Late Arrival: A Park Hotel Mystery (The Park Hotel Mysteries Book 4)

by Diane Capri

He glanced at me. “Oh, you heard about that?”

  I nodded. “June told me.”

  “No, I’m not worried. Eric and Nicole will be fine. All marriages have ups and downs. It’s how they weather the downs that matters most.”

  “What’s going on, then? You look worried about something.”

  “Have you seen or heard Lois talking to herself?” He looked down at the floor while he asked.

  I wanted to say no, but Samuel asked out of real concern for his daughter-in-law, whom I knew he loved very much. “Yes, a couple of times.”

  “She thinks she’s talking to Henry.” He sighed. “Which would be okay if that’s all it was. I talked to Loraine for years after she passed. But Lois thinks he’s still here. She is hearing Henry talking back to her. That’s not healthy.”

  “Have you talked to her about it?”

  He shook his head. “Henry’s sudden death was so hard on her—on all the family, really. It was a blow I’m not sure she’s recovered from.”

  “Lois is tough. She’s the strongest woman I know. You’re not worried about how she’s running the hotel, are you?” Whatever happened, Lois ran the Park Hotel with a firm and steady hand. She was good at her job, and she loved the Park.

  “No. She’s making good decisions. I just worry.”

  “Of course you do. Any good father would.”

  He turned his head toward me and patted my hand. “You’re a good woman, Andi. You’re good for this hotel and good for my family. I hope we never lose you.” He stood and, after fixing his tie, wandered back across the lobby, doing his rounds.

  I sat back in the sofa for a moment, soaking up the compliment Samuel had given me. He’d taken me by surprise. I’d never had a close family. Growing up had been lonely. My parents weren’t close to their siblings, so there were no big family gatherings on holidays. I never had big birthday celebrations with lots of presents and family and friends. If it hadn’t been for Miss Charlotte, I would’ve been a very isolated child.

  The Parks were a huge blessing that came into my life when I met Ginny. I never wanted to take any of that for granted.

  I glanced up at the clock and realized that I was late for my meeting with the hunky and mysterious Clive Barrington. I rushed to my suite to get ready.

  Barrington had reminded me several times of my promise to join him for dinner. I had hoped he would finish his business on the island, whatever it was, and leave long before this day arrived. No such luck. Something about him made me uneasy, so I’d been avoiding him and hoping he’d get the hint. No such luck. I also tried setting him up with Ginny a couple of times. I could tell that she liked him and had a good time with him, which made us both happy. But Mr. Gorgeous, as Ginny had been calling him, was still here, and he had asked me about dinner again three days ago—in a way that suggested he’d never give up and I might as well give in. So, I sucked it up and agreed.

  I had made the reservation for a time when I was sure Ginny wouldn’t be available to join us. I would normally have invited her to come along, but I wanted to have a private chat with the mysterious stranger and get it over with. This was my chance.

  Chapter 13

  We’d met in the lobby of the Park and strolled down to the village, and now we were seated at Top of the Lilac, perched atop the fourth floor of the Lilac Inn on Main Street. From here, we had a stellar view of the Round Island lighthouse and the impressive Mighty Mac bridge connecting Michigan’s upper and lower peninsulas. I also had a spectacular view of Barrington. He was just as hunky and charming as Ginny had said. He might be perfect for her, but he was a little too perfect for me. I never wanted to date a guy who was better looking than I was. Too much pressure.

  By the time we’d arrived at our table, I’d exhausted all of my usual small talk about the island’s most popular features. He had listened intently and asked insightful questions. I had the impression that he was genuinely interested in every word, which unnerved me a little. I’m a fairly good conversationalist, but in all my life, I had never inspired any man to give me his undivided attention. Certainly not a man as awesome as Clive Barrington. I’m just not that fascinating.

  Call me skeptical if you want, but the whole situation made me suspicious.

  After we’d ordered our meal, and an expensive bottle of red wine to go with it, Barrington remained as relaxed and at ease as ever. I, on the other hand, felt like a tightly coiled spring. I took another sip of wine to loosen me up a bit.

