Starfish Island

by Brown, Deborah

  “Tammy, this is Nicole, our new neighbor. How about pecan rolls and lattes for two?”

  Tammy hurried away, each curl bobbing in a direction of its own. Lily had taken her place by the register, surveying the restaurant with an eagle eye while making the women’s lattes. She picked them up and headed for the table.

  “Have you seen Lucia lately?” Lily asked, lowering her voice.

  “Lucia? Now what made you think of her? The last I heard, she’d moved to New York,” Cecilia said.

  “Do you remember Zander Farrell? He and Michael went to high school together.”

  “I remember him,” Cecilia said slowly. “Intelligent, graduated top of his class.”

  “That’s debatable. His biggest downfall was his temper. He and Lucia were joined at the hip. The reason I asked is that he dropped in for coffee a couple of hours ago, looking like something the cat chewed on all night. My gut tells me his sudden appearance is tied up with Lucia.” She broke off as Tammy reappeared with her hands full. Setting the dishes on the table, she remained nearby, ready for conversation.

  “When I saw you at the gas station the other day, I didn’t know who you were, Miss Nicole. I should have guessed because everyone’s been talking about you.”

  Nicole sipped her latte.

  Tammy asked, “Did that good-looking man from the hotel ever catch up with you?”

  Nicole sucked in a breath to remain calm. She shook her head. “What man?”

  Tammy had an eager light in her eyes. “So good looking—tall, blond, driving an SUV.” She licked her lips. “He told me he recognized your voice and that you were an old friend. When he left right after you did, I assumed the two of you got together.”

  “I’m not sure who you mean,” Nicole said and shrugged. “Do you remember what kind of SUV?”

  “I don’t know one model from the next.”

  Cecilia could see that Nicole had no intention of satisfying the girl’s curiosity, so she turned to Tammy. “I haven’t seen you in a long time. Is there anything new and exciting happening in your life?”

  “Everything’s great. Funny you should ask that today, since Zander Farrell came in for coffee this morning. I’ll tell you a secret: I’ve always had a crush on that man—so dark and dreamy looking—but that was back when he didn’t have time for anyone but Lucia. This morning, I talked to him just like I’m talking to you, and out of the blue, he ripped my head off, told me he had an important business deal to take care of and to get lost.”

  “I’m sorry he hurt your feelings. People who talk about big deals are usually only doing so to impress. The locals come here for the home-cooked food and gossip, not to talk business.”

  “He didn’t meet anyone here. In fact, he never took his eyes off the door the whole time he sat here, definitely expecting someone who never showed. Finally, his phone rang, and whatever the person said made him gasp. The color drained from his face, he threw down some money, and ran out.”

  “Do you know why?” Nicole asked.

  “When I got to the door, he’d already turned out of the parking lot. From the way he spun his wheels, he appeared to be in an awfully big hurry.”

  Chapter Ten

  WHEN NICOLE OPENED the door to the library, she was happy to see it was empty; she had a few moments before Rena Grey arrived. She surveyed the room and made a mental note to clean out the bookshelves, reorganizing the books belonging to her grandmother and leaving room for her own, which would be arriving any day. There were a lot of little changes she wanted to make to feel more at home and less like a guest.

  “Come in,” she called in answer to a knock on the door. “Thank you for being on time, Rena,” she said pleasantly to the matronly looking woman who entered. “Please sit down.”

  “It’s part of my job to be prompt,” Rena declared. She sat on the edge of the chair Nicole had indicated and smoothed her print dress over her stocky legs. Her brown eyes were narrow slits, her mouth was a hard line, and her hands were clenched into fists in her lap.

  The woman made Nicole feel just as uncomfortable as her husband did. And that made her feel guilty about being judgmental before the meeting even got under way.

  “I brought the house accounts in case you wish to check my honesty,” Rena said. For an instant, the narrow slits lifted and revealed eyes that were dark and brooding, snapping with antagonism, so much of it that Nicole’s heart skipped a beat.

