“The word is sex,” she said in disgust, then opened the front door and pushed me inside.
I ground to a halt. Creole lay on the daybed. “Nice to see you two ladies in one piece.” He crooked his finger at me. The narrowing of his eyes made him look impressively menacing.
Fab shoved me out of her way and flew into Didier’s arms. “I’ve had a hard day.”
Creole surged to his feet, grinned at Didier, and strode over, scooping me up into his arms. “Later.”
I struggled and kicked, but his arms were like bands of steel. “Put me down.”
“Behave yourself.” He tossed me over his shoulder and headed for the door.
I winked and waved to Fab and Didier.
* * *
Creole had been given five days off, and we planned to hide out in his house, indulging in our favorite things: swimming, walking on the beach, and generally lazing around.
“No phone for a week, since you can’t seem to stay out harm’s way,” Creole admonished.
“Ohh.” I stuck out my lower lip in a full-blown pout. “You’re so mean.” I tried to sound attitudinal, but almost burst out laughing. He knew that my phone had been taken into evidence, and I had no desire to replace it for at least a week.
He squinted at me. “You don’t care. And don’t you dare deny it.”
“Bliss to me is five days alone with you, no visitors, and no phones.” I shook my finger at him. “But when Fab calls, are you going to answer?”
“She doesn’t have a phone either.” He smirked.
I rolled my eyes. “You don’t know our friend very well. She’ll be calling.”
“Didier seems to have more control over her than we’d guessed. Or so he boasts.” He stretched to reach a bottle that he’d placed on the bedside table earlier. He unscrewed the top and squeezed some of the thick lotion into his hands, then began rubbing it into my foot.
“You two, uh… don’t… discuss personal girlfriend stuff, do you?”
“I’m not a teenage boy; I don’t need to boast. To you, maybe.” He puffed out his chest. “We compare notes on how to keep you safe but not a word about us sitting here naked, your foot in my lap.” He kissed one of my toes.
He took his time, not neglecting the arches of my feet, my ankles and toes getting equal attention, then moved up my legs to my knees. It was as if he was committing every nuance to memory.
“Love you.”
“I knew you were mine from the first kiss,” he said smugly. “Just had to be patient. I knew that boyfriend you had would lose his shine, and when he did, you weren’t getting away.”
“You know what sealed the deal? Besides the toe-curling kisses?”
“My good looks.” He waggled his brows and flexed his muscles.
“You were always there for me, giving me support, not asking me to change. And you fit into my family.”
Creole groaned. “For a while there, Madeline only wanted a second son and campaigned heavily against our dating.”
I moaned and stuck my other foot in his lap. “Don’t get bored before this one gets the same treatment.”
The slowness of the massage was hypnotic. I stretched blissfully on the bed, content with having the hands of the man I loved on my body.
He tightened the pressure on my foot.
“Oww,” I groaned.
“Just making sure I have your full attention. I don’t want you taking any job where you go off by yourself. Fab is getting the same lecture about those secret clients of hers. You two are better as a team, regardless of what that bastard Brick says; you each bring a different set of strengths to your partnership.”
His encouraging words spread a new warmth through me. “Fab will probably give Didier a hard time, but I know she doesn’t want to run solo anymore. I’ve hung on her designer jeans long enough that she’s comfortable with me as backup.” I sighed. “I need to call Brad and tell him I need another gun. I like getting them as gifts.”
He dropped my foot and reached under the bed. “I’ve got that covered,” he said and handed me a box with string for a bow. “When I bought the first one, I also got this, knowing the other one would end up in the police evidence room before long.”
“Aww, nice.” I pulled the handgun from the box. “Heckler and Koch P30. This is better than candy any old day.”
“Never had a girlfriend who could name her guns. And shoot them. Kinda hot.” He brushed my lips.
