“It’s risky,” Trey said. “If we blow it, then I’ll have nothing left. You two will be in debt to Kyle and Brody.”
“Kyle said mine isn’t a loan,” Stone said. “He still feels guilty about things that happened when we were young. He said I’d be doing him a favor to take it.”
“Nothing’s free,” Rafael said.
“That’s the truth,” Stone said.
“It’s our chance,” Trey said. “I think we have to take it.”
“Now we just need to find something to buy,” Stone said.
They ordered another round of drinks. “I’ve got a little situation,” Rafael said when the new pitcher of beer arrived. He told them about Kara and Brody’s request. “They’ve asked me to take Lisa to LA and New York for her press tour stuff. Just keep an eye on her and make her feel safe.”
“Like you do with Kara?” Stone asked.
“Right. Only as far as we know, Lisa’s not in any danger. She’s suffering from post-traumatic stuff.”
“Poor girl,” Trey said.
“She’s so sweet, too,” Stone said.
“And sensitive,” Trey said. “Which makes it all that much worse.”
They were absolutely right.
“I’ll be gone for a few weeks,” Rafael said.
“Not a problem, bro. We’ve got it covered here,” Stone said. “Go be a hero.”
Rafael wiped beer foam from his upper lip. “There’s a complication.”
“Let me guess,” Stone said. “Your huge crush on the girl.”
“If only it were that simple.” Rafael sat back in his chair. “She asked me to dinner, and I said no.”
“What the hell?” Stone asked. “Are you an idiot?”
“Yep. Pretty much. I don’t know. I panicked and blurted out something about not having enough cash to take her out, which made me look like a complete loser. You know what she said?” He could still see her adorable face when she’d offered to cook for him, all doe-eyed and hopeful. “She said she would make dinner for me at her new apartment.”
Trey groaned. “To which you said?”
“I can’t remember. Something about not being boyfriend material.” Honestly, the entire rest of the conversation was a blank. “I think I insulted her by making some remark about her being a rich girl. You should’ve seen her face. I crushed her. She wouldn’t even look at me after that.”
“Dude, you’re so much dumber than you appear on the outside,” Stone said.
“I know.” He slumped over his beer.
“How do you walk around with the weight of that chip on your shoulder?” Trey asked.
“You’re one to talk,” Stone said. “When was the last time you asked a woman out?”
“I might. If I met someone I liked,” Trey said.
Out of the corner of his eye, Rafael noticed a woman approaching. Stone jumped to his feet. “Sis, what’re you doing in town?
“Surprise,” she said. Fair-skinned with green-gray eyes and a pert little nose scattered with freckles, she looked nothing like her dark and swarthy brothers.
As Stone hugged his sister, Rafael and Trey rose to meet her.
“This is my baby sister, Autumn. This clown is Rafael. And you know Trey.”
Autumn shook Rafael’s hand, then took the empty seat next to Stone. She moved unsteadily, with a hitch in her right leg. He remembered then that she’d been in a bad car accident when she was young that had damaged one of her legs. “It’s great to meet you, Rafael. Trey, you’re looking very well.”
“You too.” Trey smiled back at her. Rafael detected an ease between them. He hadn’t realized Trey knew Stone’s sister. “Are you finally ready to move here?”
“Well, yes. I have lots of news in that regard,” she said.
“Autumn bought a cottage here last year,” Stone said to Rafael. “I spent a good six months renovating it. The place was a mess.”
“Sounds familiar,” Rafael said.
“Autumn and I met a year ago to discuss the interiors,” Trey said. “I’ve been itching to get started.”
“Me too. I’d hoped to move here sooner than this,” Autumn said to Rafael. “Unfortunately, I had some things come up back in Denver, including a friend who needed my help. I had a job offer here at the local drugstore, but they couldn’t hold it for me.”
“She’s a pharmacist,” Stone said. “She got the brains in the family.”
