Starfish Island

by Brown, Deborah

  “Is there anything else?” he asked dryly.

  “I would like to have a meeting with your wife in the morning here in the library, since she plans the meals and sees to the running of the house. And in the future, do not let anyone into the house without checking with me first.”

  “Yes, Miss Alexander,” he said, bowing stiffly, and departed.

  Angry as she was at his presumptuous behavior, she’d remembered to listen carefully while he spoke. He didn’t clip off his words in the same way as the voice that had woken her the previous night.

  She heard clapping and turned to see Michael leaning against the French door. “Caroline couldn’t have done a better job. She would’ve been proud of you. I saw Chester lurking as I left and doubled back to find out what he was up to and if you needed reinforcement. Clearly you didn’t. That’s the sort of talk that Chester understands. You were calm and cool.”

  “Thank you. That’s not my idea of the way to talk to someone working for me, but the Greys, and Chester in particular, forced me to take a stand. I can’t live with Chester dictating my every move. Was he the only reason you came back?”

  “I wanted to make sure you understood that we need to have a private talk after dinner. Chester appeared before I could confirm it.”

  “I understood. Don’t worry. I’m impatient to hear what you know.”

  “Don’t get your hopes up too high. Hold your ground with Chester and you’ll be the winner.” He clasped her hands above her head and shook them, prize-ring style. Slowly his smile disappeared, and he stared into her eyes. He leaned in and placed his head against hers, forehead to forehead, their eyes never parting. He brushed his lips across her cheek and whispered, “And when I said private conversation, I was talking about us, no one else.” He ran his thumb over her parted lips, and she was more than ready to kiss him. Then he shook his head, as if making a decision. “What have I gotten myself into with you? See you later, Nic.” With a gentle swipe of his tongue on her lips, he slipped back out the French doors.

  She looked up and saw Chester pass the open door and wondered how much of the conversation he’d overheard. She knew that one day soon there would be a showdown with the butler. From the first time he served her dinner—was it only last night?—she’d known that they were on a collision course. He had appeared to take her ultimatum in stride, but who knew what thoughts simmered between those throbbing temples?

  On the way to her room, Nicole remembered some advice she’d been given by her father. When you’ve decided on a course of action, let nothing stand in your way; one step at a time will carry you to your goal.

  Thinking of her father brought tears to her eyes. She brushed them back.

  Something tells me that the battle with Chester will take a series of steps and a good deal of patience. She entered the bedroom that had once been her grandmother’s and closed the door. With the French doors open, a cool breeze swirled through the room, bringing the smells and sounds of the beach inside. She looked down at the large half-clamshell planter she’d snagged for a song. She’d noticed it on the roadside on her way home earlier that afternoon under a sign reading “Junk 4 Sale.”

  She leaned against the door and checked out her other changes. Already, she’d put her personal stamp on the room, with a few personal items on display. She’d placed her favorite pieces of jewelry on an oblong mother-of-pearl tray and a handful of her favorite books on the bedside table. When leaving Santa Fe, she’d repacked her car several times to accommodate a few of her personal possessions that she knew would warm up her surroundings and make everything feel more like home.

  She had stopped earlier and splurged on bed linen, and now she dressed the bed in one of her two new sets of Egyptian cotton sheets—one white and the other turquoise—and topped it with a down comforter covered in a white crinkly cotton duvet. She finished the job by piling assorted pillows high on the bed, among them the two starfish pillows she’d managed to find, with blue backgrounds and shells made from knotted thread.

  The open doors to the terrace beckoned to her. She stepped outside and leaned against the railing, where she saw that lights flashed and twinkled across the water. Daylight was almost gone, the last rays of light diminishing in the darkening sky. Stars shone overhead.

  Her thoughts ran back over her day. Greg’s sudden appearance bothered her, and she wondered if he’d been the one following her the day she arrived. How else could he have found her so quickly? She hadn’t left a forwarding address.

  It looks as if I have yet another problem to face.

