As Jack followed the conversation, his eyes ping-ponging between the two women. He leaned forward, looking at Charli, and interjected, “Was this the other day when we heard you yelling on the balcony?”
Charli exhaled sharply, took a deep breath that strained the bodice of her dress, and chuckled. “Yes, that was why I was yelling on the balcony. Evan has a way of bringing out the worst in me. You have no idea how utterly sleazy and underhanded that incompetent asshole is.”
Annette snorted and turned toward Jack. “I bet that was entertaining,” she snarked and Jack grinned in response.
She looked back to Charli. “I knew he’d call you eventually, and we both knew he’d screw everything up. He just wants you back so he can blame everything on you when it all goes up in flames.” She pursed her lips. “Percival has called me a few times, but I’ve declined the calls. Plus when we’re on the ship, there’s no cell service.”
Annette shrugged with a grin, then continued. “Oh well.” She wagged her finger at Charli. “But I’ll tell you this, Charli, if you don’t go back, neither am I. I’m not working for any of those other idiots. They treat their teams like trash.”
Charli nodded. “I understand. And if it comes to that, I’ll make some calls for you and you’ll have a job in no time.”
“Well, I’m not worried about that. But back to my original point,” Annette started, her eyebrows rising slightly and eyes laser-focused on Charli’s. “You have something here, Charli.”
Jack felt a tingle go down his spine when Annette pointed toward him. “The two of you have inherited something remarkable and been given a mission that can’t be finished in just a few months.” She waved her hands around the room. “You have a beautifulhome in one of the most eclectic and exotic cities in the US. Once Paradise West is complete, I’m assuming you’ll open it for business again.” Annette gave Charli a crazed look. “Why would you even consider going back to Boston?”
Jack watched Annette in fascination—she was electric and making a very convincing case that Charli should stay. His heart pounded in his chest, hoping beyond hope that Annette was successful. He needed Charli here—not just for Paradise West, but for himself as well.
Do I dare to hope that she’ll stay? Is there a chance? Man, I’d give anything for that.
Charli scoffed. “And what exactly would I do for a job if I stayed here?”
Annette snorted again, not backing down. “Hello? Have you looked around? You’re finally in a position where you don’tneedto work, Charli.” She gestured toward the resort. “Your focus should be on Paradise West and what it’s gonna take to get it up and running again.”
“It’ll probably take at least a year to complete...at least. Maybe much longer to finish the entire compound. We have no idea what we’ll find once we get in there.” Charli loaded the finished lasagna into the oven. “I’ve worked nonstop for a decade to get through school and make partner and I was almostthere. I don’t know why you think I should just give up my career to stay down here.”
Annette threw up her hands. “Then start a practice down here. This isn’t complicated, Charli.”
Charli rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I’m sure there’s a huge demand for corporate lawyers in Key West.”
Jack cleared his throat, and all eyes turned to him. “Actually, there is. Charli, you’d have a horde of clients in a day if you really wanted to.” He tried to keep the urgency from his voice. “I’m sure Art would be more than happy to help you get started.”
“Yes!” Annette quipped, smacking Jack on the arm. “See, Charli? Jack knows what he’s talking about.” She shrugged. “Besides, once you’ve finished the restoration, you’ll have to be down here to help run the place.” She grinned and glanced between the two of them. “Then you can hire me to manage it. From what I can tell, you’re gonna need me because once Paradise West is done, it’ll be hot. It’s gonna need someone with serious skills!”
“Oh! Me too! I’ll work for you,” Amy piped in, raising her hand.
Jack nearly laughed out loud when Charli’s eyes bulged and he pressed his lips together to keep from setting her off. It was as if she’d never considered that once the resort was completed, the town would expect it be reopened for guests. But Jack had. He knew theresort would be in high demand, considering its historic reputation and the quality of the restoration he was planning to do.
Charli didn’t say a word, just opened and closed her mouth several times.
Annette smirked and pointed at Charli. “You look like a fish when you do that, dork.”
“God, you’re a brat!” Charli snarked, throwing a cherry tomato at her tormentor. She huffed and turned toward the oven. “Dinner will be ready in about forty minutes.” She glanced over her shoulder at Annette. “What time do you two have be back on the boat?”
“Before nine,” Amy chimed it. “We have plenty of time.” She turned to Jack. “So Jack, you said Amelia died of a broken heart. What does that mean exactly?”
Jack cleared his throat. “Well, according to the legend, after she learned that her lover had died in a shipwreck, she jumped from the Widow’s Walk.”
Amy’s face scrunched up. “Widow’s Walk—you mentioned that before. What exactly is a Widow’s Walk?”
“It’s the square balcony on top of the house. It was called that because of the tradition for sailors’ wives to go up there to await their husbands’ return home. Many times the sailors never returned, like Amelia’s lover, and the women became widows. That’s where Amelia kept the lantern lit for her sailor.”
Amy clutched her hands to her heart and her lip quivered. “That’s so sad.” She looked at Charli. “How does restoring the resort help Amelia?”
Charli shrugged. “We really don’t know, but my aunt was insistent about it.” She met Jack’s gaze and his pulse sped up. “I guess we’ll find out when we get started on the old house.”
Amy blinked. “When do you start?”
“Actually. we start tomorrow,” Jack replied, grinning at Charli’s look of shock. He shrugged. “You heard Gus—we finished the gardens today. Placing the palm trees was the final piece, so they started inspecting the foundations to see what we’re working with.”
