They were in the doorway and almost into the hall when he grunted what she guessed was his agreement. She turned and saw his eyebrow go up. “Did you say something?”

“Um . . . no.”

“So the grunt and the eyebrow. That wasn’t actually an attempt to pass judgment or communicate?”

“Not intentionally, no.” His expression had turned . . . well, she couldn’t actually read that expression any more than she seemed able to understand the thoughts and emotions currently zinging through her.

She reached in, grasped the doorknob, and began to pull his door closed. “I just wanted to be sure I hadn’t misunderstood anything.”

She drew a deep, embarrassed breath as soon as the door clicked shut. She dug the heel of her hand into her forehead as she followed Kyra into the first guest suite.

“That was weird.” Kyra sat Dustin in the center of the room with a book and his favorite toy car.

Maddie just stood there replaying her moronic behavior in her head as Kyra poured some of the toasty beige wall paint into a tray for Maddie and handed her a paintbrush. She imagined Will standing in front of his closed bedroom door wondering what the hell had just happened. “What did I just do? And why does he look so attractive even when he’s being a jerk?”

“Now there’s a question I’d like to see answered.” Kyra began cutting in on the other end of Maddie’s wall. “It doesn’t help when they have an unfair supply of charisma and are used to getting any woman they want.”

“That’s for sure.” Maddie tried to focus on applying paint to the wall.

“It’s like me and he-who-shall-remain-nameless.” Kyra nodded toward Dustin, who was happily flipping through the pages of his fabric book. “I was so sure I could resist him. I even took a room next door just so I’d have somewhere to go in case I felt myself weakening. And then, I don’t know, all that charisma and testosterone focused on you, a few fireworks, and poof!” She sighed and shook her head.

Maddie almost laughed. “Maybe the women in our family have a hereditary weakness for fireworks. Or maybe we’re just turned on by loud noises, bright colors, and . . . larger-than-life personalities.”

“All I know is Daniel acted as if it was just this spontaneous thing that happened because of the magic of the night. It was only afterward when I was lying there next to him that I thought, ‘Who brings condoms for a weekend with his son?’ That’s when I realized he’d probably planned it all along.” She slapped the brush against the wall and then pulled the drop cloth over to try to catch the drips. “Or maybe he’s just always prepared. Kind of like a Boy Scout?” She looked over at Maddie. “Is there a badge for that? You know, condom preparedness? Or sexual safety?”

Maddie felt her lips tip up in a smile. “Andrew was a Boy Scout and I’m pretty sure neither of those were in the handbook.”

Kyra snorted. “Somebody needs to tell those Scouts to stick to pitching tents and lighting campfires and . . . walking old ladies across the street.”

“And while they’re at it maybe someone could come up with a badge for teaching certain men how to keep their pants zipped.” It was Maddie’s turn to snort.

Laughter didn’t contribute a whole lot to a paint job, but it did lighten the hurt and embarrassment just a little. As Maddie settled into her brushstrokes she reminded herself that sleeping with William Hightower was just a surprising blip on her radar screen. In a matter of weeks they’d be leaving Mermaid Point and moving on with their lives. In a couple of months William Hightower would be no more than a fond and miraculous memory. And he would have already forgotten her name.

Chapter Forty-three

As far as Nicole was concerned the only thing worse than painting the exterior of a building was painting it at the end of August. In the Keys. Only twenty-four degrees from the equator.

She sat on a section of scaffolding on the southern wall of William Hightower’s master suite just beneath the roofline. A folded towel was beneath her to eliminate direct contact with the hot metal. A paint tray sat between her and Maddie. Avery was one section over. All of them wore paint-spattered hats and protective clothing. Each of them was caked with dirt and grime and sweating profusely. Nicole stopped cutting in around the window to swipe her eyes with the back of one sleeve. The only thing she didn’t hate at the moment was the view.

It was a gorgeous summer day with a bright blue sky and pulled white clouds. Sunlight glittered on the turquoise water. Boats cut across it, leaving white-plumed wakes behind them. The tide was so low that she could see the one-time causeway that stretched out to U.S. 1. For the first time she noticed what looked like an old guard gate at the end of it.

