wait,” her mother said, removing her big straw hat. Her reddish-brown hair had been pulled back in a bun. “Why don’t you tell me how it’s going at the Belleza. How are you coping with all the changes?”
“Well, I’m honored at the faith you and Daddy have in me.”
“But...”
“But nothing. I can do the job. No, correction. I was born to do the job. Sean was always in the kitchen creating masterpieces, while I,” she asserted, as she patted her chest, “worked all over the hotel, absorbing as much information as I could from you, from Daddy, from anyone and everyone. I developed the marketing plan that put the Belleza back on the map and reminded folks of our history, not to mention those pesky rumors of a buried treasure stashed on the property.”
Her mother smiled at the reference. “You certainly capitalized on that with your ‘Discover a world of hidden riches’ theme when you renamed the common areas after precious gems. That campaign was ingenious, baby girl. Emerald Empire, Sapphire Sanctuary, Ruby Retreat and of course The Pearl were featured in luxury travel magazines because of you.”
Kimberly smiled. “Thank you, Mama. That’s why I can say without any doubt that I earned my place.”
“Earned what?” her father said from the top of the deck that overlooked her mother’s garden.
“Earned a right to come over for dinner unannounced,” Kimberly replied, glancing in her mother’s direction. She knew her father didn’t want to rehash this topic. He’d made his decision and didn’t appreciate it being second-guessed.
“Of course,” her father said. “You don’t need to ask. This is your home. Whatcha got in your hands?”
He inclined his head toward the manila envelope she held.
“Some papers for you to sign.”
“Well, come on up,” he said, “and let’s take care of the business before your mama finishes up supper.”
Kimberly touched her mother’s shoulder as a sign that they would talk later. Once Kurt Parker made an edict, they all followed. She climbed the concrete steps from the garden up to the deck at the back of the house and found her father sitting in one of the wicker rockers outside.
“Daddy.” She came forward and bent down to give him a hug. “How’s retirement treating you?”
He pushed up his silver-rimmed glasses. “I’m still adjusting,” he said gruffly. “Miss the resort, but I’ll make do.”
“We miss you, too.”
Her father guffawed. “No, you don’t. You’re like me. I know you’re glad to have the run of the place without my interference.”
Kimberly shrugged. “I guess the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree?” She smiled at him. His face didn’t look a day over fifty, she thought, though his salt-and-pepper hair and mustache gave away his age. For some reason she felt a little sentimental looking at him. Perhaps her conversation with Jack had made her a touch homesick.
“Never has,” her father said. “But all is well?”
She shook off her thoughts. “Yes, everything is fine.”
“You know you don’t fool me,” her father replied. “You’ve always been a bad liar, Kimberly. So why don’t you tell me what’s really going on?”
“Can’t I visit my parents without the Spanish Inquisition?” She rose in a huff from her seat.
“Sit back down, girl.”
Kimberly rolled her eyes at the commanding tone in his voice. Once upon a time, it would have stricken her with fear, but not anymore. But out of respect, she walked back to her seat.
“This is about your brother?”
Kimberly nodded and was irked that he could read her so easily. “Have you heard? Sean’s opening a new restaurant.”
“Not from him.” Her father reached for a cigar out of his cigar box next to the rocker. He cut the edge with a guillotine and lit it up. “One of my pals at the club told me while we were out on the ninth hole. Imagine my surprise to hear this from a stranger and not from your brother.”
“I had no idea, either, until Robyn told me today,” Kimberly responded. “I tried to play it off like I knew, but I didn’t. I mean I know he always wanted a place to call his own.”
“He had that at The Pearl.”
“Apparently he didn’t think so. For him, being executive chef at The Pearl and managing the resort went hand in hand. He didn’t want one without the other.”
“Your brother is stubborn,” he said as he puffed on his cigar. “He couldn’t see what I see.”
“Which is?”
“The big picture. He internalized my decision, when it was strictly business. There’s a lot more to the Belleza than just the kitchen, as you’re fully aware.”
“I am.”
“Then good, let’s not beat the dead horse. I wish your brother much success with his newest endeavor, but I don’t regret my decision for one moment.”
Just then, her mother came up the steps with a wicker basket full of large, plump tomatoes. “How about some dinner?”
Kimberly breathed a long sigh of relief. Coming here had been the right choice. Hearing her father reaffirm his decision that she run the Belleza was exactly what she needed to hear. “Thanks, Daddy.”
“Have you seen the papers?” Jaxon’s best friend, Nate Griffin, asked him on the phone the following morning as Jaxon walked into the Belleza’s gym for his morning workout.
“No, what are they saying now?” Jaxon stopped short of the doors and stepped aside for some privacy. He didn’t want anyone hearing his conversation or associating him with the Dunham family.
“Stephanie is claiming that you made promises to her, that you went back on your word.”
“You know I never promised that woman a darn thing,” Jaxon responded harshly. “We agreed to a mutually beneficial dating scenario, which once over should have been over.”
“She doesn’t seem to think so. She’s telling every gossip columnist or blogger in the Beverly Hills area that you broke her heart and she’s completely devastated.”
“Well, if she’s looking for sympathy, she’s not going to get any from me,” Jaxon replied. “Did I tell you she’s the one who told my parents we were getting engaged?”
“No, you didn’t. You just rushed off and left Beverly Hills without a word.”
“I’m sorry about that, but I had to bounce. The heat was on.”
“Where are you?”
“Can’t tell you that,” Jaxon said. Walls had ears and he didn’t want anyone in his family to find out where he was until he was good and ready.
“I’m supposed to be your boy.”
“And you still are. I just need some time away from the Dunham clan—hell, from the entire situation. To get some perspective. You understand?”
“Of course I do. I have your back. I could have told you that Stephanie was no good. Those society types are always looking for a husband. When she saw you, she saw fresh meat.”
Jaxon laughed at the analogy. “I’ll talk to you soon, Nate. I gotta get my workout on.”
“All right, Jaxon, take care of yourself, man.”
“You can