Page 55 of A Line in the Sand

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Nothing about her posture indicated that having him join the meeting was great in the slightest. What he couldn’t figure out was why. He thought they’d forged some sort of unofficial truce. He’d had lunch with her parents. They’d shared a moment under the pier.

But what was it she’d said right before they almost kissed?

Thereisno us…is there?

“This meeting wasn’t on the schedule,” Max said flatly.

The members of the Turtle Team glanced back and forth between him and Molly as if they were watching a match on center court at Wimbledon.

Ursula leapt into Molly’s lap, planted her chin on the table, and refused to look at Max. The puppy had clearly chosen a side.

“I know it wasn’t.” Molly’s voice was crisp, sending Ursula’s copper ears swiveling back on her head. “But I thought I’d call one right away since you mentioned we should get to work on fundraising ideas.”

He’d definitely said that, but he’d meant the two of them. Not the island’s entire senior citizen community.

Max looked at her for a long moment and she looked right back at him, neither of them willing to stand down.

“So let’s hear it,” he heard himself say. “What have you come up with?”

It was a challenge, and they both knew it. There was no way Molly and her team had had time to get anything planned. She hadn’t even been back at work for a full day yet.

But to Max’s surprise, he was wrong.

“We’ve already secured a date for the Under the Sea Ball, just three weeks from now. The senior center has agreed to let us use their gymnasium free of charge. We’re also planning a more immediate event—a sea turtle release,” Molly said. Then her tongue darted out and licked away the dab of frosting on her lip.

Max went momentarily dumbstruck. “Pardon?”

“A turtle release,” she repeated. “I talked to Nate this morning and he said that Crush is doing well enough to be released back to her natural habitat. The team and I thought we could make it into a party this weekend. We can invite everyone to come watch and cheer Crush on as you and Nate carry her back into the sea. Violet has agreed to make special turtle cupcakes and donate all the profits to the aquarium. We can sell T-shirts, plush turtles, and other souvenirs.”

“It’ll be so much fun,” Ethel said.

Opal nodded. “And a turtle release will bring more awareness to the aquarium and turtle hospital.”

They were right. It was a fantastic idea.Then why are you so annoyed?Max gritted his teeth and smiled. “Where exactly do you have in mind?”

“The dog beach. There are lots of benches there, and everyone on the island knows exactly where it is,” Molly said.

Oh, joy. The dog beach—the site of Max’s near-drowning. His favorite place.

He glanced at Ursula, and the little Cavalier hopped off of Molly’s lap and strutted out of the conference room toward Max’s office.

“What do you think, Max?” Opal said, nudging a mermaid cupcake toward him.

Max’s mouth watered, but he didn’t dare pick it up. “I think it’s a great idea, but do you think we’ve got time to get everything organized and ready by this weekend?”

He didn’t want to keep Crush in the hospital any longer than necessary. The turtle’s well-being was more important than the sad state of their financial affairs.

Molly nodded. “Absolutely.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Max stood, no longer sure whether his presence was really necessary. “But keep me updated with the details, please.”

Molly’s eyes flashed. “Of course. I wouldn’t dream of making any sort of nefarious plans involving the aquarium behind your back. I definitely wouldn’t want you to think you knew the entire story and then ended up feeling blindsided. Or worse yet, hurt.”

Ethel turned toward Mavis. “Did I miss something? What’s going on?”

“I don’t have the foggiest idea,” Mavis said.

But Max did.