  It wasn’t her expression that sent the blood pounding through Nicole’s body, but the way she clipped off the end of her last sentence with a stutter. It was Rena who’d threatened her on the night of her arrival. But the last thing she wanted was for the woman to realize she knew. She forced her eyes from Rena’s face and looked down at her notepad on the desk.

  “I didn’t ask you here to question your honesty,” Nicole replied. “Until the estate is settled, the financial affairs are the responsibility of Ellis Sadler’s office. What I want is a clear understanding of how this house operates. Let’s start with a list of everyone who works here, including outside workers.” The gardener had reminded her when he’d arrived early, waking her with the sound of the mower, that she had no idea who came and went. “I assume that this information comes under your responsibilities.” She was determined to start her own list of who had access to the house.

  “This information isn’t any of your business. The estate pays all the bills.”

  Nicole struggled not to snap at her. “It is my business to know everything that goes on in my own home. Do you plan the meals? Grocery shop?”

  “What’s wrong with the meals? Mrs. Alexander never complained.”

  Rena was making the interview as difficult as possible. And Nicole couldn’t get past the thought that here sat the woman who’d threatened her in the night. Why did the woman want her out of the house? Nicole wanted to know, but wouldn’t confront the other woman without backup.

  She took a calming breath to swallow her rising temper. She wanted to demand what Rena could possibly gain by making her leave. Instead, she answered, “The food is excellent. However, you’ll need to check with me, because I won’t be here for meals most nights.” She didn’t want to tell the woman she preferred cozy restaurants, takeout food, and the occasional greasy hamburger. “I have another appointment. Thank you for meeting with me. Please make that list of workers and leave it on my desk.”

  Rena opened her book. With maddening slowness, she wrote down a couple of names and their duties. Nicole struggled to control her rising impatience and desire to tell the woman to just get out.

  “Also, would you make a copy of the household account records and leave it for me to look at later? I’d appreciate it. In the future, I will approve all household expenditures.”

  “I wasn’t told to do it that way,” Rena answered in a full-blown pout.

  Nicole stood up. “Tomorrow, you’ll show me every room in the house and leave me a set of keys, as some of the doors are locked.” She wondered why there were so many locked doors, and almost asked, but knew Rena wouldn’t give her a straight answer.

  “I’ll need to get permission from Mr. Sadler about the keys.” Rena turned, her hand on the doorknob. “You’re certainly taking over here. Sounds as if you intend to stay.” Her lids lifted to show a hard, steel-like glint.

  Nicole choked back a shiver. “Of course I’m staying. Why wouldn’t I?” Her voice was full of forced cheer. “We’ll begin with the rooms on the second floor.”

  For a moment, the woman stood insolently in the doorway, as if she was considering a reply, then she closed the door softly.

  Nicole blew out a sigh of relief, happy that little confrontation was over. She’d speak to Ellis about getting rid of the Greys, but she wanted to talk to Michael first. She wondered if she should’ve waited a little before requesting household information. Common sense told her the answer was no, no matter how poorly the meeting had gone. She had found out who’d threatened her, and now the question was why.
>
  She was meeting with Jake and Cecilia in fifteen minutes for a bike ride. She hoped this was a friendly ride and nothing to do with racing. She’d learned from Cecilia that the Edwards family loved to compete with one another.

  She went up to her room to change, throwing a black cotton skirt on over her bicycle shorts and a t-shirt over her workout bra and pulling her red hair off her neck into a ponytail. It was a perfect day for a ride, the light blue sky filled with fluffy white clouds. Cecilia had mentioned a path that ran along the beach, and Nicole looked forward to the fresh air blowing in her face and simply being away from the house.

  ~ ~ ~

  “Sorry to be late,” she called as she joined Jake in his driveway. “I had that meeting with Rena that I told you about. She wasn’t particularly eager to answer a single question. I’m pleased I got a few answers without resorting to screaming at her. I wonder why the woman dislikes me so. Dislike might be too mild; hate would be more like it.”

