“We’ve already notified the police.”
At that moment Greg and Lionel came screeching up in their cop car, siren going.
“Clear the way,” they ordered, racing out and attempting to take control.
What followed for the next couple of hours was a total blur. People were questioned and firefighters and a detective tromped in and out. The cigarette that was the cause of the problem was taken away for evidence. It was one of those menthol brands.
Luckily the damage was minor: just a couple of quilts destroyed but they were favorites. One had a Flying Geese pattern and another had a Card Trick block. But overall, a good airing out and a new coat of paint would fix the damage. Thank goodness for insurance.
By the time everyone had finally cleared out, Joya was exhausted and the cocktail party was only hours away.
“I’m tempted not to go,” she said to Granny J. “I don’t want to leave you alone, and, frankly, I’m in no mood to go to a party.”
“I’ll be fine and you have a date. You can’t possibly cancel at this last minute. Go home and make yourself pretty. A couple of the women from the guild are coming over and we’ll be working on more commemorative quilts. Sales have been great, so better to have too many than too little, don’t you think?”
“Okay, but only if you’re sure.”
Joya’s cell phone rang as she was hustling out of the door.
“Good. You’re okay. I just heard about the fire,” Derek’s voice rushed out at her making her stomach flutter. “I’m on my way over.”
“No need to be. Everything’s under control.”
“No one was hurt then? What about damage?”
“Minor actually. The fire was set in the supply room.”
“Set? What do you mean set?” Derek asked.
“It was deliberate. The firefighters found a smoldering cigarette. None of us smoke.”
“I don’t like what I’m hearing.”
“Neither do I. But listen, I have to run. Your nana’s quilt’s done. What do you want me to do with it?”
“Hold onto it,” Derek said, surprising her. “I’ll come by your place either later or tomorrow to pay you and pick it up.”
“What about wrapping and that kind of thing?”
“I’ll just hang it on the wall so that when Nana is wheeled in it’s the first thing she sees.”
“Good idea. Call me before you come. I may not be home.”
Joya retraced her steps to retrieve the bag holding the quilt.
“Changed your mind, I see,” Granny J said dryly.
“I’m a woman, I have that prerogative,” Joya said giving her grandmother a saucy wink. “No doubt you’ll be calling me later to see how my date went.”
“Probably not. I already have a pretty good idea how it will go. Now go, child. You’re already running late.”
Somehow she managed to make it across town and get herself together in less than an hour. The function, she’d been told, was semi-formal, and so she opted for a simple spaghetti-strapped cocktail dress in burnt orange that had a matching clutch purse. She pulled the whole thing together with a double strand of black pearls, earrings and her signature heels.
Rather than stay in her apartment, she would go downstairs to the lobby to wait for Kyle Benjamin.
His gray Lexus pulled up to the front of the building at the agreed-upon time. The doctor, dressed in a well-cut taupe suit stepped out of his vehicle and into the building. He carried a small wrapped box in one hand. He beamed when he saw Joya seated, waiting.
“You look lovely,” he said, offering her his hand. “That color is great on you.”
Joya thanked him and accepted the box he handed her.
“Should I open it now?” she asked.
“Yes, you can do so in the car. It would go perfectly with your dress.”
When she was seated in his vehicle she undid the colorful ribbon on the box before lifting the lid.
“This is really lovely,” she said, removing the two orchids that had been made into a corsage. Their mocha-and-cream centers complemented the orange of her dress.
Without being asked, Kyle reached across and took the corsage from her. “Wrist, shoulder or hair?” he asked.
She hadn’t had a corsage since her senior high prom. “Hair,” she said, feeling daring.
“How about right behind the ear? It worked for Billie Holiday and should work even better on you.”
He was flirting with her, she realized. But she didn’t have that immediate comfortable ease that she’d had with Derek, nor did she feel as if she couldn’t wait to jump his bones. Kyle Benjamin would be good company and attentive to boot. He’d be the kind of guy a woman would want to be seen with, a pleasant companion but nothing more.
