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

“Yes, I’m meeting them at the private airstrip at twelve. We will be back here by twelve thirty; then I’ll take them to Mosaic for lunch at one.”

“I have dinner arrangements at six thirty at Nobu. The show starts at eight. It should be a great evening.”

“Well, it sounds like you’ve taken care of everything. Their flight leaves at midnight, so we’ll show them a fabulous day and then they will get home in time to be safe from the storm.”

Riley scribbled on the pad in front of her. “Anything else you can think of?”

“No, sounds great.”

“Okay, then I’ll see you at one.”

Riley hung up the phone and lifted her head to see Christian’s face at her door. “Busy day?” he asked.

“Crazy day.”

“We’re pretty quiet next door. Most of our nesters have flown the coop. Don’t want to risk a hurricane. So if you need any extra help, I’ve got some extra hands.”

“Thank you.” She stood from her desk. “I’ll let you know if I do. Right now I think we’re good, though. Just waiting on Mr. Connick to arrive. That sounds weird, doesn’t it?” She half laughed.

“You’d rather call him Harry?” His brown eyes scanned hers.

She shook her head. “No, that sounds weirder.” She walked around to the front of her desk. “I’m going to go check his room one more time. Want to walk with me?”

“Oh, my, now you’re inviting me somewhere.”

She walked past him and raised an eyebrow. They walked from her office into the lobby of the office suites. Mia was standing in the doorway. Her expression registered oddly with Riley. “Anything wrong?” she asked.

Mia’s smile took over. “No, no . . . everything is perfect. Just a few frazzled guests. Trying to calm their fears and assure them the hurricane isn’t hitting today.”

“Well, let me know if you need me. I’m going to go check Mr. Connick’s room real quick, then talk with Gretchen at the theater. I think she’s getting him after lunch. Did you make his lunch arrangements?”

“He requested a private lunch in his suite with his family.”

Riley and Christian walked to the door. “Did you get his children passes for Aquaventure?”

“Yes, they should be in his room, and he has already given me his lunch order and we will have that delivered promptly at noon.”

“Thanks, Mia,” Riley offered with appreciation.

Christian nodded. “Good to see you, Mia.”

“You too.”

Riley and Christian talked about their previous evening as they made their way up to the suite. The conversation was natural, easy. When they knew everything was ready for the Connicks, they parted ways with the knowledge they would see each other at the concert. Riley watched him as he headed back to The Reef. He was truly a charming man. She bit her lip and wrinkled her nose, an involuntary act of contemplation. And she had been contemplating all morning, between her tasks, how much she enjoyed his company.

Mia was standing in the doorway and appeared to be watching him too. But then an elderly couple approached the office door and Mia waved them toward her. Riley hated that Laine had made her suspicious. Mia had been nothing but an angel, a friend, and a tremendous help during this crazy week. She smiled at her as she headed to her office to await the arrival of her first guest.

* * *

Tamyra pulled the handle of the slot machine mindlessly. In the span of an hour she had lost five hundred dollars. A smarter gambler would have changed machines. But she wasn’t smart at anything. She deserved the loss. And with each coin that was sucked into the bottomless abyss, her thoughts of worthlessness were affirmed.

She swatted at her cheeks. Tears had been falling since last night. And the casino noise hadn’t distracted them. Of course there weren’t many people at ten o’clock in the morning to pay much attention to a woman crying on a barstool in front of a slot machine. An elderly woman had looked at her oddly as she had passed through on her way to breakfast. Breakfast. Tamyra felt her stomach growl. She had hardly put a fork in her food last night when Winnie had split, and she hadn’t eaten anything since. But years of beauty pageants had taught her how to deprive herself despite even the sharpest hunger pains, so she didn’t offer it much condolence either.

“There you are.” Winnie’s voice penetrated the few clanging bells already ringing in the casino. “I’ve been looking all over for you this morning. And—Lord have mercy,” she said, grabbing the cup that held a couple fleeting coins. “How many were in here?”

Tamyra pulled the handle again. “Lots.”

Winnie waved her hand in front of Tamyra’s face. “You have officially OD’d on a slot machine. I knew those things weren’t good for you, and you are proof. Now get your hind end out of this chair and get to the gettin’.” She pulled at Tamyra’s sleeve until she had her out of the chair.

Tamyra looked at her little friend. “I’m so sorry, Winnie.” Tears fell freely again. “I should have never done what I did last night.”

Winnie swatted at her and pulled her down the hall. “No, you shouldn’t have. But it’s okay. It was good for me on so many levels, but obviously bad for you on . . .” She paused and studied Tamyra again. She was still in her same clothes from last night. “. . . on sooo many levels. Have you been in here all night?”

Tamyra rubbed her swollen eyes. “No, I tried to sleep but I couldn’t. I finally came down here this morning and just thought I’d do something mindless.”

“Well, you’ve let this get way out of hand.”

“But I do that a lot. Get in the way. Insert myself. Voice my opinion. That is probably why Jason hit me.”

Winnie released her arm quickly and was in her face—well, close to her chest—before she could even take a step back. “If I ever hear you say something like that again, I’ll whup you myself. That