Kat followed his gaze, her eyes lingering on the now-still water where the dolphins had disappeared. “That’s exactly why I’m here.” Ethan studied her for a moment, then nod- ded toward her. “So, what kind of work lets you slip away to paradise?” Kat hesitated. It was a fair question. At 55, she was young for full retirement —but she’d also spent years carving out a life she could walk away from when the time was right. “Technically, I’m retired,” she said, a wry smile tugging at her lips. “At least, that’s what I’m telling people.” Ethan chuckled. “I’ve heard that before. ‘Retired’ often just means working on your own terms.” Kat exhaled. He wasn’t wrong. “Something like that.” His gaze flicked down briefly. “No wedding ring. No kids asking for rides to the airport.” He glanced back up, meeting her eyes while measuring her almost teasingly. “So what are you not telling people?” She took a beat before answering. “Let’s just say… I needed a change.” Ethan didn’t press, but something flickered behind his easygoing expression — like he understood more than he let on. After a pause, he gestured toward the bay. “Speaking of changes, notice anything off?” Kat frowned, scanning the water again. The sun glinted off the ripples, but now that he mentioned it… something wasn’t right.
be high, isn’t it?”
Ethan gave a single nod. “Unusually low. And it’s not just the tide. Birds are nesting early. Fish are avoiding their usual spots. Even the dolphins are keeping their distance veering farther from the shore than normal.” Kat’s stomach twisted, though she wasn’t sure why. “What do you think it means?” Ethan exhaled, his jaw tightening slightly before shaking his head. “Don’t know yet.” Something in the way he said it sent a prick- le down her spine. But before she could ask more, he pushed a hand through his wind-ruffled hair, giving her an easy nod. “Ignore me. Probably just misread the tide tables.”
Kat wasn’t convinced, but she let it slide.
Ethan nodded toward his golf cart, parked near the pavilion. “Nice meeting you, Kat.” Before she could respond, he was already walking away, moving with the same unhur- ried certainty as the tide itself. Kat turned back to the water. The morning breeze carried the scent of salt and seagrass, but beneath it, something else lingered. Something heavier. Despite the warmth of the Florida sun, a chill curled down her spine.
“The tide,” she murmured. “It’s supposed to
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