by Judi Lynn
On Monday, Jerod came wearing his painting clothes. Jazzi and Ansel pulled on ragged jeans and stained tees, too. They were painting the trim on the outside of the house. Each of them carted a ladder to a window and got started. George sprawled in the kitchen to wait for them. He didn’t like heat and humidity.
The sun beat down from a cloudless sky. Jazzi could feel it burn through the thin fabric of her T-shirt. She wore cutoffs and the jean material clung to her thighs. She had to laugh at herself. She’d gotten spoiled, working in air conditioning. The guys both stripped out of their shirts. They’d have to scrub lots of spattered paint off them at the end of the day.
When Jerod dipped into the house for a beer, he came back licking his lips. “Something smells good in there. What are you cooking?”
“Our lunch. Thought I’d make Italian beef sandwiches and send the leftovers home with you. Franny still gets queasy when she cooks, doesn’t she?” Jazzi normally wouldn’t make something so heavy on a hot day, but once the guys walked into the cool house and sat at the kitchen island, they’d be ready to chow down, and they’d make easy suppers for Jerod.
Jerod moved closer to the house to stand in the shade while he drank his beer. “When Fran cooks, she gets sick, when she opens the refrigerator, when a kid eats a peanut butter sandwich in the same room . . .”
“That has to be awful. Can she eat anything?”
“Yogurt, Jell-O, hummus. It will pass in another couple of weeks if it’s like her first two times. I’ve been cooking outside on the grill so she doesn’t have to smell anything.” He sat his beer can in the grass and climbed the ladder to start on another window. When they finished these, they needed to paint the front and back doors and then the trim on the two-car garage. The garage itself was stone, like the house, with the same rolled roof, so there wasn’t much to do on it.
Jazzi’s sunscreen melted away before noon, and she could feel a sunburn starting. “Let’s break for lunch.”
Jerod burned faster than she did, and his shoulders were tinged with pink. Ansel looked even more golden than usual. They headed into the house and went straight to the refrigerator to fill glasses with ice and cold water.
“This summer’s a scorcher.” Jerod dampened a paper towel to swipe over his face.
They dawdled over lunch before heading back outside. George came for handouts, then returned to his spot near the sitting area. He liked the idea of living here and didn’t feel as obligated to go everywhere with Ansel. Even after taking longer than usual, they finished their work early.
“We’re going to wrap up here soon,” Jerod said. “All we need to do now is landscaping.”
Ansel shook his head. “Jazzi and I can do that. You’ve already put in a lot of work here.”
Jerod cocked his head, a grin on his face. “You don’t sound like just a roommate, buddy. Anything you want to tell me?”
Color tinged Ansel’s face. “Emily left for California today. We haven’t been doing too well for a while now, and Jazzi and I . . .” He fumbled to a stop.
“We decided to be friends with benefits,” Jazzi finished for him.
“It’s about time! I thought you were never going to get smart, Ansel. I’m happy for you.”
Ansel looked relieved. “You don’t mind that I’m sleeping with your cousin?”
“Heck, no. Jazzi’s a little more fun when she’s getting some.”
“Hey!” Jazzi’s hands went to her hips. “I’m always easy to work with.”
Jerod shrugged, his eyes glittering with humor. “Inflated ego, and tread softly when she has PMS, but she does good work.”
“Won’t matter.” Jazzi looked at the nearly finished house. “If we don’t find another flipper soon, we won’t have anything to fix up.”
Jerod scraped his hand through his hair. “I’ve been looking in the Realtor mags, but nothing’s really excited me. I’ve watched the auctions, too. I think we’re going to have to drive around and look for private sales.”
Ansel pulled his wallet out of his back pocket. He removed a note from it—an address and phone number. “When I was looking for places to show Emily, I saw a big old two-story close to Lake Avenue. It had a wraparound porch. For sale by owner. It’s a rental now, probably divided into apartments, but I liked the looks of it.” He handed the paper to Jerod.
“Let me guess. Emily didn’t like it.”
“She wanted something newer.”
