Redeeming Her SEAL (ASSIGNMENT Caribbean Nights #9) - Kat Cantrell Page 0,65

something to you. Enough that I can ask you for a favor.”

She’d half expected him to stand, just to level the playing field, but instead, Jared steepled his hands together and tapped his thumbs, clearly contemplating how much she’d be willing to pay for the favor. “I see. I was hoping this was a social call.”

“We broke up. I don’t want to get back together,” she reminded him needlessly, since she’d repeated that exact phrase at least ten times in the weeks following the bold move she’d made to remove him from her life. That had been like her old self. She clung to it, letting it infuse her with confidence.

He smiled, ruffling the nerves along her spine. “So you’ve said. What’s the favor?”

No acknowledgment of whether she’d meant anything to him. No sign of whether she had any kind of leverage to use. God, she hated playing verbal chess with him. Hated the helplessness that came along with it. Only for Charlie would she do this, and she centered herself by recalling the way his eyes had melted when he’d talked about Bright Bay.

That alone had decided this course of action. He shouldn’t have to look for additional revenue streams because she was too much of a chicken to set things right.

What she had with Charlie was rare and special, and she’d done her part to cause the problems between them. This showdown with Jared wasn’t the magic bullet, but she had to hope it would go a long way toward showing Charlie he could trust her with his painful secrets. Then maybe they could figure out what came next sans these additional complexities.

She cleared her throat. “Cancel the injunction against commercial ventures in the waters surrounding Ilhota Rosa.”

“No.”

And they were off and running, opening volley served and returned. No explanation from him and none needed. This was how he operated.

“You can’t build a resort there,” she insisted. “My report supports the island as a wildlife sanctuary so the Bahama Wildlife Foundation retains ownership of it in perpetuity. You can’t buy it. There’s literally no reason to continue this ridiculous grudge against a man who used to be your friend.”

That’s when he stood, and the glint in his gaze backed her up a step. Mentioning Charlie had been a mistake.

“If that’s all, Dr. Reed, I’m very busy catching up from being overseas, as you can imagine. You can see yourself out.”

Using her title was yet another way he played hardball, reminding her that she owed her job to him in a not-so-subtle way. Yeah, she got that he’d pull the funding for her research with no qualms and still sleep like a baby tonight. She didn’t care. She’d lived under that threat since the moment she’d broken up with him. Nothing had changed except she was tired of it.

“Please, Jared. Listen to what I’m saying. The injunction serves no purpose other than to cut off the flow of revenue for an excursion company. It doesn’t buy you anything.”

Not that he needed to and money clearly wasn’t the issue here. But she had no clue what drove him, so she went with the most likely motivation.

Something entirely too crafty filtered through his features, and she did not like the way he nodded and slid back into his chair casually. “I’ve changed my mind. Sit down and let’s chat. It’s been a while since we’ve talked, Audra. How have you been?”

Warily, she complied but only because he’d suddenly poured on the charm and she couldn’t afford to turn her back on him. “Fine. Carly and Hannah came down last weekend, and we stayed at Duchess Island. Thank you for the room.”

She only mentioned it because she knew good and well Trish had informed him that she’d booked the reservation. And Audra was grateful. If nothing else, it had forced her into a conversation with Charlie on the beach and, please God, onto the path to a true do-over.

Jared inclined his head. “Excellent choice. I’m assuming you took advantage of the amenities. The beach is particularly spectacular at that resort, but the parasailing is the best. The views are second to none.”

Her pulse stumbled as she took in his serenely composed face, which gave nothing away. Didn’t matter. He knew she’d reconnected with Charlie. Somehow. Unease slithered along her skin.

Undeterred, she nodded. “Yes. Parasailing is one of the highlights of that area. I’m certain the guests would enjoy it if the excursion company that serviced the resort could continue offering snorkeling off