Page 33 of Nightcaps at The Beach House Hotel

I laughed. Rhonda and Brock would never get along.

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While we were saying goodbye to Tina, Abbie entered the house. “I’m giving Darryl a break to deal with his agent. The man keeps calling. asking him to shut Everly up. But it’s not his job, is it? He’s been working hard to lose weight, and he’s toughening up, but the pressure for him to go back to work is also building.”

“I’m sorry,” said Tina. “But you’ll honor your contract to me and stay here while I make a quick trip home and back, won’t you?”

“Sure. I’ll continue to honor my contract with Darryl, too, though he might not be as accessible. What was all the commotion on the beach a little earlier? I couldn’t see it, but I could hear it.”

“It was Everly posing for photographs,” I said.

“And the worst person I know, Brock Goodwin, was trying to butt in,” said Rhonda. “If he ever starts to approach you, walk away. He’s nothing but trouble.”

“That’s the truth,” said Tina.

“Come back as soon as you can,” I said, giving Tina a big hug. “And please hug those boys for me. Tell them Auntie Ann misses them.”

“And Aunt Rhonda, too,” she said, hugging Tina goodbye.

###

As we walked away from the houses, Rhonda said, “If you want me to stay, please tell me. Will and I will take a vacation another time.”

I shook my head. “I meant what I said earlier. You both need some time off. Things are bound tocalm down.”

She glanced at me. Neither one of us believed it.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The next day, Rhonda and I were working in our office when Everly came to see us.

“Hi, Everly. Is everything all right?” I asked.

“I’m here on a scouting mission for my friend, Brock. He told me he’d pay me money if I could find out who’s staying in the private houses. I’m going to take him up on his offer. He’s helping me with some issues, and I’ll help him.”

“As cute and friendly as all that is,” said Rhonda, “we have as little to do with Brock as possible.”

“And it’s company policy that our guests have a right to seclusion.” I stood, hoping to end the conversation.

“We know that doesn’t interest you, but most of our guests appreciate that,” said Rhonda. “Those houses are off-limits for Brock and for you. Get it?”

Everly frowned. “Who are you to talk to me that way? I’ll do what I damn well please.”

I herded Everly in the direction of the door and walked her out of the office. “If I were you, I’d be careful about any deals with Brock Goodwin. Just a word of warning. You’ve signed an NDA promising you’d respect the privacy of others. I expect you to honor it. Understand?”

Without responding, she turned and walked away.

When I returned, Rhonda was just hanging up the phone. “I’ve canceled my trip.”

“Wait! Don’t do that. Everything will settle down. It’s just been a bad morning,” I said.

“It’s going to get worse if Everly finds out Darryl is staying here. We have to do something about it,” said Rhonda grimly. “You know how it is when I get a funny feeling about things.”

I gave her a thoughtful nod. It was true. She seemed to know ahead of time when trouble was about to happen. “What do you think we should do?”

“We need to get Darryl and Abbie off the property to a safe place,” she said, giving me a steady look. “Thank goodness, Tina won’t be an issue.”

“Okay, you’re right. Darryl and Abbie can stay at my house. Heaven knows they won’t be bothered there.”

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