The Sex On Beach Book Club

by Jennifer Apodaca

  But a blinding glare of light stopped her. Holly turned and saw a TV camera on a man’s shoulder and a woman rushing toward her with a microphone. “Holly Hillbay?”

  The light zeroed in on her. She heard herself reply automatically, “Yes?”

  “Excellent. Stand here.” The woman turned to stand next to her, raised her mike, and starting talking while looking into the camera. “Holly Hillbay has solved the three-year-old mystery of what happened to hot shot sports agent Nicolas Mandeville. And she brought Michelle Mandeville, Mr. Mandeville’s sister, who is very prominent in the surfing world, here for a reunion.”

  The camera swung to capture Wes and his sister.

  Then it swung back to her. The woman shoved the microphone in her face. “Ms. Hillbay, how did you crack this case?”

  “Get away from me!” This was freaking unbelievable. She didn’t know what the hell was going on. Holly felt the danger but didn’t understand it. This had to be another threat against Wes. Someone got his sister here. She scanned the bookstore, squinting from the glare of the camera lights, trying to see if she could spot a weapon or a suspect. Trying to make sense of it, she recognized a familiar, and hated, face.

  Brad. He strolled in wearing a designer suit and a shark’s smile. “I’ll be happy to tell you how she did it.” Brad adjusted his tie as he seamlessly glided in front of the camera. “Holly Hillbay has always had a thing for powerful men. She knew who Nicolas Mandeville was, then she saw a picture of a Little League team in the local newspaper, and recognized Nick, aka Wes Brockman, as the coach. So she infiltrated the book club at this bookstore, owned by Wes, and eventually seduced him into telling her who he really is—Nick Mandeville. Then she tracked down his sister and used this scene to get on the news to advertise her PI agency.”

  Her mouth went dry and her gut burned with rage. “What have you done?” she demanded of Brad.

  He turned to look at her. “Me? Holly you’re the one who cracked this case. Smile for the camera.”

  She didn’t care about him. Didn’t give a rat’s ass about Bradley Knoll. The man she cared about was Wes. She whirled around to find him. He would believe her. Wes talked about honesty—told her he wouldn’t walk out on her just because he was mad. He had told her that not being able to have children wasn’t a deal-breaker. He had told her he loved her. She could make him understand that they’d both been set up.

  She’d find a way to protect both Wes and his sister.

  Holly spotted the news reporter shoving her microphone in Wes’s face. “Mr. Mandeville, why did you fake your death?”

  “No comment,” Wes said, and used his shoulder to nudge the woman aside. He was trying to shield his sister from the camera as they walked to the door. “Jodi, close up,” he told her when he got to the counter.

  “Wes.” Holly caught his arm. He had told her to trust him. She did. She would.

  The camera turned on them.

  She didn’t care. The memory of this morning rushed through her. Of making love early in the morning, of realizing she was falling for him, of screwing up her courage to tell him the truth, knowing that he’d leave her. But he hadn’t left her, he loved her. She trusted that he’d never use what they had against her.

  He wouldn’t hate her. It squeezed her chest until it was all she could do to remain standing. He had to believe her. He’d said he wouldn’t turn against her. Beneath her hand, his arm clenched to the feel of solid rock. She hurried, trying to get the words out. “I didn’t do this.” Her dry eyes stung and her throat hurt. “We’re being set up.”

  Letting go of Michelle, he grabbed her hand and flung it off his arm. She could feel his pulsing anger. He literally took a step back to keep control. “I told you I won’t be played in my own bookstore.” His green eyes burned into her, then he curled his arm protectively around Michelle and moved away.

  When Wes and his sister got to the door, he looked back. “You’re fired.”

  Chapter 19

  He knew.

  Holly was frozen to the spot with the echo of the door slamming still ringing in her head. Wes knew she hadn’t sent that e-mail, and that they were being set up.

  I told you I won’t be played in my own bookstore.

  He had turned the tables on them, letting Brad, and whoever put the dumb shit up to this, believe that he’d fired her.

  Someone touched her arm. She turned to see Jodi’s strained, pale face. “Holly, what’s happening?”