Joya allowed him to tuck the flower behind her ear. But even though his fingers lightly grazed her flesh she felt nothing. He could just as easily have been her brother.
The mayor’s mansion was in one of the older country-club communities. Several harried valets were attempting to park cars when they arrived. Uniformed police, borrowed from the neighboring towns, supplemented Flamingo Beach’s limited force and provided security. Greg and Lionel, not ones to miss out on an opportunity, had stationed themselves at the mansion’s entrance.
“How about I drop you off at the front door?” Kyle proposed. “It may be a while before we see a valet.”
“That would be fine.” Joya did not relish having to walk any distance in heels that were more stylish than practical. “I’ll meet you here in a few minutes,” he said taking off.
She walked up to the front entrance along with several women whose escorts had dropped them off. Lionel and Greg were checking invitations and identifications despite knowing most of the guests personally.
“My date has my invitation,” Joya said when it was her turn. “He’s parking the car.”
“He’s already inside,” Greg said, winking at her. “You look hot, girl.” His eyes traveled the length of her.
“Thanks, but Kyle couldn’t possibly be here already. He dropped me off and is parking the car.”
“Better take that size-twelve hoof out of your mouth,” Lionel guffawed, elbowing his partner playfully in the gut. “Joya’s not here with Derek.”
The sound of Derek’s name made Joya’s pulse race and her heartbeat escalate. In her wildest dreams she hadn’t expected to see him here. Then she sobered, realizing that he probably wasn’t alone. She couldn’t bear seeing him with another woman. But maybe he’d come stag, or why would Greg assume she was his date?
More people flowed in, some of whom she knew and some of whom were from out of town. Joya exchanged greetings and the necessary small talk with a few until she spotted Kyle at the entrance. He scanned the area looking for her while Greg and Lionel examined his invitation.
Joya waved and he came over.
“Did you find some place to park?” she asked.
“Yes, eventually. It’s way out in the boonies, but at least I’m assured of not having my vehicle nicked. After that long walk I do need a drink.” When Joya gave him a sideways look he added, “I’m not on call for the next twenty-four hours. We can call the local taxi service if I get too inebriated. Now shall we go in and see who there is to meet?”
Taking her by the elbow, Kyle gently edged her inside the library where the function was being held. It was a cavernous space with sculptures strategically positioned on pedestals. Bookshelves filled with books rimmed the room and couches provided comfortable seating. Waiters and waitresses were doing their best to move back and forth carrying trays of drinks and hors d’oeuvres above their heads. The noise level was deafening. The poor string quartet playing off in a corner could barely be heard.
A number of fragrances filled the air. Joya inhaled the exotic spices and garlicky scents wafting over from the mini-burritos and shrimp on the trays. She inhaled the scent of expensive perfumes and colognes from the guests. A festive citrus-type drink was being serv
ed in tall chilled glasses adorned with little paper umbrellas. The tangy smell tickled her nostrils and made her long for one.
“My guess is the back patio’s less crowded,” Kyle said close to her ear as he steered her toward a door leading out to an Olympic-size pool.
He was right. It was far less congested outside. The large flagstone patio overlooking the golf course had a decent amount of people milling around the two bars but nowhere near the crowd inside. Red-white-and-blue flags adorned a gazebo that served as a stage. And a saxophonist roamed playing mood music, the perfect background sound for a group bent on circulating and networking.
Joya watched the guests make their rounds, stop to make small talk then move on when someone better caught their eye. All in all, it was a highbrow event. The men, for the most part, all wore suits and ties and were accompanied by glamorous women in everything from long flowing skirts to chic short dresses. Everyone’s finery had been brought out.
A couple Joya had never seen before approached Kyle.
“Nice to see you out and about,” the man said. He gave Joya a vague smile, nodding in her direction before holding out his hand.