Autumn smiled and patted Stone’s broad wrist. “Not true. I had an opportunity to go to college while you were serving your country.” Now that she was sitting by the window, Rafael spotted a faint scar under her right eye. It was hardly noticeable, especially with makeup, and did nothing to detract from her beauty.
“The grocery store is opening a prescription section.” Autumn’s eyes sparkled. “They want me to head it up.”
“No way,” Stone said.
“I just came from a meeting with them. It’s official. I didn’t want to tell you in case it didn’t work out. When I called Kyle to tell him, he said you guys were down here. I’m in the mood to celebrate.” Autumn looked up when Sophie Woods approached with a menu.
Sophie was all legs and masses of blond hair. She and her brother Zane owned The Oar together, but she’d taken on managing it day to day when Zane opened a brewery. He’d named it Dog’s Brewery, in honor of his close friendships. As far as Rafael could see, both places were making a killing during the summer months. Tourists couldn’t get enough fried food and beer.
Although ten years younger than Zane, Sophie was more mature than her age would indicate. According to Kara, when Sophie learned of her sister-in-law Honor’s infertility, she’d offered to be their surrogate. While the rest of the twenty-something crowd were gathering at the beach for bonfires, Sophie was home drinking protein shakes and taking online courses to strengthen her knowledge of the food and beverage industry.
She was muscular and toned, and he would never have guessed she’d given birth last Christmas. To him, she seemed young and carefree, even with her very adult responsibility of running the town’s most popular eating place.
“Autumn, are you visiting?” Sophie asked.
“No. I’m an official Cliffside Bay resident, gainfully employed and everything.”
“That’s great news. A lot of things have happened around here since I saw you last,” Sophie said.
“Yes, from what I hear you’ve been quite busy,” Autumn said. “I can’t wait to meet the baby.”
Sophie grinned and took her phone out of the back pocket of her jean shorts. “I have a photo of him right here.”
The women put their heads together and exclaimed for a moment about Zane and Honor’s baby boy before Sophie asked Autumn what she’d like to drink and eat.
“Gin and tonic,” Autumn said. “And a Brody salad.”
“You’re like an old-timer already,” Sophie said before bouncing away to take care of another table.
“How’s Sara?” Stone asked.
“She’s not doing that great.” Autumn turned toward Rafael and Trey. “Sara’s my best friend from college. She lost her husband very unexpectedly when her daughter was only a few months old. I moved in with them for a while, which is why I couldn’t move out here.”
“That was nice of you,” Trey said.
“My sister is the nicest person in the whole entire world,” Stone said.
Autumn smiled at her brother. “Yes, well, it might’ve gotten me into trouble this time. Sara’s moving out here with the baby.”
“Into your little cottage?” Stone asked.
“Just until she can find a house. She promised to look right away. But she needs a change. Staying in that house is not healthy.”
“Sara’s husband was murdered in their house,” Stone said.
“By the husband of the woman he was having an affair with. In Sara’s bed. She found his body. It was awful.” Again, Autumn looked over at Rafael and Trey. “My friend is Sara Ness. The daughter of Victor Ness
.”
“Of Fred’s Club?” Trey asked.
Fred’s Club was the biggest wholesale company in the country. It had stores in almost every major city. The Ness family were billionaires.
“That’s right. Which made it even worse because the whole sordid thing was all over the Denver papers. It was a zoo for months. Meanwhile, she’s trying to cope with learning about the affair, her husband’s murder, and dealing with an infant.” Sophie placed Autumn’s drink in front of her and was gone again.
“Sara’s loaded,” Stone said. “She’ll be able to buy whatever she wants out here.”
“And hire you two to fix it up for her,” Autumn said. “But my cottage comes first, Trey.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” Trey said. “That cottage is one of my favorite properties in town. I love small houses.”
“Me too.” They smiled at each other for a tad longer than was normal.
Did Rafael imagine it, or did they just have a moment?
“Anyway, Sara will be here in a few weeks. I told her I’d ask you guys if you knew of any homes for sale.”
“We don’t,” Stone said. “But you just never know when something will change.”