“When we leave here I’m going to do my best to erase these last five days from my mind.” Nicole continued to survey the island. Near the docks and retaining wall, barges of furniture, accessories, and everything else Deirdre had bought, begged, or possibly stolen had arrived and were being off-loaded. On the western edge of the island she spied the flash of machetes through overgrown bush, the hauling away of dead limbs as the Marathon Garden Club worked to tame but not quash Mermaid Point’s tropical splendor.

“I can’t look at a group of gardeners without thinking about Parker Amherst.” Nicole dragged her eyes if not her thoughts back to the wall she was painting.

“You don’t have anyone pissed off at you, do you, Nikki?” Avery asked.

“Not that I’m aware of. Well, except for Joe’s grandmother, but she already had a clean shot at me over the Fourth. I’m pretty sure she’s already cast any pertinent spells or curses.”

“It’s good to know that if toads start flying out of your mouth we’ll know who to turn to for the antidote,” Maddie teased.

“Honestly, if it would get me off this scaffolding and out of the sun, I’d give her another shot.” Nicole pulled her hat tighter onto her head.

Tomorrow would be their last day of painting. After that they would report to Deirdre for furniture moving, accessory placing, and artwork hanging, but at least most of it would take place inside. In the brand-new commercial-grade air-conditioning.

A glob of sweat formed on her nose and she dipped her face down to her shoulder to try to get rid of it. “I am so ready to get back to civilization.”

“Is Joe coming for the party?” Maddie asked.

“I don’t think so. He’s out on the West Coast and may not be able to make it back.” She turned to Avery. “How about Chase?”

Avery shook her head. “He’s got his hands so ridiculously full. I’ve been sending pictures and keeping him posted, but I’m sorry he won’t get to see the finished project in person.”

“Well, there won’t be any shortage of video.” Nicole looked down. Even now, Troy and Anthony were shooting up at them—which was the least flattering angle possible. “But we’ve got less than a week until we wrap, so I’m thinking we can stop worrying about facing another hurricane or crazy person with a grudge. And I definitely don’t see us ending the shoot with another funeral.”

* * *

Four days later Maddie dropped into the tobacco-colored leather chair, part of the new grouping that surrounded the fireplace, and stared up at the stone, shell, and barnacle feature wall that rose above it. The soft pecky cypress walls, dark red cabinetry, and wrought-iron-forged hardware brought substance and order to the open design. “I almost can’t believe we’re done!”

Across the room, the kitchen was a perfect combination of sophisticated design and indestructible functionality while the eastern end of the room now easily accommodated William Hightower’s prized pool table and a large farm table big enough to seat twelve. All this in addition to the natural light and ocean view provided by the accordion glass wall. “It all turned out so great, I don’t even know which suite I’d choose if I were a guest.”

“Well, I’d go with the first-floor garage suite. That bathroom is to die for.” Nicole sighed theatrically. “All that leafy green on the wood walls and ceiling, the antique glass-topped doors, and that fabulous soaking tub?” She shook her head. “That bathroom belongs in a Calgon commercial.”

“Well, I like the boathouse suites. Hanging right out over the water like that and having a choice of sunrise or sunset views?” Kyra smiled and ruffled Dustin’s hair. “It’s fabulous. And I don’t know how you managed to create such different moods in each structure and yet make them feel part of the whole.”

“I agree,” Nicole said. “The two of you together?” She motioned to Avery and Deirdre. “That’s what I call sheer genius.”

“Agreed!” Maddie raised a glass of fresh lemonade in toast. “Here’s to Avery and Deirdre. Do Over’s dynamic duo.” They clinked their glasses and drank.

Deirdre smiled and bowed along with Avery, but her smile seemed forced.

“Another headache?” Avery asked her.

“Nothing major.” Deirdre pulled an aspirin bottle from her pocket, shook two into her palm, and downed them with a long pull from her water bottle.

“So what do you think?” Nicole asked. “Are we ready?”

“Yep.” Avery checked things off on her fingers. “Beds are made, towels are in the bathrooms, bottled waters and fruit baskets are set up in all the suites.”

“The caterers the network hired are coming in around two o’clock tomorrow afternoon. Last I heard the network folks were due by four. Party guests were invited for seven. Has anybody talked to Lisa Hogan recently?” Maddie looked at Avery.

“Nope. I’m the one ducking her calls for a change. I don’t want any last-minute surprises and I guess I’m hoping our work will speak for itself.”