Diving into Love

by Kat Bellemore

  Caleb gave an exaggerated eye roll in an attempt to pretend her statement held no truth.

  “You guys ready to eat or what?” Isaac called over.

  Thankful for the interruption, Caleb yelled, “Why, you hungry or something?”

  “Forever and always.”

  As Caleb and Adeline rejoined the others and they entered the restaurant, he tried to ignore the curious look Bree sent his way.

  “You guys are lucky,” the waitress, Jules, said as she led them past several empty tables. “We weren’t going to open up until next weekend, but Mitch got restless.” Mitchell was a single dad who had more money than he needed. He enjoyed running the restaurant during the tourist season and then relaxing in the off months. Looked like he’d gotten more than his share of relaxation this year.

  “Oh, and I thought he’d opened it just for us,” Caleb said, his tone holding mock disappointment.

  Jules threw him a grin. “I would have.”

  Yeah, she probably would have. “Thanks, Jules. You’re sweet.”

  She gave him a look that said she was trying to be more than sweet, but Caleb was used to it and just laughed as he shook his head. He’d been on the receiving end of that look for the past decade, and it was more of a joke between them at this point.

  They had no problem getting a table on the deck, something that would become increasingly difficult as the summer wore on, considering the unique crescent-shaped table would give them all a view of the ocean as they ate. As chance would have it, Caleb ended up in the middle, next to Bree, with Adeline and Isaac on each end.

  “This is beautiful,” Bree said, fingering the edge of her menu. After a slight hesitation, she gave Caleb a side glance. “I’m sorry. For the other day. I was upset about the whole lack-of-job thing, and I took it out on you.”

  Caleb could admit that he’d been frustrated at the time. As he’d driven to a widow’s house at the edge of town to deliver the uneaten fish sandwiches—she was a sweet old woman who had been a friend of his father’s—he’d replayed the situation in his mind, trying to figure out what he could have done differently.

  Had he been insensitive? He realized now it hadn’t just been Bree who had been upset by his comment, but at the time, he hadn’t stopped to think that Isaac might be offended by it. Maybe Caleb had been alone so long that he had lost his ability to connect to people—even people he’d known his whole life.

  “Please don’t apologize,” Caleb said.

  “Yeah,” Isaac piped up from Bree’s other side, reminding Caleb that they weren’t alone. “Don’t apologize. It was totally his fault.”

  “Thanks, Isaac,” he said.

  Isaac grinned, showing that all had been forgiven. “No problem. Just making sure we all have the facts straight.”

  “As long as you know I didn’t mean any harm,” Caleb told his friend. “We’d all be lost without you on that beach, making sure we don’t drown.”

  Isaac grunted. “Got that right.”

  Adeline bent her head forward from his other side. “Aww, you two are so sweet. Should Bree and I leave you alone so you can have your moment?”

  Bree looked up from her menu and laughed, but her gaze quickly returned to it, her brows furrowing.

  “What’s the matter?” Caleb asked. Not liking seafood he could understand, but did she not like burgers either? Or worse. Did she not like meat?

  Bree’s creased forehead smoothed out, and she gave him an embarrassed smile. “Sorry. I’m not used to trying new food.”

  “That is completely true,” Adeline said. “This girl orders the same thing every time, and I already know what the problem is.”

  Okay, now Caleb was definitely confused. “You don’t have burgers where you’re from?”

  Pink tinged Bree’s cheeks as all the attention was currently on her. “They do…” she said slowly.

  “But not without green chile,” Adeline finished for her.

  That was not what Caleb had been expecting. “You put green chile…as in chile peppers…on your burgers?”

  Bree nodded. “And pasta, soup, basically anything that is edible.”

  Caleb studied her for a moment, taking in her high cheekbones and bright eyes. There was so much more to her than he’d ever assumed. Green chile included.

  “We may not have green chile, but if you’ll give us a chance, Starlight Ridge might be able to show you that we have some things to offer as well.”

