Sunshine Beach (9 page)

“I'm not agreeing to anything until I meet this FBI agent. I want to see his credentials and hear what he's prepared to do.”

“Annelise,” Renée said. “This is ridiculous. We're lucky they even want to . . .”

“I don't care,” Annelise interrupted, her voice mulish. “That's what I want. And if I'm not satisfied, then the answer is no.” She fixed her pale eyes on Nikki.

None of them moved. Maddie had to remind herself to breathe.

“All right,” Nikki finally said with a brightness she couldn't possibly feel. “I'll check Joe's schedule to see when he might be able to come.”

“Thank you,” Annelise said prettily as if she hadn't just held
all of their feet to the fire. Her smile was that of a delighted child, all malice swept clean.

Without prompting, they stood and prepared to leave before Annelise could demand anything else. As they said their good-byes and practically raced out the door, Maddie couldn't help wondering why the seemingly weakest dancer in the family appeared to be leading.

The drive across the center of the state of Florida was flat and not, in Nikki's humble opinion, particularly scenic. Unless you were into palmetto and scrub and the occasional farm animal. She and Maddie were on their way to Miami via Palm Beach where they were having lunch with former client Bitsy Baynard so that Nikki could present her with the “opportunity” to be a part of the “new and improved” version of
Do Over
.

Bitsy was a celebrated hostess, so Nikki had confidence the lunch would be both pleasant and delicious. How Bitsy might feel about becoming a sponsor was less certain. Beside her, Maddie peered out the window as if there was something to see.

“Being at Will's recording session should be really cool,” Nikki said.

“Yeah. It should be great.” Maddie's hands clasped and unclasped in her lap as she turned to Nikki. “It's something I used to fantasize about when I was a teenager. You know, back when you could fool yourself into thinking that a rock star might somehow fall madly in love with an awkward teenage girl.” Her voice was tremulous.

“Well, you're not an awkward teenager anymore, Maddie.”

“No,” she said. “I'm an awkward middle-aged woman who doesn't understand what a rock icon could possibly see in me.”

“Oh no, you don't,” Nikki said. “You are one of the smartest, most caring, warmest women I've ever known. And William Hightower is crazy about you.”

“Right.” Maddie did not sound convinced. “It's just that I'm wearing Not Your Daughter's Jeans in an effort to hold things in and three-quarter sleeves to hide my upper arms. My shoes are from Payless.”

“You look great, Maddie. And I don't think Will gives a shit what you're wearing. If I'm understanding the situation correctly, the man has seen you naked on more than one occasion. He's also seen the
you
that's inside. And he's made it clear you are what he wants.” Nikki almost laughed at how much easier it was to say this to others. How impossible it was to believe it about yourself.

“But that was before,” Maddie said.

“Before what?”

“Before he was back in the world. Before he had, I don't know, unlimited choices. ‘Free Fall' is going to be a hit; I know it is. And then women are going to be coming out of the woodwork and throwing themselves in front of him.” She looked down at her hands, then back at Nikki.

“Maddie, even at rock bottom, Will could have had pretty much any woman who crossed his path.” And probably had.

“Gee thanks,” Maddie said drily. “I feel so much better now.” She sighed. “It's just that when we met he'd been mostly out of circulation. Once he has a hit record there'll be women
littering
his path.” She closed her eyes and drew a deep breath. “I feel so small and petty. I want him to be successful. I want the song to be huge, to remind everyone how incredibly talented he is. But at the same time I'd give anything to keep things just the way they are.”

“I know.” Nikki wished that she didn't, but she understood
completely. Change was never easy. But there was no point wishing for things to be different from what they were. “William Hightower is damn lucky to have you. And don't you forget it.”

They both fell silent. Nikki found herself wondering if Joe would still feel lucky to have
her
once she explained that Annelise Handleman expected to “interview” Joe to see if he had enough experience to suit her. She held tight to the steering wheel as she imagined just how well that conversation would go down.

An hour later they were at the entrance to Bitsy Baynard's Palm Beach estate watching the curved wrought-iron gate open inward. Nikki drove the Jag onto the bricked drive and up a tree-lined allée. The landscaping fell away and the massive stuccoed Mediterranean villa appeared.

“Wow,” Maddie said, taking in the courtyard with its tiered fountain; the jutting towers, wrought-iron balconies, and enormous arched windows. “It looks like Bella Flora on steroids.”

“That's exactly what Kyra said when she ended up here for lunch,” Nikki said as they walked up the rounded concrete steps to a long columned arcade.

They waited in the foyer with its glassy marine blue tile floor and sweeping double staircase. A chandelier hung from the domed ceiling high above their heads. Its dropped crystals sparkled in the sunlight. “I'm grateful Bella Flora's chandelier wasn't this big,” Maddie whispered. “I'd still be cleaning it.”

Bitsy Baynard greeted them with outstretched arms and a smile that brightened her long face. She kissed Nicole firmly on both cheeks and shook Maddie's hand as the introductions were made. “It's so nice to meet you,” she said. “Since it's just the three of us, I thought we'd be casual.” She led them through a central hallway twice as wide as Bella Flora's with broad archways that opened to large rooms on either side. Outside they took seats around a wrought-iron
table that overlooked a large infinity pool and the lush, if manicured, tropical paradise that surrounded it. Snatches of blue sky and water teased just beyond.

“Your home is beautiful,” Maddie said.

“Thank you. I understand Bella Flora is pretty gorgeous, too,” Bitsy said.

