Ava

by Denise Devine

  The rental company had a flotilla of bright-colored rafts for rent. Ava and Jeff took a break in the afternoon, relaxing in the sun on a couple rafts. They took their time, floating lazily around the reef before slowly padding toward the shore.

  For an early dinner, they got a beach-side table at one of the local restaurants along the cove, dining on Pina coladas and grilled shrimp.

  The ride back to the hotel didn’t take long and as they pulled into the parking lot, they saw the Fed Ex truck parked near the entrance with its flashing lights on.

  As soon as they parked, Ava hopped off the bike and tore off her helmet. “I hope my American Express card and my passport are here!”

  She handed her headgear to Jeff and hurried into the resort. At the American Express office, she received her card and breathed a sigh of relief. The woman managing the office had informed her yesterday that the package had been delivered to the island Fed Ex distribution center, but deliveries always ran a day behind. That, Ava knew, was because here people operated on island time. Simply put, on island time, people were laid back and life moved at a relaxed pace. Living on island time meant you weren’t pressured by the clock and if you were a little late, so be it. Lisa had warned Ava that people here didn’t operate at the same frenetic pace as they did on the mainland and not to be surprised if it took an extra day to get delivery of the card.

  Despite the slight delay, she received the card with a sigh of relief. She had one issue taken care of with two to go. Now, she could get a new phone and cross another item off her list. That left one thing still unresolved, her passport. It should have been here today, along with her new credit card.

  She asked the Fed Ex driver to check on it for her and found the package was at the distribution center. According to him, he could make a call to have the package held at the Fed Ex office and she could pick it up the following morning herself if she didn’t want to wait for it to be delivered. She agreed and thanked the man.

  She found Jeff in the lobby, patiently waiting for her. “Here it is!” She waved her card. “Now, all I have to do is show up at the Fed Ex office first thing tomorrow morning and I’ll have my passport, too.”

  Hearing the words escape her lips gave her a moment of pause. She’d been waiting for days to get her life back in order so she could fly home, but at the same time, that meant her time with Jeff would end. In the couple days they’d spent together on the island, she’d had more fun than she’d had in years but knew it had never meant to last. He’d stayed on only because Perfect Match didn’t want to leave her stranded on the island without money or identification. He had no obligation to continue their friendship once they arrived back home in Minneapolis.

  “Would you like to meet me for another drink later at the bar? Maybe this time we could try a frozen daiquiri.” She laughed. “I’m thinking strawberry for me and banana for you.”

  He frowned with disappointment as he shoved his hands in his pockets and walked alongside her to the elevators. “I’m sorry, but I can’t. I’ve got a dozen phone messages I need to follow up on tonight and emails I have to address once I get back to my room. Dawson is starting to get antsy for me to wrap things up here and get back to the states.”

  “Okay,” she said lightly, though her elated mood took an immediate nose dive. “I understand. Shall we meet again tomorrow for breakfast?”

  He held the door, allowing her to entered the elevator first. “Sure. It’ll probably be our last day on the island so we should order something special.” He grinned. “Sausage and eggs.”

  Chapter Ten

  Tuesday, September 8th

  The Perfect Proposition

  Jeff slid into his favorite booth at the Starfish Café a few minutes early of his appointed time to meet Ava and ordered his usual pot of coffee for the two of them.

  After talking with Dawson last night, he was grateful for one last day to explore the island and he wanted to make it his best one yet. He’d convinced Dawson to allow him to stay over for one more day at Dolphin Bay resort, citing the need to make sure Ava’s passport was, in fact, waiting for her at the island Fed Ex distribution center.

  Dawson agreed and pitched an idea of his own. Instead of flying back home to Minnesota, Dawson wanted Jeff to meet him in Miami on Wednesday to attend the grand opening of the newest branch of Perfect Match. Dawson considered it a valuable opportunity for him to observe the office layout, familiarize himself with all of the staff positions and spend a couple days in training under the tutelage of the Miami manager.

  Jeff had immediately grabbed the last two seats for him and Ava on the Wednesday morning flight from Enchanted Island to Miami and also handled her connecting flight to Minneapolis.

  He checked his company email while he waited for Ava to join him, saving the ones he’d need to reply to or work on later. One particular email from Dawson drew his undivided attention, however.

  The company-wide email had been sent to all employees with “Return Receipt Requested,” updating them on the company’s policy with regard to clients. What Jeff read served as a warning to him to maintain the proper professional relationship with Ava, but it also left his heart greatly conflicted.

  According to Dawson, another Specialist had ignored company rules and cultivated a relationship with one of his female clients. That relationship eventually went south for reasons only known to the female and two weeks ago, she’d filed a restraining order with her local law enforcement office, accusing the Specialist of invading her privacy by using her confidential profile information to harass her and stalk her. Whether it was true or not had no bearing on the fact that the Specialist violated his agreement with Perfect Match when he became romantically involved with her.

  As a result, the Specialist no longer worked for the company and all employees were scheduled to be given sexual harassment/sensitivity training immediately, with a refresher course on a yearly basis.