  Bree’s lips quirked up at the corners. “I’m sure you do.” She paused, a look of horror passing across her face before she hurriedly added, “I mean, not you personally. But Starlight Ridge. It has loads of stuff. I’m sure…” Her cheeks seemed to darken a shade, and her gaze returned to her menu. “But all of these seem like strange combinations to me. They’re not your run-of-the-mill fast food variety.”

  “And green chile on a burger doesn’t seem like a strange combination?”

  Bree’s eyes crinkled at the corners as she smiled. “Touché.”

  “I’ll order for you,” Isaac offered, and leaned in close to Bree, reading off her menu instead of his own.

  Caleb forced himself to lean back in his chair, like he didn’t care, when what he really wanted was to wedge himself between Bree and Isaac. “If you think you can do better,” he said calmly, though even he heard the challenge in his voice.

  “Better than who? You?” Isaac laughed. “How about this? We both choose something we think she’ll like, then she’ll decide which one she’ll order.”

  Caleb couldn’t believe this. He’d thought he was just going to grab dinner with friends tonight. But it had ended up being a sort of group date, and he was now in competition for the attention of a woman Caleb shouldn’t even be getting involved with.

  He should just back down. Bree was technically here with Isaac, after all. And frankly, it was getting a bit ridiculous.

  “It’s okay. I’m sure she’ll love whatever you choose,” Caleb said, turning his attention back to his own menu.

  “Oh, man,” Isaac said with a small laugh. He was still leaning in close to Bree, but his gaze was on Caleb. “You must have it bad.”

  Caleb’s defenses immediately sprang up, and he tried to focus on nothing but the words in front of him. Barbecue pork bacon burger. That looked pretty good.

  “Hey, Bree, they have one that has jalapenos on it,” Adeline said, seemingly trying to change the direction of the conversation. Caleb would have to remember to thank her later. “It’s not green chile, but I think it’s as close as you’re going to get.”

  “You never back down from a challenge,” Isaac continued, as if Adeline hadn’t spoken. “That’s how you ended up on your back and coughing up water at our little surfing match.” He paused and nodded once toward Bree. “And yet…”

  Jules walked up at that moment. “Sorry it took me so long. You all know what you want to drink?”

  Caleb glanced around. There were only three other tables that were filled, so he was unsure what she could have possibly been doing. He wasn’t going to complain, though; her timing had been perfect.

  They ordered waters all around and then, without waiting for Isaac to order for her, Bree said she’d have a jalapeno popper burger. Caleb had never had it, but it sounded delicious, so he said, “I’ll have the same.”

  Isaac laughed again. “This ought to be good.”

  Caleb loved Isaac as he would a younger brother, and Caleb was usually the most patient guy in the room. But even he had his limits. Maybe Isaac was more like the little brother who would start into a round of “Caleb and Bree sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g,” even when it wasn’t warranted.

  He didn’t respond to Isaac’s goading.

  After they’d received their food and he’d taken his first bite, however, he suspected Isaac had been referring more to his choice of burger. Caleb wasn’t used to spicy, and flames seemed to erupt from his mouth. He forced himself to swallow and then gasped as he lunged for his water glass.
Despite drinking the entire thing, there was no reprieve.

  “You’re spreading the oil of the jalapeno with the water,” Bree said. “Order a salad, or dip your fries in ranch dressing or something. It will help.”

  Caleb nodded, unable to speak.

  Isaac was laughing, of course. “Told ya.”

  It wasn’t a couple of minutes before Bree placed a bowl of salad in front of him. He didn’t know where she’d gotten it, and he didn’t care. He shoved in several mouthfuls.

  “Better?” she asked.

  Again, he nodded. Not because he couldn’t speak, but because he was too embarrassed to.

  “Considering that was the only spicy thing on the menu,” Bree said, “I take it you guys play things safe around here.” She had already eaten half her burger without breaking a sweat. The woman was hard-core.

  “Oh yeah,” Isaac said, shoving a fried onion into his mouth. “And Caleb is the safest.”

  “Is that so?” Bree asked, her lips quirking into a smile.

  And Caleb officially wanted to melt into his seat.