“I’m Dr. Timothy Broderick and this is my wife, Dr. Samantha Chin.”
Joya introduced herself and shook the hand of Dr. Broderick before clasping the slender hand of his Asian wife. She guessed them to be Kyle’s colleagues from Flamingo Beach General. The men immediately began conversing leaving the women to find common ground.
“Call me Sam,” Broderick’s wife said.
“Sam it is. Take a look at this crowd. I thought I pretty much knew everyone there is to know in town, but a lot of these people are strangers.”
“Yes, I know what you mean.” Sam chuckled and Joya thought she was cool. She didn’t seem at all stuck up or impressed with herself as some professionals tended to be. “How did you meet Kyle?” she asked.
“My grandmother is his patient.”
“That lovely woman who owns Joya’s Quilts? Duh!” she slapped her forehead. “You’re the younger Joya, the granddaughter Granny J speaks so fondly of, who’s helping her run the store.”
“You know my grandmother?”
Sam nodded. “Actually, I’ve bought several quilts from her. I hate to talk shop but do you think that it’s too late to order a centennial quilt?”
“Just tell me what colors and your design preference and I’ll make it happen. Do you have a particular price range in mind?”
Sam took a business card from her purse and scribbled. She handed Joya the card and Joya glanced at it before tucking it into her own purse.
“Consider it done.”
“I don’t know about you,” Sam continued, “but I’m thirsty and these men of ours have forgotten their manners. Let’s find a bar or a nice accommodating waiter.” She waved at her husband. “Joya and I are off to find something to drink. We’ll be back.”
Joya was halfway across the patio before she spotted Derek. He was speaking to Rowan James and a couple of women hovered on the periphery. He did not see her and although she had no claims on him, it burned her that she might already have so easily been replaced.
“Something wrong?” Sam asked, turning back when she realized Joya’s pace had slowed.
“No, I just stopped to say hello to someone I knew,” she lied. “There’s a waiter. He’s got champagne and that fun-looking citrus drink. Think we can make it over while he’s still got drinks on that tray?”
“Wait, there’s another tray circulating,” Sam pointed out. “That waitress is a whole lot closer and she’s got drinks.”
“Okay, we’re on our way.”
But she couldn’t shake the black feeling that had descended, and she couldn’t help wishing that she’d come to the cocktail party with Derek and not Kyle Benjamin. She took a deep breath and accepted the concoction Sam handed her.
“Should we get something for the guys?” Joya asked.
“Heck, no! Let them find whatever they’re drinking. If you noticed, they were so busy talking they forgot to be gentlemen.” Sam took a long drag on her straw. “Ummm, delicious, tastes like there might be some passion fruit mixed in.”
“Yoo hoo, Dr. Chin,” an older woman, one of the town’s matrons said, approaching and immediately beginning to ask questions about an upcoming surgery.
Realizing the conversation might go on forever, Joya excused herself and headed back to find Kyle.
Chapter 19
Derek was beginning to think it might have been a mistake to attend this cocktail party. He’d only agreed because Rowan had talked him into it. He’d said it was the perfect place to network and be seen.
But now he was stuck with this woman who was supposed to be his date. The problem was, she didn’t have two brain cells to rub together. Rowan had set him up with one of his employees because he’d said it wouldn’t be cool to arrive at the mayor’s function alone.
Rowan had been forced to come up with a date as well because Emilie Woodward had turned him down flat. Right now Rowan was bristling because he’d spotted Emilie, who’d arrived with a reporter from the Flamingo Beach Chronicle.
Derek’s date was definitely eye candy but not the brightest bulb in the room. She clutched his arm and was going on about all the important people she recognized and how impressed she was.
She was now telling him of her plan for getting Mayor Rabinowitz’s autograph. This called for another drink, Derek decided. He glanced off in the direction of the nearest bar and spotted Joya walking toward him and damn near died. What was she doing here? He hadn’t expected her.
