The Beachside Cafe (Saltwater Secrets Book 5)

by Sage Parker

  “I just do, Cheyenne,” Jaymee replied. “I can’t help it. She seemed so lost to me. That’s all I could think of. That and being terrified of what that woman was going to put in my body. I’ve never been in so much pain.”

  “Let’s not talk about that right now,” Cameron said. “Let’s take a ride over to Cambridge and see if we can help in the search and identification. That will take up enough of our brainpower to keep us interested. Though the case is being locked up. Just like all those people at IDL.”

  The group laughed quietly.

  An hour later, they were pulling into the wooded area where Doug’s car had been found. It was a place that was typically only used by fisherman and hunters. In a place where there was usually three cars at the most, there were half a dozen cars, along with an ambulance and a fire truck. Jaymee took a moment to wonder why there was a fire truck and what they could possibly do that the EMTs on the ambulance couldn’t do.

  She got out of Cameron’s Jeep and waited for Cheyenne to come up to stand beside her. Her daughter looked a little cold.

  “Are you gonna be all right doing this?” she asked, her voice sympathetic.

  “I’ve got to do it, Mom,” Cheyenne replied. “I’ll never forgive myself if I didn’t at least try to help find him. He was… my dad, after all. The only one I had.” Tears welled up in her eyes and Jaymee took the time to give her a warm hug before they headed toward the group of people coordinating the search.

  They were each given their own areas to search on the map and they pulled out their cell phones to use GPS to make sure they didn’t get lost and were covering the right part.

  Jaymee thought how ironic it would be if she was the one to stumble across her ex-husband’s body.

  It wasn’t her, though. She walked through the high brush, pushing back trees, resisting the urge to call to a man she knew was likely already dead. She did that for about fifteen minutes before she heard a shout ring out through the woods.

  She headed in the direction of the shout and came up on a group of people standing around what looked like disturbed soil. Two men were standing over the area, shoveling the dirt away with quick precision.

  One of the men held up his hand to motion the other one to stop. Jaymee stepped closer to the shallow grave, stretching her neck to look down into it. She saw a hand sticking out of the dirt.

  On that hand was Doug’s wedding ring.

  TEN

  “Here is to a job well done, Jaymee. Cameron.” Carmine Russo, Jaymee’s head waiter in the Saltwater Café, set down beautifully made cocktails in front of the two and turned to Cheyenne and Alex to give them their drinks. “And for all your help, as well,” he told the two.

  “Thank you, Carmine,” Jaymee said with a smile. “I hope you made them.” She turned her gaze to her daughter and Alex across from her. “He makes the best cocktails ever. I think he should be my head bartender instead of waiter. But this isn’t really a bar so there wouldn’t be a whole lot for him to do, would there?”

  “Maybe an expansion in business?” Carmine asked with a wink, putting the big round tray under his arm. He clasped his hands together in front of him and bent slightly at the waist. “Is there anything else I can get for you?”

  “No, I think this is all. If you get a break, drag a chair over and sit with us.”

  Carmine grinned wide at Jaymee. “I’ll do that. Thanks, boss.”

  The group laughed softly as Carmine went back to the kitchen, disappearing behind the swinging door.

  “He was a treasure to find,” Jaymee said, turning her attention back to her family. “It’s amazing what came out of this trial, isn’t it? We’ve all become so close.” She looked at her daughter. “Not that you and I weren’t close.”

  “Oh, Mom,” Cheyenne said with a laugh. “We all know exactly what you mean. I wouldn’t be friends with Alex, you wouldn’t be dating Cameron. We would still be leading the same mundane boring lives we did before.”

  “I think I’ve had enough adventure to last me a lifetime,” Jaymee stated, lifting the cocktail to her lips and taking a sip. It was delicious and fruity. She could barely taste the alcohol, though she knew there was some in it. She didn’t like heavy alcohol cocktails and Carmine knew that. He likely put a little more alcohol in Cameron’s, knowing the man liked it stronger.

  “You’re kidding,” Cameron said, sounding disappointed. She glanced at him and did a double take, thinking how handsome he was. She wouldn’t mind waking up to that face for the rest of her life. “You’re done with adventure? You want to lead that boring, mundane life again that Cheyenne was talking about? Because I don’t think I can do that. I gotta keep things moving or I’ll get old and fat.”

  Jaymee thought about his words for a moment, a pondering look on her face. “You know what? You’re right. I do need to have some kind of excitement in my life. And if being with a private investigator makes that happen, then I’ve got it made already, don’t I?”

  “That’s right. We’re going to have an exciting time, if I can help it.”

  “Excitement is fine,” Cheyenne said, lifting her glass in the air and gesturing toward Cameron with it. “Just no danger and death wishes.”

  “I do not have a death wish,” Cameron responded, laughter in his voice. “Adventure, yes. Excitement, yes. Death, no. Not yet at least.”

  Jaymee’s mind wandered as Cameron and her daughter continued talking. Alex looked on, more demure than usual, his vibrant self beaming with happiness that everyone was okay. She looked around her café, proud of what she’d accomplished. The restaurant was booming, driven by the good management of her head manager, happy staff members and grateful customers.

