Sandy Cove - A Drake Wines Novella: Drake Wines, #1.5

Chapter One

SAMANTHA

I’ll never forget the feeling I had that day, walking from my bungalow at the back of the resort, into the office and knowing that I was the one in charge. Pushing through the staff entrance, I knew I was wearing the biggest, goofiest grin possible, but I couldn’t have hidden my happiness even if I’d wanted to. The resort was all mine to run. I earned my new position, having worked my way up from cleaning rooms, to work side by side with Bettie, and when she told me a few months ago that she’d met the man of her dreams and they were getting married, I was over the moon happy for her. Then she dropped her bombshell, she was going to retire, and they were moving further out on the island, and I feared the worst. I thought that she would sell the resort and I would be working for someone new that I would have to prove myself all over again.

As luck would have it, Bettie didn't sell the resort, she handed the reins over to a manager instead. Someone that she’d taken under her wing and taught everything she knew about the business and life. I'm grateful for the opportunity and the confidence Bettie has in me to do the job she recently gave up for love.

I felt like I was walking on air, and then Bettie asked to talk to me for a minute and my entire world got turned upside down and inside out, because that’s when she told me she wanted to bring someone in to help me. Not because she thought I couldn’t do it, but because she didn't want  me to become the workaholic that she had, and she wanted me to enjoy being young and to find love. I’ll remember that conversation until my dying breath.

Bettie, you don’t need to worry about me and my love life, or lack thereof. I promise. I said, smiling like a crazy person. I wasn’t looking for love and I sure wasn’t going to let it get in the way of me running this place.

It’s no bother sweetheart, trust me. You're going to like this guy. He's great. He's got experience and he’ll balance you perfectly. She says with a dismissive wave of her hand, as if she doesn’t realise that she just broke my heart. I've been searching for the right person to be your right hand, and I'm so excited that I found him.

I don’t need a right or a left hand Bettie, I know the resort inside out and upside down.

She looks at me for the first time since I entered the office, which is now technically mine, but she's sitting behind the desk that’s been hers for the last decade. I know you don’t necessarily need any help Samantha, but everyone needs a right hand man, an assistant manager. Someone to help with the day to day stuff, and I know that Tomas is going to be yours.

I took the sheet of paper she was handing me, because that’s what you do when people hand you things. You take them. What's this?

That is all of his need to know information.

I read what I've just been handed, and my eyes widen in shock. Are you sure you don’t want me to leave him to it? I'm sure he’d make a better manager than me, he's certainly got the experience. The question is asked before I can stop myself, and I instantly regret being so hasty when I see hurt flit across Bettie’s face.

"No, I don’t want Tomas Jenson running my resort, I want you to run it Samantha and don’t you forget it, nor make me regret it young lady. She says sternly, but I see the affection in her eyes. He's not your boss, and while I wouldn’t call him your equal either, I think you'd do well to consider his ideas when they're offered. He is here to help you, not take over. Although, I have told him that he can manage the activities side of things. He's a bit of an adrenaline junkie, so I thought that giving him that to focus on would be for the best." I keep reading the information on him and realise that was probably the best thing to do with him.

You're right, he's definitely got the qualifications to back him up in that area. I agree with Bettie wholeheartedly as I continue to read the list of activities he pursues. Including, skydiving, surfing, skiing, four wheel driving, scuba diving, wind surfing, fishing and more. So much more! I’ll be glad for the help in that area for sure.

I'm glad  you can see it for what I meant it to be. I'm sorry to just spring it on you, but I didn't want to say anything until I knew for certain he was going to take me up on my offer. He can be, how should I say it? He's very much a fly by the seat of his pants kind of guy, and I didn't know if this would be his kind of thing or not, but I've been looking for a long time for the right person and think Tomas is it. We need to bring some fresh blood and fresh activities into the resort, and he's just the person for it. I go to agree with her, but she holds her hand up in the air to stop me. I know you are capable Samantha, but we really need new activities, and I love you dearly, but the running of the resort is more than enough for one person to take on. Which is why I never did it myself, and searched for someone else to do it for years.

I love you too Bettie, and I what I was actually going to say before you stopped me, was I agree. This will be really good for the resort, and as long as he runs everything by me before jumping into things, we’ll be perfectly fine.

"He is well aware that you are the boss Samantha, but that being said, he is the manager of activities, so you're going to need to work together. I really hope you two can make it work because he is the best by far that I met up with."

So, you’ve met him, in person?

Yes, I have, a couple of times now and he's a wonderful man. Full of life and fun. I think he’ll breathe some new life into the old place. Not that you won't, I know you have plans in the making as soon as I get out of your hair. All I ask is that you give him a chance, OK?

