When I walked out into the living room, West had the phone pressed to his ear as he turned around. His mouth parted as his gaze slid down my body and back up.
He visibly swallowed. “Wow.”
I winked. “I can play any role. Drama major, remember?”
“Do you want company?” he asked then said, “No, not you, Phillip. I’m talking to Cree.”
“I’m following my gut. Where better to find out all gossip then straight into the middle of the hen house. Women like to brag about all kinds of things, and I’m sure there are plenty of drunken women with loose lips sitting by the pool. If that doesn’t work, then I’ll make friends with the men or the staff. I haven’t decided which next.”
West
Chapter 8
“T ell me when she leaves the room so I can have your attention again.” Phillip’s aggravated tone poked West’s nerve.
“She was wearing a bikini,” he said, as if that would explain his lack of attention on him.
“You’ve seen plenty of women dressed in less than that, West. I’m beginning to question if you’ll be able to do the right thing when all of this is over. You realize what’s at stake.”
“I’ve always done my duty for your family and our country.” Anger swept through his body as he entered the bathroom and picked up Cree’s watch sitting on the counter. “Listen, I’ve got to go. My time alone in this room is limited and I need to work my magic and keep her alive.”
“West, Katherine and I worry about you.”
“I know,” West answered. Phillip and his wife, Katherine, and West had been thick as thieves growing up. It had been him who tried to talk sense into Phillip when he started the affair with the actress. He’d been young then, cocky, and wasn’t interested in becoming a monarch. If it wasn’t for Calinda Sparks’ death and getting his own priorities straight, there was no telling where Phillip might have ended up; definitely not trusted with the crown. The clock was ticking for West to fix things for good. This island was the last place he needed to be. The quicker he could get Cree off of it, the more time they’d have to save what mattered most; his country’s legacy.
“Katherine and Elizabeth are best friends. They tell each other everything, and Elizabeth said you haven’t returned her calls in two weeks.”
West sighed and clenched his eyes closed. Elizabeth was the last thing he wanted to discuss with his best friend. West didn’t care how close his wife was to his ex-girlfriend. He was trying to keep Katherine and Phillip out of his personal life. “She cheated on me, and we broke up. I’ve already moved on.”
Silence momentarily filled the line. “It’s the American, isn’t it?”
“Did you hear a word I just said, Phillip? She cheated on me. We’re done. End of discussion. Now if you’ll let me get back to work, I’m busy here, saving Cree’s ass so she can save yours.”
“I don’t like your tone,” Phillip announced.
“I don’t like you prying. Give Katherine my love and break the news to her that I don’t need her to set me up with any more of her friends. Lie to her if you must and tell her I’ve fallen for a beautiful, psychic, baker from America. That will give her and Elizabeth plenty to discuss.”
“You haven’t, have you?” Phillip asked, his tone turned serious.
“I’m working. Goodbye, Phillip. Give your mother and father my best and tell them I’ll be back soon.”
He hung up on Phillip, much the way Cree had early that morning. West tossed his phone onto the bed and unzipped the bag, pulling out a slim piece from his lock kit to pry the back of Cree’s watch open. He pulled out the battery and replaced it with the one that had the GPS locator attached before pushing the backing back into place. West put the watch back exactly as she had it and went about setting up all of the other gadgets in the room.
When he was happy, he picked up the phone and dialed Freddie. “Are you picking up the signal?”
“It’s showing in the cabana area with both your GPS and hers, and you’re positioned a half-mile from my location.”
“Perfect. I placed it in her watch, and she’s at the pool, so I’m heading there now. The cocktail party is in two hours. Call my cell if the signals separate.”
“Of course.”
“I’ll keep you posted on the location of the other bugs I plant in the hotel. Let me know if you need reinforcements to help monitor.”
“No need. I brought my own.”
His words made West pause. “Who?”
“Jitters and a few other techies I trust who are just as determined to watch her back.”