  She was especially proud of the tubular fish tank in the middle of the room. Some had questioned her decision but she’d stuck by it, sure that it would be a customer grab. And it was. There was always someone around it, watching her fish and babbling on about it to one another. She’d added a few more exotic fish to the tank, one more beautiful than the last.

  Her favorite was still her clown fish, her own little Nemo. She made sure to tell every child or interested adult she saw that it was her favorite fish. It was a good conversation starter. When people found out she was the owner of the Saltwater Café, they tended to talk about their life stories and chat with her for longer than if they didn’t know. Plus, she got a nice ego boost from their compliments.

  She wasn’t as sad about Doug’s death as she thought she should be. It turned into guilt when she realized she’d given up on the man long before he disappeared. And if he hadn’t done all the things he’d done, she wouldn’t be with Cameron now, happy and enjoying the prospect of a happy, fulfilled future with him. Cheyenne was grown now and that was a good thing. She was dealing with the tragedy that was her father better than she would have if she’d been younger.

  She knew it hurt Cheyenne either way. But she was glad her daughter was strong enough to handle what had been thrown at her.

  “Do you want to take a stroll out on the deck with me?” Cameron asked, bringing her back to the present. She discovered they had all been quiet for a moment, pondering their own thoughts, just like her.

  She nodded. “Yes, let’s do that. I’d love to look out over the ocean right now.”

  They stood up and strolled out onto the deck, nodding at Cheyenne and Alex, who were content to be left alone together. Jaymee was positive something would come of that, too. Maybe they would even get married someday. They looked really good together and were both smart as a whip. They would have genius children for sure.

  Tingles erupted on her skin when she stopped at the railing and Cameron put his arm around her shoulders.

  “I’m so glad you opened this restaurant,” Cameron said in a low voice.

  “I’m glad you invested in it and did a follow-up on your investment.” She smiled at him. He’d shown up the very day they’d discovered Doug was missing. If she didn’t know the truth now and hadn’t trusted him f
rom the beginning, she might have thought he’d had something to do with it. But it wouldn’t make sense for a PI to get involved in a criminal activity. He hadn’t tried to steer her in the wrong direction. It was almost like God had sent him on the right day to make sure Jaymee didn’t ignore the huge change her life was about to take.

  She tried not to remember what it had been like with the poison pulsing through her body. It had been the strangest feeling she’d ever had. Suddenly, she was burning inside, as if her organs were on fire. She remembered swallowing over and over. It was like the worst indigestion times a thousand.

  The memory of the pain brought tears to her eyes. She didn’t ever want to sweat again.

  “I’ll always wonder if that poison did damage to me or not,” she murmured. Cameron looked at her to acknowledge he was listening. “Maybe there are residual effects. Like people who took LSD or dropped acid or whatever. Doesn’t that leave strychnine in your body or something?”

  “I think so,” Cameron replied. “But I’ve never done acid or any of that, so I don’t know. Had no reason to research the subject.”

  Jaymee nodded. “I think I read it in an article somewhere. I don’t want to feel like that again. I hope I never do. I might avoid going to the pool or laying out in the sun. Just in case, you know.”

  Cameron gave her a soft grin. “In case you get too hot and burst into flames?”

  “It’s not funny, Cam,” Jaymee scolded him softly but gave him a flirtatious look so he would know she wasn’t seriously angry.

  “I would never laugh at you, Jaymee,” Cameron replied. “Not about anything serious. But I don’t want you worrying yourself to death either or changing your life in big ways, like avoiding beach trips and stuff like that. I mean, you live in California. On the beachfront. If you avoid the sun, you’re going to be very unhappy here.”

  Jaymee laughed. “I think you’re right. I will have to get over it. It’s just… it will be on my mind sometimes, you know.”

  “Well, let’s hope not too often.”

  They were quiet for a moment as they looked out at the crashing waves below and the shoreline dotted with children running after another, splashing through the water, mothers chasing after them, fathers throwing footballs and college students playing volleyball.

  There was so much action, so much happiness right in front of her. How could Jaymee not want to participate in that?

  “You’re right,” she said again. He turned his head to look at her. “I’m not going to let this change me or stop me from doing things I like doing. I can’t be scared. I can’t go through life like that. I’m going to have to believe the antidote took care of it. I have to believe that.”

  “And you should,” Cameron responded confidently, turning her to face him and gazing warmly into her eyes. “You’re going to be fine. And just to be on the safe side, I snagged two or three bottles of the antidote. If I ever see you go through symptoms like that poison is reoccurring, you better believe I’m going to inject you myself. No matter what.”

  She smiled lovingly at him. “You won’t let me down, will you? You’ll never let me down.”

  He shook his head. “Never, Jaymee. You’re mine now and I’m not planning on ever letting you go.”

  CONTINUE THE SERIES…

  (BOOK 6)

  [Teaser]

  Jaymee Mason gazed at the fish tank, her eyes searching for the newest additions. She would always be partial to the very first fish she bought – her own Clownfish, who, despite his similarity to Nemo, had both fins.

