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

was moaning about having to cancel the trip and lose all their deposits. Then, well, you’ll never believe what happened next.”
    Hanging on every word, Charlie prompted, “What?”
    “Out of the blue, someone picked up the tab, not just for Charity and her sisters, but for their daughters, too. I even heard all the amenities were covered, along with upgrades to three of the fanciest suites on the ship.” Fanning the air as if she might tear up, Lacey asked, “Isn’t that the sweetest thing?”
    “Three suites for a whole week?” Charlie made rough calculations in her head. At the total, she whistled softly. “Somebody has deep pockets.”
    “Whoever it was, they’ve been mighty tight-lipped about it. Most people would have said a gracious thanks and moved on. Not our Charity. It nearly drove her crazy trying to figure out who’d do such a thing. For a minute there, I thought she’d hire McBain Security in order to find out who paid for the trip. The next thing I knew, though, one of our staff needed time off right in the middle of one of our busiest seasons of the year. How could I say no? Even if it left us so short-handed that I had to fill in at the front desk. Not that I mind,” she said with a gracious smile. “I love meeting our guests and making sure they enjoy their stay.”
    “It’d be hard not to in a place this beautiful,” Charlie murmured, disappointed by the news about Charity. What Josh had said was true, after all. The owner had departed for ports unknown and was out of reach for the time being.
    No matter.
    She’d hang out on Mimosa Key until Charity’s feet hit dry land, but the owner was in for a rude awakening if she thought for one second she could renege on their deal. Charlie still had a firm grip on the Super Mini Mart Convenience Store thanks to Favor Oil’s carrot-and-stick approach. On the one hand, it offered a sweet deal to cooperative owners. On the other, the company had sworn to pull its franchise from those who refused to participate. Without gas to sell to their customers, those who opted out would soon be out for good. Out of business, that was.
    But it wouldn’t come to that. Charity would no doubt sign the necessary papers upon her return. Which left Charlie with only one more question before she checked into the villa that was hers for the weekend.
    “I don’t suppose you know that nice clerk at the Super Min.” She took a breath. Her attempt at nonchalance had missed by a mile.
    “Josh? He’s a good man, that one.” A guileless warmth flooded Lacey’s face. “He doesn’t come around nearly as often as I’d like.”
    The reassuring words eased the tension from Charlie’s shoulders. “Maybe you’ll catch him this evening,” she said. “We’re supposed to meet for drinks in Junonia later.”
    “Oh, really?” The tiniest hint of excitement bloomed in Lacey’s dark eyes. “I’ll have to let the chef know so he can prepare a little something special.”
    The star treatment seemed a little over the top for a clerk at a convenience store, but Charlie brushed the thought aside. She’d grown up in a small town where going the extra mile for one of its own was accepted behavior. She scanned the expansive lobby, her gaze coming to rest on the tiny shop tucked in one corner. “Now that I’ll be here for a little longer than I’d planned, I’d like to pick up a few things. Do you think you could have my bag taken to the Rockrose?”
    “Of course. I’m sure you’ll find everything you need right there.” Lacey gestured toward the window display of resort wear. “If not, I can recommend a couple of nice stores downtown.”
    For the next hour, Charlie fleshed out her wardrobe in the upscale shop. Leaving her purchases to be pressed and delivered to her villa, she opted to follow a winding walkway that led beneath tall palms surrounded by tropical plants to the Rockrose. There, she wandered through the spacious quarters, stopping here and there to