  8

  Bree tried to keep herself from laughing when Caleb offered her the rest of his food. She had no idea what had possessed him when he’d ordered that jalapeno burger. She was pretty sure he’d never eaten a jalapeno in his life. At least he’d stopped sweating.

  The sun was just beginning to set as she finished off the last of both his dinner and hers. Isaac didn’t seem close to done and ordered another basket of fries. No wonder he was excited for her to buy his food; he was a bottomless pit, and he was taking full advantage of her generosity. It didn’t bother her, though, because he was more like a teenager stuck in an older body, the way he seemed to hold no thought for tomorrow but enjoyed every moment. In some ways, she was jealous.

  How freeing that would be.

  She paused, taking in the reds and oranges and pinks that splashed across the sky. For a brief second, she found herself actually considering staying. It wasn’t like she had anything to go back to.

  Bree shook herself from her thoughts. What was she talking about? New Mexico had some of the most amazing skies she’d ever seen. She couldn’t stay just for a beautiful view. And the smell of the ocean. And her best friend. And a town that greeted every visitor with baskets of homemade goodness.

  But Starlight Ridge wasn’t home, she reminded herself. And they didn’t have green chile.

  She already knew she could have green chile shipped to her, or she could bring some back with her whenever she visited her parents.

  But there weren’t any engineering firms in a place like Starlight Ridge, and it wasn’t like she could freeload off of Adeline forever.

  “Penny for your thoughts,” Adeline said quietly.

  Bree had spaced out and hadn’t noticed her friend scoot in next to her. Caleb was standing at the railing, looking over the ocean, and Adeline had taken his spot.

  “Life,” Bree said, unsure how else to answer her friend’s question. Adeline raised an eyebrow, and Bree tried again. “Things seemed so simple a few days ago—before I came here. I had a job. And a plan. Mostly.”

  “And now?” Adeline prompted.

  “Now, I have nothing.”

  Isaac scooted closer. “You need a job?”

  Bree paused—she hadn’t realized Isaac had been listening in, and she didn’t really want to spill her guts to him. Bree released a long sigh. “I don’t know what I need.”

  Isaac pointed one of his fries at her. “I don’t know of anything permanent around here, but there’s a few places that will be hiring for the summer. Including Adeline’s place.”

  Bree grimaced. Making chocolates hadn’t gone so well the first time around.

  Adeline didn’t try to pressure Bree into taking a job at her place, though. Instead, she seemed apologetic as she said, “Actually, I’ve already hired a couple of local kids. They’ll start in a couple of weeks. Most of the places around here get things taken care of right after Christmas so they’re not scrambling at the last second.”

  Bree couldn’t see herself taking a job that a high school kid could do, anyway. She was an engineer, for crying out loud.

  “It’s all right. I guess I have to grow up and face the world eventually.” She didn’t understand the disappointment she still felt, though. Had she actually been considering staying?

  “Caleb is still looking for someone,” Isaac said while munching down on another fry.

  Bree froze as she thought back to the sign she’d first seen in the dive shop’s window. “I don’t know…”

  “Hey, Caleb,” Isaac called out. “You still looking for someone to work for you?”

  Bree felt heat rushing into her cheeks, and she ducked her head as Caleb came nearer. She didn’t like what his presence did to her, didn’t like how it made her feel. Her heart beat too fast and her head felt fuzzy. Working for him…it could only get worse.

  “Yeah,” Caleb said. He spun a chair and sat on it backwards so he could face them. “Why, you looking to give up your lifeguard position?” The way he said it, he knew that was in no way what Isaac had meant.

  “What, and waste the sunshine while stuck inside your musty place?” Isaac joked back. “Thanks, but no thanks. It’s actually Bree who’s looking for something.”

  Caleb’s gaze snapped to her, and he was quiet for a moment. “You’re staying?”

  She lifted one shoulder. “Thinking about it.” Bree didn’t want to commit to anything, not yet. She wanted to stay in Starlight Ridge long enough to learn to love the ocean and gain some semblance of sanity, but that didn’t include working in Caleb’s dive shop.