  Jaymee smiled at her thoughts when the little fish swam right past her as if to say, “Here I am!”

  She was standing in the middle of Saltwater Café, which she owned and operated on a sunny beach in Grand Bay, California. She glanced around as she left the tank behind and went out on the veranda. It was 2:30 in the afternoon on a Thursday, which was just after lunch and there weren’t a lot of customers inside or out on the deck.

  She smiled at a couple as she walked past them to go to the railing that surrounded the veranda. When she looked out over it, she was filled with awe at the beauty she saw. It was the same awe she’d felt since she first found the location.

  “Jaymee?”

  A man’s voice behind her made her turn. She instantly recognized Bob Palmer, one of the men Doug had contacted about the café. One of the only two precious things her deceased ex-husband had given Jaymee was the Saltwater Café. He hadn’t had anything to do with its development. He’d only written checks.

  The other good thing that had come from her marriage to the man, who turned out to be a criminal involved with a very shady company called Intersectional Dynamics Laboratory, was their daughter, Cheyenne. At one time the only bright light in her father’s eye, now she was by her mother’s side through thick and thin.

  “Bob,” Jaymee said, taking a step closer to the man, who had a huge smile on his face. “How are you?” She held out her hand and he shook it energetically.

  “It’s so good to see you, Jaymee. The café has done so well. I haven’t looked at your books but I’ll bet they are exploding with black ink.”

  Jaymee laughed. “We’re doing well, thank you. My partner and I coordinate and it seems we both have had nothing but good ideas so far.”

  Bob looked around. “How is Doug? I haven’t seen him since we worked together securing this location for you.”

  Jaymee blanched, not wanting to talk about Doug. Her heart had grown cold after she found out he was blackmailing people and what they’d discovered about IDL, the company he worked for. She couldn’t help giving the man an astonished look.

  His dark eyebrows shot up. “What have I said? Uh oh. Are you two not together anymore?”

  Jaymee saw his eyes flick down to her left hand. That wouldn’t help him. She was wearing her engagement ring to Cameron Smith, the private investigator who helped her solve Doug’s mysterious disappearance. She held up her hand so he knew she was aware he was looking at it.

  “Doug is dead. He was caught in a big scandal months ago. You don’t know about it?”

  Bob’s face went pale and the look of surprise assured Jaymee he didn’t know anything about Doug’s death. She wasn’t about to relay the details – how one of his blackmail victims, a ruthless woman named Amanda Dinklage, killed him with one of the chemical substances she and others were creating in the labs at IDL and inflicting on human guinea pigs.

  “He’s been gone for almost five months,” Jaymee said. “It’s a very long story. I’m surprised you didn’t see it in the Grand Bay Times.”

  “I haven’t been in California since last year when I was helping you find a location out here. I only visited as it was. I’m sorry to hear of his passing. How is your daughter? I know he was so proud of her. He talked about her all the time.”

  Jaymee’s heart squeezed with sorrow. Her daughter had been a daddy’s girl, that was for sure. “Yes, they were very close. She’s dealing with it the best she can. She’s out on her own now and has a very nice boyfriend. A scientist. Very smart.” She smiled, tapping her temple with one finger.

  Bob looked like he wasn’t quite sure what else to say. Jaymee was amused at his expression. It looked like he desperately wanted to fun away as fast as he could. She was sure he was regretting stopping to talk to her.

  “So how long will you be here in California this time?”

  Bob looked relieved. His shoulders relaxed a bit and he spoke quickly, “Oh, well, I’m on a flight out of here in a couple days. I just had some business to take care of.”

  “Looking at locations?” Jaymee asked. “Not bringing me competition, are you?”

  Bob laughed softly. She was glad he was feeling more comfortable. She didn’t want to talk about the situation any more than he wanted to hear about it.

  “Well, I don’t really have any control over…”

  He stopped when Jaymee threw her head back out and let out a laugh. “I’m teasing you, Bob. Stay and have a
drink?”

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  BOOKS BY SAGE PARKER

  THE BEACHSIDE CAFÉ

  Book 1

  Book 2

  Book 3

  Book 4

  Book 5

  Book 6

  SISTERS OF SNOW PINES SERIES

  Part 1 | Lakehouse Beginnings

  Part 2 | Lakehouse Secrets

  Part 3 | Lakehouse Nights

  Part 4 | Lakehouse Christmas

  Part 5 | Lakehouse Affairs

  Part 6 | Lakehouse Weddings

  WHISPERING SPRINGS SERIES

  Part 1 | Fool For You

  Part 2 | Chasing You

  Part 3 | There For You

  Part 4 | Forgiving You

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  NOTE FROM SAGE PARKER

  Hi lovelies.

  I love writing sweet and clean contemporary romance novels. I was born and raised in a small town in South Carolina, but you can almost always find me at the beach…usually reading a book. I hope my writing brings joy and inspiration to everyone that uses their precious time to read my stories.

  Thanks for stopping by!

  Stay safe and happy x