  “Tell me, Ms. Steele,” he began in that sexy, rumbly voice with charm for days, “how did you end up working as the concierge at the Park Hotel? Didn’t Lane tell me you’re a lawyer?”

  The question was troubling. There was nothing on my business card that said I had been a damn good lawyer once upon a time. He had been asking around about me, and I didn’t like it. Not even a little bit. Who else had he been asking? And what did they tell him? Perhaps I should have been flattered, but his interest only made me more uneasy. Our comfortable, very public environment emboldened me, though. Or maybe it was the wine. Either way, I was inspired by the little devil sitting on my shoulder to cut right to the chase and find out what was going on.

  “The Park is a beautiful and special place, isn’t it?” I sidestepped his question adroitly and then gave him a nice smile and slid over to my own inquisition. “What kind of business brings you here all the way from Hong Kong?”

  “I wondered how long it would take you to ask me that.” He flashed me one of his megawatters like I was a star pupil or something.

  I returned his smile and bit my tongue, resisting the temptation to rush in and fill the awkward silence which lasted until after the waiter delivered our salads. He fell on his food like a hungry wolf while I waited, my salad untouched. When my stomach began to growl loudly enough to be heard all the way over in Frontenac City, I gave in and took a bite.

  He finally replied, looking at me directly through those amazing green eyes. The kind of look that would make a girl’s toes tingle. “I’m a fixer for your parents at Club Paradise.”

  His words caused me to choke on the salad, and I spent the next few seconds trying to swallow instead of spitting my romaine all over the table. I washed the last of it down with a big gulp of water while he grinned at my discomfort.

  “I gather that’s not what you expected me to say? You have so many visitors to Frontenac Island from Hong Kong, do you? The connection simply didn’t occur to you, Andi? I’m sure you’re more clever than that. Surely you already knew that your parents sent me here,” he said calmly. Giving me a chance to regain my composure, he sipped his wine and took a moment to appreciate the smooth finish. “I’m very impressed with the quality of the wines available here. This little island is more upscale than I expected. It’s obvious why you like the place.”

  I sat back in my chair and folded my hands over my napkin. “Mr. Barrington—”

  “Please call me Clive. Your parents, Drew and Emily, are good friends. I’m sure you and I will be, too.”

  Every word out of his mouth made me nervous. I had assumed there was some connection between Barrington’s arrival on Frontenac Island and my parents, sure. But I had been ignoring the internal warnings from my queasy stomach every time he made excuses to talk to me. “Okay, Clive. Are you saying my parents sent you here? For what purpose?”

  “To offer you a job. What did you think? Were you worried that I might kidnap you and haul you back to Hong Kong against your will?” He cocked his head and smiled.

  “Not at all,” I replied, although I actually had been thinking along those lines. Now that he’d said the words aloud, the idea didn’t seem foolish. I’d experienced a little too much drama, and I allowed my imagination to run amok.

  The waiter collected the salad plates—Clive’s as clean as if it had come directly from the dishwasher, and mine barely touched. He refilled our wineglasses and discreetly departed. During the process, I had a few minutes to think.

  “I’m sorry you
r trip has been wasted. I’ve already told my parents that I’m not interested in moving to Hong Kong. I’ve told them that many, many times over the years. My life is here. I like living in this country, Clive. In fact, I like living on this island. I love the Park Hotel, and I really love my job. Apparently, they still haven’t accepted my decision. I’m sorry to have wasted your time, but I’m not sure what more I can do.” I sipped my wine and pretended to relax.

  Now that I knew why he was here, he seemed less threatening. Maybe I could still set him up with Ginny. She had made it clear she’d be thrilled to spend time with him.

  Barrington nodded in a friendly way and leaned forward. Quietly, he said, “Forgive me, Andrea, but your decision makes no sense.”

  I gasped at his impertinence. He knew almost nothing about me. This was the longest conversation we’d ever had. Surely, whomever he had been asking must have told him that making logical, rational decisions was one of the things I did best. The only thing I could think of to say in response was, “Why not?”

