Page 29 of Canapés at the Beach House Hotel
“We’re glad we could do this for you,” said Rhonda.“If you need anything, just call the front desk.”
“I saw a wedding going on at the beach,” said Philippa.“How romantic.I’m sure you have plenty of beach weddings here.It’s so lovely.”
“Yes, we do,” said Rhonda.“Each one is very special.”
“We won’t keep you,” I said.“We just wanted to make sure you were comfortably settled.”
“Thank you again,” said Catarina, shaking our hands.
Rhonda and I left, and I quickly gathered my things from the office and went home, exhausted.
CHAPTER TEN
I frowned as I pulled into the driveway.Liana’s car wasn’t there.
I parked in the garage and went to the kitchen door.I opened it and waited for Cindy to greet me.
When she didn’t appear, I knew something was very wrong… or very right!
I hurried onto the lanai and looked down at the dock.Vaughn and Robbie were there sitting on the sailboat talking, Cindy curled in Vaughn’s lap.
My heart pounding with anticipation, I dropped my purse and ran down the grassy slope to greet them.
Vaughn stepped onto the dock and wrapped his arms around me.“Thought I’d surprise you.We got through earlier than I thought.”
“It couldn’t come at a better time,” I said, lifting my face for his kiss.
“I’ve waited for this,” said Vaughn, lowering his lips to mine.
While we kissed, Cindy pranced at our feet and Robbie let out a small grunt.
Laughing, I pulled away from Vaughn.“Guess we’ll have more privacy later.But I’m so glad you’re home.Talking on the phone just isn’t the same as having you with me.”
“I sensed something has been bothering you and figured you’d tell me when you were ready,” said Vaughn, cupping my cheeks in his hands and giving me a steady look of concern.
“You’re right, but for the moment, I just want to enjoy being with you.Are we going for a sail?”
“It’s a nice evening for one with a steady, manageable breeze.Are you up for it?”Wearing a T-shirt and shorts, he looked … well, yummy.
“I’m definitely ready for some time with my family.I need to let the fresh air take away some of my stress.Just give me time to change.”
“Great.”Vaughn gave me another kiss.“Robbie and I have already put together a picnic for us for supper.Simple stuff.”
“That sounds perfect,” I said, and eagerly went into the house.
As I was changing clothes, my body felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from me.I didn’t want Vaughn to know how threatened I’d felt by Jonny’s unreasonable reaction to our hiring Chet.But as Bernie, Rhonda, and I had agreed, we couldn’t allow Jonny to interfere with our business.But a part of me knew Vaughn would be upset that once more Amelia’s connection to our guests was bringing us trouble.
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When I returned to the dock in jeans and a long-sleeved knit shirt, Vaughn and Robbie were ready to take off.
Sailing had been a way for Vaughn and Robbie to bond in their early years together.Robbie had been only a toddler hanging onto the wheel of the boat with Vaughn when we first started sailing with him.Now, Vaughn was sitting in the cockpit watching as Robbie skillfully steered the boat away from the dock.
We motored through the inlet, passed condos built along the water’s edge and out to the open Gulf.
While Vaughn and Robbie raised sails, I held onto the wheel and then turned it over to Robbie who steered the boat to fall off the wind and allow the sails to fill on a close reach.
Skimming silently across the water, I breathed in the fresh air and leaned back against a cushion in the cockpit.This moment was a blessing I vowed never to forget.My family enjoying time together with nature is what made the work Vaughn and I did worth it.We were so very lucky.