“That wasn’t the plan,” West growled, sliding out of the suit jacket.
“It wasn’t your plan, but it was mine. More eyes on the prize. I’ll text you if we spot trouble.”
Chapter 9
I sauntered into the pool area and straight up to the bar. Calinda had appeared by my side on the walk to the pool. Be confident, chin up, and if they show their claws, you show yours. They’ll think twice about attacking the guest of a lord. They’ll cling to you because knowing you will make them appear more important.
I was taking the advice of a ghost, granted a beautiful movie star ghost, but a dead woman nonetheless. I slid onto one of the bar stools at the end of the bar and ordered a glass of wine. Thanks to Calinda, I knew just the right year to make the impression I intended.
Two women sat nearby, and another one sat alone at the other end.
One of the two next to me glanced my way, and I tried for a sugary-sweet smile. Neither looked ready to play nice. Both women wore bikinis. The older woman had a diamond necklace around her scrawny neck. Their nails were painted in a French manicure, and each woman looked like they’d spent an eternity in the gym. All nice, tan arm candy for these men.
“This is a lovely little getaway.”
They smiled in a way that they appeared ready to stab me in my eye and steal my dessert. I ignored them both and inhaled a deep breath of fresh ocean air. The sun hung high in the sky, and the views were outrageously great. No way would I let these women ruin my mood. They weren’t drunk enough to give me the answers I'd came to find.
“You can charge it to my cabana. I’m in suite 2 with Lord Archer.”
The women at the bar exchanged a look. Scrawny-neck lady slid the glasses off her eyes to rest on her head. “I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Priscilla.”
I knew her name. I’d done a workup after being given Davina’s case file and being caught off guard that Davina was engaged to the senator’s son, Logan. Scrawny-neck lady was Priscilla Channing, the groom’s mom. I could even identify the woman sitting next to her. I’d read their alibis.
“You’re Senator Channing’s wife. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“This is Clarissa Jones, she and my son, Logan, are lifelong friends and business partners.”
“Oh dear. I was sorry to hear about Logan’s fiancée. I’m sure her death was devastating and so close to the wedding. I ran into Davina that morning, and she told me that she and Logan were going to the chapel one last time.” I lied like a room full of politicians on Election Day.
Clarissa eyed me like I’d just peed in the pool. “You were friends with Davina?”
“We both enjoyed frequenting Millie’s Roast, the coffee shop downtown. That’s where we met. Sweet girl, but kind of quiet.” I hoped. As a ghost, she didn't have much to say, anyway.
“She didn’t drink coffee.” Clarissa tapped her claws on the bar.
“They serve more than coffee. You should try their pastries.”
“Oh I just love their specialty white chocolate cupcake with…what does that have on it?” Priscilla asked.
“Cashews,” I answered. I should know; I created it. “It’s one of my most-sought-after creations. They can’t keep those cupcakes in the shop for an hour before they get sold out.”
“You’re Cree Blue? The baker? I’ve eaten a slice of one of your wedding cakes, and I swear I gained ten pounds that day,
but it was so worth it. Every bite was better than the last.” Clarissa’s mouth parted.
“You’ve tasted my sweets.” I sounded so naughty. “I’m always happy to hear when others enjoy my desserts as much as I enjoyed baking them.”
“I’d love to get your card and have you make my wedding cake if that time ever comes.”
“It will dear, trust me.” Priscilla patted her hand before turning her glare onto me, smacking me in the face with her mood swing. “You're that psychic responsible for freeing that despicable mob boss, Moreno.”
“Actually he was accused of killing someone who wasn’t dead. Who knew?”
“You should have let him rot in jail,” she grumbled.
“That seems to be the consensus.” I had a slashed tire to prove it.
“It’s hard to believe that you’re friends with a lord,” Priscilla said, lowering her glasses over her eyes, dismissing me as a worthy conversationalist and taking another long sip of her whisky on the rocks.
