Executed in Paradise (Florida Keys Mystery Series Book 9)

by Deborah Brown

  Creole set me off his lap and stood. “Let’s dance.” He led me to a miniscule space in front of the galley.

  “This is a good way to get your toes broken,” I muttered.

  “Do you trust me?”

  “Of course I do.”

  “I’ve got a plan to sneak us out of here. No one will notice until we’re long gone. I’m going to hold you close; you follow my lead, and I’ll dance you out that door to the side deck.” He nodded toward it. “Then we’ll sneak to the other side of the boat and go down the stairs.”

  “Fab’s got the car keys, or most likely Didier. We could hotwire it, but that would be mean, leaving them stranded.” My words came out somewhat muffled because I was speaking into his chest. I looked up. “I know—we’ll boost Spoon’s SUV; I saw it out there. Send him a text, though, so he won’t order a hench-dude after us.”

  “I’d love to see the big man’s face when he realized his ride was gone. For the first time in my life, I would blame a girl—you.” He laughed. “At least you didn’t suggest we steal the chief’s car.”

  Creole slowly twirled me around a couple of times and then right out the door. I concentrated on not stumbling or, worse, falling down. I knew the latter wouldn’t happen, though; he had too tight a hold on me.

  “I’m so happy you thought of this.”

  Creole spun me out onto the deck that wrapped around the cabin. The sea air whispered against our faces, and I was so caught up in wondering if we were going to get away with dancing out of sight that I didn’t notice we’d reached the railing until I found myself up against it and melting against him. He reached out and turned my head, kissing me deeply. His lips tasted of his favorite beer as he quickly slanted them across mine. In the next second, the railing behind me disappeared and I lost my footing. He grabbed my arm, tightening the hold he had on me, and ordered, “Don’t let go.” Hard as I tried, my fingers slipped through his, and he couldn’t stop my fall backwards into the water. He went down with me, and we hit with a splash, disappearing under the inky blue water.

  We resurfaced not far from one another, coughing and treading water. I spotted him easily in the light that danced over the side of the boat and swam into his arms.

  “Madison,” he said in a stern whisper against my mouth. “You better be okay.”

  I buried my face in his chest.

  “You okay down there?” Brad yelled, tossing down a life ring. “The water’s kind of dirty for a late-night swim.” His laughter floated down to us.

  “We’re fine.” Creole’s voice was laced with sarcasm. “There went my shoes.” He shifted from side to side, shucking them underwater. “They weren’t comfortable anyway. I’d like to take my pants off as well.”

  “You will not.” I tried to sound stern, but giggled. “What happened?”

  “There was an opening in the railing that I didn’t see. I’m going to have a talk with Spoon about safety violations.”

  I wrapped my legs around his torso. “You’re so romantic, taking me on a moonlight swim.”

  “How am I ever going to top this?”

  He kissed me again, and I found myself molded against him. I should have protested just a little—at least suggested we get out of the murky water—but he was kissing me hard and slow and oh, so deeply, and all rational thought fled my head.

  PARADISE SERIES NOVELS

  Crazy in Paradise

  Deception in Paradise

  Trouble in Paradise

  Murder in Paradise

  Greed in Paradise

  Revenge in Paradise

  Kidnapped in Paradise

  Swindled in Paradise

  Executed in Paradise

  Starfish Island – A standalone romance

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Deborah Brown is an Amazon bestselling author of the Paradise series. She lives in South Florida, with her ungrateful animals, where Mother Nature takes out her bad attitude in the form of hurricanes.

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