Seashells & Mistletoe (Hawaiian Holiday Book 2)

by Rachelle Ayala

  “He did? I thought it was you who stayed behind,” Jade says. “Weird. I got a text message saying you were going to drop out for a year, travel, and go incognito.”

  “That’s what Jordan and I were planning on doing,” I say, my voice cracking. “Until he dumped me. Not only that, he betrayed me. Did you know he was working with my ex? Stephen? Spying on me the entire cruise?”

  “No way,” Jade exclaims. “He’s never said anything to me about any of this.”

  “That’s because he was his fixer behind the scenes, getting Stephen out of trouble and saving his image.”

  “That’s horrible. I don’t believe it.”

  “Heard it from the horse’s mouth. Stephen told me. Not only that, Jordan recorded all of our conversations on my phone.”

  “Wait, wait, your phone? How?”

  “I lost it at the beginning of the trip and it turned out Stephen swiped it and he gave it to Jordan to spy on me. Jordan was supposed to test me to see if I’d remain loyal to Stephen.”

  “Wait, this doesn’t make sense. The text message I got says it’s from you,” Jade says, and I can hear a muffled man’s voice in the background asking if she’s okay.

  “It wasn’t me. I didn’t have my phone until Stephen gave it back to me. I’m disturbing you and Aiden, aren’t I?” I can picture them tangled up between the sheets. Beyond that, I dare not imagine what position they’re exploring.

  “No, I’m concerned,” Jade says. “If you say Jordan’s missing from the ship, then something bad might have happened to him.”

  “Track his phone,” Aiden says, this time closer to the mouthpiece.

  I hear keys clicking and Jade says, “His phone shows he’s on the ship. You guys just passed The Big Island, right?”

  “Yes, that’s right. We were at Maui, our last stop, and then it’s three days out at sea. Jordan can’t possibly be on board, can he? I saw him standing on the dock when we left.”

  “Maybe he left his phone on board or he chased down the ship,” Jade says. “Whatever he’s doing has me worried. Why is he hiding from you?”

  “Because he screwed up. He spied on me for Stephen, and I can never, ever trust him again.”

  “Oh, Dani, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know he’d turn out like this. He seemed so sincere, wanting to cheer you up. I would never have let him take my place if I didn’t think he was on the up and up. I believed he had a crush on you.”

  “He did cheer me up and make me forget Stephen,” I admit. I give my bestie a summary of how I opened my heart to Jordan. “I was willing to run away with him. I wanted all of his surprises, because I thought they’d be good surprises. What he did to me is the worst surprise ever.”

  “I’ll kill him if I ever get my hands on him.” Jade sounds like an angry mama bear. “Dani, I’m truly sorry. Is there anything I can do to make up for this?”

  “Nothing. You meant well with this trip. I guess the only thing I can do is have as much fun as I can until we return to Los Angeles. Like you said, success is the best revenge.”

  “You do it,” she encourages. “Aiden and I are on your side. Let’s meet up after the New Year and do something fun.”

  “Yes, let’s roast Jordan. I’m going to make a giant Jordan Reed piñata and beat the snickers right out of him.”

  I toss and turn all night. The mattress on my bunk is uneven, so I move onto Jordan’s bunk. I hug his pillow to my face and try not to bask in the scent of his cologne.

  Jade says his phone is on board the ship. Maybe he left it behind. Since I can’t sleep, I flick on the lights and unpack the things I stuffed in his duffel bag.

  He betrayed me, so I deserve to snoop.

  Humpf.

  I refold his clothes and arrange his boxers back into the bureau. His socks are scattered on the bottom of the bag, so I carefully match them and tuck them, one into the other.

  A string of seashells fall out of a tube sock.

  It’s a puka shell necklace I admired at one of the jewelry stores I visited with Jordan. It’s not expensive, just a string of small, white shells that are roughly round worn as a choker.

  My heart softens a bit as I recall him saying he had to go to the restroom and disappearing for a few moments. He’d gone back and bought it.

  I put it back into the sock, not wanting to assume. Maybe it’s a gift for Jade.

