Summer becomes a nervous wreck after her former flame, Jimmy Slade, suddenly returns to town after months of traveling as a professional surfer, and both he and a jealous Matt compete for her affections. The stress of Summer's problems triggers her long-repressed bulimia. C.J. deals with her own romance problems when her current boyfriend, a hot-air balloon rider named Simon, won't take "no" for an answer to go away. Meanwhile, Garner begins to patrol the beach on horseback to help Mitch catch a pair of purse-snatchers.

Stephanie's younger sister, Caroline, arrives in town for a visit with exciting news: she's engaged. But her fiancé, an environmental investigator, has a near-fatal diving accident that shatters her joy. Was it an accident or attempted murder? After Mitch performs surgery on an ex-con while still a hostage, he finds himself at the mercy of the wounded but dangerous man.