Flirting with Temptation - By Kelley St. John Page 0,46
can tell me tomorrow, when we talk. Goodnight, Jeff. And I do need to talk to you tomorrow, about Kitty.”
He nodded. “Okay, Babette. Fine. We’ll talk tomorrow, and you’ll see that you’re wasting your time on this particular love doctor gig.”
“We’ll see.” She slid her key into the lock and thanked heaven above that she had held it together enough to keep from begging him to stay. A hot shower would be so nice right now. You wash the sand off me; I’ll wash the sand off you . . .
He took a step away, then turned, holding up that amazing finger as though he’d forgotten something. “One thing that we need to discuss tomorrow, since we’re going to be talking and all.”
“What’s that?”
“Why you were at that cove tonight.”
“I told you,” she started, but he shook his head.
“No, I don’t think you did. But you will.”
Chapter 9
Can I speak to Rowdy Slidell, please?” Babette asked. She’d made twenty-two calls already this morning and had consequently struck twenty-two more names off her list. She’d been out at the pool for two hours and making calls the entire time, but no one had provided any helpful information regarding locating Rowdy. And Granny was getting impatient. She’d left six messages last night and then woke Babette with another phone call this morning wondering if she’d gotten in touch with him. The only person calling Babette more than her grandmother was Kitty, who’d left nine messages last night and had called twice today.
“Did you say Rowdy?” the voice on the other end asked, and Babette sat up on her lounger.
“Yes. Is he there? Can I speak to him?”
“No, he’s not here. You’ve dialed his grandson, but I can give you his number.”
Babette dashed her hand inside her beach bag and scrounged around for her pen. Then she realized she didn’t have any paper and stole the napkin from beneath another woman’s glass on a nearby table. “Yes, I’d like that please.”
The guy recited the phone number, and Babette quickly wrote it down.
“Um, could you give me his address too? An old school friend of his is interested in visiting him.” She’d decided not to give too many specifics about her grandmother, in case Granny Gert didn’t want him to know she was on her way.
Rowdy’s grandson gave her the address, and Babette jotted it down too, then thanked him for his time.
“Hallelujah,” she said, closing her phone. She finally had Granny’s information. At least she could help one person hook up with someone this week, since Jeff was going to take a little longer.
Rose’s white hair shone as she climbed the steps to the White Sands deck and made a beeline toward Babette.
Babette had already flipped her cell phone back open to call Granny, but Rose was walking as though whatever she had to say was important, so Babette snapped it shut. She’d call Granny as soon as she figured out what was going on with Rose.
As usual, Rose had a bejeweled comb holding back her soft hair, though only one side was held back today, and the tiny pink seashells and rhinestones on today’s comb matched the pink flowers in her dress. Today’s shawl was mint green, rather than the white one she’d worn the past couple of days, and had a fringed edging. The pale green picked up the exact hue of the leaves and vines connecting the flowers on her dress. She was also wearing white shoes that didn’t look quite as therapeutic as the black ones she traditionally wore, and her knee highs matched.
“You look very pretty,” Babette said, as Rose sat on the lounger next to hers.
“Thanks, and where are your sunglasses? Surely you’ve got some in that monster bag of yours.” She picked up Babette’s huge striped beach tote and rummaged through it, then withdrew the new sunglasses Babette had bought at TJ Maxx. “Put these on. You’re hurting me with your squint.”
“I couldn’t see the numbers on my cell phone when I was wearing them,” Babette explained, sliding the glasses on.
“How are you, Jonlyn?” Rose asked the woman on the next lounger.
Jonlyn smiled. “I’m fine, Rose. How are you?”
“I’m breathing. For me, that’s progress.”
Babette laughed, enjoying watching Rose in her element. Elderly or not, she was a breath of fresh air at both Sunny Beaches and White Sands, and she was apparently on a first-name basis with the residents at both.
Jonlyn also laughed at the older lady. “You didn’t want to lay out with us today?