  After sorting through his socks, I replace all of the little bags and boxes into the drawer under his bunk. The shopping bags have wrapped presents inside, and the boxes are small, with the names of jewelry shops embossed on them.

  I shake a few of the boxes and detect either necklaces or bracelets. There are ring boxes among them, but I dare not imagine they’re for me.

  Despite denying he lives off women, these could be gifts for his current and future sugar mamas.

  I’m tempted to peek, but I’m not that dishonorable. Sighing, I push all of his purchases into the drawer and put his duffel bag into the small closet.

  His personal toiletries are next, but I’ve already been through them all. I return them to the bathroom and stop short when I see what’s in the sink.

  It’s a conch shell, the typical spiral one with a large, pink opening. A note sticks out of the shell. It reads:

  Place this shell to your ear.

  You’ll hear the sea and know I’m near.

  My voice always calls for you.

  Believe and hope for what is true.

  It has to be Jordan. He’s on this ship somewhere, and he’s playing hide and seek with me. Despite my disappointment, I put the shell to my ear. There is a soft, hollow sound, but I no longer hope for anything since I don’t have a clue whether what I hope is true is only wishful thinking.

  “This isn’t funny!” I say, looking around for a hidden microphone, or even worse, a camera. “Jordan, you’re a chicken. A coward. If you’re here, I dare you to confront me. You have a lot of explaining to do. You hear?”

  Obviously, he doesn’t jump out of the shower and scare me half to death. There aren’t many nooks and crannies for him to hide, so I retire back to my bunk, and this time, despite the lumpy mattress, I fall asleep sometime in the wee hours of the night.

  Chapter 20

  The ship’s horn wakes me the next morning. I yawn and stretch, then blink at the light coming in from the balcony window. Somehow, I forgot to pull the blinds last night.

  Chills spread through my body. Someone could have been watching me, or whoever put the shell in my room opened the blinds for that purpose.

  I left my phone charging on the nightstand and check the time. It’s almost noontime. I majorly overslept, but then, we’re out at sea, and there’s nothing to do but look at the ocean.

  I look out the window. There’s no sign of the islands, not even in the distance. Nothing but blue water rising and falling, still calm, thankfully, but boring.

  Then I slap myself. I’m supposed to have as much fun as I can before disembarking. There’s no way I’m going to mope around inside this room, hidden away, and curse myself for trusting the wrong people.

  Stephen is the past. Done and gone.

  Jordan is a mere whisper in the moment. Also gone.

  My future is entirely my own.

  I take a long shower and get dressed in my red dirt outfit. At least it’s not a flowery aloha gown like the other tourists are wearing.

  Someone knocks on my door. “Room service.”

  “Room service?” I ask. “I don’t think I ordered any.”

  “J. Reed and Guest, right?” the man’s voice confirms.

  “Guest, yes, but no J. Reed here,” I grumble and open the door.

  A server wheels in a cart with several covered dishes and champagne in an ice bucket. I check him out to make sure he’s not anyone in disguise, but he doesn’t resemble anyone I know.

  Besides, I’m not going to say anything while he’s in the room.

  He uncovers the silver serving platters, and arranges a place setti
ng for two, then pops the champagne and pours two flutes.

  He sets a gorgeous centerpiece of Hawaiian flowers and foliage, with red, green, and orange colors, on the table, and then lights a scented candle.

  I sign for the food and tip the server, then sit still after he leaves. I’m not expecting anyone to join me, but then, I wouldn’t put it past Jordan to jump out of a closet or roll out from under a bed—except there’s simply no space inside my cabin for such tricks.

  Who eats oysters for breakfast?

  And caviar?

  At least the grilled cream cheese and jam sandwiches look tasty, and the coffee makes my mouth water.

  No one pops through the door or descends through the ceiling tiles, so I decide to eat by myself. I shake out the napkin to put on my lap, and a piece of paper flutters to the ground, along with a shell necklace, the kind of lei they give you at luaus.

  Okay, I get it.