  She stared at Jodi’s face and thought, What if I’m wrong? What if Wes really doesn’t believe in me?

  From where he stood behind her, Brad cut in. “You’re finished, Holly.”

  She whirled around and realized a stark truth—she had let Brad turn her into a coward. Instantly, she made a decision. She chose to believe in Wes. He had done his part in this little scenario, now it was time for Holly to step up and do her part. She knew Brad was nothing more than a puppet; she had to find out who was pulling his strings. “Who put you up to this, Brad?”

  He smiled with practiced arrogance. “You should have stayed in uniform. You’ll never be more than a grunt taking orders. You are in way over your head.”

  She fought down a wave of frustrated anger so powerful she had to squeeze her muscles to keep from slamming her fist through his face. Wes’s sister arriving in this highly orchestrated show was no accident. The danger was escalating and she couldn’t see where it was coming from.

  “Holly?” Jodi sounded lost.

  Brad looked past Holly to the girl. “Holly won’t tell you what she did, so I will. She betrayed a client, your boss. Do your boss a favor and throw her out. He’ll give you a raise.”

  She couldn’t see Jodi, but Holly felt the girl straighten up and say, “I don’t believe you. Holly wouldn’t do that.”

  Brad laughed at Jodi.

  Anger rolled through her. “Don’t talk to Jodi like that. She’s a hell of a lot smarter than you could ever hope to be. She knows what Wes wants done, he told her.” She turned her gaze to Jodi. “Close the store. You and Kelly are coming with me.”

  Jodi stared back, then nodded and went to talk to Kelly.

  Because Jodi believed in Holly. Even in a moment when she couldn’t be sure, she believed. That humbled Holly, and gave her courage to press on. This setup was supposed to destroy her and Brad was there to enjoy it. Okay, she thought, let’s see what shakes out. “Brad, don’t you understand? We’re being used. You’re being used. Just like everyone else. One of the women in the book club murdered Cullen, and they’re planning something with Wes and his sister. Who is it?”

  Brad shook his head. “You really thought you were the only one who knew who Brockman was, didn’t you? But someone else knew, and they have a book already written and ready to go. And now that Brockman knows just what you are”—he looked down his nose at Holly—“he and his sister will take the offer and sign the release.”

  “A book?” Her mind skittered back to George and his conversation with Wes’s ex-wife. She said someone called her, wanting to find Michelle, and something about signing a release…

  “Thinking small again.” Brad shook his head. “A book, movies, and so much more.” Then Brad’s face grew serious. “I’m warning you, Holly, I won’t let you get in my way. I have plans. Plans that take money and backing.”

  She ignored the threat. “Who is it, Brad? Who wrote this book?”

  He shook his head while holding his gloating little smile. “You’re out of the game now. You’re nothing. And if you ever open your mouth about me, everyone will know that you’re a pathetic little woman who couldn’t ever hold onto a man or a job.”

  It made her sick. “You stupid SOB! Cullen Vail was murdered! Do you think they won’t kill you when they’re done using you? You don’t know what you’ve gotten involved in!”

  His expression shifted to distaste. “Vail was a small-time scammer. He was bound to get popped sooner or later.”

  “Jesus, Brad, pull your head o
ut of your ass! Someone shot George yesterday by Cullen’s boat. This person is playing for keeps. They will murder anyone in their way.”

  He shook his head in that same patronizing way. “I always knew you were stupid. I’ve heard rumors about George. No one really knows his business—probably drugs. But that’s the type of bottom feeder you associate with, isn’t it?”

  It was like trying to swim to shore in a riptide. Brad wouldn’t listen. She was wasting her time. For the first time in three years, her hate withered into a lump of aggravation. “Just tell me who it is!”

  He plastered on a smug smile and walked out.

  Wes got his sister into his Range Rover and drove away.

  “Nick, talk to me. The e-mail said you are in danger!”

