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

was this morning that she could have told Riley what happened and she would have made sure she was taken care of. But something held her back. To reveal one part of her story might mean she would have to reveal everything. And she didn’t want a stranger—even if she seemed like a sweet one—to know all about her. She believed the fact that Riley wasn’t there this morning was just confirmation that she didn’t need to tell her. She had one more week to decide if and when she would tell anyone the whole truth. But she was certain it wasn’t going to be today with Riley Sinclair.

* * *

Gabby’s face lit up when she spotted Riley. She and Jeremy were sitting at a round table at Carmine’s. “Hey, angel girl, how’s your day been?” Riley asked, scooping Gabby up in her arms.

Gabby smacked a wet kiss on the side of her face. “It’s been awesome, Mommy! Me and Daddy went shopping, and I took him to see the Dig.” Her voice was full of drama as she climbed back into her chair.

“You did? Well, how fun was that?” Her eyes shot to Jeremy’s.

He smiled. “Very fun. I didn’t know the Atlantis had so much to offer. We had an awesome day, didn’t we, Gabs?”

Gabby nodded, then took a long gulp of her drink. She flicked the straw from her mouth. “We saw sharks and jellyfish.”

“Pretty amazing, isn’t it?” she said.

Jeremy turned his body in his chair so he could face Riley. “They said it’s the largest open-air marine habitat.”

“It’s supposed to give the guests an idea of what Atlantis was like.”

“Works for me,” Gabby said with a shrug of her shoulders.

Jeremy and Riley laughed. The waiter brought a huge bowl of spaghetti and garlic bread and set it in front of them. Then he scooped some onto each of their plates. Gabby asked for extra Parmesan cheese and he indulged her until Riley gave him a nod. “You can eat all of that and then dance?”

She nodded as noodles hung from her mouth.

“Do you have everything already in the car?” Riley asked, going light on the spaghetti, knowing Laine was liable to order a feast.

Jeremy twirled his spaghetti. “Yeah, we’ve got her all packed up. We have a ten o’clock flight.” He took a bite.

“You didn’t want to just spend the night? I could get you a room. I have connections, you know.” She smiled.

“I have a meeting tomorrow I need to be at and it’s pretty early. That’s why I needed to get us back.”

Riley took a bite of her dinner and then turned toward Gabby. “Honey, I have some kind-of-yucky news.”

Gabby’s eyes widened and she put her fork down.

“I might not make it to your recital tonight.” She started back in quickly. “But I’m going to try really hard and I hope that I can at least catch the last half.”

Gabby twisted her lips and crinkled her nose. “Business?”

Riley let a puff of air come out of her. “Yep, business. But with Daddy being here, I felt it was okay to go ahead and take care of it.”

Gabby reached over and put her hand on top of Riley’s. “No problem, Mommy. I’ll have lots more.”

Riley felt the lump all but block her airflow. “Yes, you will. Lots more. But I still promise that I’m going to try to make this one tonight. I’m doing everything I can.”

Gabby moved her hand and picked her fork back up. “At least we got to have dinner together.”

Riley nodded and looked at Jeremy. They hadn’t had dinner like this in a very long time. “Well, you just know, if I don’t get there, that I want you to have a great time with your daddy.”

Gabby smiled. “We will. It’s going to be awesome! And I’ll get to see Amanda.”

Riley couldn’t help but smile at the sincerity of Gabby’s pure love for Amanda. “I know. She’ll love to see you. And so will Mimi and Granddaddy. I talked to Granddaddy today and he said they can’t wait!”

“They’re all looking forward to seeing her,” Jeremy said, then reached his hand over and placed it on top of Riley’s. “She’ll be fine.”

Riley couldn’t speak. The lump had taken over. She nodded instead. She glanced at her watch and knew she had to go. Kissing Gabby, she left without a long good-bye.

* * *

Everything about the Bahamian Club carried the ambience of an old cigar lounge or a gentlemen’s club. Riley walked in grateful she had dressed for the occasion this morning because she hadn’t had any time to go home and change. Laine walked in right behind her.

“Did you get some rest?” Riley asked.

“I feel fine.”

Riley waited for something else. But nothing else came. Laine instead turned her head to look at the hostess. Riley took her cue. “There will be two of us. We should have a reservation under Riley Sinclair.”

The hostess looked down at her large white ledger and scanned it. The red tip of her fingernail, as vivid as a taillight, traveled the reservations. “Right this way, ladies.”

Riley was so grateful for Mia. She wasn’t sure she could handle another scolding today.

Their shoes clicked on the shiny oak floors beneath them. The deep forest green walls and heavy wood moldings encompassed the two women with their warmth as they made their way to their table. Riley tried to let the environment soothe her nerves as well as her senses.

“Thank you,” she said to the server who was standing by her pulled-out chair, her napkin in his hand.

“You’re welcome, madam.” He walked over to Laine’s chair, which was already pulled out, then picked up her napkin and extended it to her as well. His white starched apron virtually blended into the crisp white tablecloth, making his Bahamian skin seem even darker as he stood there so dapper and refined. “Will it just be the two of you this evening, ladies?” His accent was thick and smooth.

Laine responded, her voice now warm and her countenance softened.