  Jake smiled without answering, so she went on, “You know what this is all about, don’t you? Tell me; I ought to know what I’m up against.”

  “I agree, but Michael will have a fit if he finds out I told you. He thinks that, if the situation isn’t aggravated by anyone, Rena will settle down and change her attitude. She’s just carrying her long-standing feud with Caroline over to you.”

  “A feud? What caused it?” If she talked to Grandmother as she did me, I’m surprised she stayed employed.

  “Kirkland,” Jake said. “He set his sights on Lucia Grey and chased her relentlessly. To say Caroline was livid is an understatement. I suspect she had a nightmare or two over the thought of Chester being in control of her estate. She convinced herself the only reason the Greys kept Lucia around was to snare her grandson. I’m not sure of the exact details, but three years ago, Lucia moved quite suddenly to New York and Kirkland stayed behind, apparently in harmonious bliss with Caroline. Rena Grey may think her daughter should be the new mistress of the house.” He looked over his shoulder. “Where the heck is Cecilia? Time is running out. I have a plane to catch.”

  “You have guests,” Nicole said, and pointed.

  Jake turned, and his face got suddenly tense and tight. “I would like to know how Greg Templeton managed to meet Victoria Peters.”

  Nicole pulled her bike around and watched the tall man and a much younger woman, both in shorts, walking up the driveway, their hands locked together, swinging with each step. “Do I detect a note of jealousy?” she asked.

  “No, you don’t,” Jake snapped.

  “Quick, before they get here, who is she?”

  “Someone I care about a lot. She can do better than the likes of him.”

  “Such as you,” Nicole said softly.

  Jake said in a low tone, “Break that up every chance you get. Victoria’s sweet and innocent, with no experience with bastards like him. I don’t want her to get her heart stomped on.”

  “Pull yourself together, Jake. Don’t let Greg see you reacting like this. It might give him ideas,” Nicole whispered just before the others arrived.

  Jake was introducing Nicole and Victoria when Cecilia came running up, phone and helmet in hand.

  Victoria wound a strand of her blond hair around her finger and tugged on it. Her pale pink lips formed into a slight pout. “I hope we’re not late.”

  “We’re just leaving,” Cecilia said.

  Victoria blushed. “I met Greg as I drove up,” she said, and looked at Jake. “When I told him we were riding, he suggested that we challenge you to a race.” The explanation was slightly breathless. “Believe me, I’m quite competitive.” Her large eyes shone like clear blue diamonds as they met Nicole’s.

  “That sounds like fun to me. Shall we take on the challengers, Jake?” Cecilia asked.

  “I’ll root for whoever is ahead,” Nicole said, laughing. She had no intention of racing.

  As Victoria and Greg helped themselves to bikes from a rack in the garage that held at least a dozen, Nicole heard Jake tell Cecilia, “Let’s blow them off the pavement.”

  She couldn’t contain the laughter that escaped her lips because the remark was so out of character for the dignified Jake. She glanced at Greg and bit back her laughter. Dark color had risen up his face all the way to his hairline, and she knew he was remembering the last time he’d heard her laugh, just before he sailed over the wall into the bushes.

  The foursome agreed to one lap around the island. Nicole took up the rear, deciding not to ride the entire distance with them. She felt stupid for riding around in circles, but with her luck, and at the speed they were going, she might end up as a gravel sandwich if she included herself in the race. The others took off as if they had demons chasing them.

  It took them a while to show back up, all of them out of breath. Jake had beaten Greg by half a tire, and Cecilia beat Victoria soundly.

  “Nicole, I have to leave.” Jake hugged her. “I have a few last-minute things to take care of. Victoria?”

  “I came with Greg,” she said stubbornly. She swung her long hair back and stuck out her jaw defiantly.

  “We need to talk. I’ll call you when I get back,” Jake said.

  Nicole intervened. “Aren’t you going to say good-bye to him before he leaves on his trip?”

  “You didn’t tell me anything about going out of town. For how long?” Victoria asked, suddenly upset. “Greg, you don’t mind if I go with him, do you?”