Much as he’d tried to ignore it, he missed her. Missed their easy conversation and missed the feel and smell of her warm body next to his. Putting space between them hadn’t been all bad though. It had given him time to think. And he’d realized that perhaps he’d been too quick to take Sheena’s words as gospel. Based on the number of phone calls she’d made to him since, she clearly wasn’t just using him to get her grandmother’s shop renovated.
Rather than pouting, sulking and imagining the worst, what he needed to do was have a long-overdue conversation with Joya. Now was as good a time as any. Tomorrow was Nana’s party that he’d worked so hard on. He should try to patch things up with Joya prior to that.
Derek wondered if Joya had seen him. If not, the element of surprise was on his side. He practically pried his date’s hand off his arm. She had one of those showgirl names like Amber or Solange; he hadn’t really been listening closely. What he did know was that she was trying her best to get him into bed.
“Excuse me,” he said leaving her, “I’m going to freshen my drink. Can I get you something?”
“Another margarita might be nice.”
“You got it.” With that he took off.
Joya was still heading in his direction when he crossed paths with her. He was certain with a crowd this size she had not seen him. He loved the touch of the orchid behind her ear. Very Billie. Actually very Joya. And it hit him as though someone had taken a baseball bat to his head. He’d gone and fallen in love with this woman. And he’d sworn to never go there again.
“Fancy seeing you here,” he said, “You never mentioned you were coming when we spoke earlier.”
“Neither did you.”
By her wild-eyed expression she was visibly shaken.
“Had you said something, we could have come together,” Derek said.
Joya took a sip of her drink and pulled herself together. Slowly she appraised him. “I’m sorry, but I’m here with someone.”
So it was like that. “I’m here with someone, too,” Derek answered. “Frankly I’d rather be with you.”
She continued to stare at him.
“May I have your attention,” a voice boomed over a microphone. “In just a few minutes our honorable Mayor Solomon Rabinowitz will kick off our centennial celebration with a state-of-the-beach speech.” The announcer chuckled at his own joke and several guests chuckled with him.
“I need to find my date,” Joya said, preparing to retrace her steps.
“I’ll stop by later for Nana’s gift and we’ll talk then. You took the quilt home with you?”
“Yes, but call me before you come.”
She headed off, trotting right past him. Curious and more than a little jealous, although he would never willingly admit it, Derek looked over to see where she ended up.
A well-dressed man included Joya in his circle. He threw his arm around her shoulder and she laughed up at him. Derek recognized the popular Dr. Benjamin. He wanted to take his head off. He didn’t know him personally, but he had heard he was popular with the ladies.
Joya had traded a humble construction worker for a medical doctor. No, he wasn’t about to go down that road again and let the old insecurities take over. He was just as good as the next guy and in many ways had more to bring to the table. He could get down and dirty when he needed to, but he cleaned up real well, and could talk the talk. More important he walked the walk.
If Joya wanted a professional guy he could play the role. But first he needed to get things straight with her. He never should have listened to the malicious gossip of a woman who clearly had an ax to grind. He’d acted like an impetuous teenager instead of a grown man. Rather than addressing the situation up front he’d shut down and withdrawn.
People often said and did things they did not mean. He was the perfect example. He had sworn off personal involvements until his business was up and running, and he’d been determined not to get involved with any woman who screamed high-maintenance. And what he’d done was fallen hard for a woman who had nice things and expected to be treated decently. Joya wasn’t necessarily greedy. She just thought highly of herself. Nothing wrong with that.
What he thought he wanted was not what he needed. It had taken him forever to realize that.
Derek gazed up at the mayor standing in the middle of his gazebo, red-white-and-blue flags fluttering behind his head. He forced himself to concentrate. Behind him a projection screen flashed an aerial view of Flamingo Beach with the heading, One Hundred Years Old and Still Going Strong.
Down and Out in Flamingo Beach Page 17
