by Jaden Skye
D E A T H B Y P R O P O S A L
(book #7 in the CARIBBEAN MURDER SERIES)
Jaden Skye
About the Author
Jaden Skye is author of the #1 Bestselling CARIBBEAN MURDER series, which includes eight books (and counting). The first book in the series, DEATH BY HONEYMOON, a #1 Bestseller, is now available as a FREE download on Amazon!
Also in the series are DEATH BY DIVORCE (#2), DEATH BY MARRIAGE (#3), DEATH BY DESIRE (#4), DEATH BY DECEIT (#5), DEATH BY JEALOUSY (#6), DEATH BY PROPOSAL (#7) and DEATH BY OBSESSION (#8). She is also author of the romance A PERFECT STRANGER.
Jaden has always been fascinated with mystery, wrongful death, lies, deception and the power of the truth to prevail. Her romantic suspense/mystery novels feature strong female protagonists who must overcome insurmountable obstacles, and through them, she seeks to get to the very heart of the nature of justice and love.
Please visit www.jadenskye.com to find links to stay in touch with Jaden via Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, her blog, and a whole bunch of other places. Jaden loves to hear from you, so don’t be shy and check back often!
Books by Jaden Skye
THE CARIBBEAN MURDER SERIES
DEATH BY HONEYMOON (Book #1)
DEATH BY DIVORCE (Book #2)
DEATH BY MARRIAGE (Book #3)
DEATH BY DESIRE (Book #4)
DEATH BY DECEIT (Book #5)
DEATH BY JEALOUSY (Book #6)
DEATH BY PROPOSAL (Book #7)
DEATH BY OBSESSION (Book #8)
THE TOM’S RIVER SAGA
A PERFECT STRANGER (Book #1)
Tap here to download Jaden Skye books on Amazon now!
Copyright © 2013 by Jaden Skye
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the author.
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
CONTENTS
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
PROLOGUE
Standing atop the jagged cliff, Clay watched the setting sun throw a flaming blanket of color over the ocean below. It was hard to believe that this moment had actually come. Slowly, he turned to Kate as the breeze rippled across her beautiful face. They were here, together, at last. He stood without moving, taking it all in. Dreams did come true. He’d always believed it, but it had never happened for him until now.
As the breezes blew, Kate raised her hands, pushing her ash blonde hair off her face. Her eyes shone as they looked into his.
“We’re better together than I ever imagined,” Clay murmured.
Kate smiled back.
Dressed in a light blue, filmy dress, slender and sensuous, Kate was more wondrous than Clay had ever dreamt. He gazed at her now, entranced. This was the moment he’d always been waiting for. He couldn’t let it pass.
Kate’s mouth opened slightly, as if about to respond, when suddenly, he fell to his knees and took out the small box he had in his jacket pocket.
Kate looked stunned.
“Kate, Kate,” he said, “this is forever. I knew it the first time we connected. I knew it right away.”
A look of puzzlement flitted across her perfectly sculpted face. Each moment with her was different, her moods flowed into one another like the clouds drifting above. She could be elegant, nurturing, mischievous, inviting.
Clay’s mind was spinning as he looked straight at her. He opened the small box in his hand and stretched it towards her. In it was an incredible three carat diamond engagement ring.
“Kate, when I came down here I wasn’t sure, but now I am positive. You are the woman I’ve been waiting for, searching for, praying for. I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I do know that I want us to be together forever.”
Her face seemed to turn ashen as he spoke. She was shocked, of course. He was as well. She hadn’t expected it. Neither had he.
“Marry me, Kate! Marry me!. I am only half a person without you. Whatever I did, wherever I went, I always felt something missing. Now I know, it was you. As soon as we touched, I became whole.”
The sun glistened more intensely off the water, reflecting its hues back upon them. Clay wasn’t sure why Kate was silent; but he knew she felt the way he did. Why waste another moment waiting when the life they would have together as man and wife stretched out before them?
“Marry me, Kate!” his voice grew louder, over the sound of the surf hitting the rocks.
Kate lifted her hands lifted swiftly, like little birds, covering her face. It was an odd reaction, but she was unusual. That was exactly what he loved about her, he never knew what to expect.
“Promise me, Kate that we’ll be together forever.”
Was she crying from the sudden emotion? Was she afraid to face the raw love in his eyes?
“Kate, Kate, answer me!” his voice called out by itself.
Suddenly she took her hands off her face, her eyes were shining.
“Clay, Clay,” she could barely breathe.
Clay smiled. He could see the love in her eyes. The hope. The expectation. He could see that she was about to say yes.
