Page 12 of Something Real with the Sea Monster (Kraken Cove #3)

TWELVE

Tegan

Another week goes by, and I don’t spare a single thought for Mark. After work, I hang out with Mia and Luke or Mia, Luke, and Jack, or sometimes just Jack. I make sure to emphasize that Jack is my friend when I talk about it with Mia and Luke. I don’t want them getting the wrong idea.

I wake up on Monday morning to a message.

Mark: what if I made a mistake? Because i miss u

Fuck!

Hands shaking, I close that message and toss my phone to the other side of the bed. Then I crawl across to pick it up and read it again.

I don’t know if I love or hate that message. I mean, of course, he made a mistake. I’m amazing. But his wife? I thought they were getting back together.

Feeling sick, I tuck my phone under the pillow and hurry to the shower to try and wash the slimy feeling off my skin. It doesn’t work, though. I’m still feeling gross by the time I head into the Inlet Views with two Coral Café coffees.

“Morning.” Jack gives me a warm smile from behind the desk, and a little of my tension loosens immediately.

“Hey. Got you a coffee. It felt like that sort of morning.”

“Thank you. Bad night?”

Shaking off the last of my funk, I lean on the counter. “Let’s just say it’s too early for a drink, so I’m hitting the coffee. Anything I need to know about today?”

“The couple in number three have extended their stay a few extra nights. I think that list of local tourist attractions you put together convinced them to stay. And we’re all booked up next week.”

“That’s great. Where should I start?”

Jack shrugs. “I was thinking we should offer some weekend packages. Maybe put together something with Seven Hills Wines. But I’m a bit stuck for how to make it feel really special.”

“That’s a good idea. I’ll look into it.”

“Perfect. I’ve got some maintenance to do after ten, and until then I’m going to be in the office doing some accounting. You good?”

I nod, and we switch places so I can work behind the desk. At nine, the guy from Salnas drops the fresh linen, and I pause my research to help him take it around to the storeroom and check in on the cleaners. They’re only refreshing rooms today since we have no check outs.

At 10:13, the couple staying in room one heads out for their inlet cruise, and I get an idea.

I open the door to Jack’s office and say, “Hey, are you busy?”

He looks up from the computer. “No. Not really. Need something?”

“I’ve been thinking. Room one went out for a bit. Come look at something with me.”

I grab my phone and lead Jack up the stairs to room one.

We knock to make sure there’s really no one there.

Then let ourselves in and I lead him out to the balcony.

The wide balcony looks out over the inlet and gets all the beautiful sunset colors.

Right now, there’s two chairs, a coffee table, and a grill out here, but the rest of the space is empty.

Wasted. “What if we installed a hot tub?”

Jack’s smile does this funny upside-down thing he does when he’s pleased but surprised, and he cocks his head to one side to consider the space. “Out here?”

I nod. “Think about it. It would make this a luxury suite. We could add a few touches inside too, maybe redecorate. Put up a little screening between this balcony and room two. Then the hot tub could go there—” I indicate a place on the balcony.

“With the screening behind so it’s nice and private. See?”

He’s nodding. “I like it. But wouldn’t it be too heavy?”

I shrug. “We’d have to get the place inspected. Maybe add reinforcements to the balcony, but Luke could do that right?”

Jack’s grin grows wider. “Lukey could definitely do that. This could work.”

“I’ve priced it. It would come out somewhere between five and ten grand.

And if we upgraded the room, I think we could charge at least one fifty more per night.

Plus, for the weekend spa package, we could add some extras.

There’s a place down at Bermagui that does it for a grand for the weekend. We could easily charge that.”

His eyes widen. “It’s perfect. Let’s get some quotes.”

“On it, boss.” I pull out my phone, but at that moment another message pops up from Mark and I almost drop it. “Ugh!”

Jack frowns. “What is it?”

I shake my head, tucking my phone away for now rather than deal with it. “A call I don’t want to take.”

We lock up room one and head back to reception. Rather than go back to the apartment, though, he hangs out with me downstairs. He doesn’t push me for information. He’s the perfect companion like that. He’s quiet, though. Almost broody.

To lift the mood, I nudge him. “Hey, match with anyone yet?”

He sighs. “No. I’m afraid I’m a lost cause. You should probably give up on me.”

“Why is that? Seriously? And don’t say it’s because you’re too picky. That’s an excuse.”

He seems to consider a moment. His eyes get all serious. “There might be a bit more to it than that.”

“Does it have to do with the fated mates thing? Because you’ll never find her if you don’t put yourself out there.”

Jack opens his mouth to speak, then the bell over the door rings, and he freezes. It’s a delivery of stationery, which Jack deals with while I burn with curiosity over what he was about to say.

As soon as the delivery lady leaves, I turn to him and fix him with a look. “Tell me.”

He groans. “OK, but promise not to laugh.”

I make a cross over my chest. “Cross my heart. Come on. I could use a distraction today.”