Summer at Hideaway Key by Barbara Davis

Author:Barbara Davis
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2015-07-20T04:00:00+00:00

Lily knew something was up when they arrived at the Sundowner and Sheila sailed past the bar, heading instead for a quiet table along the railing. A waitress stopped by for their order, then disappeared. After several minutes of stilted chatter about the weather, Lily decided it was time to get down to brass tacks.

“So, what’s the big mystery? You said something about a favor.”

Sheila clasped her hands together so tightly her knuckles went white. “That’s right, I did. I was going to . . . You know what, never mind. Let’s just enjoy our drinks.”

“Sheila, you’re starting to freak me out. Just tell me what you need.”

“Okay.” Sheila took a deep breath, unfolding then refolding her hands. “I need you to tell Izzani to jump in a lake and go into business with me instead.” Once she’d gotten the first part out, she seemed to pick up speed. “I haven’t been able to think about anything else since you drew that sketch at lunch the other day. You designing. Me selling. I know I’m small-time, and this isn’t Milan, but we could have so much fun, Lily. So much fun.”

Lily didn’t know whether to be relieved or stunned. “Sheila, I’m flattered, really, but I can’t. I’ll be happy to help in any way I can while I’m here, but after that it would have to be long-distance.”

Sheila’s effervescent smile vanished. “So you’re taking the job?”

“Probably, yes. But even if I didn’t I wouldn’t be here.”

“What’s wrong with here?”

“Nothing. But it isn’t where I belong. There’s nothing here for me. I’m not sure what I’m looking for, but whatever it is, I won’t find it as long as I’m hiding out at the beach. The way I see it, Milan’s as good a place to look as any.”

Sheila sipped her Pink Flip-Flop thoughtfully. Finally, she put her glass down. “Can I ask you something?” she said, licking sugar from her lips. “Why are you so hell-bent on making a life choice in the next ten minutes? I mean, you’re not exactly living from paycheck to paycheck.”

Lily understood the question. It wasn’t the first time she’d been asked; her father used to ask her the same thing. And now she would tell Sheila what she always told him. “Everyone assumes that because I’m Roland St. Claire’s daughter and have all this money, I’m perfectly satisfied to just be that. It never occurs to anyone that I might want to work, need to work. Not for the money, but for me. I’ve spent my whole life trying to live down my last name, and confound people’s assumptions. I want to do something that makes a difference, Sheila, and prove I’m not just a trust fund princess.”

“Who calls you that?”

“Dean, for starters.”

“Oh, honey, I’m sure he was just joking.”

“Maybe he was, and maybe he wasn’t. I’ve got the best education money can buy, and a résumé longer than my arm. What does it say that I’m almost thirty-six years old and still don’t

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