Hurricanes in Paradise by Denise Hildreth (best ereader under 100 .TXT) 📗

Riley caught Laine’s raised eyebrows when she said the word daddy. She decided that was enough information.

“So your ‘daddy’ and the mayor go way back.”

Apparently Laine wasn’t going to let that be enough. “They graduated from The Citadel together in ’64. Then they both went to law school at the University of South Carolina. One became mayor; the other is one of the longest-serving senators in South Carolina. Daddy thought . . .” Riley paused for a minute. She had never been self-conscious about calling her father Daddy until right now. “Well, he thought I would be a boy. I wasn’t, but he kept Riley anyway.”

“That is a wonderful story of friendship,” Winnie offered. “My daddy named me too.”

Riley smiled, grateful someone else had a daddy. Must be a Southern thing. “He did?”

“Yeah, Mary Poppins came out in 1934, three years before I was born, and one of the main characters was Winifred Banks. My mother always bought my brother and sister a book a week, and one night when my dad was reading to them, he came across old Winifred. And that was that,” she said, clapping her hands together, causing her rhinestones to catch the light and dance reflections across the table.

Derrick interrupted the stories with the bill and began to clear away the dessert dishes, his smile never leaving his face. The tip would be huge and he was already celebrating. Riley reached down and tugged at the waist of her jeans, hoping to give herself more room to breathe. Laine had taken notes throughout the entire dinner. Riley wasn’t sure if they consisted of the conversation going on around her or the small bite of each item she had sampled. She hadn’t missed one. Laine charged the bill to her room.

Riley spoke first. “Thank you for an amazing dinner.”

“Yes, it was great. Thank you,” Tamyra said.

“Sister needs a wheelbarrow,” Winnie announced. “Yes, my big, broad behind needs to be wheeled right up to my room. The way I’m going to have to waddle out of here, these people are going to think I’m wasted.”

Laine laughed and stood up from her seat. “You’re each welcome. Thank you for sharing your stories. They were wonderful to hear.”

“We’re too famous for television,” Winnie announced.

The laughter continued as they walked toward the entrance of the restaurant. Riley turned to speak to Tamyra. She wasn’t there. Riley turned farther and saw her still at the table. Tamyra slipped what looked to be a pill in her mouth and took a drink of water. Riley turned quickly and followed Winnie and Laine.

Riley knew there were parts of each lady’s story that had been kept to themselves. Tamyra had talked about her practiced parts. Winnie had told stories of her husband, her children, and her students. Laine had talked about basically nothing. Riley had shared briefly about how Max had talked her into moving to the Bahamas. Her story was just as strategically shared, but she was here for them, not the other way around.

Laine and Riley stood beneath the rainbow colors of the Mesa Grill sign. Riley could sense the shift in Laine’s demeanor when the other women left. “I’d like you to meet me at nine in the morning in the foyer of the Royal Tower.”

“Sure. Yes, nine is fine.”

“I would like us to take a tour of all the property tomorrow. That way I can begin to document the history here.”

“That will be great. I’ll be there at nine.”

Laine nodded, then hesitated slightly. “Well, good night, then.”

There seemed to be something else. “Do you need anything else this evening?”

Laine shook her head. “No, I’m fine, thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow.” Riley watched Laine make her way down the softly lit corridor of The Cove. The ocean offered background music to what had been a pretty good day. She let the breeze wash away her frustration over losing her day with Gabby tomorrow. If Jeremy’s flight wasn’t coming in so early tomorrow, washing it away might have been a little harder. But she was learning. She was learning that control was an illusion, and she had a feeling that knowing that would help her get through the week.

She stopped at her office and picked up the legal papers Max had left for her. Mia had them waiting on her desk. The thickness of the folder in her hand gave her a sneaking suspicion there would be much partaking of Dr Pepper tonight.

As Riley headed out to her car, her mind analyzed Laine. She had been pretty amicable at dinner. But as soon as Winnie and Tamyra left, she had turned back into the businesswoman who had arrived that afternoon. Mia had been right: there were many layers to Laine Fulton. Riley just wasn’t quite sure she wanted to know what lay at the center.

* * *

Winnie came in and sat down on the sofa, taking in a good hour of the news before she slipped on her nightgown. She ran her hands across the ivory lace at the edge of the scooped neckline. The blue satin felt like silk against her skin. She moved the piece of chocolate the evening housekeeper had placed on her pillow and set it on the bedside table. She climbed under the thick duvet and high-thread-count sheets and let her body fall against the mattress. It seemed to reach out and pull her in. The evening had been perfect. The day had been too, if she was being honest. But life was so different now. Even though moments could be enjoyed, there was still this feeling of something missing.

She rolled over and looked at the pillow next to her. It stared back at her, fluffed and perfect.

“It was a great day, Sam.”

She ran her hands across the top of the pillow.

“But, oh my word, I haven’t stayed up this late since, well . . .”

Her words were broken by a yawn.

“I met the writer. Laine Fulton.”

She laughed.

“Yes, that’s the one. You remember me talking about her. I’ve read all her books. She