  “Go ahead. I’ll stay and chat with Nicole.” He patted her head.

  “Nice to meet you,” Victoria said to Nicole, and left with Jake to park their bikes in the garage.

  “We’ll do this again,” Nicole called, acknowledging Victoria’s farewell wave. She hoped everything worked out for Jake and Victoria.

  Jake’s lips formed the words “thank you” as he and Victoria turned down the path to the beach. And Cecilia had excused herself a few minutes ago when her phone rang, which left Nicole alone with Greg.

  She turned to find Greg watching her. “How is it,” he said, “that you and I seem to always end up with the wrong partners?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “When I think of being with someone, I think of you...you and me.” He stared into her eyes. “But here you are with the Edwards boys––by the way, which brother are you interested in?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “I guess that leaves me with Victoria. At least she enjoys my company.”

  “Don’t you think she’s a bit young for you?”

  “And Jake isn’t a bit young for you? Besides, Victoria doesn’t seem to mind.”

  Nicole quickly thought up a way to get rid of Greg. She lifted her head and smiled at him. “I’m off to do some shopping.”

  “Let me take you,” he offered.

  “We’re not friends,” she told him, then took off on her bike toward her house. As she went, she thought about Michael and Jake and how they both disliked and distrusted Greg. Now he kept showing up and making a nuisance of himself, wanting to get back together, refusing to take no for an answer.

  Looking back, she realized she hadn’t met him until after she received word that she’d inherited the Alexander estate. Had he somehow known that when he first approached her at a gallery showing? Had he been on the hunt for the money all along? Were his finances not as good as he’d made out? And if he couldn’t get his hooks into her money, what woman would be next? Victoria perhaps. If she was financially well-off, she needed to be very careful.

  ~ ~ ~

  Nicole pulled into a parking space at the wharf, shut off the engine, and was startled half to death when Greg suddenly appeared at her door. He must have followed her. In addition to making her mad, it scared her that she hadn’t noticed him in her rearview mirror. He extended his hand, offering to help her out of the car. At the same moment, another car pulled into the metered space next to hers. Michael waved, surprised and not happy, as he looked from her to Greg.

  Greg leaned in as though to
kiss her, and she slipped around him, walking over to where Michael leaned against the driver’s door of his car. “I’ll see you soon, darling,” Greg called after her.

  Nicole ignored Greg, focusing her full attention on Michael. “I’m glad I bumped into you here. I wanted to tell you to have a safe trip.”

  He cupped her face and whispered, “I don’t like seeing you with him.”

  “I don’t care for him much either, and I didn’t actually invite—”

  Michael cut her off by lowering his mouth to hers. The moment their lips touched, her body ached, sending a wild pulse down to her toes. She wanted to crawl into his lap, and drown in his kisses, and never come up for air. Good heavens, the man could kiss. Finally, he drew back.

  “When you get back, yes to dinner.” She smiled.

  Chapter Eleven

  MICHAEL OBSERVED THE club, filled wall-to-wall with noisy people. He found a table at the end of the dance floor and sat down. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. The small tables were filled with couples, who were drinking, talking, and laughing. His expression, which had been rather grim, relaxed into a smile as his best friend since college, Sebastian Brant, entered the club and sat down opposite him. He was over six feet tall, blond, and proof that the quarterback of the football team did indeed get the pretty girls.

  “You look surprised,” Michael said.

  “When you said you had an important date in New York, I didn’t expect it to be at one of the city’s trendiest clubs,” Sebastian said.

  “What are you complaining about? What could be more exciting than a night out with your old friend?”

  “You don’t actually want me to tell you, do you?” Sebastian laughed.

  Michael dropped a bill on the cocktail tray presented by a sultry-eyed woman with long legs. She winked as he selected two shots of Kentucky’s finest whisky and pushed one across the table.

  “We might as well look as if we’re enjoying ourselves.” Sebastian lifted his glass in a toast.

  “Now if they only sold cigars,” Michael said, relaxing in his chair.