by Eric Douglas
*****
Women were around. In a place like the Florida Keys, with tourists coming in and out, and the other dive instructors and divemasters on the island being just about evenly split between men and women, Jackson had had his fair share of opportunities for dates. Generally, he had stayed out of the singles scene.
After 9/11, he had split up with his fiancée and hadn’t been in a relationship since. He just didn’t have the heart for it. That, and the fact that most of the women he met didn’t challenge him. He wanted – needed – someone as strong-willed and as independent as he was. He was beginning to think he might have found her.
Not wanting to discuss his discoveries onboard the Beauregard over the phone, Jackson called Andrea and invited her to dinner. He told her he had something to discuss with her. In reality, it could have been just a business meeting. But, if that was the case, why was Jackson smiling and whistling to himself as he showered and got dressed. He was excited about the dinner.
Jackson was beginning to fall for Andrea. He had always been a bit of a sucker for underdogs and the people who championed lost causes. Underneath his tough exterior, he was a bit of a bleeding heart himself. It was true that Andrea was physically attractive, but that wasn’t it. He had known beautiful women before. It was the combination of the looks, brains and spunk that got to Jackson. He began to think he could fall hard.
At least, that was the thought on his mind when he left his houseboat to meet Andrea by the dock to tell her what he knew. Jackson realized that as soon as he spilled his information this evening would effectively be over. He knew Andrea would be too excited to set and eat. He was just hoping he would get the opportunity to do it again when this whole thing was done with.