Chapter 39
Creole’s phone alerted continuously while we were gone. Mother slammed him with messages, refusing to be ignored even after he told her we’d gone fishing and would see her in a week. After that, he didn’t respond to the next barrage of messages, and she stopped, which made me suspicious. I wondered if Didier’s phone was now blowing up with messages. He had a way with her, speaking sternly to her in French. It didn’t matter that she didn’t understand a word; she would calm down. Spoon had growled a couple of times that Didier could get her to behave when no one else had the power.
Finally, Mother had had enough of Fab and me being under house arrest and decided to throw a party on Spoon’s boat. She sent a message all in caps that ended with “DRESS UP.”
“I think I’m going to be sick that night.” I clutched my stomach and let out an ear-piercing moan.
The sides of Creole’s lips quirked. “She might believe it coming from me, but you’d never get away with it.”
“I know! You get sick, and we’ll tell her you gave it to me. How could you?” I frowned.
“If we call in sick, she won’t be satisfied unless she sees a doctor’s note. Who gets dressed up on a boat?” he grumped. “Let’s show up in shorts and say we forgot.”
“I dare you. You’ll think that your ears will never stop burning.”
On the day of the party, we left the beach house and, with no traffic, made it home in record time. Fab had the door open before I got halfway up the driveway. She barreled out and threw her arms around me. “We’ll talk later,” she whispered. “It will be fun tonight. I raided your closet, and Didier came up with several selections; they’re hanging on the closet door.”
I hugged Creole’s side. “We’re flu-ish and not going. You can tell Mother, support our story.”
“To use one of Joseph’s favorite words, ‘baloney.’” Her hand shot out and she pinched my arm.
“Arrest her,” I yelled at Creole. “That’s assault.”
“Come on.” Fab egged me on, jumping into a boxer’s stance. “If I go to jail, you’re going with me.”
Didier’s arm shot around her waist, lifting her off her toes. Hugging her tight, he carried her, single-armed, back into the house. “Fabiana,” he huffed as he went.
“I’d feel sorry for him if he wasn’t so happy,” Creole said.
The two of us trailed in behind. As Creole laid his suit bag over the railing, I flicked my eyes towards the stairs.
“Sit,” Fab commanded. “We got a bottle of wine to toast our friendship.”
“Since you asked so nicely…” I wrinkled my nose.
Didier and Creole laughed.
“It’s been quiet around here since Madeline showed up early one morning and caught us half-dressed. After that, it was all phone messages.” Didier released the cork on the wine bottle and filled the glasses. “Friendship,” he toasted.
We all raised our glasses and drank.
“Did you bring something appropriate to wear?” Fab asked Creole, running her eyes up and down him.
Didier whispered something, but Fab ignored him.
“No need to worry,” I said. “I picked out a pair of shorts and a tropical shirt for him, and I have a beachy cotton dress in the same colors.”
It amused me when her mouth flopped open like a fish’s. Not for long, though; she soon snapped it shut. “I’m sure you’ll look fine,” she bit off, clearly not believing her own words.
I stood, holding out my hand to Creole. “We’ll go in separate cars.”
“We’re going together,” Didier said, aggravated.
* * *
“What are you doing?” I propped myself up on the pillow, watching Creole tap the screen of his phone.
“We’re supposed to be downstairs in ten minutes, dressed and ready to go. Considering our current state—” He ripped back the sheet, flashing me. “—we’re not going to make it. I don’t want your friend kicking the bedroom door with one of those pointy shoes of hers.”
“It’s brave of you to text her. Fab thinks it’s okay if she’s late, but not when anyone else is.”
“Didier,” he corrected. “Telling them to go ahead; we’re going to be fashionably late.”
“Then text Mother, oh brave one, throw that thing on the floor, and come back over here.” I held out my arms.
* * *
Fab wolf-whistled as Creole and I came down the stairs. “Look at you.” She checked Creole out from head to toe.
I raised my eyebrows, having thought the two of them had left.
Fab read my mind. “No way we were leaving without you two.”
