Page 9 of Nightcaps at The Beach House Hotel

The teasing look on Tina’s face was perturbing as she stared at me.

I thought of a name and shook my head. It couldn’t be, wouldn’t be possible.

“Well?” said Tina.

“Are you talking about Lily Dorio?” I asked.

Rhonda burst into laughter. “No shit.”

“Yes, it’s her, the comeback kid. We can’t seem to get rid of her. She’s like a rubber ball bouncing in and out of our lives,” said Tina.

I let out a long sigh. Lily Dorio was an actor who’d tried to interfere in the growing relationship I had with Vaughn and even afterward. “I’m sorry you have to deal with her, Tina. She’s bound to cause trouble.”

“Yes, I know,” said Tina. “But I’m going to do my part and pray Sinclair will do his. As I mentioned, I like the script which is why I’m willing to work hard to get in shape.”

“You can’t let her ruin it for you,” said Rhonda. “Somehow Karma is going to get back at Lily. Just do your own thing.”

“Yes, I agree,” said Tina. “Let’s get settled, and then I’ll have a glass of wine … uh, make that water with you. Abbie can have my wine.”

Abbie gave Tina a satisfied look. “I’m glad to do the honors.” She turned to us. “I’ve heard a whole lot about the two of you. I can’t wait to get to know you better.”

I smiled in return and wondered what the next couple of weeks would bring.

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It being a school night, Rhonda and I didn’t stay long. But even after I returned home to be with Robbie, my heart was happy from seeing Tina again. She’d always be the young girl who I’d helped to heal from a terrible childhood. She’d had an overly ambitious mother who would offer her to execs to get new roles in movies.

After getting Robbie and Cindy settled for the night, I got ready for bed, climbed in, and sat beneath a light blanket with a new book.

My cell phone rang.Vaughn.

Smiling at the fluttering of my pulse, I answered. “Hi! How are you?”

“Fine. Missing you. Are you in bed?” His low voice, familiar to fans of his, made me smile even wider.

“Yes, I am,” I answered. “It is empty without you.”

“I’m more than ready to come home. ’Sure you don’t want to travel to Toronto to see me?”

I let out a deep sigh. I loved knowing he wanted me there, but the truth was, he’d be busy, and I was needed in Sable. “I wish I could, but we have a tricky situation at the hotel, and I wouldn’t feel right leaving Rhonda to deal with it alone.”

“Don’t tell me it’s another request of Amelia Swanson’s,” Vaughn said. “You promised you’d be careful going forward. Almost losing you in that kidnapping scheme was something I never want to repeat.”

“The only person in trouble is Darryl Douglas,” I said. “Rhonda and I watched his show a couple of nights ago, and he seemed okay.”

“Darryl Douglas the nighttime talk show host?” Vaughn said. “I hear he’s having more than one problem. Why is he at the hotel?”

“I’m not sure,” I said. “But, believe me, he just wants a quiet, private time here.”

“Guess what? I heard some very interesting news. Sinclair Smith married Lily Dorio. Poor guy.”

“They’re honeymooning. That’s why Tina was able to get away for a few weeks to get herself in shape for the movie she’s starring in with him.”

“There’s always trouble surrounding Lily,” said Vaughn with an edge of bitterness.

I didn’t blame him. She’d pretended to be his pregnant girlfriend. Told everyone he was the father to hide an affair with a producer. Vaughn was a straight-up guy who was infuriated by her lies.

“Well, hopefully, we won’t have to deal with her again,” I said, mentally crossing my fingers. “How much longer are you going to be away?”

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