Why am I going to this godforsaken place in Florida again?
Kyle Montgomery had been asking himself that question since he’d landed in Tampa the night before. Why couldn’t his parents have decided to open a new hotel there, in a metropolitan environment? Tampa had much to recommend it as far as shopping and entertainment venues and a whole selection of tourist activities. He’d also done some research and discovered an abundance of conventions were held at the various hotels each year.
Those were the kinds of things he liked to sink his teeth into. Facilities that carried the Montgomery brand, that offered everything to guests and convention planners. He knew his parents had started with a bed-and-breakfast, but holy hell. They had all moved way beyond that. Now he had to waste his time at what was probably some dreary little roadside inn when he had other things to attend to. There was plenty of work waiting for him at the corporate offices in Dallas, and he itched to get back to it.
But his mother, Brenda Anderson Montgomery, it seemed was as much a meddler as her brother, his uncle Joseph. The man had married off three billionaire sons. Not, however, without a lot of angst on their part. He’d done his best to avoid the same fate, yet, it seemed, here he was.
“I don’t want to wait too long to be a grandmother,” she kept telling him. “You’re the oldest and my best hope, so get busy.”
He’d laughed, and asked, “Didn’t you ever hear about letting nature take its course?”
“Now and then nature needs a boost,” she’d retorted.
He’d only agreed to this to get her off his back. He had no interest in a bed-and-breakfast or the kind of small towns his parents had talked to him about. Tourism be damned, he could make a hundred times as much money opening his brand of hotels in the appropriate areas. Not to mention what he could rake in from the amenities he could offer.”
“It isn’t always about the money,” his mother had protested when he brought it up.
“Tell that to my father. I think he has ties with dollar signs on them.”
His bigger problem was he had an underlying suspicion his parents had more in mind than buying a B&B. And damn if that didn’t irritate him just as much. He was too old for his parents to fix him up.
“Just go,” Brenda insisted. “If you absolutely hate it, call us and let us know, and you’re off the hook.”
In truth, he had several what he called “valid reasons” for taking this trip that he was sure would be a pain in the rear. For one thing, he wanted to get his parents off his back. They were singing the grandparents song louder every day. He hated to admit it, but it was becoming old hat to him. He was tired of dealing with it all. Maybe he’d become a confirmed, grumpy bachelor, making money but not children. Of course, his parents would never get off his back about that one.
For another, he didn’t want any further confrontations with Charlotte Hamilton who couldn’t seem to get the message that their time together was over. For the past few weeks, she had been pushing for him to take her to the big Medallion Ball at the country club. Usually the women he dated knew the score—live for the moment with no commitment for the future. Lately, though, they’d become unaccountably clingy. Charlotte was probably the clingiest of all. If he went to the ball by himself, he’d have her unpleasantness to deal with, not to mention evading all the unattached women who would see him as fair game.
And, finally, he was tired of arguing with his parents about their stated desire to open a new branch of Montgomery Hotels.
“You need to broaden your horizons,” his father, Hal, told him as he called on his way to the airport. “You’re stuck in a rut.”
“It’s a rut I like,” he protested. “And I perform well in it.”
No one could deny he’d made some profitable moves for the corporation. And made himself, his parents, and his brothers billionaires in the process. Now, he felt like a kid who’d been sent to detention by his parents. He was thirty-five, for crying out loud.
“Life is about more than just that,” his mother insisted. “Your father and I feel as if we’ve pushed you too hard. It’s time for you to get married. Have children.”
And holy crap, wasn’t he sick of hearing that same old song time and time again.
“When I’m ready,” he insisted over and over.”
“You’ll never be ready if we leave it up to you,” his mother told him. “You need to start seeing the kind of women who worry more about families and less about being photographed.”
“Those photographs help sell occupancy in our hotels,” Kyle protested. “And draw investors.”
“I’d rather have a nice family photo of you, your wife, and a few kids.” This tidbit from his father.
“I’m not going to Florida,” he insisted. “It’s a waste of my time.”
So how, then, had he ended up here in Tinyview, Florida, or whatever the hell it was called? Because, in the end, he figured it was easier than arguing with him. So, here he was. Running away on this trip had actually turned out to be a welcome escape for him, much as he complained about it.
And what was he supposed to do with himself, anyway? He had strict orders not to let on that he was there to size up the place as a possible purchase. So what did someone do at a dot on the map for four or five days?
At least he’d made the reservation under the name of Kyle Montgomery, just in case someone there knew who Roger Montgomery was. He used his middle name with family and friends. Roger was the rich executive. Kyle was the private person. He worked hard to keep that middle name off the radar.
American Express had made him jump through hoops to issue him a second card with Kyle Montgomery instead of his full name. It had been necessary, though. A slipup like that could have skewed the whole thing. When he’d made the reservation, he’d hesitated about telling them where he was from. But then he figured, what the hell. They wouldn’t be expecting someone from Montgomery Hotels to be checking up on their facility. They’d never put two and two together.
He did have to say he was pleasantly surprised, when he pulled off the interstate at the exit for Bayview, to actually find a Starbucks. He loaded up with a grande Americano with two extra shots, enough caffeine to keep him awake while he made polite conversation with a dowdy innkeeper. While avoiding his true purpose for the visit.
