The Ultimate Romance Box (6 Bestselling Romance Novels)

by Eckhart, Lorhainne

  Count to five. Inhale. Exhale. She had to do something. Get herself out of this mess before it was too late. She’d pledged to build her future on her own—a future where she wouldn’t let any male intimidate her, a future where she’d depend on herself in every way.

  Start now.

  She lifted her chin. “You’ve seen my jewelry. Do you really think I need that ring?” She reached in the dresser drawer and extracted a square black box with a gold monogram made of an A and P interlaced. Clicking it open, she revealed a fabulous ten carat, brilliant diamond reflecting light in all directions. “This is my wedding ring. Greg wanted me to keep it.” She didn’t add she considered it to be her manacle. Greg’s slave mark. Soon she would emancipate herself by insisting he took it back. Right now she counted on the magnificent piece of jewelry to save her.

  The detective’s eyes widened and riveted on the sparkles of the opulent diamond. After a moment, he flipped an uncertain glance in her direction, then ogled the other sachets and jewelry boxes in the drawer. “Careful, lady. You have a little fortune here. I mean a big one. Don’t leave it around for anyone to grab and run.”

  “Don’t I know that?” She’d scored a point. Time to press her advantage. “Steve wouldn’t have needed a ring. If I wanted a man—if I loved a man—he wouldn’t need a ring to convince me to marry him. I already have my share of diamonds. I didn’t want Steve. I despised him.” She turned toward Dante. Would he believe her?

  “Detective Ladd, if Steve was her fiancé, I would have thought that would make Alexa less likely to be the killer rather than more likely. Don’t you think?”

  The detective’s gaze flipped from the cheap ring in his hand to the giant rock she held. He slammed the small box shut, shoved it in the plastic bag, and dropped the card in, too. “I will have fingerprints taken on this. I will continue my search now. Not a word to the press,” he added before moving to the guestroom.

  “We’re not the ones who leak nasty gossip,” Dante retorted. “But I suggest you search two apartments, Julia Bairey’s 1202 where Steve lived when married, and Cater Morton’s 502 where Steve moved after his divorce.”

  “Mr. Cantari, I know how to do my job. I can assure you these condos are on my list.”

  Alexa slumped on the edge of her bed. “I’m sick, just thinking that someone has entered my condo more than once, opened my medicine cabinet, searched through my clothes.”

  “Calm down, sweetheart. I promise we’ll find out who wants to hurt you.”

  Tilting her chin toward the door, she muttered, “He’s convinced I’m lying.”

  “No. I don’t think Ladd has made a decision. He’s still looking for clues. Several people have a good motive to get rid of Steve.”

  Pictures of jail, handcuffs, and court zipped around in her head. “Dante, do you believe me?” She wished he could take her in his arms and kiss her senseless to make her forget the nightmare. “Do you believe I’ve never seen that ring?”

  If he had no faith in her, he’d better leave and never come back. She’d had enough deceitful men around her.

  His lips twitched in a hint of a smile. “I’m sure you’d have thrown it in Steve’s face.”

  Relieved, she exhaled. At least, she still had a friend in this rotten world.

  “The whole thing doesn’t make sense.” Dante shook his head.

  Ladd came back toward them, his plastic bag swollen with more items. She didn’t give a damn if he took the whole household. “Mrs. Partson, do not leave town. Do not go any place where I can’t reach you.”

  “I don’t intend to. But I repeat—”

  “Alexa, don’t say anything now.” Dante’s warning gaze froze the words in her throat.

  Apparently, she was the main suspect. A shudder shook her and she plopped her forehead into her hands. Had they reached the point where anything she said could be held against her?

  Chapter Seven

  After Ladd’s departure, Dante strolled to the kitchen, grabbed two cans of beer from the refrigerator, and joined Alexa on her balcony. They settled on the rocking chairs watching the breathtaking view of the azure water spotted with the white sails of fishing boats. A couple of Jet Skis crisscrossed, stirring a wake of foam behind them, and a yellow boat zoomed past, dragging an expert water-skier.