  What Bree really wanted was to regain her balance on her own, not using someone else as a crutch. And she had a feeling that both Adeline and Caleb would want to be that for her. Heck, maybe she’d end up leaning on the whole town, with the way they took care of each other.

  And after she left, then what?

  “Have you ever worked for a dive shop before?” Caleb asked. His tone was soft but skeptical. He knew she was from New Mexico and likely hadn’t.

  “No,” Bree said, tilting her head upward. “But I saw your Help Wanted sign a few days back. I can handle whatever tourist season brings you.” She didn’t know if she even wanted the job, but if she didn’t take it, it wasn’t going to be because Caleb thought she wasn’t up to the task. A sixteen-year-old could run a cash register, and so could she.

  Caleb’s eyes crinkled in amusement. “All right. Why don’t you swing by first thing tomorrow morning, and we can see if you’re a good fit.”

  “Oh. You were wanting me to start so…soon?” Bree had thought she’d have at least a week to figure out what she wanted to do.

  Caleb leaned forward, resting his arms on the back of the chair. “The guy that worked for me the past few years decided to up and leave for Thailand. I’ve been struggling to find someone who can fill his place.” His gaze seemed to bore through Bree as he said, “I need to make sure you are up to date on all of your training.”

  She wavered under his gaze, hesitant to agree to anything. Why had Caleb had such a difficult time finding someone, anyway? No one else in town seemed to have that problem. “I…”

  “Give her a couple of days to think about it,” Adeline said, interrupting. “The woman just lost her job, for crying out loud.”

  Caleb pushed off the chair and stood. “You’re right. I’m sorry. That was insensitive of me.”

  He didn’t bring up the open position in his shop for the remainder of the evening, but that didn’t stop Bree from thinking about it. And her thoughts were relentless.

  What would an extra few months in Starlight Ridge hurt? It wasn’t like she was going to stay forever, and it might be kind of nice to have a job where not much was expected of her. Yeah, she’d hardly be earning anything, but that would be better than the nothing she’d be earning back in New Mexico.

  That wasn’t what was keeping her from accepting the job off
er, though.

  It was the fact that it was Caleb who was offering it.

  Bree didn’t understand why Adeline wasn’t more excited about the prospect of her taking the job in Caleb’s shop and staying for the summer. Ever since she had arrived in town, her friend had been dropping not-so-subtle hints that Bree should stick around for a while.

  But as they had a late-night snack of chocolate ice cream and salted pecans—the pecans had traveled with Bree, courtesy of her parents’ pecan orchard—Adeline’s lips kept dipping down into a half-frown, and then she’d notice Bree watching, and she’d force them back up into a smile.

  “Okay, what’s up,” Bree said, tapping her spoon against her bowl. “I thought you wanted me to stick around Starlight Ridge.” She hesitated, struck by the thought that maybe two was a crowd in Adeline’s small beach home. “I can find somewhere else to stay if—”

  Adeline was already shaking her head. “No, that’s not it at all. You know you can stay as long as you want.”

  Bree gave a slow nod, knowing her friend wasn’t anything less than genuine. But there was something that Adeline was keeping from her. “I know I’m completely overqualified for the job at Caleb’s place—or any place around here—but it’s not like it would be permanent.”

  Adeline seemed surprised by Bree’s comment, her eyebrows shooting up. “Do you know what the job entails? At the dive shop?”

  “I got the gist of it,” Bree said, bewildered that her friend didn’t think her capable of basic customer service. Sure, it had been a while, but it wasn’t like it was difficult. She had designed planes, for crying out loud. Or at least the cup holders.

  “Okay,” Adeline said. Bree could tell her friend wasn’t entirely convinced, but Adeline made a show of taking a large bite of her ice cream and shooting a grin Bree’s way. “You’ll have a lot more fun out there than I will, stuck in my shop. I wish chocolate didn’t melt, or I would have an open-air store.”

  Bree doubted she’d be outdoors any more than Adeline would, but before she could voice her thoughts, Adeline groaned and pressed her fingers against her forehead.