  Before going back in to dress for the evening, she took one last look down the dark beach and wondered exactly where Michael’s home was. She put exploring his end of the island at the top of her list and laughed at herself and muttered, “So teenagerish.”

  Chapter Six

  AT ALMOST THE same moment that Nicole was wondering about her neighbors, Cecilia Edwards stood in the open French doors of her rambling plantation-style home at the opposite end of Starfish Island. She looked back at the strip of sand that led to Nicole’s house.

  “Michael, do you remember how often you, Jake, and I challenged one another to races along the beach?” She was lost in thought. “I never tire of living on the water.”

  “Interesting changes around here,” he mused, entering his study, where he sat down in his favorite leather chair.

  It was an intimate room with tall, book-laden shelves. There were several chairs and a deep, tufted sofa, the immense desk looking out the sliding pocket doors, just steps from the beach.

  Cecilia walked over to stand by the unlit fireplace. “You’re right about Nicole, Michael,” she said, keeping her eyes on him. “She’s young and pretty, and there’s a warmth and charm about her that’s easy to like. I’m happy she’s going to be our new neighbor. What do you suppose Greg Templeton wants? Is it her money? It seems as if you two know each other rather well.”

  Michael leaned forward in his chair, elbows on his desk. “I’m sure the fact that she’s come into a big estate and a lot of money holds significant appeal, as his finances have taken a downturn due to bad investments. I wouldn’t put anything past Templeton. I think he’s certainly here to assess that situation and try his damnedest to conquer the lady. Even without a fortune, she’s a very appealing, talented woman. She’s done well for herself and has considerable money of her own.”

  Cecilia’s eyes twinkled, and she raised an eyebrow at her brother. “How do you know so much about her? Isn’t this only the second time you’ve met her?”

  “The third. Don’t you remember my telling you she almost ran me down?” He laughed.

  “I liked her the moment I met her,” Cecilia said, laughing with Michael. “Full of energy and spirit. Caroline would’ve loved everything about her. I’m surprised she never invited Nicole to come here so she could meet her and see for herself the kind of person she intended to leave her estate to.”

  “Perhaps,” Michael said lightly, “Caroline trusted Ellis to do a thorough background check.”

  Cecilia returned to her preoccupation. “Do you think Greg is really in love with her, or is it just her money, or both? He doesn’t look the type to give up without a fight to the finish. Maybe you should tell Nicole what you know about him.”

  “She already distrusts him,” he said swiftly. “She needs to work it out for herself.” Though the tone of his voice sounded dismissive, the furrowed brow and slight scowl on Michael’s face confirmed what Cecilia suspected. If Gregory wanted to fight for Nicole’s heart, he’d have to bring it. And if he was up against Michael, Templeton never stood a chance.

  But was he up against Michael? She probed a bit to find out. “What if he succeeds in winning her over? Suppose she marries him? If he’s as bad as you say he is, he could ruin her life!”

  “That’s not going to happen,” he answered gruffly, clearing his throat.

  Interesting, thought Cecilia. And after only three brief meetings with Ni
cole. “It seems to me,” she said, “that you ought to at least offer a word of warning.”

  “You need to stay out of her personal life,” Michael warned. “You don’t need to worry about her in any case. Caroline made me promise to look out for her. I won’t let anything bad happen to Nicole. ”

  “Oh, I know you won’t, Michael. It’s no surprise that Caroline asked you to look out for Nicole. But I’m still worried; won’t you at least tell me what you know?”

  “Drop this, please.”

  “Don’t yell at me, Michael. Of course, I understand.” She added under her breath, “More than you could possibly know.”

  Cecilia went over to check the phone and saw that the message light was blinking. She quickly listened to the message and told Michael, “A phone message from Katrina Lewis. She wants to join us at the Beach Club tonight. Says she has no one else to sit with.”

  “Why do we care if she’s alone? Let her find someone else to bother.”

  A Golden Retriever sauntered lazily into the room and made himself comfortable on Michael’s shoes. Jake was one step behind. “Keep your voice down, big brother. The neighbors will have proof of the ogre that you are.”