  Jordan isn’t showing himself, but he’s sneaking messages to me. I loop the necklace around my neck and read the note.

  Leap before you look.

  Seize tomorrow before it comes.

  I’ll jump before you jump.

  Sow the whirlwind and fly.

  “Corny,” I say out loud, shaking my head. “But I’ll enjoy your breakfast. Looks like you screwed up. Leaped before looking, sowed the whirlwind and reaped catastrophe.”

  Even though I criticize him out loud, a warm, tickling feeling hugs my insides. I’ve never heard anyone tell me to leap before looking. I get a rush just thinking about taking a chance. I wash my crazy thoughts down with champagne and take a calming breath.

  I’m not going to spend the rest of the cruise angry at a guy who’s always been a prankster and mischievous brat.

  So, he tricked me, but he also broke me out of my rigid, beauty-pageant, socialite, Stepford-wife-wannabe shell.

  “I no longer care!” I sing gleefully as I shove caviar-crusted toasts into my mouth and pour myself another flute of champagne. I stab the small oyster fork into the shell and twirl it around the meat.

  A large, lustrous pearl lays underneath the oyster flesh. It’s huge, the size of a marble, and set on a pendant with a bezel diamond above it.

  I wash it off and put it on. The pendant sits right above my cleavage. I wish Jordan were here to put it on and explain what’s going on.

  Why is he pampering me with food, flowers, and gifts?

  Does he really think this will make up for the horrible trick he played on me?

  I finish the meal and grab my phone, surprised to find a slew of text messages.

  They’re from Jade.

  Where are you?

  What did you do to Dani?

  Not going to answer. I see. I’m truly disappointed.

  I text her back. This is Dani. I think you have the wrong number.

  A few seconds later, she responds. Did you and Jordan swap phones?

  No. This is my phone.

  Then you must have swapped SIM cards. What the heck is going on? I’m worried about you.

  Why? I’m on my way back home. I don’t know why Jordan would swap SIM cards. What do you think he’s up to?

  Wait. I’m going to try and track your phone. Do you have a password?

  I text her my password and wait.

  Her text comes back. Your phone’s offline. Last seen at Honolulu International Airport.

  Great. So Jordan has my phone, and he’s not on board.

  You don’t know that. Your phone was at the airport, but it doesn’t mean Jordan is there.

  You mean my SIM card. I have my phone and it has all my apps, my ebooks and photos.

  SMH, Jade texts. I’m so sorry this happened to you.

  Yeah, me too. But the silver lining is I’ll have all our memories.

  Aiden knows some ex-Secret-Service agents. We’re not going to let Jordan get away.

  It’s okay. He gave and he got, but he set me free from Stephen and my family’s expectations. Maybe it’s better if they think I flew away from Honolulu to parts unknown.

  What are you thinking?

  I don’t quite know, I text back. But somehow, I like the not knowing.

  I like the not knowing.

  I like the not knowing.

  I repeat the mantra to myself as I sit meditating in my yoga class.

  It’s another day at sea, and all I’m going to do is get pampered. I don’t need a man or even a traveling companion to keep me busy.

  I don’t have a clue what I’m going to do when I return home, and I don’t much care.

  Sure, I’ll have to work eventually, after I sell off the expensive dresses, jewelry, and furniture Stephen accessorized me with. Move out of the Nob Hill penthouse he paid for. I’ve already disappointed my family.

  But most importantly, I’m not disappointing myself.

  My life stretches out in front of me.

  I’m free because I don’t know what’ll happen next.

  After being massaged, mani-pedied, and hot stoned to jelly, I stroll through the promenade deck where the ship is having a huge sale. Everything’s up for grabs, and I spy Alice and Sylvester bargain hunting.

  “Hey, you look bright-eyed and bushy-tailed,” Alice says, her arms overflowing with shopping bags.

  Sylvester’s wearing three hats and T-shirts on top of sweatshirts with at least two jackets. “How are you feeling?”

  “Great. I’m having a blast.”

  “Have you eaten?” Alice asks. “We missed you at breakfast.”

