Free Rivals in Paradise by Gwyneth Bolton Page B

her head so profusely she hoped her French twist didn’t fall out.
    Margie gave her a once-over. “She’s pretty, though. Sweet enough, but not too sweet on you, it seems, my handsome son. Not too bright though…if she doesn’t see what a catch you are!” Margie chuckled and shrugged. “I like her, though. If only she knew she’s the first woman you ever brought here, so that must mean you have designs on her that she doesn’t know about.”
    Margie laughed a deep belly laugh that wouldhave been contagious and made Cicely join her if she didn’t have a gut feeling the laugh was on her.
    Chase had turned to look at Cicely when she blurted out her very loud “ohhhhh, nooooo,” and Mr. Frank was watching her closely, too. In fact, it seemed like all the eyes in the small rum shack were now firmly planted on Cicely.
    â€œCicely’s just a friend, Ma.” Chase’s voice was picking up more of the island cadence as he interacted with his mom. “I went to school with her and met up with her on the plane. She’s a Yankee, and I felt it was only hospitable for me to show her around our beautiful island. Everyone, this is Cicely Stevens from Miami. Cicely, this is everybody.”
    Margie eyed her son suspiciously. “Mmm-hmm. If you say so.”
    She took Cicely’s arm. “So, Cicely Stevens from Miami, come to the bar and let me chat you up a bit. I need to learn everything I can about you just in case…”
    â€œMa…” Chase warned.
    Margie sucked her teeth in a long, lyric way. “What? I just want to get to know the girl like I know all my customers here in Margie’s Rum Shack. Man, leave me alone, hear? Know my place before I kick you out of it.”
    Chase laughed at that as he followed Margie andCicely to the bar. “You wouldn’t kick your only beloved son out of here.”
    Margie laughed. “In a heartbeat, you rascal!” She reached out her other arm and pulled Chase along with her. She sat them side by side at the bar and started walking toward the back room. “I’m going to fix you each a plate, and then I’m coming back to learn all about Miss Cicely from Miami.”
    Mr. Frank moved from his previous seat and came and sat on the other side of Cicely. The older man took a sip of his drink and then asked, “So, how long you staying, Chase?”
    â€œI’ll be home for two weeks. Long enough for you all to get good and tired of me.” Chase chuckled.
    Mr. Frank nodded. “That’s good. It’s good to have you back.”
    Chase nodded, too. “Good to be back.”
    Margie came out with two plates of steaming hot food that smelled heavenly. Cicely tried to strategize a way that she could tear into her food and still maintain some kind of cuteness, but there was just no way. The scents of curry, cumin and spicy peppers assaulted her nose, and her mouth had to strike back.
    She dug in. But at least she also got around to telling Margie that the food was delicious and thanking her for it before she was too far gone.
    â€œNothing like a woman who can appreciate a good meal,” Mr. Frank offered with a wide grin.
    â€œYes, I like Cicely from Miami.” Margie seemed to be studying her with appreciation. “So, Cicely, you knew my son from his college days, huh?”
    Cicely swallowed and wiped her hands on her napkin even though she wanted to lick the juices of the delectable food off of her fingers.
    â€œYes, he was a little ahead of me. But we were both at FAMU around the same time. We had a little rivalry going, though. So we weren’t exactly the best of friends.” She took another bite of her food while she could.
    â€œWhat? A woman on this earth who didn’t like my Chase?” Margie let loose one of her big belly laughs again. “Now, that’s a first. This boy has had women and girls running after him ever since he was twelve,