  Jeff knew he had to make a choice—Ava or his job. In the short time they’d known each other, he’d grown to care for her, but so far, he hadn’t crossed any lines, except for the time he’d kissed her at Turquoise Cove. He’d realized his error and vowed he wouldn’t do it again.

  Ava slid into her side of the booth at exactly nine o’clock wearing a pair of aqua shorts and a white top with aqua trim. With her hair swept into a long ponytail, she looked ready for an exciting last day on the island. He wanted to spend it with her, but he knew that when she heard what he had planned, she’d be adamant about spending the day on her own. Under the circumstances, it was for the best, anyway.

  She turned over her coffee mug. “So, what’s on the itinerary for our last hurrah?”

  He poured her coffee and set the thermal pot back on the table. “Remember that forest-covered mountain we saw from the cliffs of Turquoise Cove? The one with the big platform built into it? It’s called Devil’s Mountain. I’m taking a drive out there today to ride the Diablo Zipline.”

  Her jaw dropped. “You’re…what?”

  “This is something I’ve always wanted to do.” He leaned forward. “The Diablo Line is five hundred feet high. It comes down the mountain and goes straight across Jewel Bay, ending up on the other side.”

  She stared at him like he’d lost his mind. “Why do you want to do that?”

  He grinned. “It’s the ultimate thrill.”

  She looked practically shell-shocked at the thought of shooting across the bay clipped to a mere cable. “Oh.” Swallowing hard, she silently picked up her menu and stared at it.

  Jeff decided to let the matter rest and order his breakfast. He could see her disappointment in staying back at the hotel by herself, but he didn’t know what else to say. This particular zipline had been on his bucket list for a long time. He had to try it before he left the island.

  They didn’t speak of the matter again until they were eating their meal and he noticed Ava studying him curiously. “What’s the matter?”

  “Have you ever been on a
zipline before?”

  Her question caught him off guard. Earlier, she’d given him the impression that she didn’t want to discuss it any further.

  “Sure,” he said after he’d swallowed a forkful of basted egg. “Quite a few times.”

  “Where?”

  “Here and there, actually,” he replied and selected a small packet of grape jelly from the caddy. He pulled off the seal and began to spread a thick layer on his toast. “I’ve been on cruise ships that had them—short ones, mind you—not like the ones I’ve been on in the states or in the Caribbean.”

  She swallowed a bite of her omelet. “Are they safe?”

  He shrugged. “I’d say they’re just as safe as white river rafting or skiing down a mountain slope.” He paused before taking a bite of his toast. “The Diablo Line is an approved activity by several cruise lines and a long list of travel companies so it comes with good references. Why are you asking?”

  “I don’t know…” She looked conflicted as she stared at her plate and toyed with her hash brown potatoes. “I supposed you’ve done that, too.”

  “Done what?”

  “White river rafting and skiing down a mountain slope.”

  “Yeah, I have.” He drained his juice. “I’m a big fan of outdoor sports, but I guess you’ve already discovered that about me.”

  She looked down at her plate and finished her breakfast in silence.

  After the server removed their empty dishes, Ava held her coffee cup with both hands and stared wistfully across the room through one of the large windows showcasing the crystal-clear waves of Dolphin Bay.

  She sighed. “I used to be an adventurous person—before I got married. My husband had to travel so much for his job, he never wanted to go anywhere when he was home.”

  Her ex sounded like a first-class jerk, but Jeff kept his opinion to himself. He didn’t need to remind her of what she already knew. “I’d say jumping off a twenty-five-foot cliff on the spur of the moment is quite adventurous.”

  “You know what?” Her face lit up with a smile. “I’d like to do that again, only this time I’ll be ready for it and enjoy every moment of it.”

  Really?

  “When I get back, I’ll drive you out there—that is, if you’re serious about it.”

  “Of course, I am.” She hesitated. “But, um…what if I wanted to go with you to Devil’s Mountain? Would you mind if I tagged along?”

  A red flag went up in the back of his mind. He didn’t think it wise to take her to a place where she’d be bored. “You wouldn’t have much fun simply waiting for me. Depending on how busy it is today, by the time we get there, it could take hours to get through the process.”

  “Yeah…” Ava replied, staring at the ceiling as she chewed on her lip. “Well, maybe I want to try the zipline with you.” She shifted her gaze to him. “Is it expensive?”

  He froze. No way did he want to buy her a ticket only to have her back out when she realized she really didn’t want to hang five hundred feet in the air.

  “It’s a hundred dollars for one turn.” He leaned forward again. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  “Yes.” She stared hard at him. “I need to do it. It’s time I got off the sidelines and became a participant again.” Gripping her mug, she drank the last of her coffee and set it on the table. “I can pay my own way now that I have another Am Ex card.”

  “The money doesn’t matter,” he said, taking her hand. “All I care about is that you have a good time.”

  “Then what are we waiting for?” She slid out of the booth. “I’ll put my bathing suit on under my clothes and meet you in the lobby in fifteen minutes. Okay?”

  “Okay.” He stood up and shoved his hands in his pockets. “This should be interesting.”

