Page 77 of The Billionaire's Teacher

“I don’t. Now tell me what’s going on?”

“How soon can you get over here? You’ll have to sail, obviously, since you were just diving. Javier showed for a two-week on the forty-foot sailboat. And he was trashed. Not just drunk, this time, if I know what I’m looking at.”

I sighed. “You do. I wondered when he’d start branching out.”

“I’m not sure it’s the first time, honestly. He’s trying to insist he’s fine. The boss came in, took one whiff, and fired him on the spot. So not only is Javier not taking the two-week sail, he was scheduled for another right afterward. We need you.”

“I need about thirty minutes to get everything here squared away, then I’ll hop into my boat and head over. If the two-week wants to leave today, it’ll have to be after dinner. Tomorrow would be better.” I started a mental list of chores as I slid my feet into my sandals and hurried across the sand to my dive gear.

“I can postpone till tomorrow. Pretty sure. It’s a girls’ trip. They were here when Javier showed up. They’ll understand.”

I winced. “That sounds like it was unpleasant.”

“You have a way with understatement.” Zee sighed. “I wanted you to have more of a break.”

“I was going to call and ask to get on the schedule anyway, Zee. It’s been long enough. I need to work. Too much down time and I’m in my head. You know that.”

“Did you get in touch with him?”

I wanted to play dumb and ask who. But Zee was already having a bad day. “I emailed. He emailed back. We’ve been talking back and forth that way for a while.”

“Email. Pfft.” Zee grunted. “Why haven’t you called him?”

“I have my reasons, okay?” I prayed Zee wouldn’t ask what they were. I wouldn’t be able to explain them thoroughly. And if I fell back on the age gap thing, she’d dismiss that without blinking. “I should run. I’ll let you know as soon as I’m on the way.”

“Okay. Don’t think we’re done talking about this though.”

I laughed and ended the call. I hurried through rinsing my dive gear and hanging it to dry over the bathtub. Normally, I’d dry it outside, but I didn’t want to leave it exposed to the elements that long. I shot a quick text to my neighbors letting them know I was up from the dive and that I was heading out to work. They’d keep an eye on my place.

I threw some clothes in a duffel bag, added my laptop, various chargers, and my Kindle, then paused in my living room and looked around. Was I forgetting anything? If I was, I didn’t know what it would be.

I slung my duffel over my shoulder, took the boat keys off the hook beside the door, and hurried out to my bicycle. I pedaled quickly into town, tossing a quick wave to the neighbors I saw. They knew what it meant when I rode by with a duffel, so between everyone I’d told and those who had seen me go by? The whole community would know by dinnertime. Good enough.

As I approached the marina, I tossed my leg over the side and rode on one pedal to the bike rack, then hopped off. I chained my bike, waved to the harbor master, and jogged down the dock to my little boat.

There were checks to make and the homey tasks of getting ready to get underway, but I moved through them quickly and within ninety minutes of Zee’s call, I’d let her know I was headed in her direction.

The weather was good—clear skies, easy seas. All the things I loved about living in the Caribbean. I wouldn’t say I got over to the charter marina fast, but I made it in the expected amount of time. The sun was just sinking below the horizon when I pulled alongside the dock and tied up. I double-checked that everything was secure and would be fine for an extended stay parked here, then got my duffel and hopped out. I walked briskly to the charter offices, knocked once, and pulled open the door.

“How can I—oh, thank goodness.” Zee jumped up from her seat behind the desk and crossed the room to pull me into a tight hug. “You’re a sight for sore eyes.”

I chuckled and patted her back. “I told you I was coming.”

“I know, I know. It’s still good you made it. I worry now.”

“Oh, Zee. That hurricane was a freak accident. You have to know that.” I had to keep reminding myself of it. But Zee didn’t need to know that. These things happened and storms could blow up out of nowhere and cause problems. It was one of the reasons everyone didn’t live in the islands. Living down here wasn’t all only good things.

“I do.”

I tilted my head to the side. “Is it the clients? Are they going to be problematic?”

“Oh, no. Nothing like that. In fact, I think you’re going to like them a lot.” She shook her head. “I guess the thing with Javier threw me off kilter this morning.”

“They’re still good with heading out tomorrow morning?”

“They are. I got them set up in a hotel tonight with some suggestions for dinner. They’ll be here bright and early at seven.”

I nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”

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