  Dante snapped the cans open and handed her one. He gulped down half of his can and clucked his tongue. “Mmm. I needed a cold drink.”

  “Darn, I forgot to have the lock changed.”

  “It wouldn’t make a big difference, if someone can access the spare key from the security room. An alarm system connected to the police would be more useful.”

  Her eyes flashed with interest. “Not a bad idea. I’ll look into it tomorrow.”

  The breeze carried notes of music. Alexa bent over the rail. “Oh Dante, look. There’s a wedding on the beach.” He glanced in the direction she pointed. A flowered arch erected on the sand harbored a party of people, elegantly dressed but bare-foot. They formed a half circle as the bride and groom approached, greeted by a man wearing black pants and shirt, and holding a book—probably a minister.

  “Isn’t it lovely? A wedding on the beach,” she repeated with a sigh, as she turned toward him. “I wish them happiness.” A mixture of emotions played across her face—bitterness, disappointment, anger. He hated seeing her so disheartened.

  His fingers tightened on the can as he guzzled the rest of his beer. “Maybe I should rub your back. It’ll comfort you.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate the offer.” She smiled, a very sad smile, and averted her gaze. “But I need to think.” Torturing her lip, she tapped on the arm of her rocking chair. “Who is trying to frame me, Dante? Who wants to throw Steve’s death on my shoulders? And why?”

  Desperation drenched the green pools of her eyes and twisted his gut. The temptation to take her in his arms and kiss her into oblivion escalated.

  Focus and help her.

  “Who and why?” The two words kept tumbling through his brain. He raked his fingers through his hair. “I wish I had an answer.” In an effort to distract her from gloomy feelings, he added, “Let’s review the plausible killers and their motives.”

  Her eyebrows arched, but she nodded. “Greg? He couldn’t stand Steve because he hit on me. Greg ordered Steve to stay away from me and threatened him once.”

  “Would Greg kill for you? Does he still love you?” Dante grimaced. He didn’t like the idea of any man, competing with him for Alexa. Especially not her former husband.

  “It’s not a healthy love. More like an obsession. Greg thinks he owns me. He won’t allow me to break free from the leash he insists on noosing around my neck with his attentions, his jealousy, his money. But to kill… I don’t think it’s his style. He’d pay others to do his dirty work.”

  Dante nodded. She was right. “You know him well.”

  “Better than anyone.” She sipped her beer and glanced again at the party on the beach.

  The music had stopped, and the ceremony had probably started.

  “What about Carter? Maybe he had a fight with Steve,” Dante suggested.

  “Maybe. I would put him on top of the list because I never trusted him and he did all but accuse me of Steve’s death.”

  “I will check his background and Steve’s. And their company.”

  “How?”

  “Don’t worry. The attorneys in my firm are experts at researching a case.” He scratched his nape while she frowned. “How about Julia?”

  “Julia?” Alexa exhaled. “Hmm. Until this morning, I thought she was in love with Steve. She didn’t wait long to celebrate her new widowhood with Tom.”

  “Could she have caused that widowhood?”

  “To inherit? I don’t know if they have a sizable fortune.” Alexa shot him a hopeful glance.

  Client confidentiality prevented him from divulging what he already knew. Dante averted his eyes. “I don’t think so.” Julia had approached him a few months ago to represent
her and get a big alimony out of Steve. Preferring not to deal with neighbors, he’d referred her to another firm as he had done previously when Greg had needed a good attorney.

  “Judging by the size and the quality of the ring he’s supposed to have bought for me, I don’t think Steve is that wealthy.”

  “Cara mia, you are the most exquisite gem.” Dante brought her ringless fingers to his lips.

  “Thank you.” She spun her head, glanced right and left, and shrugged. “It’s good to live on the twenty-first floor. The only neighbor who could ogle us is here with me.”

  “In that case, let’s take advantage of our open air privacy.” He chuckled and pulled her out of her chair on to his lap. Her delicate flowery perfume intoxicated his senses more efficiently than a bottle of Scotch. He gave her a searing kiss, wishing he could smother her anxiety. She laced her fingers around his neck and opened her mouth to his tongue and his passion. As she responded to his kisses, she seemed to relax.