Jerod nodded. “We’ll give it a look-see. If it’s cheap enough, it’s a contender. It’s going to take some sweat equity to make it single-family again.”
“I’ll call to see if we can get in it.” Jazzi thought of Isabelle and Reuben. They were restoring their old Victorian back into a single family, too, and she and Ansel would be meeting them soon at the Gas House. She punched in the number Ansel had written down, and the owner of the house answered.
After explaining that they were interested in it, she asked if they could go through it. When she hung up, she said, “He’ll meet us there at nine tomorrow morning.”
Jerod grinned. “A good sign he’s ready to get rid of it.”
“I hope that doesn’t mean it’s a mess inside.” The house before this was so bad, it needed gutted. No big deal, except that they’d found one problem after another when they opened things up.
“You can’t always tell until you take down walls.” Jerod turned to Ansel. “And your offer to give me a break on landscaping is nice, but when I bought my property, Jazzi helped me with every tiny thing until it was finished, including the entire yard and outbuildings. The only thing she didn’t do was build the pond. I plan to do the same for her.”
Ansel glanced at the back lot and large yard. “Do you think we have enough land for a pond?”
“Don’t see why not. When I was digging near the septic tank, you have enough clay soil to make it work.”
Ansel grinned and when Jerod started to his pickup, he walked with him, talking ponds, to say good-bye.
Jazzi went upstairs to take a shower and get ready to meet Isabelle and Reuben. A pond would be nice. After a hot day of work, she and Ansel could jump in to cool off. At night, they had enough privacy, they could go skinny-dipping.
She laid three skirts on the bed, not sure which to wear, before hopping under lukewarm water to scrub off the day’s work.
When Ansel came upstairs to shower, he was excited. Jazzi was sure earth moving was in her near future. He lowered George to his dog bed and looked at the skirts she’d laid out on the bed. “This looks serious. Should I rent a tuxedo?”
She rolled her eyes. The man who could only say yes to Emily had quite the wit. “You haven’t met Isabelle. She’s rich and sophisticated. I feel like a hick whenever I’m around her.”
Ansel looked her up and down, still wrapped in her towel after drying off. “You’re the hottest hick I’ve ever met.”
“And how many rich, sophisticated women have you beaten off?”
“Does that include cougars? When I worked for Uncle Len, they’d ask for me when they’d call to get work done on their houses. I think that’s why his sons didn’t like me.”
“I’d call for you, too.” Smart cougars, but this conversation wasn’t helping her. “Your Uncle Len doesn’t impress me. Neither do his sons. But you have to help me pick out the right outfit to wear tonight.”
Ansel pointed. “That’s the shortest skirt. It will show the most leg.”
She sighed. “I’m calling my sister. Go take your shower.” Olivia knew her stuff. She wouldn’t lead her astray. When Olivia picked up the phone, Jazzi said, “Reuben asked Ansel and me to join Isabelle and him for supper. I need to look classy. Should I wear my flower-print skirt; my yellow, short skirt; or my longer broom skirt?”
“You still have a broom skirt? No one’s worn those since the Ice Age. We’re going shopping together.
” Olivia let out a breath of frustration. “None of those will work. Just wear black slacks and a nice top, but your wardrobe sucks. You need help. And put on some decent makeup this time—the works. And no sandals.”
“Am I that bad?”
“Yes. So bad, I’m taking you in hand. We’re setting a date to spend the day shopping.”
“I hate shopping.”
“It shows. No excuses. You’re going to be mine for a day.”
It could be worse. If she was with Olivia, she’d still have a good time. Her sister was fun to hang with. “Okay, I can handle that. Thanks, sis.”
“And don’t let Ansel wear jeans. He could use a fashion update, too.”
“Like Thane’s”?
Olivia sighed. “Never mind. There are higher virtues, I guess.”
“Hey, I want you to know, Ansel and I are living together now.”
“I was at the housewarming on Sunday, remember? I saw his bedroom across from yours.”
“Now there’s only our bedroom.”