A bottle of sauvignon blanc arrived at the table and was poured by a uniformed attendant. For a few moments Nikki allowed herself to miss the moneyed and glamorous life that had once been hers. Salads arrived along with freshly baked breads. Bitsy had been born into serious money, and inherited more, but she had an equally easy manner with guests and the people who served her. Once they might have chatted about common acquaintances and parties they'd both attended, but Nikki had become persona non grata when it became known that the person who had defrauded so many of the local elite was her brother. Grateful for Nikki's hand in arranging the marriage that had seemingly turned into a true love match, Bitsy was one of the few who had not tarred Nikki with Malcolm's brush.

The day was beautiful; the wine was crisp and dry. The salad, which was filled with chunks of crab and lobster, was delicious. Nikki was debating how best to bring up
Do Over
when Bitsy said, “I've really been enjoying your show. I binge watched season one. I had no idea you were so handy.”

Maddie choked slightly on her wine.

“What's so funny?”

“None of us but Avery started out at all handy.”

“Yes, that's half the fun,” Bitsy admitted. “But I've loved watching the friendship form between you.”

“Adversity and being forced to live in such close quarters will do that to people,” Nikki said.

“I don't know.” Bitsy took a sip of wine. “Some people in those situations just get nastier. Speaking of which, I think
what the network has put you through is appalling.” She set her glass down. “Is that all scripted ahead of time?”

Nikki snorted. “Good God, no. They just keep dropping these bombs on us, trying their best to humiliate us.”

Bitsy shook her head in sympathy.

“We agreed to a televised renovation program. But that's not even close to what we got,” Maddie said.

Nikki could have kissed her for setting things up so perfectly. “We've had a falling-out with the network.”

“Oh?” Bitsy finished her salad and set her fork on the plate.

“Yes. We're looking at producing the next season ourselves,” Nikki said, careful to keep her tone casual.

“My daughter Kyra is a filmmaker and can handle the shooting and editing,” Maddie said.

“Oh, yes, I remember meeting her,” Bitsy said as the plates were removed and the last of the wine poured. “Wasn't she involved with . . .”

“Daniel Deranian,” Maddie said but did not elucidate.

“And Avery, our other partner, is a trained architect and licensed contractor who grew up on her father's construction sites. She did a show on HGTV called
Hammer & Nail
,” Nikki stepped in to explain. “She's got a project already locked up. It's a really cool midcentury hotel right on the beach near Bella Flora. A mysterious death and disappearance took place there in the fifties.”

Maddie shot her a look of surprise at the words “locked up,” but mercifully kept silent.

“Interesting.” Bitsy leaned closer. Sort of like a fish who'd just spotted the bait.

“Yes, all we need now is a couple of sponsors.” Nikki jerked the bait slightly, then let it dangle. “I don't know if you've seen any of the press coverage but the upcoming season was shot in Islamorada.”

“No, we've barely been in town but Bert loves fishing
down there. He's entered a few of the Redbone tournaments.” Bitsy motioned the server to bring dessert. “What kind of property did you work on?”

“We were supposed to turn William Hightower's private island Mermaid Point into a B and B,” Nikki said.

“William Hightower.” Bitsy said his name with reverence. “I have always thought that man was hot.” Her smile lit her face. “Is he that hot in person?”

“He is,” Nikki replied, careful not to look Maddie in the eye. They were here to get Bitsy jazzed about the show and eager to invest. The fish had just nibbled. The time had come to set that hook. If that required offering up a slice of Maddie's personal life, so be it. Maddie's relationship with Will had hit the tabloids and would be inescapable and undeniable once season two hit the air in June anyway. “In fact, when we leave here, I'm dropping Maddie off at a Miami studio where he's recording a new song.” She paused to let this sink in. “They're dating.”

Bitsy looked at Maddie appraisingly; that appraisal ended in a very large smile. “Shut up!” She practically squealed. “You are not!”

“I know it sounds completely crazy,” Maddie said. “But I actually am.”

Sounding more like a high schooler than a society matron, Bitsy peppered Maddie with questions, many of them personal.

“I'm sorry!” Bitsy apologized as Maddie's cheeks turned a bright red. “But you're living pretty much every woman's fantasy.”

“I know. I'm still trying to figure out how this happened,” Maddie said.

The questions continued, but they were asked with such honest enthusiasm and lack of malice that Maddie stopped blushing and began answering.

Soon Bitsy was telling them that she'd known Bertrand
was “the one” the moment Nikki introduced them. “It took him a little longer to accept the inevitable.”

“I stuttered the first time I met Will.” Maddie laughed.

“She did,” Nikki said. “I was there.”

“And he was rude as hell because he didn't want us there,” Maddie added.

“Also true,” Nikki said. “If he could have tossed us off his island he would have.”

“But he didn't.” Bitsy cocked her head inquisitively. “And he clearly got friendlier. What happened?”

“I wasn't joking when I said I don't know.” Maddie's smile was pure Mona Lisa. “But it's pretty great.” All signs of Maddie's earlier worry had disappeared.

“Oh, God, how do I get an early look at the episodes?” Bitsy asked.

“Oh, I don't think . . .” Maddie began.

“I'm pretty sure I could get ahold of the entire season for a serious sponsor,” Nikki interrupted.

Bitsy laughed as she happily swallowed the bait, the hook, the line, and the sinker. “Well, obviously I'll have to see numbers, but throw in a chance to meet William Hightower and I'm in.”

Maddie opened her mouth to say something, most likely that she couldn't possibly use Will that way or some other such nonsense. Nikki shot her a warning look. After all, if Nikki was going to have to tell an FBI agent that he needed to prove he could be helpful to a possibly deranged woman, Maddie could ask Will to say hello to Bitsy Baynard.

“Done!” Nikki said, extending her hand.