They were close to the bottom but not skimming it. Joshua suddenly tugged her forward, and she kicked harder. He pointed, and there, down below, was a white manta ray. It was almost invisible as it went over the sand, but then it floated over some grasses and she could clearly see the outline.
A few minutes later, the instructor came down and motioned for them to turn around. Jade savored the slow swim back, her hand in Joshua’s, and all the beautiful marine life. She loved this. They rounded the corner of the rocks and gradually ascended with the slope of the beach. As they popped out of the water, Jade tugged her hand free of Joshua’s and lifted off her goggles, spitting out her regulator.
He grinned at her. “What did you think?”
“I loved it!” she gushed. “Thank you for being my guide. That was incredible.”
“I’ll be your guide anytime,” he said, and she felt like he meant it. “There were some bright fish, and the white ray was cool.”
“What about that eel? I about drowned seeing him slide by.”
Joshua smiled. “He was big.”
The instructor, Mark, was gathering their stuff and apologizing for not being right with them. “But I think the tough guy had it under control,” he said.
Jade glanced over Joshua’s strong build. “The tough guy definitely had it under control,” she affirmed.
The bride from New Jersey smacked her husband’s arm. “You didn’t even try,” she accused him. “You missed everything!”
“You think I wasn’t trying?” he asked in that deep Jersey accent that made Jade smile. Yet she felt bad for the guy, as they were obviously headed to a full-blown fight.
Joshua tilted his head to the side, and Jade nodded quickly. They shed their gear, set it on the table, and grabbed their backpacks. Joshua palmed Mark a bill, and Jade caught a glimpse of a hundred on it. She gulped. Mark thanked him profusely, probably embarrassed that he hadn’t really been much of a guide for them. They thanked Mark in return and walked away. Jade turned to Joshua, embarrassed.
“Can I pay you back for that tip? I mean, you were the real guide and I … didn’t even bring cash. I left it all in the safe because they said everything was included.”
Joshua nodded, seeming to understand her embarrassment. “Of course. It’s no worries. You get the tip on tomorrow’s excursion.”
Jade’s stomach lifted as if she was floating in a hot-air balloon. First of all, she really liked that he didn’t just coddle her and explain he was a billionaire and a hundred meant nothing to him, especially if he truly thought she’d stolen a million from him. Second … “Tomorrow’s excursion?” she asked, her voice squeaking.
He grinned easily. “If that’s all right with you. What did you have planned on St. John’s?”
Jade bit at her lip. She wanted to be with him, but there was Jesse, and the trust issues, and the missing money. There was also the fact that she was sick and tired of being alone. Maybe that was increasing Joshua’s appeal.
She walked over to a nearby beach chair and sank into it, not answering him. A waiter came and asked if they’d like anything. Jade ordered a water bottle and a virgin mango tango. Joshua asked for the same.
They sat there, staring out at the blue water and watching some children play in the sand.
“St. John’s?” Joshua’s voice was full of hope.
“What about the embezzling?” She turned to him. The umbrella shaded them, so she got the full power of those blue eyes.
His eyes turned wary. “I’m working on it, I promise, Jade, I am.”
She swallowed hard and said, “So what, we just pretend I’m not ticked at you and you actually trust me?”
“You hit hard,” he said, but his eyes had admiration in them as well as wariness.
“Heavy hitter, that’s what my sister used to tease me about.” She sighed. “I’m sorry. I can’t just pretend all is well, and … you know the guy I thought you were, yesterday at the Flow Rider?”
He nodded. “Jeb?” he guessed.
“Jesse,” she corrected. She pulled her legs into her chest. “He and I are … sort of dating.”
Joshua’s eyebrows rose. “Yet you don’t know what he looks like?” He nodded as if he understood. “Online dating, right? And he’s never sent you a good picture.”
“No.” She scowled. “I’ve spent two glorious days with him. I kissed him.” She gasped.
Joshua’s eyebrows drew together and he frowned. “Oh. So you … like this Jesse guy?”