  He looked over at his sister, and felt his throat tighten. In spite of everything, a thread of happiness unrolled inside of him. She’d found out he was alive, possibly in danger, and had dropped everything to find him. Even after his decision to blow the whistle on the doping had led to Michelle being beaten up, and even after he had disappeared leaving Michelle to believe he was dead. “That e-mail was a fake. But I am in danger, and so are you. Holly didn’t send that e-mail.” Wes had known it the second he saw the e-mail.

  Just as Wes knew Holly loved him. He just hoped she understood what he had done. Would Holly realize that he was trying to turn the tables on the person behind this whole mess? Would she trust him?

  “Who did send the e-mail?”

  He sighed. “I don’t know. Someone from my past is screwing around with my life, and yours. I’ll try to fill you in but I have a couple calls to make.” He picked up his cell phone and dialed.

  George answered. “What?”

  Wes summed up the scene in the bookstore.

  “No shit?” George only took a second to process it, then said, “Whatever the plan is, it’s going to happen soon. Someone is separating you from everyone that will help you.”

  “They meant to shoot you yesterday.” Until now, Wes hadn’t been sure if that shot had been meant for him or George.

  “I think so, too. In fact, I’m going to call Cullen’s mother back and have a chat. Later.” He hung up.

  Michelle put her hand on his arm. “Is this related to the guy you put in prison?”

  God, he had missed her voice. He’d missed everything about her. “I think so.” He put off calling Holly to explain as much as he could to Michelle before they pulled up in front of his house. They got out of the car.

  “You live at the beach,” she said as they walked up to the front door.

  Both of them had loved the beach while growing up. Wes had learned to surf with his friends. Then he’d taught Michelle. He put his arm around her shoulders and took her in the house.

  Monty bounded up to them. Spotting Michelle, he turned circles in excitement, then he dropped his ever-present ball at her feet and barked.

  Michelle bent down and scooped him into her arms. “Well, who is this?”

  “Monty. Holly and I found him half drowned one night.” The first night he had met her. He had to call Holly as soon as he talked to George again. He didn’t see him in the living room. “Let’s go to the kitchen.” Wes led his sister past the gurgling fish tank into his kitchen.

  George wasn’t there either.

  Michelle carried Monty to the sliding glass door and looked out at the ocean.

  George walked into the kitchen. He had on a black shirt, sweatpants, and his right arm in a sling. His blue glasses slid down his nose and he fixed his gaze on Wes. “I talked to Cullen’s—”

  Wes frowned, seeing that George was staring at his sister. “Michelle, this is George.”

  She had turned. “Hi, George.”

  Wes’s cell phone rang before he could prod George into finishing his sentence. Pulling it out, he saw it was from Holly. He needed to hear her voice, to know that she was okay and that she understood what he had done in the bookstore. Putting the phone to his ear, he asked, “Where are you?”

  “My fee has quadrupled, Brockman.”

  Wes closed his eyes for a second. “I knew that e-mail was a fake, Holly. The second I saw it. Believe me, baby.” He needed her to believe in him. He needed her.

  He only heard the sound of the waves from outside, and he felt both George and Michelle staring at him. Then Holly said, “You knew I could handle Brad.”

  He smiled, and wished like hell that she was right in front of him so he could hold her, touch her. “Just as long as you left him alive. I have a score to settle with him.” He knew it was a primitive caveman urge, but damn it, that bastard had hurt Holly on so many levels. And Holly could have died if her dad hadn’t gotten there in time, since Brad had been too busy to bother going home and taking care of the woman carrying his baby.

  “Street justice, book boy? Isn’t that what you accused my brother of?”

  He remembered when she had told him Seth and Brad had a dispute. Because of the work his dad had done outing abusive cops along with abuses in the system, he’d thought the worst. But he knew better now. “I’d give your brother a medal,” he said softly. “And your brothers aren’t the kind of cops who deal in street justice. That was a brother taking care of his sister.”

  She snorted. “You are so full of shit.” She paused, then added, “I couldn’t get Brad to tell me who was behind bringing Michelle to Goleta. He doesn’t realize he’s just a puppet in a game.”

  Wes got serious. “Someone is pulling a lot of strings. So what did you find out?”

