“The sushi looks great,” Harper said as the lid came off the lacquered tray. “Did you make it?”
Azumi laughed. “No. Our chef did. But thank you for thinking me capable of it.”
“Well, in case you’re wondering, I didn’t make the wine I brought, either.” Harper helped herself to several pieces of the sushi, which looked as good, if not better, than anything she’d had in California.
Azumi’s smile widened. “Did you bring that merlot?”
“I did.” Harper added some crudité and slices of cheese to her plate as well. Frankie followed behind, doing the same.
Azumi nodded. “Nice choice.”
“Thank you. My sister picked it out. Did you read the book?”
“Most of it.” Azumi sighed. “I was counting on gymnastics practice to get it finished, but one of the other moms started talking to me about a fundraiser and before I knew it, practice was over, and I hadn’t read a page.”
“Good,” Harper said. “I mean, not good that you got sidetracked, but I haven’t finished it, either. I only just found out about it. Frankie’s read it, though.”
Azumi looked past Harper to her sister. “I hear the ending’s a killer.”
Frankie nodded enthusiastically. “It issogood.”
Azumi shook her head. “I know I’m going to find out tonight because it’s inevitable, but I don’t want to know.”
“Same here,” Harper said.
On the other side of the table, helping herself to fresh fruit, Sugarlynn waved a strawberry at them. “Did I hear you say you’re in the Marshes’ house?”
Harper nodded. She’d known she was going to get questions. And that there was very little point in lying, because the truth wouldn’t be hard to find out. “That’s right.”
“I didn’t even know the place was for sale. So sad about Arlington. He was a real peach. Not to mention a genuine legend.”
Suzanne, who’d been watching them, nodded. “Arlington Marsh was a wonderful man. He and my husband used to golf together. Well, they did before my husband’s new job. NowIbarely see him.”
Azumi leaned in. “Bryant was hired as the CEO of ABN about six or seven years ago and Suzanne won’t let us forget it.”
Harper knew instantly who he was. Bryant Collinsworth was the face of the American Broadcasting Network, a major media player. They were headquartered in Atlanta. Bryant must not be around much. “I’m sure he’s very busy.”
She was already wondering about the other women and what they or their spouses did to allow them to live in a place like Hideaway Bay.
She felt very out of place. These were the kind of people she worked for, not mingled with. It was a prickly sensation and the feeling that she was an imposter about to be found out loomed large.
Thankfully, Frankie stepped in. “I love that show,Ryder’s Revenge,on ABN. Have you seen it? The guy who plays Ryder is gorgeous.” She looked at Harper. “He’s a Federal Marshall out to catch the guy who killed his father. It’s a great show.”
Suzanne smiled faintly. “Bryant doesn’t deal with programming. He could, I suppose, but generally he’s involved in…bigger things.”
“Oh, I’m sure,” Frankie said. “But that show’s a keeper.” She turned to Sugarlynn without giving Suzanne a moment to speak. “What does your husband do?”
“Carlton’s in pharmaceuticals. That’s how Prisha and I met. He was selling and her husband was buying.” Sugarlynn laughed like that was hysterical.
They all smiled out of courtesy, except for Suzanne, who just sipped her wine.
Azumi put a spoonful of pasta salad on her plate. “Ren, my husband, is in tech. He mostly works remotely, but he occasionally drives down to the Cape to do some hands-on stuff. He’s with Centrifuge.”
The Cape as in Cape Canaveral. Harper’s brows shot up. That could only mean one Centrifuge. “The space exploration people?” Centrifuge was currently building a space station that would allow human exploration of deep space. It was something right out ofStar Trek. Arlington had been fascinated by their work.
“That would be them.”
“Wow. Very cool.”
