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

Riley put some mango on the side of her plate. “First of all, I’m too young to be your mother. Little sister, maybe.”

“Little sister, my—”

Riley laughed. “Secondly, you are not, nor have you ever been, the boss of me.”

Laine simply turned and gave her one of those up-and-down looks and puffs of air. Maybe the devil used to wear Prada, but he had officially switched to Dolce & Gabbana.

Their water glasses were filled and orange juice was waiting at their table when they sat down. Their plates were stacked with the best food the Bahamas had to offer. As soon as she picked up her fork, Riley’s phone vibrated on her side. It was a hotel number. “Hello.”

“Riley, it’s Christian.”

Riley felt her heart sputter slightly. “Oh, hey. Everything okay?”

“Just wanted you to know that we are definitely in the path of this storm.”

“It’s him, isn’t it?” Laine mouthed.

Riley raised her right eyebrow as she talked. “Didn’t know it was certain.”

“Yeah, so corporate has scheduled a meeting early evening for us to go over procedures.”

“What time?”

Before she knew it, Laine had reached out and jerked the phone from her hand. “Yes, she will have dinner with you tonight. I will not be needing her services. So I will make sure she is there. What time would you like her to be there?”

Riley grabbed for the phone.

Laine wouldn’t let go. “Oh, there’s a meeting tonight. Okay, well, take her out after that.”

Riley reached for the phone and snatched it back. “Excuse me for that, Christian.” She bugged her eyes out at Laine, who stuck a big bite of pineapple in her mouth and grinned from ear to ear.

Christian laughed. “Not a replay of the other night?”

“No, no. So what time is the meeting?”

“It’s at 5:30 in the Poseidon Room at the conference center. And then I’ll take you to a great little place off the island that I know you’ll love.”

“Oh, Christian, I . . .”

Laine scooted to the edge of the booth as if she were coming over to snatch the phone away again.

Riley changed her tune suddenly. “I’d love to. That sounds wonderful.”

“Great! I’ll see you tonight. Looking forward to it.”

“Me too. Yes, it will be nice.” She closed her phone and put it back on her hip. “I can’t believe you.”

“I can’t believe you. What in the world is wrong with you? This amazing man is apparently crazy for you and you keep brushing him off like dander on a suit coat.”

“Horrible metaphor for a writer.”

“Don’t be snide.”

Riley leaned back in the booth. “I don’t know why I keep brushing him off. Honestly, I really like him. He is so ridiculously nice and charming . . .” She smiled involuntarily.

“And gorgeous.”

Riley laughed. “Yes, he’s gorgeous.”

“So what is it?” Laine leaned against the leather seat and crossed her arms. “What is it really, Riley?”

Riley took in a deep breath. “I just don’t think I’m ready.”

“Ready, schmeady.” Laine’s words stopped abruptly. Riley watched as a flash of recognition of some kind swept over her face. “Oh, my word.” Laine leaned into the table and placed her elbows on top of the dark wood. “Here you are preaching to me, and you are just like me. You haven’t forgiven yourself either. Everything I was telling you last night, you are. Living in perpetual regret. Refusing yourself happiness. Like you don’t deserve it or something. Oh, my word! You are me!” she announced with laughter as if it were the best discovery she’d made in years.

“I’ve completely forgiven myself.”

“Hogwash.” Laine slapped her hand over her mouth. “Oh, my word, now I’m Winnie.” Her words were muffled through her fingers. She dropped her hand. “We’ve spent so much time together, we’re becoming each other.”

Riley shook her head. “I’ll believe it when you give up your mourning.”

“This isn’t about my attire. This is about you. And you have not ever forgiven yourself.” Laine leaned back again, her body softening. “Tell me what happened, Riley. I know Winnie’s story. I’m pretty certain I know Tamyra’s even though she won’t give up any of it. And I know your brief outbursts. But I want to know your story. Your whole story. What happened?”

Riley felt a surge of emotion start somewhere near her gut. The fork shook in her hand. She set it down quickly on the edge of her plate. The memories were fast and fluid. Her chest began to rise and fall more rapidly. Laine reached across the table and grabbed her hands. “It’s okay. I promise. I will not make you a character in my next book.”

A laugh bubbled up and broke through her lips; tears followed right behind. Riley removed her hands from under Laine’s and swiped at them. “You’re crazy.” She leaned against the smooth padded leather booth and took in a deep breath. She had recounted this story to Mia yesterday through her torrent of tears that were laced with anger at Laine. But these tears were different. Laine had pegged her and she knew it.

“It was a beautiful summer afternoon. Gabby and I were coming home from the grocery store to get dinner ready. I had just pulled into our neighborhood. The speed limit was only twenty miles an hour because of all the children. Gabby was two, and since having her, I did everything differently. Drove slower. Ate better. Far more cautious about everything in life. But I never saw him. He apparently darted out from behind the front of a car that was parked on the side of the street. He was chasing a ball. I thought I had just run over something in the road until I looked and saw the horror on his mother’s face. She had watched me run over her son.

“She was screaming wildly by the time I could get out of the car. I ran over to where she was.” The stinging from hot tears burned at the top of her nose. “He was still breathing in her arms, though the tire had gone right over his little body.