CHAPTER 1
The New Beaupres Hotel in Aruba was a perfect choice. Located a few steps from the ocean, on the white sandy shores, surrounded by palm trees, exquisitely designed to blend into the Islands topography, it was every honeymooner’s dream. Cindy and Mattheus walked into the glittering dining room that was filled with people dressed in full evening array. Everyone was happily seated at tables, chatting, laughing or dancing on the dance floor in the center of the room. Of course Cindy and Mattheus weren’t on their honeymoon, but it almost felt as if they were.
Cindy tossed her long hair back over her shoulders and looked up at Mattheus with the excitement she’d felt when they’d first met. He looked particularly handsome tonight, in his dark suit and blue silk shirt. With his arm around her waist, he guided her gently to their table. They’d planned this vacation for several weeks and it was hard to believe that the time had come. This was finally their time alone together, a time to unwind, bond, make new choices. No interruptions allowed. Cindy smiled realizing that Mattheus’s promise had become a reality. Clearly, this was as important to him as it was to her. He had taken charge of all the arrangements, wanting to surprise and please Cindy in every way. It had been lovely letting him
take over, feeling his strength and commitment, waiting to see what was coming next.
The two of them were guided to their table by a hostess. When they got there, Mattheus pulled out Cindy’s chair. It had been such a long time since he’d done that and Cindy had missed it. It felt wonderful to have the old Mattheus back. She looked at him across the table. His, handsome craggy, suntanned face relaxed and smiled at her, enjoying her delight.
Cindy reached out her hands, and he took them. This place was so magical, she couldn’t help remember being with Clint on their honeymoon down in the Caribbean as well. They’d also held hands in the dining room. They’d also felt relieved to finally be alone together, away from the pressures of family and friends, after preparing for the wedding,
Cindy sighed lightly and brushed the memories aside. Enough time had passed. She was ready to start again now. Oddly enough, even though she and Mattheus had been working together awhile and had already been lovers, she felt as though they were starting fresh tonight.
“This is long overdue,” Mattheus said softly, as Cindy felt a chill. “I don’t know why I waited so long to do this. I must have been on a different planet.”
“Preoccupied,” said Cindy, “both of us. We couldn’t help it.”
Mattheus relaxed. “It’s good to hear you say that.”
“I’m just happy to be here with you,” Cindy answered without hesitation. “It feels as though we’re starting new.”
“We are,” Mattheus liked that. “We’ve been through a lot, but we’ve learned from it, and what’s past is behind us now.”
Cindy held his hands tighter. It was both scary and wonderful to realize that the past could be over, that it was possible to start anew. She looked around in the dining room which was filled to the brim mostly with couples and a few families and singles sprinkled here and there. The place was lit with bronze chandeliers and lovely breezes blew in from the ocean. Everywhere you looked you felt a sense of exhilaration and anticipation. Cindy smiled. It had been such a long while since she had let herself unwind and take a vacation. She hadn’t really, since Clint had died.
As she looked around, Cindy noticed the table next to theirs. A startlingly beautiful, young couple sat there, looking at each other. The young woman, who had ash blonde hair, wore an incredibly beautiful amber bracelet that captured Cindy’s attention.
“Look at that bracelet,” Cindy said to Mattheus.
He looked over. “The bracelet is beautiful and so is she,” Mattheus said softly, “but nothing here is a match for you.”
Cindy smiled, “Thank you.”
“My pleasure,” said Mattheus as the waiter approached and they ordered. When the waiter left, Mattheus pulled his chair back, “let’s dance,” he said, mischievously.
Cindy was astonished. She loved to dance, but they’d almost never danced together.
Mattheus laughed at her surprise. “I’m not all that bad a dancer.”
“Who said you were?” Cindy grinned. Mattheus was going all out, doing whatever he could, to make her feel special. “Let’s go.”
They stepped onto the dance floor and as his arms circled her, Cindy felt transported to a place she’d always wanted to be, connected, united, wanted. She put her head on his shoulder, he put his head over hers and they circled the floor as though they’d been dancing together their whole lives.
“You never told me you could dance like this,” Cindy whispered, delighted.
“I haven’t you told you lots of things about me,” Mattheus played with her.
“I can’t wait to hear,” said Cindy.
“Everything in its time,” Mattheus ran his hand through her hair. “If I tell you too much, it could spoil things. I don’t want to lose you again.”
Cindy lifted her head and looked in his eyes. “Nothing is going to spoil things again,” she said, her eyes teary.
“You never know,” said Mattheus.
“I do know,” Cindy said.
“Well, I like that,” he replied.
After dancing for what seemed like hours, Mattheus led her back to the table where their dinner sat waiting for them.
“We can do this, Cindy,” Mattheus said as they sat down.
“Do what?”
“Everything,” he said, “we can dance, we can work, we can play, we can love.”
This was the first time he had actually said the word love. It was both frightening and beautiful.