  “Your life is at a crossroads. You aren’t practicing law here, and it’s not likely you ever will, based on the embezzlement files I’ve read. You’re single, and there is nothing holding you here. You don’t own a home, don’t have a real job. You don’t have children or a spouse tying you down. The only things tying you to this place are your beloved cats, and they don’t even live with you now.” He paused for another sip of wine and to give a chance for his logic to overwhelm me. “As charming as Frontenac Island is, nothing here can compare to Hong Kong. And of course, you can bring Scout and Jem with you. No problem at all.”

  I could feel my cheeks flush and my ears warming. The longer he talked, the more annoyed I became. His argument was so persuasively laid out that I even found myself nodding along involuntarily.

  “Club Paradise is presenting you with a phenomenal opportunity anyone would die for, and you’re throwing it away with both hands. Your parents simply don’t understand why, and neither do I.” He paused again and gave me a penetrating gaze. “This job won’t wait forever, Andi. Your parents aren’t getting any younger. Club Paradise is a wonderful business. It should be yours one day. Do you really want to give all of that up?”

  I tried to find something to say to prove him wrong on one single point, but facts were facts, and he had not misstated any. The way he’d laid it all out, only an idiot would make the choices I had made. Problem was, I kind of agreed with him. Was I just being a petulant child after all?

  The waiter returned with our meals and placed the plates in front of us. Again, Clive ate his meal with gusto while I pushed the food around on my plate with a fork. A bright orange sunset lit the western sky over Lake Michigan, bathing everything on the island in a warm glow.

  I gazed at the sunset and thought about all the things I loved about my new home, the Park family, Daniel, all my new friends. Even the sheriff. Could I leave it all behind and move around the world? What about Ginny?

  He finished his meal, and we left, walking back the way we’d come. As we approached the Park, he said, “I’ll be here a few more days, and then I will need to get back. I can talk to you about the job, answer any questions you might have. If I return to Hong Kong without you, Drew and Emily will need to hire another candidate. I’m sure you understand.”

  Involuntarily, I gasped, and my eyes widened. “My parents are planning to sell Club Paradise?”

  “That’s what they sent me here to make clear, Andi. To find out for sure whether you truly don’t want the business. They’ve received offers over the years and always rejected them, but this one is compelling. And it has an expiration date. Unless you want to take your rightful ownership role in Club Paradise, they’ll have no other choice.” He opened the big front door with a flourish. I walked inside, and he followed. “Look around, Andi. The Park Hotel is a grand place, filled with history and sentiment. Yet, Club Paradise is ten times more grand than the Park. Like the Parks, your parents have spent their lives building the business for their only child. Would Ginny and Eric turn their backs on the Park the way you’re doing with Club Paradise?”

  He thanked me for a lovely evening, tipped his head in that continental way that gave him a gentlemanly air, and headed for the elevators. He’d left me with much to consider.

  Chapter 14

  The golf tournament started at six o’clock the next morning. I was in group five, out of eight total, and we didn’t tee off until seven o’clock. I’d slept fitfully. Between bouts of extreme panic that I hadn’t locked the door or the balcony and getting up to check, I lay awake staring at the ceiling, trying to figure out who broke into my suite and why and how the break-in was connected to Jeremy.

  When I’d tired of worrying about all of that, I’d lie on my side, staring at my phone, wondering if Sheriff Jackson was interested in me, as his daughter had implied. Was that what he’d meant by “the other part”? Was he saying he had feelings for me?

  When I showed up at the clubhouse with the largest mug of black coffee and looking a little rough despite my well-put-together outfit, I wasn’t surprised by Lane’s once-over.

  “Do you want to use my hemorrhoid cream?” he asked.

  I made a face. “Excuse me?”

  “For the bags under your eyes. It works wonders. Shrinks the swelling down in seconds.”

  I quickly searched for a reflective surface to study my face. Sure enough, he was right. My eyes came packing with a whole set of luggage. I held out my hand, and he placed a small tube of Preparation H into it.

