Off-Season: A Billionaire Beach Sweet Southern Romantic Comedy (Schooled on Love: Clean Southern Romantic Comedy Book 4) Read online

  Off-Season

  A Billionaire Beach, Sweet Southern Romantic Comedy

  Kaci Lane

  For my sister, Jodi.

  For your love of the beach and for taking care of Grannie. I love you.

  Contents

  Off-Season

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Epilogue

  A Note from the author

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Books by Kaci Lane

  Off-Season

  Kaci Lane

  Copyright © 2021 Kaci Lane

  All rights reserved.

  * * *

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  No part of this work may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means without written permission from the author.

  Chapter One

  Samantha folded one more shirt into her oversized suitcase and closed the lid. It zipped halfway, then got stuck. She held down the top and tugged at the zipper. It didn’t budge.

  Kara plopped down on top of the suitcase and zipped it, no trouble. “There. A little weight always makes it fit.”

  Samantha arched an eyebrow at her roommate.

  “I once had to take a dozen dance costumes, plus regular clothes, through customs. Not an easy task.”

  What Kara lacked in good ole street smarts, she made up for in useless knowledge of all things travel, Disney, and debutante.

  Samantha shrugged. “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome. Need any more help?”

  “Not with this.” Samantha waved her hands over the luggage and work materials sprawled across her white-and-tan bedspread. “But I wrote everything down in case you forget.”

  She picked up a small stack of stapled papers and handed them to Kara. Her friend’s amber eyes bugged as she glanced down at the first page.

  “Uh, most of this is common-sense stuff, Sam.”

  Samantha glanced down to hide her guilt. It was, and that was precisely why she included it.

  “This may come as a surprise, but I know when our bills are due. And I already got your dad’s number in case he needs help with your grandma.”

  Samantha’s eyes met Kara’s. She halfway smiled, embarrassed that she’d insulted her. “I don’t mean to be condescending. It’s just . . . I’ve never been away from my dad and grandma for months.”

  Kara laughed. “I get it. But the whole reason I agreed to move in here was to get away from my mom hovering over me.”

  Samantha crossed her arms and surveyed the organized mess on her bed. “Point taken.”

  Kara stepped closer and put her hand on Samantha’s arm. “Sam, they’ll be fine. You’ve worked so hard the last few years, and you deserve this.”

  She nodded. “I know they’ll be fine. But sometimes, I wonder if I will be.”

  Kara hugged her arm around Samantha’s shoulder. “You get to go study dolphins, and I get to live by myself for the first time. An adventurous off-season for us both.”

  Samantha smiled at Kara and gave her a quick hug back. Off-season? Maybe for Kara, but finishing a dissertation on dolphin migration patterns wasn’t exactly a leisurely summer. Not that Samantha would want it any other way. She might as well immerse herself in what she loved most. Otherwise, she’d end up studying and picking up extra work as a tutor or summer camp counselor.

  She counted her notepads and stacked them neatly into the side pocket of her laptop bag. Kara stood back until she’d collected everything but her actual luggage before trying to help. They hadn’t lived together long, but after working together a few years, Kara learned not to mess with Samantha’s organization.

  Samantha pulled her long blond hair back into a hair tie and hoisted the largest luggage bag from her bed. It landed with a thud on the carpeted floor. She pulled out the handle and rolled it from her bedroom to the front door. Kara came on her heels, rolling a smaller bag.

  “Thanks.” Samantha passed Kara to collect the rest of her belongings.

  Kara followed her and stood with open arms, as if afraid to pick anything up. She handed Kara a duffle bag and retrieved her purse and favorite pillow. Together, they headed back to the front door.

  Samantha put her hand on the large bag before opening the door. She couldn’t afford for Kara to hurt herself hauling something her size down their concrete porch steps. As much as she hated to admit it, she needed Kara right now to watch over her house. Not that she had any expensive belongings, but it eased her mind to know someone was there.

  Kara clumsily dragged the smaller suitcase behind her. Auburn curls bounced in her face as she shifted her weight so the bag wouldn’t hit her at the bottom. Samantha hid a smirk and opened her trunk.

  Her high school coach’s warning rang in the back of her mind as she reached for the ends of her biggest bag. Lift with your legs. She squatted and lifted the luggage with one powerful push. Kara rolled the other bag closer and moved back for Samantha to do the same with it.

  “Maybe I’ll try some of those workout videos while you’re gone.”

  Samantha laughed. “My dumbbells are in the closet, but promise you won’t do anything extreme.”

  Kara rolled her eyes. “Me, extreme?”

  “Uh-huh.” Samantha nodded at Kara’s outfit. From her huge, hot pink earrings to her sequin flats, everything about her said extreme.

  “Point taken.” Kara smiled.

  They made one more trip inside for the remainder of her things. Samantha filled the trunk with everything but her purse and laptop bag. Those she set in the passenger seat. She turned to go to her side of the Jetta and bumped into Kara.

