Page 41

The conversation was lively and the beer flowed. Not long after they’d arrived, Carmen and Sylvie’s kids walked up from the other end of the beach.

“Kelsey and Isabella,” Carmen said. “This is my son, Tanner, and daughter, Mia.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Kelsey greeted them. She figured they were around Dana and Emma’s ages, maybe a little older.

“Mom told us about this big marketing program you’re planning,” Tanner said.

“You don’t approve?” Kelsey asked, hearing doubt in his voice.

“It’s not that,” he said. “It’s a big undertaking.”

“It is, but we’re ready for it,” Isabella said. “If it takes off like we hope, just imagine the traffic it can bring to the resort.”

“And to Mom’s business on St. John,” Mia added. “Tanner thinks he knows everything about the resort business.”

“No I don’t, but it’s different when you have something exotic like here compared to a city—” Tanner said.

“Like Denver or Charlotte?” Isabella interrupted, smiling at Kelsey.

“You have to find the thing to sell where you are,” Kelsey said, looking at Tanner and Mia. “I have an idea. We’re doing a spring break getaway in March. My daughters and a couple of their friends will be the focus group. Could both of you come back then and join the group?”

“You both know these islands better than we do and could give the trip a personal touch,” Isabella added.

“Really? That sounds like fun,” Mia said.

“Tanner, do you know about deals that maybe we don’t?” Kelsey asked. “We’d love to do a long weekend on a budget, so everyone could experience this beautiful place.”

Tanner smiled. “I might know of a few ways to save money and still have the island experience.”

“I hope it involves your mom’s resort. We are doing this for Coral Bay,” Isabella pointed out.

“Coral Bay is the best place to stay,” Tanner said. “My mom knows what she’s doing.”

Kelsey chuckled. “We think she does, too.”

”Are you not going to give me a hug?” Liz asked as she held out her arms to the kids.

They both gave Liz a hug and Kelsey and Isabella went inside for another beer.

“I’ve got refills right here,” Riley said from behind the bar.

“You know, you should really think about working from here,” Isabella said, sitting on one of the bar stools.

“I don’t know,” Kelsey said. “It seems too good to be true for someone like me.”

“Someone like you? What does that mean, Kels? You are an incredible person.”

“You’ve only known me a few days.”

“I’ve known you less than that and I agree with Isabella,” Riley said. “If you spend a lot of time here, you get to where you can read people.”

“How did you do it? Liz told us you came here for a wedding, fell in love with Alex, and moved here in a matter of weeks,” Kelsey said.

Riley smiled and set a fresh beer in front of each of them. “I had just retired. I was a teacher,” she said. “I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do next, but when I met Alex I knew who I wanted to do whatever with. It was scary and I had a ton of doubts.”

“It’s different living here than visiting, isn’t it?” Isabella asked.

“Yeah, but for me everything was wide open. I didn’t have to work and I could stay here long enough to see if what Alex and I shared was more than just an island fling,” Riley said.