  “That someone else has known for a while who you really are, and they’ve written a book. They have big plans for the book.”

  “A book? About me? All this for a book?” Wes tried to make it work in his mind, but it didn’t make sense.

  Her voice was ripe with sarcasm. “Brad, the imbecile, believes the whole reason the person got Michelle here was to convince you two to sign a release.”

  Wes shook his head. “Doesn’t play. Hell, people write unauthorized biographies all the time. And if I’m missing, they could write a book about me easily. They don’t need a release.”

  George had been listening intently. Now he interrupted to say, “Wes, put Holly on the speaker for a minute.”

  He nodded to George. “Holly, I’m switching you to the speaker. George has something.” As soon as he did it, Wes set the phone down and said, “Can you hear okay, Holly?”

  “Yes. What’s up, George?”

  George moved closer to the phone. “I called Cullen’s mom back. I explained that there was an incident at the dock that prevented me from seeing the boat, but I was still interested and hoped to look at it soon.”

  George’s voice was a little strained—from what he’d learned or pain from his bullet wound?

  “What did she say?” Holly asked.

  “That her niece is going to buy the boat. She talked to her niece on the phone right after she talked to me.” George paused and looked up at Wes. “It seems that Cullen and his cousin were close when growing up in Oregon. They used to go hunting together. But Cullen didn’t have the stomach for it like his cousin did.”

  Christ, Wes thought. He stared at George. “Who is it?”

  “George, who?” Holly reiterated the question.

  “Ashley Gaines.”

  Michelle walked over from the sliding glass door. “Ashley Gaines. Isn’t that the wife of the trainer your testimony put in prison?”

  Wes put his arm around his sister. She was hugging Monty to her chest. The dog lapped up the attention.

  “Michelle,” Holly said from the phone. “Did you ever meet Ashley?”

  “I remember her from the trial.”

  Wes looked down at her. “That’s right, you went to a lot of the trial.”

  “Wes, get your sister to my office,” Holly said. “Ashley Gaines is connected to this, and obviously she has skill with a gun if she grew up hunting. And she’s got a plan, that’s why she got Michelle into town for that show at
the bookstore. I have some pictures I want to show Michelle.”

  Wes hesitated. “I have to keep her safe.”

  Michelle overruled him. “We’ll be there, Holly. My brother needs help, and I’m here to help.”

  “If he gives you any trouble, Michelle, I have a gun you can use.” Holly hung up.

  Michelle laughed and looked up at him. “I’m going to like her, aren’t I?”

  He rolled his eyes. “I’m afraid so.”

  Holly figured Wes and his sister, and probably George, would get to her office in about ten minutes. “Tanya, pull out the picture of Ashley Gaines.”

  Tanya found it quickly and handed it to Holly. “I noticed her picture when I organized all the files. This woman does not look thirty-five, she looks ten years older. I, uh”—she started tripping over her words—“you know, I saw the birth date on her driver’s license and noticed she looked older than the date.”

  “Very observant,” Holly said and took the picture, looking at the face. She was a no-maintenance kind of woman. She had store-bought brown hair, a small chin, and brown eyes that didn’t quite look at the camera. She narrowed her gaze. “Who are you? I’m betting you aren’t Ashley Gaines.”

  “So who is Ashley Gaines?” Tanya asked.

  Holly sighed. “One of the women in the book club. But which one?”

  “I might have a clue,” her dad said as he walked into her office. He looked around. “Where are Jodi and Kelly?”

  “Seth picked them up and took them to my house. He said he hadn’t connected with Nora yet, but right now, I want him to keep an eye on Jodi and Kelly.” As her dad sat down, she added, “This is Tanya, my assistant.”

  “Hi, Mr. Hillbay,” Tanya said.

  “Call me Eric, Tanya. Nice to meet you.”

  “What do you have, Dad?” Holly was edgy, but she’d feel better once Wes and his sister got there.

  He didn’t waste any time. “I went to the station to chat with old friends and heard the news—Nora Jacobson has a gun.”

  Holly blinked. “George checked and only Maggie Partlow has a gun permit.” How had they missed this? Holly should have checked herself.