I hid my smile with the perverse knowledge that my high-calorie cupcakes constantly sent this woman to the gym. I’d have to send her a dozen when this was over as a special “screw you,” maybe complete with a cake too.
A woman from the end of the bar picked up her glass of wine and moved into the seat next to me. “Be nice, Priscilla. Cree means well. She saved my life.”
I turned to the woman, and it was only then I noticed she had the same brown eyes as Deputy Director Harrison Reed.
“Glynis?”
“In the flesh, thanks to you.” She clinked her glass with mine. “Cree is the whole reason I cleared my schedule to attend with dad. She’s a celebrity; she just doesn’t realize it yet. She’s getting a commendation from the president himself, and she was first on my list to be invited to the White House for my wedding.”
“Wait, what?” I turned to her, and that was when I realized that she wasn’t just Glynis Reed, but she was the Glynis Reed engaged to the president’s son.
“Both of our families are forever in her debt for saving my life.”
“That’s my Cree,” West announced as he approached from behind. He wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed my neck. “I see you didn’t waste any time at all making friends, luv.”
“You two are an item?” Clarissa gawked. She was so getting some free desserts too.
“She may very well one day be Lady Archer if all goes as planned,” West announced, and I pinched his arm resting around my waist beneath the bar top. See, I could be discreet. If lightning was going to strike him down, I didn’t want to be scalded for one of his lies. If I was going down, it would be by my own devious deeds.
I sounded special. As special as both Glynis and West were in the head. Each had spun an impossibly unbelievable tale. The lies were getting as thick as the layers I used to frost my cakes. I couldn’t decide whose made-up version of me was more ludicrous; fake dating a real lord or saving the president’s son’s fiancée and getting acknowledged for it.
“So does that mean you’re going to have a nickname like Sparrow that the secret service uses?” I asked Glynis out of curiosity.
“Songbird.” She grinned. “You truly had no idea whose life you saved. That’s even more fascinating.”
“You and Lord Archer simply must sit at our table during the fundraiser.” Priscilla lifted her glasses again to prop them on her head.
“Sorry, but she’s already sitting at ours. I’m hoping if I get her tipsy enough, she’ll agree to make my wedding cake,” Glynis said.
Patricia pushed her empty glass away and slid off the stool. Clarissa was quick to follow. “It was a pleasure, Cree. I look forward to chatting tonight over drinks.”
Wasn’t that what we’d just done?
“Sure.” I smiled as Priscilla wove her arm around Clarissa’s arm and walked away with their heads together like they were plotting how to stab me through the heart so Clarissa could sink those long claws into Lord Archer.
“Okay, you two. Don’t you think that was a little thick? You made me sound like a cross between Mother Teresa and the Queen of England.”
“I saw the way their attitude switched to ice cubes, and I thought I could help thaw their veins. You remember the saying, ‘you always want what you can’t have’? I just helped make you irresistible and someone they couldn’t have.”
“Now they want you in their circle, even if just out of spite,” West added.
“Dad told me why you were here, and technically, my story was true,” Glynis said, taking another sip of her drink. “You are getting a pretty pin for saving my life, and I hope you’ll come to my wedding, even if you don’t agree to bake the cake.”
“And she is marrying the president’s son,” West added.
“And you?” I spun to face him as he took a stool on the other side of me. “What’s your excuse?”
“I figured if we said we were together, there would be fewer men hitting on you and you’d be able to focus on the answers we’re after.”
I gasped. Seriously?
“You are rocking the bikini,” Glynis added. “Three men have already walked by trying to get your attention, and you didn’t even look twice. You aren’t good in the flirting department, are you?”
“I’m not here to flirt.” My voice sounded whiny to my own ears, so I took another sip of the expensive wine. It went down my throat like melted ice cream on a hot Sunday afternoon. “I can’t believe my cover is blown. They know who I am. They’ll figure out why I’m here now, and no one is going to talk to me.”
