the ride back to the hotel, Victor put his head back and closed his eyes. “For the first time in a long time, I feel like I escaped the rat wheel of my life. I owe that to you,” he told Shannon.
“Even rats need to recharge once in a while.”
“Yeah.” He turned and watched the landscape outside the window. “I’ve been thinking about your question earlier. About working too hard.”
“Your explanation told me a lot about you.”
He shook his head. “It made me sound like a saint. I’m not. I like the perks, the money . . . the path to decent tables at restaurants and first-class seats on airplanes. My ego gets a charge quite a bit with this company.”
“There is nothing wrong with enjoying the benefits of your labor,” Shannon told him.
He shrugged. “Until it’s not enough. I need more of this. Days where I don’t have a phone to my ear and my biggest worry is if the big fish looks at me as if I’m lunch.” Just saying the words made him envision their snorkeling adventure taking a turn for the worst. “I need balance.”
“Was that what Corrie was?”
Her question couldn’t have been more spot-on.
“My attempt, I guess.”
Shannon must have sensed he was sorting out his own feelings on the topic and gracefully changed the subject.
Leo pulled up to their hotel a short time later, and Victor gave him a generous tip.
It was just after three, and the beach party was in full swing. “I had a good time today. Thanks for stepping in for Avery,” Shannon told him.
“I hope she’s feeling better.”
“I’m sure she’s fine.”
“Thanks for inviting me out,” Victor said. “And for listening to my . . . well, my current drama.”
“I’m a therapist on the side. I’ll send you my bill,” she teased.
“I’ll look for it.”
The awkward goodbye lingered above them. “I need to get out of this suit.”
Victor lifted an eyebrow. “That’s a damn shame.” He hadn’t meant to say that out loud.
Backing up, she lifted her hands to the air, a mischievous smile on her lips. “Okay, I’m gone.”
“We’ll touch base for dinner,” Victor called after her.
“If Avery’s up to it,” Shannon said as she continued to walk away.
He didn’t say goodbye, and neither did she.
But his eyes followed her as she left his sight.
Chapter Fourteen
Avery had recovered but spent the day on their deck nursing a headache. Shannon joined her outside and received the inquisition.
“Did he hit on you?”
“If you’re asking if he made a pass, the answer is no.”
“No inappropriate touching?”
“Nope.”
Avery frowned. “What about comments? I’m sure he had something to say about that swimsuit.”
“He had plenty to say about the suit.”
Avery smiled. “Give it up.”
Shannon looked down at the suit she had yet to take off. “He said it should be illegal.”
“That’s something.”
“He was a surprisingly good sport with all of it. It was obvious that he hadn’t snorkeled in a while, or at all. But he kept a smile and made a good show without complaint. The cave was incredible. We have to come back here and bring Trina and Lori.”
Avery rubbed her temple. “But no pass.”
“No. But it isn’t like I gave him the opportunity. I’m enjoying the flirt, like you suggested. No one said anything about physical contact.” Although the more she thought about it, the better it sounded.
“We still have three nights left. I’ll be sure and leave you alone with the man to give him an opportunity.”
Shannon glared. “Don’t you dare, Captain Obvious.”
“You’re right, you’re right,” Avery backtracked. “If he wants it, he will create his own opportunity.”
She thought about his confessions about work, about his life. There was a lot more to the man than she first thought. Not that she was going to reveal any of that to Avery right at that moment. Doing so would get the woman going more than she already was.
Shannon pushed up off her chair to walk inside. “I’m taking a shower and a nap before dinner.”
“Good idea. Rest up before the night comes, in case you need your energy.”
Shannon walked away shaking her head.
Avery was like a dog with a bone.
A bone named Victor.
Victor kicked back on his bed, wrapped in a towel. The air conditioner and the fan spinning above him were the only sounds in the room.
He’d purposely left his phone behind for the day, and in fact was making a concerted effort to avoid logging into the real world or risk being sucked into his normal life. Except a text from Corrie