  I excused myself to go to the ladies’ room. At the mirror, I dabbed the ointment liberally around my eyes. In seconds, my bags disappeared. I returned to join our team and discreetly handed the tube back to Lane.

  “Thanks.”

  “No problem.”

  The rest of our foursome arrived: Eric Park and Justin Hamilton, our world-class chef at the restaurant. He was also the mayor’s husband and an extremely affable man. I hoped he was a good golfer. Not that we were in it to win it. Sure, I was more than a tad competitive. But I wanted desperately to beat Mr. Fasco’s team. The prizes went to charity, so it didn’t really matter.

  “Morning,” I said to them both.

  “Morning, Andi,” Justin said.

  Eric simply nodded. He looked like he hadn’t slept well, either. I hoped I’d get a chance to talk to him during the day. We’d been good friends years ago when Ginny and I were in college. We’d not been that close since, but I enjoyed talking with him. Since moving to the island, I could probably count on one hand how many conversations we’d actually had.

  “Are we ready?” Eric asked us.

  We took our bags out to our cart, and with Eric driving, we wheeled up to the tee. Another team was already there setting up their shots. I recognized Mr. Minsky from the ferry.

  He saw me and smiled. “Beautiful day for golf, don’t you think, Ms. Steele?” he said.

  “Couldn’t agree more.”

  Lane snickered. “He’s totally flirting with you.”

  “No, he isn’t. He’s just being friendly.” I pulled my golf glove on. It was sparkly gold, to match the golf bag I’d borrowed. I pulled my driver out. “Besides that, he is totally not my type.”

  “Yeah, you go for the tall, dark, and handsome type,” Lane said. “If they’re authority figures, you like them even better.”

  I was about to argue with him, but the truth was, he was right.

  “Yeah, Andi does certainly have a type.” This from Eric.

  I frowned at him. “I don’t have a type.”

  “Remember that guy you went out with in college?” he said. “Ian something? He was tall, dark hair, and wasn’t he an associate professor?”

  “Adjunct professor at the law school, actually. He was a public defender. He didn’t teach full time.”

  “Still, he had authority at the college, and you gravitate that way, like Lane said.” Eric pulled his driver and a bright yellow ball from his ba
g, preparing to tee off.

  I detected a thread of resentment in his voice but shook it off. Dating Ian had been a mistake. He wasn’t the man I’d initially thought he was. He didn’t have a healthy respect for the law or for his clients. I’d observed how he’d treated a poor young Hispanic man who needed help, and that was enough for me to know the measure of his character. I stopped dating him that very moment.

  I remembered telling Eric about it, and shortly after that was when Eric had asked me out. I knew within the first hour that it wouldn’t work between us. At least not for me. Ginny had told me that Eric had felt differently. Which was why Nicole hadn’t been friendly to me when I first arrived on the island. She believed Eric was still in love with me. I didn’t think that at all, but there were some awkward moments since I’d come to the Park that had given me pause. I really hoped their marital issues had nothing to do with me.

  After Eric drove his ball an impressive 200 yards, I teed up next. I set my pink ball on the tee, lined up, and swung. The ball sailed through the air. There was nothing like smacking a golf ball and seeing it fly. It landed beyond Eric’s.

  While Justin set up and Lane prepared to go next, I went to stand beside Eric.

  “I heard about Nicole leaving the hotel to work at June’s. Is everything else okay with the two of you?”

  “I know you like to be in everyone’s business, Andi, but please stay out of mine.” He walked away from me and jumped into his cart.

  I frowned after him. Was that how he really saw me? A nosy busybody?

  After Lane finished his tee shot, I took the passenger’s seat in Lane’s cart, and we drove down to our balls. Poor Justin had sliced to the right. He wasn’t quite into the trees but was close enough.

  “You wouldn’t consider me a busybody, would you?” I asked Lane.

  He shook his head. “No, not really. I think you honestly like helping people.”

  I rewarded him with a smile. “Thank you for noticing.”