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Authors: Roxanne St. Claire
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out.
“We’re just counting on our Lacey to do the right thing,” Charity said. “Seeing as she’s part of the very special family of people who built this island for the distinct reason that they wanted to avoid the hellhole of high-rises over in Naples. We want things to stay just the way they’ve always been.”
“Change is good,” Clay said, giving Lacey one of the coffees and placing a twenty-dollar bill on the counter. “Can I have some?”
Charity didn’t move. “Change isn’t good for Mimosa Key and we don’t need some big-time architects building eyesores on Barefoot Bay.”
“I’m not big-time, and I’m not building an eyesore,” he said, putting a hand on the book. “But if you’d like, I’d be happy to give you some ideas about how you could make the elevation of this little convenience store even more attractive, and then when the nice people come to stay at Lacey’s new place, they’ll all stop here on their way in and out to buy your”—he sipped the coffee and nodded approvingly—“fantastic coffee.”
Charity yanked the book away and pushed his twenty back. “The coffee’s on the house.”
“Much obliged.” He toasted her with the cup. “For the coffee and the history lesson.”
He shouldered open the door, holding it for Lacey, who walked into the sunshine and let out a long, slow breath.
Clay dipped his head and whispered in her ear as the door closed behind them, “You gonna let two little old batshit crazy ladies be a roadblock?”
“No.” Maybe. He didn’t know how much power they wielded on this island.
“Good.” He put his arm around her, pulling her into rock-solid muscle in a dizzyingly casual and intimate move. “Now, let’s go look at your property and see how many more people we can piss off.”
Chapter 7
T he first thing Jocelyn heard when the elevator doors opened to the Ritz lobby was the ring of Zoe’s laughter echoing through the cavern of marble and glass. The sound made her realize how much fun she’d missed the night before. Still, no amount of fun was worth the risk of seeing… someone she did
not
want to see. She’d stay here for Lacey as long as she could, but nothing could make her venture south on Mimosa Key.
Which is why she loved that Zoe, Tessa, and Ashley had sweetly agreed to come to the Ritz for lunch today while Lacey met with her architect. Of course, without Lacey to run interference, they might press her a little about coming over to the island, but she could always manufacture a client crisis. Considering she’d just spent the last half hour on the phone with a weeping Coco Kirkman, there wouldn’t be too much manufacturing involved.
The three of them stood outside a high-end boutique, Zoe’s arm draped over Ashley’s shoulder, their heads close as they discussed the bathing-suited mannequin in the window. As she approached, Tessa turned and brightened at the sight of Jocelyn.
“I never thought I’d utter these words to you, Jocelyn Bloom: You’re late.”
“Client crisis.”
“We were forced to window-shop at the overpriced hotel stores.” Zoe tugged Ashley closer. “And decided you might have to buy us all one of those adorable bikinis in different colors.”
Jocelyn hugged them all, an extra squeeze for Ashley. “I just might do that after lunch. Ashley, you’re a doll to give up your day and hang out with us.”
“It’s cool,” Ashley said, her eyes dancing with youthful happiness. Had Jocelyn’s eyes ever danced at that age, she wondered idly. No. Not once. Not ever. Which was why she had to stand her ground and stay off the south end of Mimosa Key.
“I’m really having fun,” Ashley added.
“Mom’s ignoring our texts while she makes out with the smokin’-hot architect boy,” Zoe added. “So we can do whatever we want, including buy skimpy bikinis. Right, Ash?”
The light in Ashley’s eyes dimmed. “She’s not making out with him.”
“A figure of speech,” Zoe
“We’re just counting on our Lacey to do the right thing,” Charity said. “Seeing as she’s part of the very special family of people who built this island for the distinct reason that they wanted to avoid the hellhole of high-rises over in Naples. We want things to stay just the way they’ve always been.”
“Change is good,” Clay said, giving Lacey one of the coffees and placing a twenty-dollar bill on the counter. “Can I have some?”
Charity didn’t move. “Change isn’t good for Mimosa Key and we don’t need some big-time architects building eyesores on Barefoot Bay.”
“I’m not big-time, and I’m not building an eyesore,” he said, putting a hand on the book. “But if you’d like, I’d be happy to give you some ideas about how you could make the elevation of this little convenience store even more attractive, and then when the nice people come to stay at Lacey’s new place, they’ll all stop here on their way in and out to buy your”—he sipped the coffee and nodded approvingly—“fantastic coffee.”
Charity yanked the book away and pushed his twenty back. “The coffee’s on the house.”
“Much obliged.” He toasted her with the cup. “For the coffee and the history lesson.”
He shouldered open the door, holding it for Lacey, who walked into the sunshine and let out a long, slow breath.
Clay dipped his head and whispered in her ear as the door closed behind them, “You gonna let two little old batshit crazy ladies be a roadblock?”
“No.” Maybe. He didn’t know how much power they wielded on this island.
“Good.” He put his arm around her, pulling her into rock-solid muscle in a dizzyingly casual and intimate move. “Now, let’s go look at your property and see how many more people we can piss off.”
Chapter 7
T he first thing Jocelyn heard when the elevator doors opened to the Ritz lobby was the ring of Zoe’s laughter echoing through the cavern of marble and glass. The sound made her realize how much fun she’d missed the night before. Still, no amount of fun was worth the risk of seeing… someone she did
not
want to see. She’d stay here for Lacey as long as she could, but nothing could make her venture south on Mimosa Key.
Which is why she loved that Zoe, Tessa, and Ashley had sweetly agreed to come to the Ritz for lunch today while Lacey met with her architect. Of course, without Lacey to run interference, they might press her a little about coming over to the island, but she could always manufacture a client crisis. Considering she’d just spent the last half hour on the phone with a weeping Coco Kirkman, there wouldn’t be too much manufacturing involved.
The three of them stood outside a high-end boutique, Zoe’s arm draped over Ashley’s shoulder, their heads close as they discussed the bathing-suited mannequin in the window. As she approached, Tessa turned and brightened at the sight of Jocelyn.
“I never thought I’d utter these words to you, Jocelyn Bloom: You’re late.”
“Client crisis.”
“We were forced to window-shop at the overpriced hotel stores.” Zoe tugged Ashley closer. “And decided you might have to buy us all one of those adorable bikinis in different colors.”
Jocelyn hugged them all, an extra squeeze for Ashley. “I just might do that after lunch. Ashley, you’re a doll to give up your day and hang out with us.”
“It’s cool,” Ashley said, her eyes dancing with youthful happiness. Had Jocelyn’s eyes ever danced at that age, she wondered idly. No. Not once. Not ever. Which was why she had to stand her ground and stay off the south end of Mimosa Key.
“I’m really having fun,” Ashley added.
“Mom’s ignoring our texts while she makes out with the smokin’-hot architect boy,” Zoe added. “So we can do whatever we want, including buy skimpy bikinis. Right, Ash?”
The light in Ashley’s eyes dimmed. “She’s not making out with him.”
“A figure of speech,” Zoe
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