  Michael looked up at his brother and laughed. “I guess Cecilia was right when she accused me of yelling at her. Sorry, sis. I promise not to take my frustrations out on you. Jake, since you’re here, you might as well sit down.”

  Jake threw himself into a chair and stretched his legs out in front of him. Patron, the dog, rose and sat hunched beside him, waiting with eager eyes, knowing his best chance at a snack had just sat down. Cecilia glanced at her brothers. They were both over six feet, advantage Michael. Jake had boy-next-door good looks and dark brown eyes that spoke of a joke brewing. Not as stern-looking as Michael, and Cecilia loved how Jake always wore an easy smile.

  “Where’s the fire?” Michael inquired. “You raced in as though someone was chasing you. Either that or you’re up to something and couldn’t wait to share the news.”

  “Believe me, my conscience is clear for the moment.” Jake placed his hand over his heart in a solemn gesture and winked at Cecilia as if they were co-conspirators. “I think I’ll join you for dinner tonight. How about a ride?”

  “Let me guess—your car is in the shop. Time to get a new one,” Michael said. “That Porsche of yours is a money pit.”

  “It’s a collectible.”

  “Whatever. It never runs.” Michael shook his head. “Go with Cecilia; I’m taking my own car.”

  “Cecilia never says no to me. Best sister ever.” Jake made puppy dog eyes at her.

  “You’re still my bratty little brother.” She laughed and made a face. There had never been a time the three of them hadn’t been close, but they’d been closer as children; as they grew up and got their hearts broken, they’d become a little walled off from one another.

  “See you later,” Jake said as he stood. “I’m going to offer a special someone a tour after dinner. Down, Patron, I’m not speaking about your dinner.” In disappointment, the dog flopped flat, his paws stretched over his head.

  “Who?” Brother and sister demanded in unison.

  “I realize it’s been a long time since I’ve been interested in someone…” Jake’s eyes and voice teased. “I’d like to get the lovely Nicole Alexander off in a corner and ask her for a date. Don’t worry, I can be a perfect gentleman. What woman can resist my boyish charm?”

  “Jake—” Cecilia’s eyes flitted over to Michael. “—you don’t even know her. And what happened to Maybelline?”

  Jake threw his head back and laughed as if he knew something she didn’t. “Sadly, we parted ways,” he said. “Why is it so hard to believe that I’m not that little boy you used to boss around?”

  “You might think about giving Nicole a chance to settle in. It would be awkward if she turned out to be one of your two-date women,” Cecilia said before she turned to Michael, knowing he’d have something to add. “What do you think?”

  “I think if you touch her, I’ll break your arm,” he said, and smiled.

  “I may just give you a bit of competition, brother. Makes life more interesting,” Jake challenged.

  Cecilia smiled, thrilled that she hadn’t guessed wrong about Michael’s intentions toward Nicole. Him throwing that comment out to Jake certainly made his interest in Nicole clear to the family.

  “I was beginning to wonder if you’d noticed her at all,” Jake said, eyeing him. “You were frigid to her even after she apologized for almost sending you to an early grave.” Cecilia picked up on the challenging note in Jake’s voice and knew Michael wouldn’t miss it.

  “The woman herself told me she’d be going to the club tonight with Ellis Sadler. Are you sure he won’t flip when you cut in on his date? I’m sure you will when I do it to you,” Michael said, the laughter in his eyes challenging Jake.

  “Ellis is a pain in the ass. It would be my pleasure to ruin his evening,” Jake replied. “You know he’s not good enough for Nicole.”

  “That’s enough of this conversation,” Michael said flatly.

  “I recognize your I’ve-heard-enough voice. You and I both know from firsthand experience that Ellis is trouble, especially when he dislikes you—which means our family. I’ll warn anyone who’ll listen to watch their back,” Jake said.

  “There’s no shame in being bested in a court case when you acted honorably. You did the best you could for your client. Proud of you. Who knew Ellis had an inside edge: a friend-of-a-friend judge. Too bad you only had hearsay and couldn’t connect the dots. Did Cecilia tell you she invited another guest to sit at our table?”

