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“Bayli,” Christian ground out.
“I’m setting the scene, so Scarlet knows all the players. I already gave her the four-one-one on Lily; I just didn’t mention her full involvement with you.”
Scarlet stood and started to pace. Bayli recognized that to be her friend’s strategic planning disposition and waited patiently—as much as was humanly possible, at any rate—to learn what Scarlet came up with. Rory and Christian appeared much less tolerant with the waiting game but clearly didn’t want to upset Bayli.
Finally Scarlet pulled up short and deduced, “So, Lily’s feeling kicked to the curb romantically, but also professionally, since she was completely overlooked for this new show.”
“That’s not exactly the way it unfolded,” Christian said between clenched teeth.
“That’s exactly the way it unfolded,” Bayli assured Scarlet.
Christian pinched the inner corners of his eyes with his finger and thumb.
Rory said, “She was more than interested in stepping into Bayli’s role in order for us to film yesterday.”
Scarlet smacked her hands together. “Perfect! So here’s what we do. Rory, you go back on location today and ‘convince’ Lily that it’s imperative she fill in for Bayli, since Bayli is under doctor’s orders to stay in bed and recuperate.”
“But I’m not under doctor’s orders to stay in bed and recuperate,” Bayli lamented, fearing her golden TV-premiere opportunity was slipping through her fingers.
“Just work with me here,” Scarlet said. “We’re going to push this woman up against the ropes—I’ve done it a million times before and it always works. Once the villain feels as though they’re getting what they wanted all along—are getting away with their villainy—that’s when they fall prey to me.” She winked. “So Lily gets Bayli’s stylists and everything moves forward to make Lily the heroine. She’s saving the day, saving the show, whatever. Sell it hard.”
Rory groaned.
Bayli grimaced. “See, the thing is, Scarlet, you’re asking Rory to play nice with a woman he pretty much wants to crush under his heel at the moment.”
“I don’t care,” Scarlet said. “Make her feel like she’s God’s gift to this show. Let me handle the rest.”
Christian skulked about. Rory’s fists clenched at his sides. Bayli told them, “I trust Scarlet. Please trust her, too.”
Rory said, “Fine. I’ll do my part.”
* * *
Christian was the one to contact Lily to make sure everything was reset for shooting later in the afternoon. Rory arrived on location and greeted his guest chef.
Then Rory found Lily and, forcing a humble tone, asked, “Do you think you can take Bayli’s place for this first show? She’s still not up to it, and we can’t postpone another day.”
“Of course,” Lily enthusiastically said. “I mean, I’m sorry Bayli’s under the weather, but at least she’s going to be okay. And last night I studied all of her notes that she’d sent me to print out before we left Manhattan.”
“That’ll be helpful. The stylists are here for you and they brought some extra outfits to try on.”
She gripped his arm and said, “You won’t regret this at all, Rory. I swear. I’m completely prepared to do this. It’ll be fantastic!”
Lily rushed off to get the royal treatment with hair, makeup, and wardrobe. Rory seethed. How could the woman be so happy about this when Bayli had been traumatized? It took every ounce of restraint he possessed not to confront Lily. Not to wring her neck. But he’d do as Bayli asked. He’d follow Scarlet’s lead … and hope like hell the investigator knew what she was doing.
* * *
Bayli was a bundle of nerves as she and Scarlet stood on the fringes of the makeshift cantina erected on the beach, with a grilling area, long counter, and numerous tables and chairs that were already filled with the show’s tasters/audience—all under a tall thatched cone-shaped top, the dried palm fronds rustling in a gentle breeze off the bay.
Lily was dressed in a pretty, flowy sundress in a floral print, her blond hair beautifully coiffed, her makeup perfectly done. She was a striking woman and she knew how to work the crowd. She poured margaritas and apparently told jokes, because she had everyone laughing and grinning.
Bayli’s insides clenched, most notably her heart. “She’s really good at this. What if it turns out that she’s not our culprit and Christian and Rory decide to keep her on as hostess?”
“Come on, Bay,” Scarlet said as she delicately rubbed Bayli’s back to comfort her. “There’s no way they’d choose Lily over you. In any capacity.” Her brows wagged. “Those two men are clearly hooked on you. They are so worried about you. And when Christian contacted me to fly me out here because he thought it would help to soothe you, there was no mistaking how crazed he was over something bad happening to you. He was very intense. He wants this all to be over so that you can relax, not look over your shoulder every second of the day, and be able to do the show.”
“That was before Lily had a chance to strut her stuff. Look at her. She’s a natural.”
“So are you. But you’re much more genuine, Bay. And Christian and Rory want you, remember?”