  Soon, she sobered, eased back, and sighed. “We have to continue our brainstorming. Please, Dante. You said you want to be my lawyer. Help me. Don’t distract me.”

  “All right. Tell me anything you know about our neighbors. Start with Julia.” Alexa wriggled to move off his lap. He tightened his arms around her to restrain her. “Stay. Just talk.”

  “Is that how you interview your female clients?”

  “Only you.” In his arms, she should be able to unwind even while talking about prospective enemies.

  “Is that so?” She smiled and snuggled against his chest. “To answer your question, Julia comes from poor background, the oldest of four siblings. The father abandoned the family. The mother held different jobs and had a succession of lovers while Julia practically raised her brother and two sisters. She met Steve while waitressing in a bar near the university where he studied.”

  “Interesting.” He chuckled and gave her a light kiss on the lips. “I was sure you’d know our dear neighbors’ dirty secrets.” Alexa, as a long time resident of the Blue Waves, could help their research better than any detective.

  “You bet. I lived here since I was ten. Since Mom moved to New York, and Dad sold the big house on the Intracoastal.” Her lips stretched into a bitter line, and her gaze drifted to the ocean and her memories. “Dad thought I’d be safer in this apartment when he stayed late at work. After we married, Greg decided to settle in my apartment. I’ve never left it. Now, it’s becoming a den of trouble.”

  Poor Alexa, growing without a mother, she hadn’t been a happy child, and married to her autocratic selfish husband she’d been a very unhappy wife. “Why did your mother leave?”

  Her face instantly closed.

  He regretted his question. “I’m sorry I shouldn’t have asked.”

  “It’s okay. Maybe it’s time to get this off my chest, and move on.” She held his gaze. “For years, Dad claimed she abandoned us. I was devastated. I couldn’t believe she’d leave me behind, and not even try to see me for years. God, I resented her so much. Later, I heard she died of cancer. I was fifteen.” Alexa’s voice became a murmur, as if the words couldn’t pass her lips. “Dad refused to let me go to her funeral,” she added in a sniffle.

  Dante pressed his lips against her temple. Damn her father.

  “At the time of my wedding, I heard gossip that she ran away with a friend because she couldn’t cope with her husband anymore. Some even whispered that she came back to the building at some point. But Dad never let me see her. I don’t know if it’s true.”

  “Did you ask Greg?”

  She nodded. “He’d never betray his best friend. He scolded me for doubting my father. But... You see, Dad was not a demonstrative guy. He never hugged or kissed me, no matter how hard I excelled in school and sports, no matter how hard I tried to make him proud of me. So now I wonder if my mother reached the same point I reached a few days ago. That urge to go away because there was no other alternative.”

  Dante understood her feelings and cursed both her father and husband. “It’s possible. And it’s also probable that she’d tried to take you with her, or see you, and he didn’t let her.” He hoped he could soothe her, but no words would ever erase the hurt of growing up without a mother.

  Wanting to distract her from her pain, he changed the subject. “Now tell me more about Julia.”

  “Julia?” Alexa had that dazed look as if she were still far away.

  “Yes, we were talking about Julia before I asked the wrong questions.”

  Alexa sighed and nodded. “Julia told everyone that it was love at first sight with Steve. They got married a month later when she found out she was pregnant. Their daughter Katy is now twelve. Once, Julia confided that Steve’s parents offered her money to get an abortion and stay away from their son. But she insisted she loved him and would never get rid of their baby. You see, Steve was a god-sent boyfriend for her. He took her away from her lousy family, lousy house, and lousy life. I give her credit that after she married well, she sent her brother and sisters to college.”

  “So Julia doesn’t have any personal fortune. Only what came to her from Steve. She’s not working. Their divorce would have left her in a pitiful financial situation.”

  “Okay.” Alexa snapped her fingers. “We have her motive for wanting to kill Steve. Does it make sense? Julia preferred to be the rich widow rather than the poor ex-wife. With Steve dead, she’d receive the substantial life insurance he bought years ago. Does it make sense?”