Creole’s black suit hugged his large frame, a white dress shirt, unbuttoned at the neck, adding to his sexy appearance. His black hair was slicked back, still damp from his shower.
I looked into his eyes and smiled, pressing my lips against his.
“That’s not what I picked out,” Fab said indignantly, pointing at my dress.
“You like?” I twirled in my black dress: a short tulle skirt with a beaded top.
Didier shot us two thumbs up. The “it” couple were also dressed in black, he in one of his custom suits and Fab in a ridiculously short black dress with capped sleeves and a pair of red-soled designer stilettos.
The drive across Tarpon was too quick. Fab asked from behind the wheel, “What is your mother up to with the dressy invitation?”
I couldn’t lean into Creole any further without shoving him out the door and both of us ending up in the street. “I just hope that all this step-daddy talk isn’t about to become a reality. Brad will have a heart attack.”
“You’re so dramatic.” Fab tossed her long brown hair, which hung in waves down her back.
“Hey, Pot,” I yelled from the back seat. Fab ignored me. “You can bet Mother’s up to something,” I whispered in Creole’s ear.
Chapter 40
Fab zipped into the parking lot and slid into an open space. “Your mother has been busy.”
The gate to the dock was framed in lights, which continued along both sides of the walkway that led down to where the boats were moored. So much for the one overhead light bulb that usually provided all the light, barely even casting a shadow. We walked in silence, following the voices that floated across the water.
The first person I spotted was Mac, standing at the top of the stairs. My jaw almost dropped at the sight of her in a royal blue knee-length A-line tent dress and a pair of low-heeled pumps. We had exchanged messages, so I knew she’d been released from the hospital within a couple of hours with a clean bill of health, but I hadn’t seen her since the showdown with Starletta.
Mac exchanged hellos with everyone as we climbed on board. My next shock came when Billy sidled up next to her, dropping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her in to kiss her cheek.
When did this happen?
“You look very pretty tonight,” I told her. “Just like one of the ladies at the yacht club.”
Mac hooted, and her eyes danced with happiness. “I know you already know Billy.” She smiled at him. “We’re, uh… what are we?”
“Together,” he said tersely, but smiled back at her.
“He came to The Cottages with flowers when he heard about me being held at gunpoint by a madwoman.” Mac beamed at him, then sobered. “It still makes me mad that Starletta got the jump on me, and I couldn’t take her out.”
“I’m just happy you’re alive. Selfishly thinking about myself, of course; how would I replace you? Since you’re going to be around,” I told Billy, “we’ll give you a title—Problem Solver—and I’ll bill Spoon.”
“Call anytime. You’ve got my number.” Billy turned Mac to face him. “Any trouble, I want to hear ASAP, not after the fact.”
“Yes, honey.” She grinned up at him.
Mother came over and grabbed my arm, pulling me into the main cabin. She’d managed to run a table lengthwise to accommodate family and friends and still leave room for other seating. We were the last to arrive, and everyone yelled hellos. The night was full of surprises: Phil waved while her date, Chief Harder, kept his arm around her. I wondered how and when they’d hooked up.
“Sorry we’re late.” I kissed Mother’s cheek.
Spoon handed me a glass of wine and kissed me on the cheek, then gave Creole a bottle of beer.
Creole nudged me, casting a glance at his boss.
“I’ll be getting the details on that hook up later,” I whispered.
Brad appeared at my side with Liam and Julie, who looked great in a tropical-style halter dress. “What’s Mother up to?”
“Why does she have to have an ulterior motive?” Julie asked.
“Because she usually does,” Liam chimed in, which made us all laugh.
Mother quieted everyone down, welcomed us with a toast, then waved us all to our seats.
On the way to the table, I crossed paths with Phil. “I want details,” I whispered. “Not skimpy ones either.” She giggled in response, and I turned to Harder, raising my voice to say, “Nice to see you, Chief. I hope Mother has a sense of humor and seats you across from Fab.”