  “Someone delivered room service. Have you two, by any chance, seen a crew member who looks suspicious? Anyone like Jordan?”

  They both gape and gasp, shaking their heads.

  Somehow, they look over-the-top innocent.

  “Are you two in cahoots with him?” I narrow my eyes and dart from one to the other.

  “Oh, no, we haven’t seen him,” Alice says. “Why would we be helping him?”

  “Someone is,” I retort. “Sneaking into my room and putting seashells with messages and gifts inside.”

  “Really? What kind of gifts?”

  “It’s not us.”

  “Fine,” I say. “But something strange is going on, and I suspect Jordan’s hiding on board. He monkeyed with my cell phone and swapped SIM cards. Did you know he recorded everything I did with him?”

  Snickers rat-a-tat-tat from brother and sister, and they shake their heads.

  “I think he’s still spying on me,” I continue. “He seems to always be one step ahead of me. Sending me little messages as if they’re answers to my questions.”

  “Let me see your phone.” Sylvester drops his shopping bags and extends his hand.

  I hand it to him, and he immediately turns it off. “He could have fixed your phone to record whenever it recognizes your voice.”

  “He can do that? How do you know?” My heart, lungs, stomach and all my guts slump to the deck. The knife in my back twists like it’s doing the tango, and what’s left of my heart crumbles into pieces again. How can I ever trust anyone again?

  “All of these smart phones can be enabled as listening devices,” Sylvester says. “Let’s go back to my cabin and check this out.”

  “Our cabin’s clean,” Alice says, putting a reassuring hand on me. “We swept it for bugs.”

  “Can you sweep mine?”

  “Sure, we should have thought of that,” Sylvester says. “Let’s do that after we take apart this phone. Sometimes, you have to take the battery out, if you really want to make sure it’s not secretly transmitting on you.”

  “Wow, that’s spooky stuff.” I eye Sylvester with newfound respect. “What did you do before you retired?”

  He gives me a mysterious smile without an answer, and I glance at Alice, who snickers in Morse code.

  Does anyone under the age of thirty know Morse code? I shrug and follow them back to their stateroom.

  As soon as we shut the door, Sylvester retrieves an electronic device with several a
ntennas and flashing lights. Alice shuts the drapes while he sweeps the room.

  “You can’t be too careful these days,” he says, after putting the detector away. “Now, let me look at this phone.”

  He takes the SIM card out and connects the phone to his laptop.

  “You sure this is your phone?” he asks.

  “Yes, this is the cover I picked, and it even has the bling I decorated it with.”

  “The outside is yours, but from what I’m seeing, this is a hacked version. I was right. It detects your voice and records. Look, there is your voice print.” He points to a bunch of jiggly lines on the screen.

  “How did Jordan set all of this up?”

  “He must have had access to your voice to make the prints.”

  “I’m a voice-over artist,” I exclaim. “Anyone who buys the audiobooks I recorded has my voice print.”

  “Then it might not be Jordan,” Alice says. “Your ex could have also set this up. Didn’t you say he admitted to stealing your phone?”

  “Yes, he did. But he says Jordan did the recording.” I try to recall whether Jordan acted suspiciously. “I don’t remember seeing him fiddling with his phone all the time.”

  “He doesn’t have to if it’s voice-activated.” Sylvester taps on his keyboard and brings up more graphs and charts. He plugs in headphones and says, “Let me listen to a few of these clips. What’s the password to your phone?”

  “I changed it back last night. It’s my name in numbers, 3261.”

  Sylvester types it in. He taps around the phone and frowns. “This only unlocks the most recent folders. Was there another one?”

  “You mean Jordan’s? It’s Loki in numbers.”

  He types it in and readjusts his earphones. After a few minutes, he says, “I was right. This is his phone on the inside. Not yours.”

  Jordan swapped the SIM cards,” I remind him.

  “Not only that, but the original files, including all of the audio, are encrypted with his passcode, and only the most recent files are protected by yours. Those are the ones picked up yesterday and this morning.”

  “You mean the phone continued to record?” I blink and my gaze wavers between him and Alice.