A happy screech almost split her eardrums. “It’s about time!”
Since that was Jerod’s response, too, Jazzi hurried to say, “We’re still on for Thursdays, though. The guys can live without us for one night a week.”
“They’ll probably kick us out the door. A little apart time is good.”
Jazzi laughed and rang off. She put her skirts back in the closet and tugged on her black slacks and a cobalt blue, silky top. She hoped it looked good with her honey-colored hair. When Ansel walked into the room, he was wearing Docker slacks and a white button-down, short-sleeve shirt. He made casual scream sexy.
Jazzi gave him a thumbs-up. “Lookin’ good. You know, you don’t have to get dressed in the other bedroom.” She’d missed seeing him in his towel. “You can move your clothes into my closet now.”
He opened its door and stared at the few clothes hanging inside. “Don’t most women like to shop? Emily filled the entire closet in our bedroom, and I had to keep my stuff in the spare room.”
Jazzi sighed. “I just got the same lecture from my sister.”
“Really? Good, because when I was looking for a drawer to put my socks in, I never found any sexy undies and bras. Your stuff looked . . . utilitarian.”
Her jaw dropped. “I flip houses. Cotton panties and bras hold up a lot better than lace.”
“Sure they do, and you’re always beautiful to me, but sexy lingerie is the stuff of fantasies.”
“Then reality’s going to hit you hard. I don’t have any negligees either. I sleep in an oversized white T-shirt.”
“I know what I’m buying you for Valentine’s Day.”
She laughed and slid her feet into a pair of low heels. “That’s a long time away, but we’d better get going. I don’t want to be late. It’s a lot longer drive to the Gas House from here.”
Ansel carried George back downstairs and patted his head. “You can’t come with us for supper. You’d have to sit in the van too long.”
As though he understood, George walked to his spot in the sitting area and lay on his side. He looked tired. He’d been moved too many times today.
Once again, Ansel drove, and Jazzi wondered if men just assumed that was the natural order of things, that men drove and women were passengers. She didn’t protest, though. She didn’t like driving that much anyway. He was a little slower and on the cautious side, though.
Reuben and Isabelle were walking into the restaurant at the same time they were.
“Hey, neighbor!” Reuben stopped to hug her.
“You remember Ansel, don’t you? Ansel, this is Isabelle, Reuben’s friend.”
Isabelle wore a pale lavender sheath dress that complemented her fair complexion and ebony hair, which was pulled into a tight knot near the top of her head. Black liner rimmed her eyes. How did she do it? The woman looked like not a drop of perspiration ever blemished her skin.
Isabelle smiled at Ansel. “You’re the contractor who works with Jerod and Jazzi, aren’t you?”
He nodded and circled Jazzi’s waist with his arm. “Yes, and I moved in with her a few days ago.”
His announcement surprised Jazzi. What had happened to the quiet, docile Ansel who’d never step out of line with Emily? But the answer came to her as soon as she asked the question. She and Ansel had been friends for too long. He could be himself around her. She liked that.
Reuben grabbed his hand to pump it. “That’s wonderful! The girl’s been on her own too long. It’s time someone appreciates her as much as she deserves.” He stopped and frowned. “You do, don’t you?”
“That’s a given.” Ansel’s glance at her confirmed that.
“Drinks are in order.” Isabelle led the way inside.
Isabelle and Reuben ordered martinis, but Jazzi chose wine. Martinis packed too much of a punch. Ansel went with his usual beer. They ordered their meals when they ordered their drinks. Isabelle and Reuben both chose ahi tuna. No wonder they were both slim. Jazzi knew they both loved sushi, too. Could a person get pudgy eating fish and rice? Ansel balanced out their healthy choice by ordering a porterhouse steak. He’d consume every bite, she knew. Jazzi decided on good old fish and chips. If food was breaded and fried, it had to be good.
They talked about their house projects until the food came.
“The new walls are drywalled upstairs,” Reuben told them, “and the two bedrooms are good-size. So is the bathroom.”