“They would have figured it out eventually during the cocktail party when we mingled.” West rubbed my back. “Does that mean we can leave?”
I gawked at him. “No.”
“Then chin up,” Glynis said, sliding off her stool. “I always wanted to play detective. I’ll help you; just tell me what you need.”
I shrugged as my wheels started to spin. What I needed to figure out was who’d written that note and who the hell Davina really was. “I need writing samples from the people in Davina’s life, and I need to figure out her true identity. She had several IDs.”
“Leave the writing samples to me. I can be very persuasive when I want to be.”
“You’d do that?” I asked. Hope seeped from my voice.
“Of course.” She smiled. “I’ll see you two at the cocktail party.”
West and I both watched Glynis leave. She wiggled her fingers as a couple walked past her. She had a style and grace that I hadn’t witnessed while using Insight. She wasn’t stuck up or a snob, two things I expected in abundance from this trip.
“You two became fast friends.”
“I saved her life. It's possible she thinks she owes me.” I shrugged. “Nice girl, though. I’m glad I didn’t chicken out sending that anonymous letter to her dad.”
“Who do we need to talk to next?”
“Logan, the fiancé, his friends, the senator, anyone associated with Davina, which I’m guessing isn’t many people. I should really call Freddie and Faraday to have them double-check Priscilla and Clarissa’s alibis. Those two women didn’t seem very fond of Davina.”
“I’ll do it,” West said, pulling out his phone. He nodded his head toward Mason Spencer headed our way. “You have incoming at one o’clock. I’ll give you some privacy and meet you back in our room.”
“Thanks.”
Chapter 10
L eonard Mason Spencer ordered bottled water from the bartender and took a seat next to me. I waited until the bartender left my bill to walked away before I spoke.
“Leonard.”
“Only my grandma calls me that, Cree,” Mason said, twisting the top off the water. “How are you, Blue?”
“You’d know if you returned any of my calls.”
The silence between us was deafening as the minutes ticked by without either of us speaking. His jaw tensed as he picked at the label on the bottle. I was making him uncomfortable. I must have forgotten to pack my I-give
-a-shit bathing suit. Suffer.
“I’m an ass, I’ll admit it. I meant to call.” He cleared his throat and finally glanced my way.
He’d meant to call. How utterly crappy and he was lying on top of that. No goosebumps rose on my arms, no tingles in my gut. Jerk. Oh, I wasn’t letting him off the hook that easy. I deserved an answer.
“Why didn’t you?” I twisted the fabric of the sarong between my fingers. Did I even want to hear his answer?
He sighed. “What I need to say and what I want to say are two very different things.”
“Oh, for crying out loud.” I slid off the stool. “Man up, already, Mason. It’s simple. Cree, I’m not interested. Cree, you’re a freak. Cree, my job is more important right now.” I gulped the rest of my wine because that was some expensive stuff, and I wasn’t leaving any behind. “Any of those things would have been better than intentional silence.”
He turned his whole body to face me. “It’s not that simple. I like you. I wanted to try, but other things in my life need my attention.”
Goosebumps. He was telling the truth. I lifted the veil for answers, tired of the confusing excuses and games Mason was playing. I asked my guide what it was that was so important. His daughter flashed in my mind. “Your daughter?”
“My ex threatened to sue for full custody if I date you or bring you anywhere around our daughter. She doesn’t understand that you aren’t a charlatan, that you’re the real deal. I know that, but she read the papers. She blames you for Moreno getting out of jail. The whole town does. I just can’t…” He lowered his head.
“You just can’t take that chance,” I answered for him. The only thing I needed him to do was believe in me and in our potential. I couldn’t hate him for caring about his daughter more than me. I couldn’t even be angry he’d chosen family over me. My heart tightened, and I swallowed around the lump in my throat. I just had to go and push the issue. Still, knowing the problem was better than being left in the dark.
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