Page 38 of Visions of You

I reached out and took her hand. “I like the sound of that. You being with me, I mean.”

“So do I.”

We both ordered fresh catch specials, and I could tell Henry himself was in the kitchen tonight because of how good they were. “Did you grow up near the ocean?”

April laughed, raising her napkin to dab her mouth. “No, I’m from Ohio! I never even saw the ocean until two friends and I went to Fort Lauderdale for spring break our senior year. They went out and partied while I stayed back at the hotel and the beach. Once I got my first taste of the ocean, I was hooked. I got certified to dive right away and moved to St. Thomas a year later and worked various jobs there for several years. I came back to Key Largo for my divemaster course, which is where I met Maia.”

“But you didn’t stay in the keys afterward?”

She shook her head. “I liked the Virgin Islands a lot. St. Croix is quieter and less touristy than St. Thomas, and the diving’s better. I was there for six years.” She finished her entrée and pushed the plate away. “You were in real estate in Miami?’

I nodded. “My partner Jake and I have several projects, but our most successful one is an office tower in downtown Miami. I’m still a full partner in the company, but I resigned from day-to-day operations.”

Jake called me a few days ago and offered to buy me out completely, which let me know the business was doing very well indeed. But I wasn’t interested. I liked the idea of having an income separate from the resort. Plus, I wasn’t drawing any type of salary right now, trying to keep resort expenses as low as possible. I had a healthy savings account and was using it to provide for myself and Hailey. Quarterly profit allocations from the Miami business would provide any extra income we’d need.

April finished off the last of her wine and stared at me, agleam in her eye. “Here’s what I want to know. Why is a guy whose family owns a tropical resort—and is the manager of the dive operation—not a diver himself?”

If I answered that question fully, we’d miss the movie. It was alongstory, and not one I enjoyed telling. “I used to dive but gave it up years ago. Maybe I’ll take it up again.”

That last sentence left my mouth without thought, and I was somewhat shocked to discover it was true. I loved driving the boat and had felt an envious pang a time or two as I watched the dive groups descend.

“Well, if you want a refresher, I know a pretty good divemaster who could help you.”

I smiled back at her. “I’ll certainly keep that in mind.”

I’d worked with April enough to recognize her skill and talent, but I wasn’t about to let her see me dive for the first time in over a decade. I was trying to impress the woman, not make her laugh at me. If I took a refresher course, it would be from Corbin. I didn’t care if he saw me flopping and fumbling. April could see me dive after I’d gotten the hang of it again.

Am I really considering this?

Then again, why shouldn’t I be? Just because Evan couldn’t dive anymore didn’t mean I had to give it up forever. He certainly wouldn’t hold it against me, so what caused my hesitation?

Because I was responsible…

I didn’t want to go down that thought path tonight. Especially when that bottle of Macallan 30 and two crystal tumblers were waiting for us back in my cottage—which brought on more enjoyable thoughts.

Much more enjoyable thoughts.

Warmth rolled through me that had nothing to do with the balmy evening. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on April. Her skin was sun-kissed and soft, yet she was strong too. Her arms rippled anytime she moved them. I tried not to squirm in my chair.

It was completely dark when we left the restaurant, and ConchRepublic was only a short drive away. I parked in the parking lot at the farthest end from the facility.

“Why did you park so far away?” she asked as we exited my car.

I popped the trunk and pulled out two blankets. Folding them over my arm, I pointed opposite the brewpub. “The staircase down to the beach is just ahead.”

I firmly held April’s hand as we descended the wooden staircase. It zigzagged down the bluff, ending at a broad stretch of white sand. A huge pile of driftwood at the south end gave the beach its name, but tonight’s event was at the opposite, northern end. A large inflatable screen was tethered to the sand and people were scattered around the beach. Some sat in camp chairs, while others sprawled on blankets. The only light came from cell phone flashlights and the slide show cycling on the big screen.

Despite not being a rom-com fan, I had to admit the setting was pretty fantastic for a movie. The ocean splashed softly against the sand, and the sky was full of winking stars. After selecting an out-of-the-way place with no one near, I dragged over a driftwood log. Tossing one blanket on the sand, I sat down on it and leaned against the wood before lifting my hand to April. “Here. You can settle against me.”

She lowered gracefully onto the blanket next to me. Scooting closer, she rested her back against my chest and stretched her legs out next to mine. I tossed the second blanket over the top of us before resting my hands on her stomach underneath it.

Tilting her face up, April gave me a smile. “This is nice and snug.”

“Very.” I brushed my lips over hers, feeling her smile widen. I was grateful for the darkness and the anonymity it brought.

The movie started right on time but didn’t hold much interest for me. April thoroughly enjoyed it, however, which at least made it tolerable. I loved listening to her laugh. After half an hour, she shifted position, rising up a bit, and I moved one hand across her chest to grasp her shoulder.

However, as the movie progressed, it became more and more difficult to ignore the solid, attractive warmth resting against me. And the effect she was having on me. Underneath the blanket covering us, I slowly stroked my fingers down the velvety skin of her chest, keeping them on her bare skin next to the V-neck of her shirt. One of her hands was entwined with my other one. She squeezed it, encouraging me.

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