Read Island Girls for Free Online Page A

conversation was interrupted by a tapping at the microphone.
    “Hello, y’all. I’m Genevieve Beaudreau, and I’m the hostess of this li’l ol’ get-together.”
    Genevieve had back-combed white hair, a silver sequined dress draped over a tall, voluptuous yet shapely body, and everything about her glittered. Even though she was at least in her fifties and of more than generous proportions, she still wore bling covered with bling. She was like a 1930s movie star, lacking only the white fox stole.
    “I’m just so happy to see all of you, and I want to thank you for coming to help support this new organization, the Arts Coalition of Nantucket. Now I know I’m just a li’l old summer person from Texas, but I’ve been comin’ to this adorable island for years and years, and if there’s one thing I know in my life, it’s that this island breeds super artists like a raccoon breeds fleas. Now that we’ve entered the new age of technology, I believe we owe it to the world to let everyone know all about the artistic excellence of Nantucket, and that’s why I founded the arts coalition, and that’s why I’m asking you charming people for your help.”
    Arden looked around the crowd to gauge their reaction. Some of the women were exchanging looks of skepticism and amusement, but every man there had his eyes glued to their hostess’s sparkling form. As she continued to talk, the audience warmed up, smiling, then chuckling, then outright laughing at Genevieve’ssouthern charm. Arden decided the savvy Texan hostess knew exactly what she was doing. She knew how to get attention, and how to keep it.
    After a few more minutes, Genevieve stepped off the platform and the band started up again. A gentleman in a tux handed Genevieve a glass of wine, and a flock of other men surrounded her.
    “I believe she’s going to make a success of her cause,” Arden remarked.
    Tim agreed. “Who could turn her down? She reminds me of Jean Harlow.”
    “I should have known you two would find each other.”
    Arden looked up from her bench to see Jenny standing above her, hand on cocked hip, eyes narrowed dangerously.
    Jenny said, “I should have known that out of all this crowd, you’d find my sister.”
    Tim almost leapt from the bench. He stood just inches in front of Jenny, glaring down at her. “You told me you don’t have any sisters!”
    “Well,” Jenny sputtered, “I only sort of do—”
    Tim pounced. “You
lied
!”
    Arden watched, fascinated. Tim and Jenny faced each other with such passionate intensity, Arden couldn’t decide whether they were going to murder each other or throw themselves into a torrid embrace.
    “I did not lie!” Jenny insisted. “Arden isn’t my sister—”
    “You just said she was!” Tim reminded Jenny triumphantly. “You are a proven liar.”
    Jenny went purple. “Arden is my
step
sister. I haven’t even seen her in years.”
    Tim tore his gaze away from Jenny’s face and aimed it at Arden. “Is this true?”
    Arden knew she had the opportunity to get Jenny in trouble. It was just too delicious to resist. Sweetly, she replied, “It’s true that we’re stepsisters. But we
have
seen each other every year. Our father would take the three of us out on the town for a special dinner, so we’d all be together.”
    “Oh, turkey breast,” snapped Jenny, in her turmoil reverting to her childhood swear. “One night doesn’t count.”
    “Yes it does,” Arden insisted, surprised to find herself becoming emotionally involved. “What Jenny probably means is that we never met on
Nantucket
because she got me and my real sister exiled.”
    “That was not
my
fault!” Jenny hissed.
    Before Arden could respond, she noticed their hostess, Genevieve, coming toward them, all smiles and glitter.
    “Darlin’s!” Genevieve swooped down to gather Jenny and Tim against her like baby chicks. “I’m so glad to find you here together like this. I just knew it was the right idea, and look here, I’m