  “Michael, really,” Cecilia protested. “She invited herself.”

  Michael picked up a pile of paperwork from the table and slid out one of the pocket doors onto the terrace. Cecilia couldn’t even make herself wait for him to close the doors all the way to whisper to Jake, “So, our big brother is interested in Nicole. I sure hope she feels the same.”

  Chapter Seven

  MICHAEL SETTLED IN an overstuffed chaise overlooking the bay. He had insisted Cecilia move back home after the death of her husband, and he was happy he had. She’d taken on the remodel of the backyard, starting with the terrace, with only the help of a local contractor. In his opinion, it was a tremendous success. The work had taken almost six months to complete, but the finished product was worth the wait. Cecilia had created an outdoor living space with a Mexican terra cotta tiled floor, a tiki bar, an impressive kitchen, a fireplace, and comfortable seating that overlooked the pool.

  He took a minute to watch the waves come onshore. Did Nicole appreciate her intoxicating view or did it bore her? He suspected she’d enjoy it. She was, after all, originally from California; sun and water were a way of life.

  He grabbed pillows off the chair, pushing them behind his head, and opened his laptop. He’d had a long conference call with Sebastian Brant earlier, and now there was an email from the man. He’d brought Sebastian into the company a few years ago, and it had turned out to be good for both him and the company. He admired and liked the man and respected his judgment, and he liked having a partner he could trust. Sebastian headed up the New York office of Edwards Inc. This email could only mean that something else had gone wrong.

  He opened the attachment, which had Sebastian’s personal imprint at the top, and read intently. After a bit of amusing gossip concerning business acquaintances, Sebastian had written:

  Even though we’re fully cooperating, a grand jury investigation seems inevitable. Local politicians are salivating at the thought of making names for themselves, using us as an example—a signal to other corporations that they’re not powerful enough to resist unnecessary governmental control. I’ll keep you informed of any developments. Warm regards to Cecilia.

  Michael fixed his eyes on the turquoise-green water. He’d lived and breathed this nightmare for several months now. Someone within the company had used the Edwards name to buy severa
l thousand acres of unimproved land, first in California and then in central Florida, in areas where acreage prices were low and subdivision regulations loose. All one had to do to escape close scrutiny and regulation was subdivide down to two-and-a-half-acre lots, with each parcel held in a different name. Then they were sold with the promise that the area would be developed into a community—complete with residential and commercial areas and equipped with schools—though there were no such plans in place. Then, if that wasn’t bad enough, every parcel was sold several times over—easy to do, as it was difficult to locate an individual parcel that was land-locked into a much larger one in the middle of nowhere—thereby bilking unsuspecting buyers out of millions.

  Those involved with the high-pressure sales tactics passed themselves off as agents of Edwards Inc., leading prospective buyers to think they were doing business with a reputable company. Edwards was a leader in the construction industry, primarily building high-end retail shopping malls.

  Sebastian was overseeing the investigation out of the New York office, but he and Michael were working together to find the responsible people. They knew it had to be someone high up based on the security clearance needed to get at the client information in the Edwards Inc. computer files. Only after complaints were filed by defrauded buyers was it discovered that a company computer had been hacked and someone had been accessing confidential information to aid them in their scam. The tech responsible for monitoring the files in question had been full of pitiful excuses for essentially being asleep on the job. His explanations still rankled, and they were starting to wonder if he’d been paid to look the other way.

  Michael and Sebastian were the only two who had complete access to the company’s files, and were now being accused of criminal acts on a massive scale. They were working with high-priced lawyers and the best private investigation firm in the country specializing in corporate fraud to find out who was behind this land fraud scheme—and put a stop to it. They had to find the people responsible or Edwards Inc. would be in financial ruin; the feds would see to that. And, as if that wasn’t bad enough, he and Sebastian could end up in prison for crimes they didn’t commit. Not to mention the employees who would be tainted by the scandal and find it difficult, if not impossible, to get another job.