thing Jocelyn heard when the elevator doors opened to the Ritz lobby was the ring of Zoe’s laughter echoing through the cavern of marble and glass. The sound made her realize how much fun she’d missed the night before. Still, no amount of fun was worth the risk of seeing… someone she did not want to see. She’d stay here for Lacey as long as she could, but nothing could make her venture south on Mimosa Key.
Which is why she loved that Zoe, Tessa, and Ashley had sweetly agreed to come to the Ritz for lunch today while Lacey met with her architect. Of course, without Lacey to run interference, they might press her a little about coming over to the island, but she could always manufacture a client crisis. Considering she’d just spent the last half hour on the phone with a weeping Coco Kirkman, there wouldn’t be too much manufacturing involved.
The three of them stood outside a high-end boutique, Zoe’s arm draped over Ashley’s shoulder, their heads close as they discussed the bathing-suited mannequin in the window. As she approached, Tessa turned and brightened at the sight of Jocelyn.
“I never thought I’d utter these words to you, Jocelyn Bloom: You’re late.”
“Client crisis.”
“We were forced to window-shop at the overpriced hotel stores.” Zoe tugged Ashley closer. “And decided you might have to buy us all one of those adorable bikinis in different colors.”
Jocelyn hugged them all, an extra squeeze for Ashley. “I just might do that after lunch. Ashley, you’re a doll to give up your day and hang out with us.”
“It’s cool,” Ashley said, her eyes dancing with youthful happiness. Had Jocelyn’s eyes ever danced at that age, she wondered idly. No. Not once. Not ever. Which was why she had to stand her ground and stay off the south end of Mimosa Key.
“I’m really having fun,” Ashley added.
“Mom’s ignoring our texts while she makes out with the smokin’-hot architect boy,” Zoe added. “So we can do whatever we want, including buy skimpy bikinis. Right, Ash?”
The light in Ashley’s eyes dimmed. “She’s not making out with him.”
“A figure of speech,” Zoe assured her, leaning behind Ashley to share a secret look with Jocelyn. “She almost did last night,” she mouthed.
As they crossed the lobby to the terrace restaurant, Ashley fell a few steps behind, reading her phone.
“C’mon, Ash,” Jocelyn prodded, waiting for her.
Ashley quickly covered her phone.
“I’m not going to read your texts,” Jocelyn teased.
“I know, but it’s private.”
“A boy?” Jocelyn asked in a whisper.
Color burst on her cheeks. “No.”
Her tone was indignant enough for Jocelyn to let it ride. They followed a maitre d’ to a window table with a perfect view of the pool and beach. As soon as they were settled in with iced tea and sodas, Tessa gestured toward the vista.
“I could get used to this,” she said. “It beats planting organic gardens in Sri Lanka.”
“You love planting,” Jocelyn said.
“Not in Sri Lanka.”
Out of the corner of her eye Jocelyn noticed Ashley pulling out her phone, but she kept her focus on Tessa. “I thought you loved globe-trotting.”
Tessa lifted a shoulder. “My ex-husband loved it more than I did.”
Next to Zoe, Ashley flicked her finger across the screen and Tessa reached over and put her hand on the phone. “Hey, no texting at the table,” she chided.
“I’m not texting,” Ashley shot back.
“Then no e-mail at the table.”
Ashley rolled her eyes. “E-mail is so last century, Aunt Tessa.”
“Then no doing whatever the heck you’re doing. It’s rude.”
“Facebooking. Sorry.”
Just the thought of what would have happened to her if she’d used that tone at the table put an ache in Jocelyn’s stomach. “Let her go, Tess. It’s no big deal.”
“But she’s right, Ash,” Zoe chimed in. “Cell phones are not cool at the table. Especially in zee Ritz-Carlton, dahling.”
Instead of joining the joke Ashley narrowed her eyes at Zoe. “I’m not your daughter.”
Whoa. Something inside Jocelyn twisted. Instantly, she put a gentle hand on Ashley’s arm. “But you’re our goddaughter, honey, and we don’t see you that often. So what do you think of your mom’s idea for a B and B?”
Ashley shrugged, obviously unhappy about putting down the phone. “’It’s cool if she really does it. She’s been talking about it forever.”
“This time is different,” Tessa said. “I think she can really make it happen.”
Ashley’s phone vibrated and she sneaked a peek, then let out a soft cry. “Oh, he wrote back.”
He. Tessa started to say something, but Jocelyn shook her head quickly, sensing that