  “Do I not get a hug?” Kara’s thin arms were spread widely in front of her.

  Samantha sighed. They’d hugged mere minutes ago inside. Nevertheless, she gave Kara a quick hug, then pulled away and stared at her. “Are you sure you can live alone for the summer?”

  Kara shrugged. “I need this.”

  “You really do.” Samantha laughed, then lowered herself into the car.

  “So do you, Sam.”

  Samantha half-smiled and shut her door. As she backed out of the drive, Kara waved like an air traffic controller flagging down a faulty plane. Samantha ignored her as she made her way through the neighborhood and onto the highway.

  Five hours. Plenty of distance from Kara and a little too much from her dad and grandma. But she’d saved for this summer years in advance. At last, she’d get to live at the beach and study dolphins. If only temporarily.

  Oliver stretched his arms over his head and leaned back in his chair. He checked his phone. Perfect time for a break. He needed to head toward the chair-service desk soon anyway.

  He made a few notes in a spreadsheet, then closed all his apps and shut down his laptop. Another client wanted a new fitness app. It never failed. Whenever summer started, people
started pushing health and weight loss like a Southern Baptist pushing covered dishes.

  Perhaps the latter was why most fitness clients weren’t located in the Bible Belt.

  He stood and stretched his legs before stepping into his favorite pair of flip-flops. Then he headed toward the front of the house to check on his grandma. Gigi sat on the screened porch just off the kitchen with her basket of colorful yarns.

  Please don’t let this be another scarf. Even though they lived on the coast, Gigi knitted scarves and winter hats year-round. Oliver never complained until she forced him to wear some of her eccentric designs in public. But for all she’d endured the past year and all she’d done for him in his life, he gladly endured the embarrassment.

  He stood at the porch opening and watched her a minute before speaking. “Hey, Gigi.”

  She turned. “Hey, sugar britches.”

  “I’m off to work for Lewis. You need anything before I go?”

  “No, sir. I’m good.”

  He smiled. After watching her go through cancer last year, every day she had energy was a gift. And every day he didn’t keep an eye on her, she’d try and overdo it. Not that he’d be any less stubborn in his eighties.

  “Yes, ma’am. See you in a few hours.” Oliver stepped back into the kitchen and grabbed a huge bottle of Gatorade from the refrigerator. He picked up his favorite floppy fishing hat from the countertop and covered his dark mop of hair. After glancing back at Gigi once more, he exited out the front.

  Oliver leaned his head back and soaked in the sun. The afternoon sunlight boosted his energy after he’d spent most of the day in his coding cave.

  A few older men rode by in a golf cart full of clubs and other gear, and several silver-haired ladies offered him a flirty smile on their way to the pool. Well, one had more purple hair than silver. Oliver chugged some of his Gatorade and turned down the sidewalk leading to the beachfront.

  As the umbrellas appeared, Mrs. Shirley smiled his way. “Good thing you’re here. Arthur had a golf tournament, and I can’t lift the umbrellas alone.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ve got it for the rest of the day.”

  Mrs. Shirley grabbed Oliver’s forearm for balance and stood slowly from her bar stool. She patted his arm before letting go. “In that case, I have time to make a pie before bridge. You’re a good man, Oliver.”

  “Thank you.” He tipped his floppy hat best he could, making her laugh.

  Oliver watched Mrs. Shirley shuffle toward the garden homes. Then he plopped down on the bar stool. A few women sat on chairs reading, but most chairs remained empty.

  He went over and asked if they needed their umbrellas adjusted. He soon regretted that after one woman couldn’t make up her mind which angle she preferred. The other woman questioned when Lewis would return.

  Oliver didn’t have a clue. “Let’s just say you won’t be stuck with me forever.” He gave her his best grin and retreated to his stool before her friend could ask him to adjust her umbrella for the dozenth time.

  He slumped back and sipped his Gatorade. A few hours of watching waves before he could head out on his boat. He yawned and glanced at the women chatting away in their beach chairs. All his life, he’d wanted to live at the beach. Now that he did, the only women he ran into were at least double his age.

  “Excuse me.”

  Oliver swiveled his chair to a woman with long blondish hair and her own floppy hat. She was at least half of twice his age. He swallowed and blinked, trying not to gawk at her high cheekbones and full lips. “Hi, there. Are you looking for your grandma?”

  “No, I’m here to rent a chair.” She tilted her head.

  “Oh.” Oliver tugged at the sides of his hat. Of course, she wanted a chair. He was the umbrella man from one until four. “Chairs are free, but only residents and their guests are allowed.”

  She reached inside a large brown bag and pulled out a keycard. He took it and read the name. “Richardson.” He handed it back and squinted his eyes. “You their granddaughter?”

  “No, a friend. I’m house-sitting while they take a summer cruise.”

