Page 10 of Hibiscus Heights

That sounded like someone she knew, but who? Pursing her lips, she tapped a message. Who is this? She stared at the screen, but there was no immediate reply.

3

After spending the day arranging the meeting room artwork, following up with her suppliers, and reviewing her to-do list, Deb finally pulled into her driveway.

Duke raced to the gate and greeted her with excited yips. When she cracked the gate, he wriggled out and circled her, his tail whipping back and forth against her legs.

“Hey, buddy. I owe you some beach time, don’t I?”

She scratched behind his ears, feeling guilty for missing their usual morning routine. Preparing for Ryan’s meeting had taken priority, but Duke didn’t understand the importance of professional obligations.

She’d make it up to him right now. She had just enough time for a run and a shower before meeting her family for dinner.

Duke followed her into the house, his toenails clicking on the hardwood floors. Deb kicked off her high heels and padded into the cool tiled kitchen, where she’d maintained the vintage beach house charm. She’d exposed overhead beams, installed a deep farmhouse sink, and added colorful, hand-painted tiles from a local artisan on the backsplash. A vase of tall purple gladioli from her garden brightened the room.

Her clients often requested sleek white, monochromatic interiors, but she loved living life in full color.

This was Crown Island, after all. The artist community was a pop of vivid color in an ever-changing sea of blue.

“Bet you’d like a treat, huh?”

At the word treat, Duke promptly dropped into a seated position, his tail slapping the floor. He fairly vibrated with expectation, and Deb chuckled. She tossed the doggie treat into the air, and he leapt for it.

Ten minutes later, dressed in running shorts and a tank top with Duke tugging at his leash, Deb headed for the beach. The late afternoon sun warmed her shoulders. With Duke trotting beside her, she quickly found her rhythm on the packed sand near the water’s edge.

She loved the simple pleasure of running on the beach. A heated volleyball game was going on in one direction, so she turned toward the Majestic.

Approaching the hotel’s wide strip of beach, she spotted two familiar figures tossing a bright orange frisbee. Mason and Teddy looked up.

“Hey, boys,” she called out.

Just then, Duke broke free and charged across the sand, leaping like an Olympian to snatch the frisbee in mid-air.

“What a show-off.” She laughed and raced after him.

Duke trotted to Mason, dropped the frisbee at his feet, and looked up expectantly.

Mason rubbed his neck. “Can we play with him?”

“Sure, I’ll take off his leash,” Deb replied. “Meet Duke. He’s friendly.”

Her dog was good about staying close and out of trouble.

Mason tossed the frisbee to Teddy. “Throw it to him.”

The younger boy did, and Duke plunged into the advancing waves to retrieve it. Dripping water, he charged back victorious with it in his mouth for another throw.

Deb laughed, but she wasn’t concerned. She’d run Duke through her outdoor shower when they returned. He loved that.

Mason turned to her. “I have something for you.”

With a serious expression, the boy shoved a hand into his pocket and pulled out a crumpled bill. “This is for lunch. Thanks a lot. Aunt Jen said they could have made us wash dishes all day.”

“Keep your money,” Deb said, trying not to laugh at his seriousness.

Mason shook his head firmly. “But Dad will?—”

“It was my treat, a gift.”

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