“We’re ready to landscape.” Jazzi glanced at Ansel. “He wants to put in a pond.”
Isabelle shivered. “Sorry, that made me think of excavating, and that made me think of Noah’s body, buried behind the hedge.”
“Gaff tried to find phone records for the day Cal got called into work for the fake emergency. The call came from a public phone at a library.”
Isabelle picked at her wild rice. “Neither Cal nor I connected the call to Noah’s disappearing. We both thought he’d simply changed his mind and didn’t want to confront Cal with his decision.”
“Why would you connect them? Who’d think someone killed Noah in Cal’s house while he was gone?”
Isabelle reached for Reuben. “Reuben’s been so good for me and made me so happy. I’d never have met him if Cal were alive, but I wish Cal could have spent time with Noah to enjoy family love. His sister and nephews were so cold to him. I just hate it that those boys inherited all of his stocks and bonds. He’d seen his lawyer about changing his will to make Noah his beneficiary, but then Noah never came. And then . . .”
Jazzi stared. “Cal was going to change his will?”
“His lawyer was drawing up the papers.”
“Did anyone besides you know about that?”
“He didn’t want it to go public until it was official.” Isabelle’s dark brow rose in a severe arch. “He and his lawyer went over the details at the Country Club. They always met there. Lots of businessmen hash out deals around those tables. I suppose someone could have overheard them.”
Jazzi blinked. “Gaff traced the threatening call I got, and it came from the Country Club.”
“My club?” Isabelle took a deep breath. “Why would someone call from there?”
“Probably because they didn’t want to call from home, and they were a member.”
Isabelle leaned back, narrowing her eyes. “That Beth who knew Sorrell trolls for men there.” Her eyes widened. “I’ve seen Tim Draper there a few times lately. He must be working on a deal with someone in town, a member who invites him for lunch to hash out details.”
“But it was a woman who called me.”
Isabelle’s deep red lips straightened into an angry line. “Don’t let Tim’s chummy routine fool you. He and Katherine are two of a kind. They’d both stab you in the back to make money. If he told Katherine about you, she’d make the call for him.”
/> “Was Tim coming to the club when Noah drove to River Bluffs to see Cal? Could he have heard about their visit?”
Isabelle sighed. “I’m not sure. It’s been so long ago, and I never paid that much attention to Tim.”
“Do visitors have to sign in?”
She shook her head. “Not always.”
“I’ll call Gaff about it anyway,” Jazzi said.
Reuben pointed a finger in her direction. “And that’s why you’re a danger to someone. You connect things together that seem inconsequential, and you tell those things to Gaff.” He looked at Ansel. “Make sure she sets her alarm every night and keep an eye on her.”
“Oh, I will.” Ansel wrapped the last few bites of his porterhouse in a napkin for George. “When I moved to River Bluffs, my uncle’s sons let me know in no uncertain terms that they wouldn’t be happy to share their family money with me. I doubt Tim and Katherine would take the news about Noah well either.”
Isabelle looked confused. “But the money wouldn’t go to them. It would go to their sons.”
Ansel shook his head. “Same difference. If the sons got rich, it couldn’t hurt them, could it? Maybe one of the boys owed them money he could pay back. Or maybe Tim and a son want to go into business together.”
Jazzi had never thought of Noah as a threat to anyone in River Bluffs, but she’d been wrong. Cal’s nephews had done nothing to deserve his money, but they’d undoubtedly counted on it regardless. “Could Wade or Will have found out about Cal’s change of heart?”
Isabelle’s fair coloring turned even paler. “I hope not. They don’t belong to the club. That would be too awful. Cal and Noah’s deaths can’t be attributed to his nephews. It would be too depressing.”
Reuben gently touched her arm. “It would be a long shot that they’d hear any news from the Country Club. They live in Michigan. They don’t know that many people in River Bluffs.”
Isabelle still looked alarmed. “Tim would tell them if he heard about the will. Or Noah.”
Jazzi glanced at Ansel. They both knew this was the most solid possibility they’d heard. But Reuben was right. It was a long shot.