Page 10 of Silver Fake

Melissa moves so she’s standing by my side and points around the room. “It’s gorgeous in here, isn’t it?”

“Yes. It’s very nice.”

“Just wait until they serve dinner. It should be out soon. Prime rib and lobster for the main course. Lisa said it was your favorite, and since the firm gave her an unlimited budget to put together this party, she wanted to be sure she pulled out all the stops for you.”

My eyes go to her. “Lisa planned all this?”

She nods, her sharp eyes never leaving mine. “Yes. All the way down to the matching china and name plates for seating. And all on her own free time during her lunch breaks.”

She takes a sip of her champagne, then tilts her head and points at me.

“You might want to consider that the next time you decide to give her a last-minute assignment the day you know she’s leaving for vacation.”

“She left work on time.”

“Only because she worked her ass off to fix Ethan’s file.”

Melissa doesn’t wait for my response. I’m sure she sees exactly what she was hoping for in my eyes, and my stiff frame. God, I really am an ass. Lisa did all this for me, and I repaid her by dumping someone else’s work on her lap hours before she was scheduled to leave for vacation.

I pull out my phone and bring her up in my contacts to call and apologize. She put this party together and she should be here.

Instead of pressing send, I just stare at her name like a fool for several minutes, then I put the phone back in my pocket. The workday is already over and she’s probably making the drive to Barton Beach. I imagine I’m the last person she wants to hear from right now.

This vacation of mine might be just what I need. Some time with my family, away from work to get my head on straight. A little time away could be just what I need. I’ll get this dinner over with, and then I’m getting my stuff together and hitting the road.

CHAPTER4

Lisa

“I can’t believethis is your view every morning," I say, sitting down in a deck chair.

Denise walks out through the sliding glass doors behind me, a red coffee mug clasped in both hands. "I know, it's something, isn't it?"

She settles down next to me and looks out at the water. "I love starting my day out here. It's so peaceful and calming." Then she pokes me in the ribs. “Aren’t you glad you came here for vacation instead of Miami Beach?"

“Definitely,” I laugh. “Miami doesn’t hold a candle to this place.”

It's Thursday morning, the first official day of my vacation. And Denise is right. I can’t think of any place I would rather be than in Barton Beach.

I was never much of a beach person until Denise moved here last year. Growing up, I was always more of a mountain girl. But now, I can't get enough of the salty air, warm sand, and crashing waves.

The fact that Denise's beach house is incredible is also a huge plus.

She has always dreamed of owning a home on the water, and this place delivers big time.

It's got a beautiful deck that stretches the length of the house, overlooking the Gulf. Like most houses near the water, it’s also on stilts, painted a fun sea green color with a full deck that wraps around the entire house.

I smile at my friend and reach over giving her arm a squeeze. Denise looks so happy here and that makes my heart warm. She deserves this kind of happiness. If anyone has worked hard for it, she has. And I don’t know anyone who does more for the people she loves than Denise. She’s my best friend, but she’s really more than that. She’s family.

“Yoo hoo!” A tinkling female voice calls out.

I turn around and grin.

Denise’s younger sister, Sheila is walking out onto the deck through the sliding glass doors. Sheila is a nurse at Barton Beach General hospital and works third shift. Her blonde hair is pulled back into a messy bun, and she’s wearing scrubs with little blue teddy bears on them. She also has a pink stethoscope hanging around her neck.

“Morning, ladies,” Sheila calls out with a friendly wave as she walks over to us. “I just got off and I heard Lisa was in town. I thought I would stop by and say hello before I hit the hay.” She leans down and gives me a hug. “How was your drive in?”

I sigh. “Eh. It was okay.”

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