Free Sunshine Beach by Wendy Wax Page B

her throat.
    â€œI hate asking you to even consider this,” Joe said. “Personally I don’t even want you on the same planet with him. But professionally . . .” His lips tightened as his words trailed off.
    â€œI know.” If Malcolm had asked to see anyone else, Joe would be moving heaven and earth to make it happen. And not worrying about the inconvenience or emotional upset.
    â€œYou don’t have to do it,” he said.
    Her hand wrapped around the icy glass of water as she stared out over the beach. Nikki would rather starve than have to look at her brother’s too-handsome face, which had become so ugly to her. But this was not only about her.
    â€œI’ll be right back.” She got up, walked quickly to the pool bathroom, then locked the door behind her. She felt better once she threw up. Afterward she splashed cold water on her face and rinsed out her mouth.
    Back at the table she squared her shoulders and looked Joe directly in the eye. Quickly, before she could change her mind she said, “If you want to go ahead and set up the visit, I’ll do it.”

Chapter Nine

    It was a beautiful spring evening at Bella Flora with a soft breeze off the water and a sky just beginning its metamorphosis from day to night. Nigel and his bunch had already taken their photos, determined that neither Daniel nor Will were there, and decamped in search of more interesting game. Dustin splashed happily in the pool never far from the Hardin boys, whom he idolized. Jeff Hardin had been ensconced in a chair from which he could “supervise” Chase and Joe at the grill. Kyra had begun setting the wrought-iron table on the loggia.
    In the kitchen, Avery loaded a plate with appetizers whose common denominator was that they were composed of cheese products, then poured Cheez Doodles into a bowl.
    â€œI think I hear Deirdre turning in her grave,” Nikki said over the whir of the blender that held a first batch of piña coladas.
    â€œWell, I’m not going to get all caviar and toast points at this late date.” Avery swallowed back the emotion that crowded its way into her throat every time her mother was mentioned. Dread knotted her stomach at the thought of theinterviews Kyra had scheduled for the next morning. “And I still don’t see why we’re interviewing potential replacements when we don’t have a project or money to complete one, let alone pay a designer.” She placed the plate and bowl on a tray. “Besides, midcentury modern is popular enough that there are lots of reproduction pieces and finishes available. I can handle the interior design.”
    Maddie stopped tossing the salad she was preparing. “You’re going to have your hands full serving as contractor. And you know Deirdre would be the first one to insist we had someone on board to handle the design.” She set down the tongs and reached for the bottle of dressing. “Nikki said she’d sit in on the interviews with us and Kyra will be there shooting video. We don’t have to choose anyone tomorrow. Who knows, maybe Deirdre’s spirit will make her preference known.”
    Avery made no comment as she carried the tray outside. She didn’t need chain rattling or ghostly moans to know what Deirdre would have thought. Sometimes, like tonight when she’d ripped open the bag of Cheez Doodles, she could almost see Deirdre rolling her eyes and hear her uttering some droll observation.
    Jeff, Chase, and Joe welcomed the appetizers without eye rolls or complaint. She’d barely popped a Cheez Doodle into her mouth before all three boys were clambering out of the pool to snag a snack. Leaving the tray on the table Kyra was setting, Avery headed back inside to sample the piña coladas and make sure they were fit for consumption.
    Her mood had improved by the time they gathered around the table. Sun kissed, windblown, and barefoot, they were, she