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eyes.
    â€œHe’s wearing ear plugs,” the man said. “Can’t hear you.”
    â€œKen, what are you doing here?” Lara handed a set of fins to Storm. “I thought we had a group going to Molokini this afternoon.”
    â€œThey wanted to switch to tomorrow. We weren’t busy, so I went for it.” He grinned at her. “For a ten percent change fee.”
    Lara frowned. “Don’t chase my customers away.”
    â€œIt’s in the contract. You know that.” Ken’s penetrating gaze drifted to Storm’s curious one. White teeth gleamed under a full, rakish moustache. “Who’s your friend?”
    â€œStorm, meet the captain of my two-boat fleet. This is Ken McClure.”
    Storm put out her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
    Ken’s hand was warm and dry. “Pleasure’s mine.”
    â€œWhat’s the schedule tomorrow?” Lara got back to business.
    â€œThe rescheduled group goes out at seven, and we’ll be back before noon. The sunset cruise leaves at two.” His eyes crinkled at her. “Don’t worry, we’ve got it handled.”
    â€œIs Stella going out with you?”
    â€œShe’s doing the morning group. I’ll check with her about the afternoon run. If she can’t go, Susan can.”
    â€œSusan’s paid by the hour, so she’s expensive,” Lara said with a grimace. “How’s Keiko coming along?”
    â€œShe still won’t go without Stella. But I think she’ll come along tomorrow morning. She’s good at setting up the tanks and equipment.”
    Lara nodded, and for a moment Storm thought she saw concern flash across Lara’s face, but it disappeared quickly. Running a small business is a huge job, Storm reminded herself. In some ways like her small law firm, but with more people to supervise. And Storm didn’t have to deal with construction work going on at the same time. It was as if Lara had to supervise two separate work teams, complete with the personal issues that come with them. The carpenter’s drinking, Keiko’s distress (whatever that was about), dry wall dust over everything, and who knew what else? She’d been here all of a day.
    â€œI’ll talk to them,” Lara said.
    Ken nodded cheerfully. “I’ll see you around lunchtime tomorrow?”
    â€œYes, at least call and give me a report.”
    â€œHave a nice swim.” He cheerfully pointed to the fins Storm held. “I’ll tell Damon you’re going.”
    â€œThanks, let him know I’ll see him in the morning.”
    Lara handed Storm a dive mask. “See if this fits.”
    For the first time, Storm noticed crow’s feet around Lara’s perfectly made up eyes. Her client looked tired, and Storm could imagine why.
    She put the mask to her face and checked the seal. “It’s fine, but we don’t have to do this today. Want to go tomorrow instead?”
    Lara shook her head. “It’s only getting busier.” She jerked her head toward the back room. “If Damon and his crew get the cabinets up today, we’ll start putting things away tomorrow.” Her shoulders slumped a bit. “Of course, we’ll be working around the painters.”
    â€œCan you delay the opening? Or open without having the back room finished?”
    Lara’s mouth twisted. “No, we’ll get it done. It’s just disorganized right now.”
    â€œDamon seems capable.”
    â€œYeah, he is.” She put fins, masks, and snorkels in two net bags with drawstrings and handed one to Storm. “Let’s go. I can use the break.”
    â€œKen McClure looks familiar somehow.”
    Lara’s good humor returned. “Women often say that.”
    â€œNo, I mean it.”
    â€œHe’s involved in a group called Beach Rescue Alliance. They got some print not long ago when about twenty protesters turned up on a beach and half