She snorted wine and laughter. His next text left her glowing in an entirely different way. Miss you, Maddie-fan. Took your advice. Wrote you a gong.

“I wouldn’t mind staying in Florida. Especially if Avery’s in Tampa with Chase and Nikki’s down in Miami.” Maddie didn’t add that William Hightower’s presence gave the state of Florida an additional glow.

“Oh, we’re definitely staying in Florida,” Kyra said.

“What do you mean?” Maddie looked at Kyra, trying to assess the tone of her voice, the odd look on her face. Nicole and Avery were watching her, too.

Kyra stood. She stuck a hand in her pants pocket and brought out a key then strode to the French door that led inside from the loggia.

“What are you doing?” Maddie asked as she, Nicole, and Avery got up and followed her.

“I have to go to the bathroom.” Kyra stuck the key into the lock and gave it a turn. An alarm system beeped.

“Are you crazy?” Avery asked. “The police are going to be here any minute. They’ll . . .”

Kyra punched a number into the keypad and the alarm beeped off. “Come on. I think we need to get something stronger from the Casbah Lounge.” She led them into the house, past the salon and kitchen and into the Moorish tiled bar.

“Okay, what’s going on here?” Maddie demanded as Kyra laid out shot glasses on the bar and began to pour them all shots of tequila.

“We can’t start drinking tequila before we drive back to Tampa. We’re going to have to go home. And I suggest we do it before someone notices my car in the drive and sends someone to see what’s going on.”

All eyes were now on Kyra, who finished with her generous pours and then pushed a glass toward each of them. “We are home.”

Kyra, Nicole, and Avery downed their shots and slammed their empty glasses down on the bar. But Maddie was the one who’d be driving. “You’re going to have to explain yourself, Kyra Singer. Because I’m not going to jail tonight for breaking and entering or driving under the influence.”

“We’re not going anywhere because we are home, Mom. Daniel bought Bella Flora for Dustin and me. Which means it belongs to any of us who want to live in her.”

“Seriously?” Maddie’s breath stuttered in surprise. Nicole and Avery whooped with pleasure and passed their shot glasses back to Kyra.

“Seriously. And I spoke to Chase and Jeff—they’re keeping Dustin tonight so that we can have a sleepover. I brought some spare toothbrushes and a few other supplies, but I think I might be too excited to sleep tonight. I may just sit up and commune with Bella Flora.”

Maddie and the women who meant so much to her stood in the heart of the incredible house that had brought them together and that once again belonged to them. With smiles on their faces they raised their glasses to toast what lay ahead: a future so bright that Maddie was pretty sure it was going to require sunglasses.