Page 24 of Visions of You

I tried not to stiffen. “You mean what was in the savings account?”

“Yes. I just kept thinking things would turn around. But they haven’t.”

I made a quick calculation comparing the principal and interest that were listed on the statement, and it was way too much. “Maybe we can refinance. The interest rate is way above market.”

“That was the best they would give me.” Dad hesitated for a moment, then his shoulders dropped. “I’m sorry, Gabe. I didn’t wantto be known as the Markham who brought down the resort, so I grasped at any straw I could. And maybe I was a little too proud too. Is it too late to save us?”

I don’t know yet.

I smiled reassuringly at him and clasped his shoulder. “Of course not. And you won’t have that legacy. You’ve always put family and the resort first. We’ll get this figured out. I promise.”

His smile was full of trust and the role reversal hit me like a punch to the stomach. Why hadn’t he asked me for help before things got this bad?

I’d spent several weeks since that ludicrous incident in the kitchen trimming and cutting expenses where I could, including drivingShark Baittwice a week to fill in for Miguel. I kept telling myself it was to save money. But I couldn’t stop thinking about that moment in the kitchen.

Not the one where Nona had tried to make an idiot out of me. Hell, I’d gone in there the previous day in the same attire, and she’d handed me a glass of water personally. I don’t know what she had been up to, but my grandmother rarely did things without purpose.

No, the moment that had been running through my mind like a movie was when April and I had locked gazes. Desire had flared in her eyes and my body responded immediately. There was no mistaking her reaction to me. And that memory kept me from being completely mortified about my grandma shooing me out of my own house like a misbehaving boy.

When I saw April the following day, I completely ignored the incident, instead flirting with her lightly. She’d taken the hint and not brought it up either. She had been astonishingly fast at learning on the job and was already a favorite with guests. Her smile and upbeat attitude even dragged a smile out of me once or twice.

Since my divorce, I hadn’t lived like a priest, but my encounters with women had been fleeting and… unsatisfying. I didn’t believe in love—not after Kora. But I wasn’t into casual flings either. All I knew was the effect April had on me was something new.

I had yet to decide whether it was good or bad.

Dad stirred and brought me back to the present. I had an idea and now was a good time to float it. “Reel Dealisn’t chartered every day, and I think we’re missing an opportunity there.”

He nodded. “Sam, our fishing guide, splits his time here and at Sunset Siesta. He likes the variety of working for two resorts. A year or so ago, I mentioned more hours to him, but he wasn’t very receptive. I can’t imagine you want to hire another guide.”

I twitched the corner of my mouth. “Why hire one when the best guide in the Lower Keys is sitting right next to me? You’ve been wanting to get out on the water more, so why not kill two birds with one stone?”

Dad’s face went slack as he rubbed his clean-shaven chin. “I could certainly get a line in the water while I was leading charters. That’s an interesting idea, Gabe.”

I swept my gaze over the mounted fish on the walls. “I guarantee guests would be thrilled to be guided by Warren Markham himself. I can ask Evan to make flyers like he did for the snorkeling trips. I bet we fill up in no time, and that will give us more income.”

Excitement flickered in Dad’s eyes as he pushed to his feet. “I’d better go through my fishing gear in the shed. Make sure it’s in good repair.”

I kept a straight face. Dad’s fishing shed was so spotless you could eat off the floor, every piece of equipment lovingly tended.

Dad stilled and looked down at me. “I knew bringing you home was the right thing to do. You’ve always had a head for figures.”

“Thanks. I’m glad we’re back here too.”

As he left, my eyes drifted back to the report on my terminal, and I shook my head.

I just hope I can come up with enough.

The good news was I’d managed to trim expenses enough to prevent any layoffs in the immediate future. April’s tanned face flashed into my mind, then more than her face. Given the nature of her job, I’d had an eyeful of her spectacular body. She wore a mixtureof one-piece swimsuits and bikinis under her wetsuit, but they were utilitarian. Then again, with a figure like hers, she didn’t need to draw attention to it.

At least she’s a pleasant distraction from trying to dig this place out of the hole.

I glanced at my watch, not surprised that I’d been in Dad’s office for several hours. I needed to talk to Felicia, the chef in charge of the beach barbeque tomorrow night, and make sure she made the changes I’d requested. But that could wait.

I needed a break.

It was late afternoon, and the sun was dropping to my right as I strolled down the hill. I’d left Hailey at the Big House, working on a jigsaw puzzle with Nona. I angled over to the double doors of the Barn and slid them open enough to permit my entry. We never bothered to lock the main doors.

The cavernous space with its tall ceiling kept the heat at bay, though I still turned on a floor fan after crossing the room to my work area. Four eighteen-inch pieces of mahogany lay on top of my workbench, the legs of my current project. Only one still needed to be shaped, and I turned on my power planer in the corner. I lost myself to the soothing, familiar motions of sliding the piece of wood over the blade, shaping the surface until the warm structure in my hands told me it was done.

---