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

blue Izod short-sleeved shirt, and refined leather loafers. His white hair and crystal blue eyes were as striking as Winnie’s and his skin just as olive. How Winnie could have freaked out over this kind and distinguished gentleman was beyond her understanding. It had been three years and Winnie still hadn’t let go. Well, she had told Winnie her story and had felt for the first time in two months like the world might not actually end. Now it was time for Winnie to live her own life.

Music and wind whipped around them. She took Albert’s hand and wrapped it in both of hers. Something she had done since she was little. She always wanted people to know they mattered. Two hands said, “You really matter.” She hadn’t put two hands around someone else’s in two months. The revelation made her smile. “Thank you so much for meeting me.” She nodded toward the other end of the hall and began to lead him along the wide corridor toward the overlook of the ocean.

“Well, you said you were a friend of Winnie’s. Though I had the assumption she was traveling alone.”

“Oh, she is. We’ve only met since we’ve been here. But she has told me about you.” Well, it wasn’t a lie.

He cocked his head toward her. “She did, huh? That kind of surprises me because she acted like a scared schoolgirl the other day when she saw me.”

Tamyra patted his arm. “Oh no, she was just surprised. Just caught her off guard seeing you all the way over here.”

“She’s a wonderful lady.”

“Yes, she is. She’s a treasure.”

“So y’all just met?”

Tamyra laughed at the absurdity of it all. The way she felt about this woman was as if they had known one another forever. “About four days ago. Or three and a half.”

His look registered no surprise. “She has a captivating way about her, doesn’t she?” He couldn’t hide his regard.

“Captivating is a perfect word. So I was thinking—” she nudged him slightly—“Winnie is still kind of shy and everything . . .”

“Winnie shy?”

She bit her lip, hating that she had just used that word. “Well, no, not shy. . . . I mean, she just wouldn’t want to intrude on you during your stay, but I know she would love to have dinner with you.”

“I’ve been Winnie’s neighbor for years. I’ve never known her to care about intruding.”

Tamyra wasn’t doing too well. “Well, you know, she is mellowing in her . . . mature age.”

He smiled. The deep wrinkles in the corners of his eyes stretched out like waterways. “Good choice of words.”

“So tonight, I was thinking, maybe I could make you some reservations at Seafire Steakhouse at six. Winnie loves beef, so I’m sure it would be right up her alley.”

He stopped and turned toward Tamyra. “Are you sure Winnie Harris would want to have dinner with me?”

Tamyra wished she had been an actress instead of a beauty pageant winner. “I’m certain. She hasn’t really said it just like that, but I can tell.”

“So basically you’re saying you’re setting this whole thing up and she has no idea.”

She was so busted. She bit the inside of her lip. She was going to need reconstructive surgery before this conversation was over. “Yes, but . . .”

He shook his head slowly. “You’re a sweet girl with good intentions, I’m sure. But I can’t be a part of that. But you are very kind to offer. Now, it’s been nice to meet you, Miss Tamyra.” He gave her a genuine smile and turned to go.

Before she knew what she was doing, she grabbed him by the arm. His skin was warm beneath her fingers. “I know. I know it’s probably not the best idea. But she needs this. She doesn’t realize all that she needs. Trust me. Most of us broken people don’t know until we get it. And she needs to laugh, Mr. Wilson. She needs to have a good conversation with a gentleman. It will be healing for her. Look at it this way: you will be doing her a favor whether she asked for it or not.”

He raised his gray eyebrows at her. “You’re incorrigible.”

“I’m hoping that means yes.”

“If she runs out of the restaurant, I will blame you.”

“I’ll blame me too. But I know, if I can just get her there, she will enjoy herself.”

“Six o’clock, you said?”

“Six o’clock.”

“Seafire Steakhouse?”

“Buy her half a cow and she’ll be your friend forever.”

They both laughed. “You should go into the matchmaking business, Miss Tamyra.”

She laughed out loud. Yes, the woman who picked out men who abused her and left her with terminal illnesses. Oh yeah, matchmaking was definitely her calling.

* * *

A stack of papers was waiting on Riley’s desk. All of the new reservations had been taken care of for Max’s special guests. An additional table would be set up for the concert and all would be well in the world of VIPs. She pulled out the final e-mail printout and realized quickly it was a personal message to Mia. She didn’t intend to read it, but the abruptness of the first line jumped out at her.

You know what is expected of you. We didn’t let you travel halfway across the world to be someone’s assistant.

She scanned it briefly and caught the signature. It was from Mia’s mother. Riley heard Mia’s voice coming from the foyer. She quickly stuck the e-mail back on the bottom of the pile, picked up the stack, and headed to the door. She walked into the lobby, where Mia was talking with a guest.

“Excuse me, ma’am,” Riley said to the lady standing in front of the frosted glass counter, then turned to Mia. “It all looks good. I think there was something personal in there for you, but I just left it at the bottom. Didn’t want to be nosy. Have a great night.”

“Thank you,” Mia said.

Riley walked into the lobby. Mia’s mother must be a tyrant. She should be happy with what her daughter had accomplished. They’d had fifty applicants for this job. Mia had outshone them all. If