Sipping his high-octane drink, he piloted his rental car down the highway to Bayview, taking note of the tropical landscaping on both sides of the road. He didn’t know what he’d expected, but it wasn’t the attractive homes and buildings, all with a distinct Florida appeal. Whatever that was, he thought.
When he saw the sign that said Entering Bayview, Population 3512, he cringed. What in hell could someone find to do in a town that small? He saw a convenience store a few yards past the sign and decided to pull in and feel out the situation. He noticed with idle interest the number of bikes parked outside the store and wondered if there was a special event going on.
When he pushed through the glass door, the first thing he saw was a circular rack filled with T-shirts of all colors. He paused to skim through them, taking note of the graphics of dolphins, hibiscus, and other Florida symbols, many with wording too cute for his taste.
Touristy. Of course.
To one side of the counter was a soft ice cream machine and next to it a popcorn-style cart offering boiled peanuts. Really? At the other end was a refrigerator case with a big sign that said Fresh Bait. He wandered around the store, taking note of the other merchandise they sold besides the usual convenience store items. Moving through the aisles, he found displays holding flip-flops, water toys, bathing suits, and beach towels. Did they have real stores in this town, or did everyone do all their shopping at—what was it called?—Dot’s Mini Mart?
Glancing around as casually as possible, he tried to get a read on the people shopping. He had difficulty figuring out who were the tourists and who were the residents. They all seemed to be dressed in what he’d call beach casual, even the woman working behind the counter. She was medium height and slightly plump, the kind people always called squeezable. Her blonde hair was sprinkled with strands of gray and clung to her head in a riot of curls. Her eyes were the same green as her T-shirt that said, Dot Says It’s So. Dot Says It’s So? Really? And her smile was the kind you just could not resist. She looked like a Gulf Coast version of Mary Poppins. He wondered if he’d fallen into a movie musical by mistake and looked around for hidden cameras tucked into the corners.
Dot—at least he assumed that’s who it was—was efficiently waiting on the steady line at the cash register, so he wandered a little more. By the door, he spotted a rack holding tabloid-size newspapers and picked up a copy of The Bayview Banner. Great. He could imagine what kind of news he’d find in there. Still, he folded it and tucked it under his arm for later. He took his place in line for the cash register, smiling at the woman when it was his turn to pay.
“Fifty cents,” she told him.
Kyle dug into his pocket for change.
“This is quite a store you’ve got here,” he commented.
She grinned at him. “People tell me we’re a landmark here. You visiting or just driving through?”
Okay, so it was small enough here that strangers stood out.
“Actually, I thought I’d hang out for a few days. You know, get out of the rat race.” He hoped she didn’t ask him what rat race he meant. “I have a reservation at someplace called Hibiscus House.”
The woman’s lips stretched to a wide grin. “Oh lord, you will just love that place. And little Pepper is just the sweetest thing. She’ll take good care of you, I promise.”
Little Pepper? The sweetest thing? What the hell was he getting himself into? A finger of suspicion trolled its way up his spine. What had his parents gotten him into? He knew how devious they were, especially his mother, but this was just too much. He might be out of here by tomorrow. Sooner, if he felt trapped.
“Thanks. I’m sure I’ll be dropping in again.”
Back in his car, Kyle turned on the GPS on his phone again. Following the directions, he headed down the highway for another three miles before turning onto Hibiscus Lane—okay, this really was a movie. Magnolia trees and hibiscus bushes lined the narrow road which opened up into a large parking area and dead ended at a turn-of-the-century building complete with balconies and tall columns in the front. More hibiscus were planted around the building, and beyond it he could see the beach and Hibiscus Bay.
Getting out of his car, he took a moment to stretch his cramped muscles and inhale the crisp salt air touched with the scent of tropical flowers. The grounds were meticulously cared for, a point in favor of the owners. All the shrubbery was trimmed and the fences bordering the property a glistening white. He wanted to walk around and get a complete outside view of the place, but he figured he’d probably been spotted by now. Grabbing his suitcase, he climbed the three steps to the porch and opened the front door. Wind chimes immediately announced his entrance.
The lobby was clean and airy, the furniture upholstered in muted tropical colors. A graceful staircase curved up to the second story and in its curve was the registration desk. For a moment, he didn’t see anyone. Hmm. Didn’t they have those wind chimes to announce guests and visitors? Someone should be out at once, he would have thought.
But, in the next instant, a redheaded whirlwind spun out of the kitchen and launched itself at him. Legs wound around his waist, slender arms around his neck, and firm, nicely rounded breasts pressed into his chest. The scent of vanilla teased his nostrils and set his body on full alert. He was so startled, he was actually tongue-tied. What the hell was going on here? He’d never had a welcome like this before.
“Oh, Kyle,” the whirlwind squealed. Then she planted a kiss on him that scorched him to the soles of his feet. “I’m so glad you got here. I want to introduce you.” Still wrapped around him, she turned to the three people who had followed her into the room. “Here he is, everyone. My fiancé. Kyle Montgomery. Isn’t he gorgeous?”
Fiancé? What the hell? Had he fallen into an alternate universe?