Harder growled. Honestly, he sounded like a wild animal. He nodded at Creole. “Meeting tomorrow, usual time.”
Mother had hired Cook’s son to serve, and he looked cute in his uniform; I winked at him as he brought out the salads. I picked around the assortment of greens, looking for my favorites, and let the rest go untouched. Next came the main course, and dinner went by quickly, with a lot of laughter, everyone trading stories.
After the table was cleared and stowed away, it made room for more-comfortable seating. Creole pulled me into an oversized chair, and I snuggled up to him.
Mother didn’t keep us waiting long; she grabbed our attention by standing and holding up her glass. “I bought a condo,” she announced. “It’s right as you come into town, and it overlooks the water. I have my son to thank for it.” She toasted Brad. “He helped me to find the perfect location and convinced me that it was better than a house.”
It would be a good move, I thought. Given more time, Brad and Spoon would find more things that they had in common, and then Brad would be supportive of whatever Mother decided to do about her relationship. A girl can hope.
Mother then satisfied everyone’s curiosity about the guest list by telling us that she’d invited the chief for an update on the case. Creole groaned into the back of my neck.
Even though she didn’t know Chief Harder well, my guess was that she’d poured on the southern charm and had him agreeing to dinner before he knew what hit him.
Harder cleared his throat. “I’ll tell you the same thing I told Madeline. I can update you on everything that has already been made public. Starletta is in jail; she won’t be charged at this time for all the murders we think she committed, but we’ve got a good case on the two we did charge her with. I predict the death penalty in her future. She entered a not-guilty plea, and her attorney mentioned he was making a self-defense case.”
“That might work with one victim,” Creole said. “She going to claim they all attacked her?”
“She’d be better off to try a nutjob defense, because she is one,” I interjected.
“We also charged her with the attempted murders of Macklin Lane and Professor Crum. I offered to buy him a pair of pants or shorts for his court appearance, and he laughed at me. So I threatened him with a seventy-two-hour psychiatric hold. Then he went off on me with his five-syllable words, and I just laughed, knowing a judge would do the same
and admonish me for wasting the court’s time.”
“Shirl and I have news,” Mac said excitedly. “Brad rocks; he helped us get the paperwork together in order to buy the yellow house. We’re closing in a month. You can sit on our porch anytime,” she told me. “We’ll hang out and watch when the deputies come to roust The Cottages.”
Everyone laughed. The chief squinted at me, and I shrugged in return. “What? Stuff happens.”
Liam had moved and was now sitting on an end table between me and Creole and Fab and Didier.
“Announcements are over; we can go home,” I said in a low voice.
“Not so fast,” Liam said. “My mom’s got something to say.”
Julie overheard. She smiled at Brad and clinked her spoon on her wine glass. “As you know, the renovations on the apartment building have hit a permit snag, so Liam and I won’t be moving for a while. Kevin says he’s moving, but he hasn’t found a place yet. You’ll have to be patient; he hates the idea of packing and moving again.”
Packing what? His last place burned to the ground and the cottages come furnished.
“I don’t understand why you and Brad don’t just shack up,” I said.
“Oh Madison, really,” Mother reprimanded me.
“You want to know what else I think on the subject of co-habitation?” I managed not to laugh.
“No, I don’t,” Mother barked.
Spoon smirked and shook his head; I was waiting for him to wag his finger at me.
Creole tightened his hold and whispered, “Please don’t start a brawl.”
Brad stared Mother down but didn’t say a word. Normally, when it came to a stare-down with Mother, my brother or I flinched first, but not this time.
“I guess we all have news,” Brad said, hooking his arm around Julie. “You’re going to be seeing more of me. The man I hired to run the fishing trips is working out; he’s happy and so am I. Didier and I are going to be looking for more hovels to renovate and sell or rent.”
Brad and Didier clinked glasses over Fab’s head.
Everyone started talking amongst themselves then, so I assumed announcement time was over.
Executed in Paradise (Florida Keys Mystery Series Book 9) Page 26