“I know Cliffside Bay is just the place for her,” Autumn said. “She can disappear here. Start fresh.”
“Yeah, and locals leave Brody alone,” Rafael said. “She won’t have any troubles.”
Chapter Six
Lisa
Lisa lay on a lounge chair under the shade of the umbrella with two thick beach towels tucked around her, leaving only her head exposed. The afternoon sun beat down on Maggie’s patio and swimming pool. She wished she could lie on the side of the pool. But no, it was not an option. Her fair skin would fry. She’d look like a lobster for the next three weeks.
The next three weeks. She couldn’t go. Not like this. Not when she shook like a rabbit without fur. That’s it. I’m like a bunny with her fur ripped off, naked and vulnerable and scared.
She breathed through her nose—a calming breath as their voice coach had taught them. Who was she kidding? A breath didn’t calm her. All it did was bring the scent of the roses that bloomed in the corner of the garden. Roses still smelled good. Surely that was something to hold on to? Was it, though? Evil could exist in the same world as the scent of roses. How could that be?
Maggie was sprawled out in the chaise next to her with her eyes closed and her copper hair loose about her shoulders. Even asleep her feet were pointed outward in first position, giving the impression that at any moment her long and graceful legs would spring into action and carry her across the patio in perfect pirouettes.
The minute she’d gotten Lily down for a nap, Maggie had come out to be with Lisa. The moment she lay down, Maggie yawned and rubbed her eyes. In minutes, she was fast asleep. Lily was teething and had kept her up half the night.
Pepper hung on the edge of the pool propped up on her elbows and kicked her legs under the water, always moving even when she stayed in one place. Her legs looked misshapen and too white against the blue of the pool, like they were bleached. She wore large black sunglasses that covered half of her narrow face and a wide-brimmed red sun hat.
Of all three of them, Pepper had always had a certain style and a confidence. Maggie said it was because she grew up in Manhattan and the Hamptons with the rich people—the Hoits. Lisa had called them hoity-toity people, which Maggie then abbreviated to the Hoits.
When they were in college and Pepper first told them she was the daughter of the famous musical theater director Frederick Griffin, they’d been awed. Lisa had assumed every door would magically open for her new friend. Not the case. Frederick Griffin was not a generous man, even to his only daughter. He’d told Pepper in no uncertain terms that he would offer no assistance. If she wanted a career badly enough, she would make her own way.
Now Pepper took off her sunglasses. “You still cold?”
“Yeah.”
“You want another towel?”
“It won’t help,” Lisa said.
Pepper put her sunglasses back on and climbed out of the pool, wearing her favorite red bikini with the polka dots.
She sat on the end of Lisa’s chaise and lifted the hat from her head, then fluffed her hair with her fingers. “Have you eaten anything today?”
“I can’t remember.” Lisa did remember, and the answer was no.
Pepper patted the towel tucked around Lisa’s legs. “Food will help you feel warmer.”
“Is that true?” Maggie asked, sitting up and yawning.
“I think it’s true,” Pepper said. “At least that’s what Dack always says.” Dr. Manuel Mack was Pepper’s stepdad. She called him Dack because he’d been her pediatrician—Dr. Mack. When he started dating her mother and eventually married her, the name morphed into Dack. “Although he might have made it up to get me to eat more.” Pepper was one of those naturally thin people. No matter how much she ate it never translated into fat or muscle, which she was constantly complaining about. No one wants to hug a twig.
Jackson came out to the patio, carrying a tray of cheese and crackers, along with a pitcher of lemonade and three glasses. The Good Doctor. That’s what Pepper had nicknamed him when they first met. He indulged their teasing, and never seemed to mind their inside jokes or the way they communicated without words. As far as Lisa could tell, there was no man finer than Dr. Jackson Waller.
Jackson and Maggie were epic. Soul mates.
He set the tray down on the table between the chaises and poured three glasses of lemonade. He handed one to Pepper and another to Maggie. He set the third on the arm of Lisa’s chaise before sitting next to his wife. Lisa curled her legs to give Pepper more room.
