Ocean Beach Read Online Free Page A

way to Miami.” Avery removed her sunglasses long enough to stare into a pair of blue eyes the exact same shade as her own. Looking at a far more polished version of herself at every turn was incredibly annoying.
    “Fine.” Deirdre set the case on the passenger seat and placed her oversize hobo bag on the floor then looked Avery up and down taking in the ancient halter top, frayed jean cutoffs, and fuchsia flip-flops. “As soon as you change, we can get going.”
    There was a strangled laugh from Chase, but the man was smart enough to remain silent.
    “I’m not getting dressed up to sit in a car for five hours,” Avery said. “Kyra promised no filming until tomorrow morning. But just to be clear, I’m not planning to try to protect a manicure or mince around in high heels while I sand floors and paint walls either.”
    “I know, dear,” Deirdre said. “But we don’t really know what we’ll find when we arrive. Wouldn’t it be best to have your game face on?”
    “This
is
my game face,” Avery said through gritted teeth. “And if it’s not working for you, I can drop you off at a car rental place on my way out of town.”
    “No need,” Deirdre replied. Which Avery assumed meant “no money.” Like all of them, Deirdre was strapped. Her years as a big-name Hollywood designer, a career for which she’d ditched Avery and her father, had just made her more adept than the rest of them with smoke and mirrors. “I’ll be right back.” She turned and headed back into the house.
    “She’s giving us a chance for a private good-bye,” Chase said, reaching for Avery and slipping his arms around her waist. His kiss was long and thorough. The power of it still surprised her. “I wish I knew how soon I’ll be able to get down.”
    Avery sighed and looked up, way up, into his eyes. A widower with two teenage sons, Chase was running what had once been their fathers’ construction business in a cratered construction climate while dealing with his father’s failing health. She still wasn’t sure how they’d gone from adversaries to lovers, but she was hyperaware of the daunting load he carried, and did not intend to add to it. “Don’t worry about it,” she said. “You’ll come when you can come.”
    He let this go by and changed the subject with another kiss. “You can make it in under five hours and there’s no sign of rain.”
    “If I see so much as a raindrop, I’m going to start ditching Deirdre’s things on the side of the road so that I can put the top up.”
    “Are you sure you’ll be okay?” Chase asked. “I’m kind of afraid I’m going to see a story in the morning paper about a woman’s remains found along Alligator Alley.”
    “Well, if the remains are sitting on top of a stack of designer luggage, you’ll know they’re Deirdre’s.”
    He smiled again and ran a hand through his short dark hair. “She’s trying, you know.” They stepped apart as Deirdre reappeared.
    “Maybe.” But with Deirdre there was inevitably an angle. Something self-serving that you only discovered when it was too late to protect yourself. Avery wasn’t sure what she dreaded more, dealing with Deirdre or the network.
    He pulled an envelope from his pocket and handed it to her. “The power of attorney with you listed as my legally designated representative is in here along with a copy of my contractor’s license.”
    “Thanks.”
    “You can call me anytime,” he said. “You know, to consult.”
    “Don’t hold your breath,” she replied. She’d grown up on her father’s construction sites and she was, after all, a trained architect.
    “I could put together a list of potential subs through people I know down there. And I thought we could do a conference call once a week. I know you—”
    Avery put a finger to his lips to stop him. While she needed the POA to pull permits and satisfy the municipality, she didn’t need Chase Hardin or anyone else to get her through this renovation. She raised