  “Perfect theory. “ He smiled, pleased that Alexa had put aside the difficult memories. “And of course, Julia would try to throw it on you because she hates you for taking Steve away from her.”

  Alexa spun her head. “I didn’t—”

  “Don’t get offended. We’re just speculating.”

  “On the other hand, we caught her with Tom.”

  “But we’re not sure Tom would want to marry her. It’s one thing to date a woman and a much more serious one to ask her to marry him.” Dante bit his tongue the second he said his last sentence. He’d just shot himself in the foot.

  A shadow passed over Alexa’s eyes. She inched away from the cocoon of his chest. “Yes. Of course,” she muttered and slipped off his lap to stand.

  Dante immediately grabbed her hand. “We are talking about Julia, Steve, and Tom. Not about us, Alexa.”

  “I understand.” Her voice remained steady. She settled in her chair and cast him a confused look. “Steve asked me to marry him.”

  Damn it. “I’m sure he did it for the wrong reasons.” A hiss escaped Dante. What a sucker that Steve was. “We both know the man didn’t love you.”

  “Whatever. Are we done with Julia?”

  “Pretty much. Unless you remember more juicy details.”

  “You should have typed or recorded what I said.”

  “I have an excellent memory. I will type everything later on. Besides, you were so comfortable on my lap a moment ago,” he added with a mischievous grin. “There was no way on Earth I would have moved and dislodged you.”

  “Hmm. We can’t converse seriously and flirt. And now we really need to discuss.” She laced her fingers and assumed a prim attitude that made him smile.

  “Okay, you said you don’t trust Carter. Why? Just because he tried to kiss you?”

  “It’s the way he looks at me. His eyes are icy blue, so cold, unreadable, yet calculating and chilling. You haven’t noticed?”

  “He doesn’t look you in the eyes for long. Is that what you mean?”

  “Yes. Maybe. He looks at me, then lowers his eyelids, and gives me a sideways glance. As if he’s warning or threatening.” Alexa’s shoulders rose in a shudder. She reached for her can of beer and sipped.

  “I can’t stand the guy too, but I’ll pay closer attention to his eyes the next time I see him.”

  “Who’s next on your list?”

  “Dianna. What do you know about her?”

  “Not much.” Alexa scoffed. “We’re not exactl
y best friends. You probably know as much about her as I do.”

  Dante chuckled. “We’ll compare notes. Why don’t you start?”

  “Dianna came from Brazil ten years ago. She’s a nurse and works part-time at Broward Hospital, two days a week. We use the same beauty salon and our bills go on Greg’s credit card. If you can make her hair stylist or her manicurist talk, you’ll probably learn a lot. We don’t use the same technicians though,” she added with a pout while curling a long silky strand around her fingers.

  “Did you know she was a model in Rio?”

  Alexa jerked back. “No kidding? How did you find out that detail?”

  Dante smiled. “She told me when… when we went out once.”

  Damn. He should think first before talking. On the other hand, it was better to be honest with Alexa if he planned on any serious relationship with her. Was he? He frowned, surprised by the new direction of his thoughts.

  Where had the confirmed bachelor who hated commitment gone? He hadn’t been himself since that trip to Sicily. Things had worsened upon his return to Florida. The need to protect his nonna, and now Alexa, had challenged his previous devil-may-care attitude.

  Alexa stabbed her finger into his chest. “You dated Dianna? When?”

  Her words hinted of jealousy. He suppressed a grin. “Never dated her, sweetheart. Last year, before you and I got involved, she said she wanted to see my boat and asked me to take her for a ride. We never went out again. She was already dating Greg.”

  “Did you—” Her eyes narrowed dangerously.

  He understood her meaning. “Alexa, let’s not ask indiscreet questions about our pasts. We need to focus on the present.”

  Staring at the ocean, she shifted in her chair and pulled her legs under her. The wedding party had left the beach. The gentle hum of the breeze lulled them with peace, but nothing was peaceful in their building.

  The doorbell interrupted the silence. Alexa spun her head toward him, eyes widening. “Reception didn’t call. It must be someone from the building. Greg most probably. Or maybe the detective if he’s still around.”