I promise to give Tomas Jenson the chance to prove his worth around here. I smile at my mentor and I know, that in that moment, I had every intention of trying to let Tomas prove himself, if only I knew what I was promised back then, I might have begged her to let me choose the activities manager myself.

Good! I'm glad. He should be here on the first flight tomorrow morning, unfortunately he couldn’t get here before Jerry and I left for the new house this afternoon.

I'm sure he’ll be upset that he didn't get to catch up with you Bettie, but I promise we’ll take good care of him in your absence, and make him feel at home.

Oh, I'm sure he won't miss seeing me once he sees your pretty self, but thank you for saying so. She laughs.

Um, OK. Did you have one of the old bungalows cleaned out for him to stay in? I ask, because I haven’t noticed any extra movement around the staff bungalows, and I know there are still a couple of empty ones.

No, he actually has somewhere else to stay close by, so he won't be living in the resort.

Oh. There's nothing else to say really, it’s his choice, but I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else, even if the bungalows are a little run down and outdated.

Yes, he's a rather stubborn fellow, but when I offered a bungalow to sweeten the deal, he declined and said he already had somewhere to stay. I would guess that’s got something to do with how I managed to get him to agree to come work for you.

No doubt. I say, wondering where the hell he's going to stay. It’s not like there’s a large choice of places that aren’t resorts or hotels of some description. I shake my head to clear my thoughts, because it’s none of my damned business where he chooses to lay his head once he leaves work for the day.

OK, let’s get to this surprise party, you guys are holding for me, I wouldn’t want to be late. Bettie proclaims.

There’s no party. I start to protest, until she gives me the look. You know the one mothers give their kids every minute of the day. Roughly translated it means, ‘don’t bullshit me child’. I laugh loudly because there's no point in denying it, Bettie knows everything that goes on around here, so I shouldn’t be surprised that she worked it out. Alright, let’s get going before we’re too late and please, act surprised. The staff have put a lot of work into this for you. You're going to be missed around here Bettie.

Stop it or you'll have me in tears before we get there. She whacks me lightly on the arm, then loops our arms and leads me towards the party she's not supposed to know about. I'm going to miss this woman like crazy. She's not just my boss and mentor, she's a mother figure and a close friend as well.

Chapter Two

TOMAS

Getting that phone call from Bettie Bryant out of nowhere was a shock, but a welcome one none the less. I gave her the impression that I had to think about her offer before accepting it, but the truth was, I didn't have to think too damned hard about it at all. What was there to think about?

Live on a tropical island – yes please!

Create adventure tours – yes please!

Get away from all the troubles surrounding me right – that’s a hell fucking yes!

Live on a tropical freaking island! What kind of person would turn down an offer like that? Not me, I can tell you that. The only thing that I imagined could cause a problem was the new manager Bettie had put on so that she herself could retire.

Bettie and I had a met a couple of times, and I really liked her. When she first approached me about the position, it was the idea of working with Bettie that drew me to it, but she found the love of her life later on in life and decided to retire, handing the reins over to her second in command. Samantha Holt. I haven’t met her yet, but Bettie showed me a picture of her so that I would  know who she was when I got to the resort. All I can say is, maybe Bettie retiring wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

I told Bettie that I wouldn’t be able to get here in time for the surprise party that she wasn’t supposed to know about, but I managed to get on an earlier flight. It’s not until I walk into the resort that I realise I probably should have called first to let them know I was coming before just arriving on their doorstep, but I wanted to make it to say goodbye to the woman who quite possibly has changed my life.

I walk in the front doors, nodding to the guy at the front desk, and looking around, trying to decide where the party might be, when I notice the bar, and make my way towards it.

I'm sorry sir, the bar is closed for a private function. Can I help you with something else? I look back, and see the young guy behind the front counter starting to walk my way.

Actually, you could, I'm looking for Bettie Bryant. As his mouth opens to answer me, I continue, I'm guessing the private function is for her? Today is her last day on the premises, am I correct? Crap, I hope I haven’t gotten the wrong day.

He eyes me up and down, and that’s when I notice his name tag, Jerome. Call me what you will, but this guy is definitely a Jerome.

I can't give out that information, sir. Well, it’s nice to know the staff won't share information without being expressly told they can.

I'm sorry, I should have introduced myself, I'm Tomas Jenson. I say, holding my hand out for him to shake. Only he doesn’t take my offered hand.

"It’s nice to meet you Mr Jenson, but I still can't tell you that