“Let’s eat,” Mattheus said, softly then. “There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
Cindy picked up her water glass and as she did, her attention couldn’t help being drawn to the table besides theirs again. A young man and woman suddenly came over to the table, surprised to see the couple there. The young man who arrived was agitated. The ash blonde woman was stunned to see him. The boyfriend who’d been at the table had no idea what was going on.
There was such sudden intensity at the table that Cindy couldn’t but help watch. After greetings and introductions, the new couple seemed to invite themselves to sit down. Cindy thought about how lovely it was to meet old friends on vacation. It seemed as if many people came to this hotel regularly, it was a popular watering spot. Cindy sat transfixed watching the four of them.
“No snooping,” Mattheus laughed.
“I can’t help it,” said Cindy, “it’s fun.” Of course both Cindy and Mattheus always had to be incredibly vigilant about what went on around them. It was part of the business, an occupational hazard for private detectives. It wasn’t so easy to let go of that vigilance now.
Cindy smiled. “I’m not snooping, just noticing,” she went on. “It’s nice to run into people you know by surprise down here.”
“Yeah, everything is nice,” said Mattheus, “but right now, it’s just you and me. We don’t want to run into anyone. We don’t want to care about what’s happening anywhere else. Not now.”
Cindy felt sobered. Obviously, Mattheus had turned a corner. Now that his wife’s disappearance was solved and he knew that she was dead, he could put the past to rest. For the first time he was able to focus his attention fully on Cindy. This was new for her. Cindy wasn’t used to it.
“I haven’t been this happy in a long time,” Mattheus went on, leaning towards her. “I haven’t felt this relaxed.”
“Me, too,” said Cindy, fully meaning it, thrilled that she and Mattheus could come together again in this way, could provide each other the warmth and connection they once had. The spark between them wasn’t gone. In fact, it seemed possible that it would even grow stronger, and that a long road together stretched out before them.
As she and Mattheus talked, Cindy noticed the young woman with the ash blonde hair look over at them beseechingly. What was she thinking? Was she wishing that she, too, could be alone with her boyfriend?
Cindy smiled at her briefly and she smiled back - two summer guests at the same hotel, two young women, with a man they loved. The young woman had a lovely smile, though there was edge of sadness about it. Cindy thought she probably felt cornered by the other couple. Cindy thought of all the paths that criss crossed in the world, people who meet briefly and parted, people who meet again accidentally, needing to say something more to each other. She thought of people who longed to meet and connect and somehow couldn’t. She also thought of Clint who she’d loved deeply, and was killed on their honeymoon. They’d only been allotted a short span of time together. Was she really being given a second chance with Mattheus now? It certainly felt that way. Would she be able to take it? She wanted to, she knew it was time to move on and love again.
Mattheus put his warm hands over hers, “Cindy, stop watching them,” he laughed. “Every table here has some kind of story. We’re on vacation now.”
Cindy turned her attention fully back to Mattheus. “You’re right, you’re right,” she quickly agreed. “But, remember, you’re the one who taught me how to tune into everything and be a great detective.”
“Tune into me now,” said Matthe
us. “It’s my turn. It’s our time.”
*
After dinner, when Cindy went back to her room with Mattheus, she stopped at the entrance, amazed. The room had been strewn with roses and softly lit candles. Romantic music was playing and the doors to the patio were open, so she could see the full moon that hung in the sky.
Cindy took a deep breath as tears filled her eyes and she took a step in.
“What is all this for?” she murmured.
In response, Mattheus pulled her to him and they kissed, a long, lingering kiss.
“You’ve got to know how much you mean to me,” Mattheus said as they slowly pulled apart.
“Tell me what it is you need from me,” Mattheus continued. “I want this vacation to be perfect.”
“It is perfect,” said Cindy, “just as it is.”
“But tell me,” he continued, “I need to know.”
Cindy felt strange. This was unlike Mattheus.
He turned away for a second and made the music louder. Then he took her back into his arms.
“I realize that I never knew what she needed,” Mattheus murmured slowly.
He was talking about his ex-wife. Since he’d discovered how she’d lied and cheated, Mattheus had refused to say her name.
“I thought I knew what she needed, but I was wrong,” he continued. I don’t know if it would have made a difference, but I never really asked her.”
Mattheus was trying to repair what had happened, Cindy realized. This time he was determined not to let any detail go by.
“Who you are is what is important to me,” Cindy answered, “not your giving me everything I need.”
Mattheus listened intently, then slowly guided Cindy over to the luxurious King size bed, covered with a satin bedspread over which roses were strewn.
“What I need is for you to be who you are, to talk to me truthfully,” Cindy added as they approached.
“That’s a tall order,” Mattheus smiled.
“It’s an easy order,” Cindy replied, as they eased down onto the edge of the bed. “Just be yourself. That’s what’s wonderful.”