  ****

  Before they could have any fun, however, they had to take care of business. They drove out to the island Fed Ex office in Morganville and picked up Ava’s passport. Then Jeff drove her back to the resort so she could take it up to her room and store it in the small safe in her closet. He needed to make sure she had possession of her passport and had stored it in a secure place to ensure she had a proper ID to leave the island tomorrow. No way did he want her to take it with her to Devil’s Mountain. Not with the island purse snatcher still on the loose.

  Within the hour, they arrived at the foot of Devil’s Mountain and parked the bike in a lot that had been carved out of the dense woods covering most of the mountainous area. They approached the ticket office, a small building situated at the end of a short path. Ava’s hand shook as she paid her admission, but to Jeff’s surprise and relief, she went through with it. Upon paying, they received their temporary bracelets to wear instead of an actual ticket and were assigned their appointed ride time.

  From there, they approached another small building painted in Enchanted Island’s official colors of bright yellow with royal blue trim and rented a small locker to store the items they didn’t want to take with them on the ride.

  Ava stored her bag with her personal items, but Jeff preferred to keep his phone and his keys tucked safely in the flap-covered, Velcro-secured pocket of his khaki cargo shorts.

  They were directed to an area where employees “suited them up” in their double-clip, full-body harnesses along with their helmets. After that, they were directed to a holding area on the cove. Long benches facing the beach were positioned in the sand for the riders to wait for their next instructions. Jeff found two empty spaces for them to sit.

  He slipped her palm in his. “Are you okay so far?”

  She gave him a nervous smile but nodded as she squeezed his hand.

  As they waited, they were given a safety briefing where they were informed to keep their helmets on and leave all “clipping and unclipping” of their harnesses to the expertise of their guides. After the briefing, they were shepherded to a cleared area among the trees where they encountered a zipline.

  They followed their group up the stairs to a metal platform where they waited in line for an attendant to get them set up.

  “Are you ready?” Jeff asked Ava as they stood side-by-side, clipped in and ready to take the ride.

  She took a deep breath and clutched the side bars of her attachment clipped to the cable trolley overhead. “Yeah.”

  And they were off.

  Ava screamed at first, grabbing Jeff’s attention, but her fear turned quickly to uncontrollable laughing as she soared down the hill, feet first with her hands gripping the sidebars connected to her harness for dear life. The ride only lasted about twelve to fifteen seconds, barely enough time for him to get settled once he took his attention off Ava. They reached the wide, wood landing as their trolleys slid into the landing zone, coming to an abrupt stop.

  Dangling from her harness, Ava threw her head back and laughed again, obviously enthralled with her new adventure.

  The visible change in her made him do a double take. Three days ago, he wouldn’t have entertained the possibility of taking a swim with her much less a zipline ride on Devil’s Mountain. When he first met her, she was an unhappy, uptight client who’d caused Dawson more problems than he could count. Jeff could have concluded his business with her and walked away without a second thought. But today…

  The guide unhooked Jeff first, giving him a chance to get his bearings so that when Ava put her feet on the ground, he could assist her in regaining her balance. She leaned against him as they walked arm-in-arm off the platform, steadying each other.

  She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling, her smile wide with exuberance. “That was great! And it wasn’t scary at all!”

  “Ava, that was just a warmup run.” He gazed down at her. “The real thing is still to come.”

  Chapter Eleven

  The Perfect Thrill

  Ava followed Jeff to the open-air bus that transported them up the mountain to the Diablo Line. The bumpy ride took them out of the public zone, through a fenced-in area secured by a massive set of solid
metal gates attended by several guards. Though it was probably a necessity to keep the ride secure from vandals and the curiosity of the public, it created an atmosphere of secrecy, like she’d seen in the movie, Jurassic Park.

  Once they arrived at the top of the mountain, they exited the bus and traveled a long, metal bridge with high railings between the tops of the trees to the platform, five hundred feet above sea level. The manmade rig reminded Ava of a giant erector set that her cousin Harry used to play with when they were kids.

  Her tennis shoes tapped on the metal as she walked toward the platform, but she avoided looking down. Seeing how high up she was would surely make her nerves jangle more than they already did and she didn’t want to frighten herself into changing her mind.

  At the end of the walk she encountered two guides standing in a covered area, a man on the left side and a female on the right. The female guide waited for them at the top of a small stairway. Above her head a large sign read “PLEASE STAY BEHIND THE RED LINE – KEEP CENTER CLEAR.” They turned to wait in a covered holding area behind the red line, but at that moment, the guide waved them on to the platform.

  “Hi, are you team number one? Come up here, please,” she said with a Bahamian accent as she stood aside and allowed Ava and Jeff to climb the short stairs to where she stood. She grabbed the “tail” on the back of each of their harnesses and clipped them to a “wire rope” safety cable running along the narrow-edged platform. “Follow me, please.”

  The male guide turned toward the small group of people waiting in the holding area and gestured toward the other side of the platform. “All right, number two team can come up…”

  Ava’s heart began to slam in her chest as she walked along the narrow platform. Her knees were ready to buckle.