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

real place to live. But if she were being honest, the borrowed furniture, borrowed sheets, borrowed hand towels made her feel like she was just visiting, like maybe her old life might find her again, in spite of what she had said to him yesterday. Her heart knew he was the only home she had ever known and the only one she really wanted.

She jerked her iPhone from the holder attached to her waist, flipped open the leather case, and stopped Chris Daughtry midchorus. She stuck the phone back in its holder and dug her feet harder into the sand. She wiped at the sweat clinging to her brow and headed straight for the rising sun. That was when she whispered her gratefulness that it rose on the just and unjust alike. Otherwise, she’d be living in the dark.

* * *

Riley guzzled the glass of water sitting on her bedside table. She wiped at the sweat that was running down the sides of her face. If anyone had told her she would one day have a treadmill in her bedroom, she would have told them they obviously didn’t know her well. She had always had a knack for decorating. She had even thought about becoming an interior designer and leaving the hotel business altogether right before Max called. But she had jumped at the opportunity to get away from the memories of her past and the whispers that had overtaken her city and her life. So treadmills in the bedroom weren’t really part of the design aesthetic she had in mind for her new place. But when you had a little girl and no husband, trips to the gym weren’t much of an option.

The divorce had changed so much about her life, and it was often the little things she noticed most. Days now had to be planned out in advance since Jeremy wasn’t there to call when she forgot an important paper, left the iron on, or couldn’t remember if she had turned off the coffeepot. There was no one there to help her with Gabby at night or to drive her to the doctor when she was sick. No, now she drove herself and Gabby everywhere; she made her own chicken soup when she was sick; and when a lightbulb burned out, she climbed up the ladder to change it herself. Life was different. It wasn’t the one she had wanted, but it was the one her choices had made.

She grabbed a Dr Pepper from the refrigerator, grateful she had worked out so she could drink it, then took a quick shower and slipped into a burnt orange A-line sleeveless dress. She and Gabby had a Sunday routine, and today it was shot to pieces. They loved to go down to a little restaurant near the church she had found, share a bagel, and talk about their week. With her working most Saturdays, it had become “their” day. The quaint, nondenominational church Riley had found had been a tremendous source of community for both her and Gabby. Gabby had a lot more friends than she did, but she had met a few ladies and found some really good babysitters.

She turned the gold antique diamond ring on her right ring finger. Her grandmother had given it to her before she passed away and it was now the only ring she wore. It had taken a year before she was able to get rid of the ghost feeling where her wedding ring used to sit. She didn’t know how an empty finger could feel so heavy. The day she had placed the ring back in its box and closed the lid, she felt like she had shut the lid of a coffin. A soft rap on the door caused her to jump slightly.

She opened the door to Jeremy’s familiar smile. “Hey,” she said softly.

“Hey,” Jeremy responded. “She still asleep?”

“Yeah. I thought since we weren’t going anywhere, I’d let her rest a little longer. Come in. Come in,” she said, stepping back so he would have room to enter.

He walked in and hugged her. His Burberry cologne still hung on her clothes when he released her. His tousled brown hair was in charming disarray. His black flip-flops peeked out from the edges of his frayed jeans, and his baby blue button-down was tucked in only at the front of his jeans, revealing a blue- and black-striped belt. “I’m glad you let her sleep.”

“You want something to drink? Did you get breakfast?” She pulled a granola bar from the cabinet.

“All good. I grabbed something at the airport,” he said, sitting on the edge of the sofa.

Riley walked over and sat in the chair across from him. “How’s Amanda?”

“Amanda’s good. She’s looking forward to seeing Gabby.”

Riley couldn’t help the prick in her gut. She knew Amanda was precious, loved Gabby, had picked up a lot of broken pieces that she had left in Jeremy’s life, but it still pricked her. Jeremy had given her the opportunity to come home. Had forgiven her. But she didn’t. She couldn’t. So this was good. He needed to move on and it was time she did too. “I know. Gabby is looking forward to seeing her.”

“Your mom and dad are expecting her too.”

“I know. Mom called twice yesterday and talked to Gabby, telling her all the big plans she has for them when she gets there. Good luck even getting to see her.” They both laughed.

His face sobered. “You doing okay here, Riley?”

She smiled. His care for her had always run as deep as the blue bloods ran in Charleston. “Yeah, doing real good. You know how good Max has been to me. Gabby is flourishing, and I just can’t tell you how much I appreciate you letting me bring her here. I know this is a sacrifice to all of us. So thank you.”

“The best thing for Gabby is a mom and dad who are whole.”

She nodded and stood. “She’ll want to know you’re here. She