Bayside Opposites

Excerpt

Madisyn Steele slid off her sunglasses, stuck them on top of her head, then leaned back in the plush pool lounge chair. The hot summer sun beat down, warming her inside and out. It felt especially good to just relax after studying so hard in college for five years.

She closed her eyes and enjoyed the moment, pretending things were as simple as they had been before she’d left for college—before life had shown her just how cruel it could be.

With any luck, she could forget all the guilt she had left behind.

A wet nose nudged her arm. “Hi, Lilly.” Madisyn kept her eyes closed as she rubbed the eight-year-old black Lab’s head. The pup—she would always be a pup in Madisyn’s mind—rested her head on the chair next to Madisyn’s leg as if to say keep that up.

If only the moment could last forever. But her dad would be home soon, and when he arrived, there would be no rest for the weary. Never mind the fact that she’d recently finished finals, had her graduation ceremony, packed her apartment into her car, and driven from Seattle to Enchantment Bay. It wouldn’t matter to her father. He worked himself to the bone and expected the same from everyone else.

Even so, Madisyn couldn’t have been happier to leave college behind. Hopefully the horrible memories would stay there and let her get on with her life.

Footsteps sounded behind her. Tap, tap, tap.

She held back a groan. Please be Mom.

“Madisyn.” Dad cleared his throat.

So much for that. She slid her sunglasses down from the top of her head to cover her eyes and turned to look at him. “Yes?”

He loomed over her in his perfectly-tailored silk suit accented with a matching burgundy handkerchief and tie. A slight scowl darkened his otherwise handsome face. Some things never changed. Other than Mom’s new BMW and Dad’s new Corvette sitting in the garage—and the silver hairs on Lilly’s belly and muzzle that grew more prominent every visit back home—nothing would ever change at the Steele household. Certainly not Dad’s perpetually negative expression. “We have a dinner date with the Rutherfords tonight at Roosevelt’s. We’re leaving here at six sharp.”

“I just got in. Can’t I rest for the evening?” Madisyn regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth. Dad didn’t believe in relaxation.

“You’re tired? I’ll order you their best wine—that will relax you plenty. It always works for me.” His laughter boomed across the backyard.

She didn’t want any, but there was no use arguing. “I’ll be ready at six.” She leaned back in the chair and waited for him to leave.

“You still don’t have a job lined up?” he asked.

“I literally just drove in today, Dad.”

“Don’t speak to me in that tone.”

Old enough for wine, but she still had to watch her tone with Dad. “Sorry. And no, I don’t have anything lined up.”

“We’ll discuss that on the way. Be ready at six on the nose.”

“I’ll be ready.” Madisyn closed her eyes and waited to hear his footsteps walking away. They didn’t. She opened one eye.

His arms were crossed. “Be sure to wear one of the new dresses your mother picked out for you. They’re hanging in your closet.”

“Will do.” She closed her eyes again. Hopefully, this time he would get the clue.

“And be sure to be friendly with Reese.”

Her eyes flew open. She pulled her sunglasses off and stared at him. “Reese? Reese Rutherford is going to be there? Is that what this is about?”

Reese was the son of Dad’s partner in the big, prestigious law firm a half hour outside of Enchantment Bay. Dad wanted nothing more than for the two families to become one—and her older sister Layne had already married her college sweetheart and moved all the way to Dallas, where their dad was from. She was expecting a baby in the winter. That obviously exempted her from the matchmaking machinations, which left Madisyn. And now that she was back home with her double college degrees, Dad was going to pressure her to marry one of the Rutherford sons.

“I’m not explaining myself to you, Madisyn. You two have plenty to catch up on. Just be friendly. And figure out what you’re going to do with yourself. You can have a few days to settle back in, but you need to get a job or start a business—I don’t care which. Just do something. I’m not going to support you lazing around.”

Pain lanced through Madisyn’s temples. She hadn’t even been back home for three hours, and he was already harping on her. Lilly nudged Madisyn’s leg with her wet nose. At least someone cared about her beyond what she could do for the family.

“Well?” Dad tilted his head and furrowed his brows.

“I’m not going to be lazy. Launching a career is a big decision. It’s going to take some time.”

“Don’t be so dramatic. Try something, and if it doesn’t work out, try something else. Even if it does work out, try something else.”

Never leave all your eggs in one basket.

“Never leave all your eggs in one basket, Madisyn.”

She sighed. “If you want, I can look into what I want to do tonight while you guys are at the restaurant.”

His expression tensed. “Not going to happen. Be ready at six. Not a moment later.”

“I will.” She held back an eye roll.

“Good.” He spun around and marched toward the house.

Lilly whined.

“I know.” Madisyn swung her long, slender legs over the lounger and rose. “I need to get out of here for a while before dinner. Want to go with me?”

The dog’s tail wagged, and she rubbed against Madisyn’s legs. “You’re more like an oversized cat than a Lab. Come on.”

Lilly trotted on ahead of Madisyn toward the tall three-story home. Once in her room, Madisyn leaned against the window sill and watched the lazy waves of the bay. Carefree beachgoers played and lounged on the sand.

Sighing, she brought herself back to reality and looked around the room for her luggage. It wasn’t on her bed where she’d left it. Madisyn pulled open her closet and walked in. Everything hung on the racks, and the suitcases had been stored up high.

“Well, I guess that saves me the trouble of putting everything away.” She picked out a loose top and flowing knee-length skirt and pulled them over her burgundy bikini.

Lilly came in and sat next to Madisyn, looking at her with expectant brown doggie eyes.

“You still like the family boat, right?” Madisyn rubbed Lilly’s head. “Hopefully, nobody will be there and we can lounge peacefully.” Madisyn grabbed a few more things before heading downstairs.

Sally, the housekeeper, stopped dusting and smiled widely. “Great to have you back, dear.”

“Thanks.” Madisyn wished she could say it was good to be back. “I’m taking Lilly for a ride, if anyone asks.”

“Sure thing. I don’t think they’ll miss her. Your father has a meeting and your mother is planning a charity gala. Be sure to be back and ready by—”

“Six sharp.” Madisyn forced a smile. “See you in a while, Sally.”