  Oliver tapped his knee. “That’s right. They’re doing the whole Alaska, Canada thing.” The back of his neck grew hot. The Richardsons lived next door to his grandma, which meant she’d be his neighbor this summer.

  She nodded and removed her sunglasses. Huge brown eyes stared back at him. “So, is it okay if I get a chair with an umbrella?”

  He shook his head to focus. “Yeah. Pick one out, and I’ll set you up.”

  Her lips curved just enough for him to consider it a smile. She brushed past him. He inhaled her fresh, beachy scent and waited for her to choose a chair.

  A few minutes passed as she examined each chair cushion and glanced around at the sun’s angle on it. He opened his mouth to tell her the umbrella could take care of that, but he stopped. He enjoyed watching her figure this out too much.

  She finally set her bag on a chair and started toward him. “May I have an umbrella, please?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Oliver stood and snatched an umbrella from the cart beside his stand. He grabbed the drill from under his stand and followed her back to the chosen seat, then drilled a hole in the sand and steadied the umbrella in it. She sat on the chair and pulled a laptop from her bag.

  “Is that good?”

  “Just a moment, please.” She turned on her laptop and adjusted the screen ever so slightly. “A little to the left, please.”

  He tilted the umbrella about an inch. She put her sunglasses back on and looked at her screen. “That’s perfect, thanks.”

  “You’re welcome. Let me know if you need any more help.” He smiled as one of the older women behind him huffed. Apparently, she didn’t care for him offering additional help to the hot blonde. Man, Lewis couldn’t get back fast enough.

  For the rest of the afternoon, Oliver alternated between admiring the intriguing girl in front of him and scrolling through his phone to try and mind his own business. Or at least to appear that way.

  Questions bogged his brain as she worked away on her computer. Who was she to the Richardsons and why did she come here? How long would she stay? And, most importantly, was she single?

  Chapter Two

  Samantha had wasted no time getting to work once she entered Shady Palms Village. And after working by the ocean, she couldn’t wait to go out on the water for research. She’d gotten so lost in her work that she didn’t realize how much time had passed until an older man in a Hawaiian-print shirt came by and asked if she’d like him to adjust her umbrella.

  She blinked. Either a new guy was manning the umbrellas, or she’d really lost track of time. She glanced at her watch. “Uh, thanks. But I actually need to go. You can take it down if you need to.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He grinned and nodded as Samantha packed her belongings. She returned the smile and slipped on her sandals. Then she started down the concrete path to her cottage.

  She breathed in the fresh air and admired the walls of palm trees outlining her way. When she’d started her doctorate studies, staying at a retirement community to do her dissertation research wasn’t even on her radar. But free housing plus peace and quiet made it ideal.

  A few blocks later, she turned down the sidewalk leading to her house. The sun beat hot on her bare legs as it found her between the trees. She sipped from her water bottle, the ice-cold liquid offering a brief relief. It had only been a few years, but somehow, she’d forgotten how hot it got in lower Alabama.

  She reached the row of houses that included her temporary abode. A familiar figure stood on her neighbor’s front porch. Was that the umbrella guy?

  He turned his head her way as she passed. “Oh, hi again.”

  “Hi.” Samantha wrinkled her brow. “Since you do the chairs, could I get that same chair for the remainder of my stay?”

  He ducked under a tomato plant and set his watering can on the porch rail. “I can’t really save seats. It’s unfair.”
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  “Ah.” Samantha clinched her jaw. So much for ensuring her perfect work space.

  He crossed his arms and stared, as if waiting for her to say more. She bit a hangnail, then broke the awkward silence. “So, I don’t think we’ve formally met. I’m Samantha.”

  He made it down the porch in two big steps and extended a hand. “Oliver.”

  She shook his hand. He gave her a huge, dimpled grin. She admired his dimples and forgot about his hand until he pulled it away. “I need that to finish my job.”

  “Sorry.” Her cheeks grew hot. She tried to step toward her house, but her feet wouldn’t budge. He must’ve picked up on her embarrassment, because he leaped back onto the porch and resumed watering plants.

  Samantha stared at his ridiculous fishing hat a few seconds before her legs started to work. She kept her eyes forward as she entered her house. Dimples or not, she wasn’t looking to start something. Especially not with some guy who did odd jobs at a retirement home.

  Once she made it to the master bedroom, she flopped open her suitcase. She hadn’t taken the time to unpack everything yet. She dug out her favorite pair of shorts and a shirt. Then she changed out of her swimsuit and cover-up, replacing her sun hat with a ponytail.

  By the time she’d grabbed her purse and made it outside, Oliver was gone. Perhaps he’d moved on to his next job. Not that it mattered.

  Samantha slipped on her sunglasses and headed toward the lowering sun. Another upside to staying at the retirement community was its convenience. Right past the entrance to the neighborhood was a full shopping center and a country-style restaurant.