Hurricanes in Paradise by Denise Hildreth (web ebook reader .TXT) 📕

buffet but had come into the bathroom to try to get some relief from the pounding headache she’d acquired over the last four hours. She reached her hands up to the top of her head and tried to rub the throb away, but it just fell in rhythm with the movement of her fingers. She had spent the morning answering Laine’s litany of questions and had covered only a fourth of the property. They would continue the tour this afternoon, and her evening would be spent catching Gabby’s recital and finding answers to some of the tougher questions Laine had asked.

It wasn’t Laine’s questions that frustrated her as much as it was the condescending, arrogant tone. Obviously sitting alone in a room writing books all these years hadn’t honed her people skills. Riley was wondering how Laine had gotten a husband far more than how she had lost one. She pulled her phone from the pocket of her dress and held down the number 2 button.

“You okay?” A calming voice came from the other end.

“Teetering.”

“Work? Gabby?”

“Everything. Long day.”

“It’s one.”

“It feels like midnight. Jeremy got here this morning.”

“I know. Your mother can’t wait.”

She laughed. “Just Mom?”

Her dad chuckled. “You know how I feel about that little angel girl.”

“I’ve got this incredibly stressful client, Dad.”

“Those kind usually have issues of their own, honey.”

“Oodles.”

“Might be a reason you’re in her life.”

Riley rubbed her forehead harder and chuckled softly. “I knew you would say that.”

“You can handle this, Riley. You’ve handled much worse than a stressed vacationer—which sounds like an oxymoron, if you ask me.”

“This coming from a man who doesn’t even know how to take a vacation.”

“Well, at least not taking one keeps me from having stressful ones.”

“Touché.”

The line was silent.

“It’s been a really hard day, Daddy. I haven’t had one this hard in a while.”

“Only one place to go on those truly hard days, angel girl. Only one place.”

“I know. We’ve been talking.”

“Good. Now go give this woman all that goodness that’s in the heart of my girl. She’s not on your doorstep for nothing, Riley. Remember, out of the comfort to spare.”

Riley smiled, the fear dripping away. “I love you.”

“You too, angel girl. Me and Mom will call you when Gabby gets here.”

Riley closed her phone, took a deep breath, and exited the bathroom. She walked over to the buffet table where Laine was already layering her plate with seafood, cheeses, and salads. The influences of the Mediterranean were the foundation for Mosaic and came with the made-to-order dishes infused with the freshest of ingredients and cooked at the large square cooking center in the middle of the buffet.

Riley picked up a plate and covered it with every vividly colored food Mosaic had to offer. She followed Laine to a booth, where the punch of color in the red suede seat back contrasted sharply against the neutral tones of the restaurant and the black of Laine’s dress.

Laine ordered a glass of pinot grigio and Riley ordered a Dr Pepper. If she could have made it a double, she would have. As soon as she sat down, her phone vibrated against her hip. It had vibrated all morning, another distraction in an already-busy schedule, but she picked it up anyway. It was Max. She always had to take that call.

“Excuse me, Laine. This is my boss. I’ll be right back.”

Laine gave her a nod as she picked up a shrimp and bit into it.

Riley walked out of the restaurant and into the open atrium. She stood across from the open doors of a sundries store and answered her phone. “Hey.”

“Hey. I just talked to Claire. She’s freaking out wanting to know where the contract is.”

The vise grip returned quickly to Riley’s chest. “Mia was supposed to take it first thing this morning.”

“You didn’t take the papers yourself?”

“No . . .” The time with Jeremy had pushed her schedule too much and she hadn’t had time to do that and get to Laine on time. “No, I was running late and couldn’t be late to meet Laine, so I had Mia send them for me.”

“Those are important papers, Riley.” His voice was more that of a disappointed father than a reprimanding boss.

“I know. I should have taken them myself. I have no excuse. I’ll take care of it immediately.”

“You need to look sharp, Riley. This first year, everything matters. And Claire . . .”

She rubbed her head again. “I know. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.” She heard him sigh. She could see his furrowed brow and his deep, brooding black eyes. “I’ll go find it and make sure it gets there myself.”

“You know how much I believe in you, Riley.” All frustration was now gone from his tone. She could hear his chair squeak.

“I do. And you know how much I appreciate it.”

“How are things with the author?”

“I’ve been with her all day.”

“Well, make her happy. Apart from this contract, that is what is most important this week.”

“I’ll do it.”

“Okay, I’m going back to lunch with my family.”

“Have a great afternoon. Sorry you had to stop for this.” She hung up the phone and paced for a few moments in the hall. Then picked the phone back up and called Mia.

“The Cove, this is Mia.”

“Hey, Mia, it’s me. Max just called, and legal said they haven’t received the contract yet.”

She could hear her shifting papers. “Oh, Riley, I thought it was supposed to go to Max. His name and your name were on the front. I thought he was sending it to legal.”

Riley searched her memory frantically. She remembered seeing Max’s name big and bold on the front. She had been so frazzled this morning there was a huge possibility that she had told Mia that. “Did you drop the papers off at his office?”

“Yes. I thought it was odd, though, that he wasn’t there. I tried to call you, but it went straight to your voice mail. I figured you’d call to check in when you got a break.”

“Well, they were supposed to go to legal. Claire is waiting