Page 41 of Hibiscus Heights

After hanging up, she stepped from the tub and wrapped herself in a light cotton robe. Peering into her closet, she wondered what would be suitable. She’d hardly had time to wash clothes lately.

She reached for a white sundress she hadn’t worn in a long time and put it to one side.

A surprise, he’d said. She would have to trust his good taste, but she wasn’t worried.

At the window, Duke rested his chin on the sill, watching every movement outside.

“Hey boy, tell me when Matteo arrives, would you?”

Duke pricked his ears and turned back to her as if to acknowledge her request.

She sat on a velvet chair beside her vanity. As she smoothed on her skincare and sunscreen, she thought of the past week and how busy it had been.

After the drama of yesterday with Grant and her brothers, Deb had tried not to dwell on it. All day, she’d taken the service elevators and stairs to avoid running into Grant or Kitty.

However, she missed Mason and Teddy. They were good kids, but they were summer kids. She knew she shouldn’t become attached to them. Their father was here now, so they didn’t need her anymore.

She’d arrived early at the hotel and spent her day coordinating with Knox, calling suppliers, and making alternate arrangements. Painters had mistakenly used an incorrect paint color in one meeting room, and artwork was delayed for another. Despite the challenges of her work, she loved what she did.

Guests would see the finished look and hardly give a thought as to what it took to conceive and manage a job of this size. That was the point. They should appreciate the ambiance, not the effort. She thought of her work as a theater production: whatever happened backstage, the show must go on.

Holding up the white dress in front of her mirror, she shook her head. “Too sheer, too flirty.”

Duke dipped his head in agreement.

Hastily, she decided on a coral tank top and matching skorts, paired with a white linen overshirt and sparkly white sneakers she’d bought at Babe’s shop in the village. She changed and glanced at herself in the mirror.

This will do, she thought. It’s not a date.

As she snapped on a silver bracelet, Duke whined from his perch.

Looking out, she saw Matteo walking to the front door. “Thanks, Duke. I want you to be nice when you meet Matteo.” She shook out her hands and drew in a deep breath, expelling a bit of anxiety as she released it.

As if sensing her nervous energy, Duke trotted beside her.

Deb rubbed his furry neck. “Nothing to get worked up about.”

After her unsettling encounter with Grant, Deb agreed to Matteo’s invitation as a distraction. Yet, she’s spent a restless night replaying old memories. Even her morning run with Duke hadn’t sufficiently cleared her head.

Maybe April had a point about Grant.

Matteo knocked on the door, and she opened it. He wore loose, crinkled cotton trousers and a shirt with the sleeves rolled up.

“How’s this?” she asked, gesturing to her outfit.

“It’s perfect, and you look gorgeous.”

He greeted her with a light kiss on each cheek. As he did, she detected a fresh, woody citrus scent on his skin and recognized it as one a local perfumer made.

“You’ve gone full island,” she said.

“I went shopping today.” He gestured to his impossibly white sneakers, then held out his hand to Duke.

That’s a nice gesture, she thought.

Duke sniffed his hand and, after a few moments, bestowed his approval with a lick. The dog nudged his way between them, demanding attention.

Matteo laughed and knelt. “The true man of the house,” he said, scratching Duke behind the ears.

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