Barefoot Bay: The Billionaire's Convenient Secret (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read Online Free PDF

No matter how attractive she found the store clerk, she had to remember that he was a means to an end. Her goal was to get Charity Grambling’s signature on the contract. If Josh could help her with that, great. If not, maybe—just maybe—a stay at the Casa Blanca was just the prescription for what ailed her. A weekend getaway in the tropical paradise wouldn’t be so bad, would it? She certainly had the vacation time, time her boss had all but ordered her to use.
    Her heels tapping on the polished marble, she crossed to the reception desk.
    “Welcome to Casa Blanca. I’m Lacey Walker. How can I help you?” A scattering of freckles danced across Ms. Walker’s face when she smiled.
    “Pleased to meet you. I’m Charlotte Oak. I believe you have a room for me.” Leaving nothing to chance, she’d called ahead before leaving the office.
    “Ms. Oak.” Ms. Walker tapped a few keys on a discreetly hidden computer. “We’ve been expecting you.”
    “Charlie, please,” she corrected, drinking in the relaxed atmosphere.
    “Charlie.” A dimple in Ms. Walker’s cheek deepened. “And I’m Lacey.”
    “There’s been a slight change of plans,” Charlie offered, giving in to the urge to stay awhile. “I’ll be in town through the weekend. I hope that’ll be all right.”
    “I’m not sure…” Lacey’s voice trailed off as she flicked through one computer screen after another. “Bear with me a sec. Oh, I’m sorry,” she said, regret shimmering in a pair of dark eyes. “We have a large wedding on the premises this weekend. The guests and family have already begun checking in. After tonight, we’re solidly booked.” She tapped a pencil against one screen. “Unless…”
    “Yes?” On her side of the desk, Charlie crossed her fingers.
    “Well, we did have one cancellation. The Rockrose is available, if you’re interested. It’s a one-bedroom villa at the north end of the property.”
    “A villa?” She had no idea how large a villa was, but it certainly sounded like more room than she could use. “You don’t have anything smaller?”
    “I’m afraid not. You’d love it there, though. The Rockrose has always been one of my favorites.” A dreamy expression filled Lacey’s eyes for a moment. Straightening, she blinked. “But—if you’d rather—I can call the Fourway for you. They probably have a vacancy.”
    “The place across from the gas station?” Charlie asked, dredging up the image of a sad little motel located in the bustling heart of Mimosa Key.
    “Yes.”
    She weighed the peace and quiet of the Casa Blanca against the run-down motel just off the main thoroughfare. The choice was an easy one, and she whipped out her credit card. She sped through the usual registration process, then lingered at the desk.
    “I don’t suppose you know Charity Grambling, do you?” she asked, hoping to find out more about the elusive store owner. “I’d really like to get in touch with her.”
    “Everyone knows Charity.” Though Lacey’s lips thinned the tiniest bit, she still managed a smile. “She’s a pillar of the community. Is it something important?”
    “Not really.” Just my entire future. “I thought we had a”—Deal? Charlie caught herself—“um, business meeting. It must have slipped her mind.” A sigh she couldn’t prevent escaped her lips.
    “That’s not like Charity, although”—Lacey sifted her curls through her fingers—“in all the rush, I can understand why she’d forget. Charity and her sisters have talked about taking a cruise for as long as I’ve known them…which is practically our entire lives. But you know how it is, just when you think you can swing something like that, the air conditioner needs replacing, there’s a wedding to plan or along comes a new baby. Six months ago, it looked like it was all going to come together for them. Charity made their reservations.” Lacey shook her head. “I don’t know what happened exactly, but a few weeks ago she