‘Are we talking about the golf course or you?’
I glare at him. ‘I’m talking exclusively about the golf course now.’
His frown is just a flicker of his lips. ‘You’re pissed?’
The last thing I want is to seem like I’m churlish and petulant—like my emotions are in play here. ‘I’m...no. I’m just... I need to know if you’re planning on stuffing me around because that’s not going to work here.’ Panic is surging inside of me, though. I struggle to cover it. ‘Something my office made clear before embarking on this inspection.’
‘They did,’ he agrees with a nod. ‘Irrespective of that, if I make an offer on Silver Dunes, it will reflect what I believe the property’s worth.’
‘You don’t think it’s worth what we’re asking?’
He’s quiet for a moment, his eyes skimming over my face, and then he smiles, a smile that reaches into my heart and squeezes it tight. I love his smile, the way the light dances in his eyes and his skin crinkles at the corners. It’s a smile that changes his face completely. He leans forward conspiratorially. ‘I didn’t say that.’
My heart turns over.
‘I’m evaluating it. I’m thinking. And when I’m ready, if I decide it’ll be a good addition to my portfolio, I’ll make a fair and reasonable offer.’
I wish I had another buyer lined up to coerce him into acting faster, but alas, properties like this are tricky to sell—to find buyers with the necessary means who are interested in this kind of investment takes time.
The boat slows down and the tour operator runs through the safety guidelines. I have butterflies in my stomach—the good kind, and the bad kind. I don’t know why, but it hadn’t occurred to me that he might not buy the resort. My need for the commission overtook every modicum of restraint I would usually employ. Crap.
What if he doesn’t?
My stomach lurches. Because I can’t keep working with Gareth. I need to buy him out. I could borrow—not the whole amount though. My parents are way too risk-averse to help—even if they could lay their hands on the kind of cash I’d need. Maybe Gareth would sell it to me in instalments?
Only...no.
I don’t want that. I want a clean break. There’s only one other option before me. To sell. Gareth came into this with more money behind him; he could buy me out.
I curve a hand around the boat railing, staring at the ocean as that reality expands before me. My throat thickens with unshed tears; I want to push that away, I want to push that idea off the edge of my mind.
I’ve worked so hard to make this business a success. In the face of my parents’ disapproval and scepticism, I worked hard, I did everything I could. How could I have known Gareth would do what he did?
‘You ready?’
He stands beside me, the sun bright just behind his head. Even in the enormous scuba goggles, I find him ridiculously attractive. ‘Yeah.’ I am ready. Ready for anything. Whether he buys or not, one way or another, I have to get out of this business.
And I will.
‘Okay, Grace! Go!’ The instructor’s behind me. I hold my nose like he’s taught us, stepping off the side of the boat. Once in the water, I turn around and wave up at him, showing I’m okay, then put my mask in place. A second later there’s another splash. Jagger’s right beside me.
I lift up, looking at him, and he waves right at me.
I wave back. My insides tremble. He points towards the water, his thick brows lifted above his mask.
‘Ready,’ I say, the word swallowed up by the plastic of the scuba mask. I kick my flippers to stay afloat then duck-dive, so I swim along the water’s surface.
Beneath us, there’s the most incredible coral reef, the colours so bright it’s hard to believe it’s natural. Orange, turquoise and the brightest pink you can imagine dazzle with white shimmering sand beneath. It’s so cool down here, unlike on the boat, where the sun was unrelenting.
Something big emerges from behind the coral and I make a bubbling noise of delight as a big stingray swims right past us, followed by a much smaller one. A little line of crabs march sideways to get out of its way.
Jagger, beside me, grins. I smile back then turn in another direction, moving around the coral reef, wondering why I’ve never done this before. It’s so incredibly beautiful, and so close to home—I should have made a point of seeing this earlier in my life. Still, better late than never.
&
nbsp; It’s strange being here with Jagger. Knowing him to be temporary in my life doesn’t change the fact that I’m glad it’s him—I’m glad he’s experiencing this with me.
There’s a shipwreck a little way from the group and we swim towards it, signalling the instructor as we set off.