Free Barefoot Bay: Silhouettes on the Sand (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Chris Keniston Page B

Chase took off at a quick clip. He was having fun. Real fun. And it wasn't just the swing or the food truck. It was the person who'd introduced him to both. To a softer, simpler side of life. Surprised at C.J.'s ability to keep pace with him, he revved it up a bit. Normally he'd hang back and be the gentleman, give the lady a head start, but suddenly the idea of more time to get to better know the real C. J. Lawson was more important to him than chivalry.
     

Chapter Twelve
     
    With Nate and Liza having the only great-grandchild in the family, and the family patriarch aging, a winter family estate in the warmer southern climate, and closer to Nate and Dylan, appealed greatly to the Colonel. Land being limited on Mimosa Key and the Colonel growing more obsessive about his family's privacy, he and Mimsy chose to build the new home in a secluded area not far from Naples and Barefoot Bay. The drive would take just over an hour.
    What struck C.J. as ridiculous was that she had to pack an overnight bag for dinner. Normal people got dressed in ordinary clothes and took an ordinary leisurely drive to dinner, ate a normal meal, and then returned after dinner to their normal house. Of course there wasn't a single damn thing about the Ivory family that fell under the category of normal or ordinary. From what she was told, they would arrive in afternoon-business-casual attire. Mimsy would most likely serve tea in the late afternoon. The family matriarch didn't have a lick of British heritage, but her dad had been stationed in England for a good many years, and she'd taken a liking to the civility of tea time. So around four o'clock C.J. could expect to sit for tea with the women in the family. At six they would retire to their rooms and change for dinner. Chase had explained that normally Sunday dinners were full uniform—suit and tie—but, for this visit, the Colonel had designated the dress as black tie. Dinner would be served promptly at 8:00 p.m., so every member of the family would assemble for cocktails by 7:30 p.m. at the very latest.
    "You'd better bring a change of clothes for tomorrow." Chase popped his head into the open doorway to her room. "Dinner will run late, and the Colonel will, of course, convince everyone that it's best to stay than drive at night."
    C.J. raised a questioning brow.
    "I know. He thinks because he can't see at night anymore, neither can the rest of us."
    Now it made perfect sense to her that Chase had insisted on purchasing her a full set of luggage to go with her new wardrobe and the matching satin nightgown and robe. Not that anyone should see her in her nightie, but, for all she knew, maids and butlers would be prancing in and out of her room like a modern-day episode of Downton Abbey . "Afternoon clothes, dinner clothes, breakfast clothes. Do I need to know anything special about a lunchtime wardrobe change?"
    Chase rolled his eyes. "By lunchtime we'll be on the road back to Mimosa Key. The Colonel and Mimsy will move to the resort, and Mimsy will commence the wedding parties with a formal tea. Or is it the tennis game?"
    "Tennis? What the hell does tennis have to do with anything?"
    "Ivorys tend to be a bit competitive. The family will be divvied up in teams and work their way through the day until there's a winner who gets the cup."
    " Cup ?"
    "The Ivory Cup. Sounds silly but, to an Ivory, it might as well be the Stanley Cup. You'll have to watch out for a few members who tend to cheat a bit. Though that's harder at tennis. Do you play tennis?"
    C.J. shook her head.
    "Then you'll get paired with one of the stronger players. Beth is actually pretty good. For a while we thought she might go pro."
    "Wait a minute. I have to play?" Her sister so owed C.J. for stepping in for her.
    A satisfied smile slid across his face. A mischievous sparkle twinkled in his eyes. "Everyone participates."
    "But I'm not an Ivory."
    "You’re here with an Ivory. That's close enough. At least there's not an obstacle