it would be to hire some help, too. We’d need a caretaker to keep things clean. Probably not full time, although I wouldn’t mind if someone wanted to live on the island year-round. Then, when groups were here, I’d need a chef. Probably housekeeping, too.

There were a lot of details to consider.

I rubbed my hands together in anticipation. I couldn’t wait to get started figuring it out.

I crossed the beach to the spot where I’d watched Sunshine swim out to the boat. I could see her sitting on the main deck, head bent.

I frowned.

What was she doing? Praying? Crying? Talking to someone? Reading?

I groaned, frustrated. She was too far away to tell. And she was too far away for yelling to do any good, either. So I’d stand here, watching, willing her to look up and see me. Maybe she’d be able to give some kind of indication which way things were going.

I stood long enough that my legs started to get tired. She’d moved around some—I took that as a good sign—but she never looked back toward the shore. Maybe she’d given up on that after I disappeared to explore? But why wouldn’t she check occasionally?

I sank to the sand, my gaze still locked on the boat.

Gradually, the light began to change. I looked up at the sky. Where was the sun? She couldn’t be planning to swim back after dark, could she? I’d swim out to her before I’d let that happen.

Finally, she looked up and out. I waved my arms over my head.

She waved back.

I pointed to my wrist. Hopefully she’d get the point.

Sunshine leaned out and looked up at the sky, then pulled her head back in. I watched as she moved around, unable to determine exactly what she was doing, but I let myself believe she was tidying up and getting ready to swim back.

She moved toward the aft, and disappeared. I held my breath, waiting for her to appear in the water on her way back to shore. Then she did and I breathed out. Good.

I had to admire her strong strokes. She was clearly at home in the water. And that was just one more reason nothing could ever happen between us. I lived near the Potomac River, sure. But no one swam there. The ocean—and any decent beaches—were hours away. Throw in the hustle and bustle of the area, the complete opposite of island time, and it would be like expecting a bird to live underwater.

Could I relocate here permanently?

I frowned, then shook my head. Not really. I might be willing to try, if she asked, but I had the shop. I’d put so much time and energy, and money, into it. I wanted to make it succeed. I wanted to be personally involved every step of the way.

And there was the gang.

Not that I thought any of them would object if I had to leave because I’d fallen in love. Not that I had. But I’d miss them. I wanted to be cool Uncle Wes to their kids. I wanted to clean their clocks at poker. And I needed their steady encouragement to continue to walk with Jesus even when it was hard.

They were my brothers in every way but blood, and I couldn’t just walk away from that.

What was I doing even thinking that way? Sunshine might be everything I ever imagined finding in a woman, but that didn’t mean we belonged together.

And if we did? God was going to have to figure that out. Because I certainly didn’t have the answers.

“It works!” Sunshine reached the shallower water and began jogging to the shore. “I was able to get in touch with Zee. Boy was she glad to hear from me. I gave her the coordinates and she’s going to work on a plan to get us. But it could take upwards of a week. She said the storm did a ton of damage to the islands nearest us. They’re without power and probably will be for a while.”

I stood and brushed off the sand. “Puerto Rico has power though?”

“Yeah, the storm is still heading west. They’re now saying it’ll make landfall in Mexico in a day or two. It’s already back up to a category five, so it’s liable to do a lot of damage there, too.”

“Yikes.” I made a mental note to pray for the people in the path of the storm. I’d been entirely too focused on my own situation, especially since I wasn’t in dire straits. “What would you say if I told you we don’t have to wait a week?”

Sunshine stopped a few feet from me and tipped her head to the side. “The boat needs an overhaul. I was able to patch it enough that it stopped taking on water, but it’s not seaworthy.”

“There’s an airstrip.” I pointed in the direction of my discovery and grinned. “I can get in touch with my plane and they can come get us.”

---