“Kara and Brody had an idea,” Jackson said.
“Kara and Brody?” Lisa asked.
“They’ve offered up Rafael,” Jackson said. “He’ll escort you everywhere and stay next door in all the hotels.”
“Absolutely not.” The last thing she needed was superior Rafael Soto following her around. “I’m fine.”
“You’ve been through hell,” Pepper said. “And now you’re about to venture out into the public in a huge way.”
“Anyone would feel vulnerable,” Maggie said.
“I’m mad is what I am.” Lisa fought tears, but a sob rose out of her in a painful hiccup.
Pepper patted her hand. “Anyone would be this way.”
“You can’t expect to feel normal,” Maggie said.
“Not Rafael,” Lisa said.
“What? Why not?” Pepper asked. “You like him. We all like him.”
Lisa tossed the explanation out in a flat tone, as if it meant nothing. “I asked him out and he said no. There’s no way I can have him hanging around me for three weeks.”
Pepper turned to look at her. “You asked him out?”
“The other day when he brought the paperwork by,” Lisa said. “I made a complete fool of myself.” As usual.
“That does make it awkward,” Maggie said.
“Why did he say no?” Jackson asked, like he couldn’t fathom how anyone would say no to her. He had no idea the long list of men who’d rejected her over the years.
“He thinks I’m a snotty rich girl,” Lisa said.
Pepper snorted. “That’s a good one.”
“Right?” Lisa took a piece of cheese. Pepper and Maggie understood her even if no one else did.
“I can’t believe you asked him out,” Maggie said. “You must really like him.”
Lisa chewed and swallowed before answering. “I did. Not now.”
“What did he say when you asked him?” Jackson’s eyes were slits, and he leaned forward several inches, like a man trying to understand a foreign language.
“He said I didn’t ask him how much the rent was when I agreed to rent the apartment and that I was all Hollywood and stuff. Or something like that.”
Jackson and Maggie exchanged a look.
“Listen, honey,” Maggie s
aid. “Let’s not make more of this than we should. He’s probably intimidated by you. He’s very shy.”
“Reticent,” Jackson said.
“It wouldn’t be the first time you intimidated a man,” Pepper said. “And now you have money, which makes it even worse.”
Jackson rubbed one of his temples. “I’m going out on a limb here, but as the only man present—I’m pretty sure the guy has a giant thing for you.”
“Why do you say that?” Pepper leaned closer to Jackson, like she was checking for alcohol on his breath.
“Because I…I was eavesdropping on his conversation at The Oar last night. It didn’t totally make sense until now.”
“Eavesdropping?” Pepper tented her hands under her chin. “How devious of you.”
“It wasn’t on purpose. I was having dinner with Dad in the booth next to where he and Stone and Trey were having dinner. You know how high those booths are. They didn’t see me. When Dad went to the bathroom, I just happened to catch the conversation when they were talking about you.”
“Tell us exactly what was said.” Pepper put a slight pause between each word.
“Exactly.” Maggie elongated the word. “And then you will tell us why you didn’t feel this was relevant until now.”
Jackson looked from his wife to Pepper with the eyes of a trapped animal. “He panicked when you asked him to dinner and said something stupid and insulting. You caught him off guard. And you know, guys have fragile egos.”
“Shocking,” Pepper said.
“He feels terrible,” Jackson said.
“Well, this complicates things five hundred times more,” Maggie said. “Doesn’t it?”
“Seems to me it’s the opposite,” Pepper said. “Lisa, you like him, right?”
“I have a crush on him, yes. He’s interesting. More so than most guys I’ve met lately.”
“And he likes you, right?” Pepper asked.
“I have no idea.” Lisa avoided making eye contact. Her mind couldn’t process all of this at once. She’d been crushed when he rejected her. On the other hand, she understood insecurity. She was the queen when it came to self-doubt.
“He does,” Jackson said. “I’m a dumb guy, but I know that much.”
Missed: Rafael & Lisa Page 6