Southern Charm (Southern Desires Series Book 5)

by Jeannette Winters

  Unfortunately, yes. “I am supposed to have lunch with him and his brother, Nate.”

  “Good. Keep that date. And Graham, we need you to get close to him. Find out what he knows.”

  “Kevin, I don’t know what you mean by close because he was my sister’s boyfriend.”

  “Treat this like any other mission. Put your emotions aside. When you look at him, think about Maggie not being alive. Don’t look at him as anything other than what he is: a suspect.”

  When they finished the call, Randi was on edge. Mark hadn’t told her the small piece about this not being over. No wonder he said I couldn’t come clean about who I really am. He needs me. Maybe to flush out the guilty party. Slipping her phone into the back pocket of her jeans, she headed down to the lobby. She was early, but she wanted to be there when Wyatt arrived. She was going to be studying him very well. And you better hope that you know nothing about Maggie’s death, or you’ll wish you’d never met her.

  She sat in one of the plush lobby chairs facing the elevators. She was just far enough to take in all her surroundings as well. He’d caught her off guard twice. It wasn’t happening a third time.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a man dressed in a pair of shorts, tank top, and a baseball cap watching her. At first she didn’t pay much attention to him, but he leaned up against one of the columns and didn’t even try to hide the fact he was practically gawking at her. She wasn’t going to give him the time of day.

  Averting her gaze, she turned her attention back to the elevator. The fact that she obviously wasn’t interested didn’t seem to bother the man one bit. He made his way over to stand directly in front of her, blocking her view. Really? Can’t you take a hint?

  “What’s a pretty woman like you doing sitting alone?”

  Randi crossed her arms, looked him straight in the eyes, and said, “Does that line honestly work for you?”

  Instead of the man leaving as she’d hoped, he laughed and sat down in the chair opposite of her.

  Once again he was just looking at her. Something in his eyes threw her. Not creepy, but definitely weird. Randi leaned to one side trying to see around him. Oh, come on. This man can’t be that daft not to get the hint. It ain’t happening. At least with him sitting she could see most of the elevator. The guy was tall and blocked part of the view. With his big empty head.

  “What brings you to Hawaii?” he asked, never taking his eyes off her.

  Randi didn’t answer. There was no way she was going to encourage him. Wyatt and Nate should be coming down anytime. The last thing she needed was some guy hanging around to make it more awkward than it already was. I’m not sure that’s possible. Yet these last twenty-four hours seems to have proven me wrong a few times. Don’t need to add anything else to the list.

  “Are you here with friends? Or maybe a sister?”

  She shot him an angry look. Peering directly into his eyes, Randi growled, “Listen, buddy. I’m not interested in you or getting to know you. You can either leave on your own or–”

  “Not the friendly type, are you?”

  “Don’t worry about what type I am. I’m waiting for a gentleman friend of mine who won’t be too happy that you’re bothering me. So please leave,” Randi said in a firm, direct manner.

  The guy got up from the seat, but before leaving, he asked, “This guy your boyfriend?”

  Randi didn’t want to say it, but if it would get this guy to leave, then she’d shout it if needed. “Yes. Wyatt should be here any moment, and he’s very possessive. So leave me alone before he gets here and makes you get lost.” Oh, that sounds so cheesy. My boyfriend will beat you up. I’m sure one tough Marine. Hiding behind someone I don’t know.

  Before the guy could leave, the elevator doors opened and Randi saw Wyatt exit. He looked around, smiled when he saw her, and headed in her direction.

  “He’s coming, now go,” Randi ordered.

  The man turned to see who she was talking about. Once again he didn’t leave. She had no idea what she’d say to Wyatt if this guy questioned their relationship. Why should I even care? Neither of these guys means a darn thing to me. But Kevin’s words flooded back to her. She needed to play this right. If Wyatt bailed now, she wouldn’t get the information she needed. Funny, a few hours ago I would’ve been leaping for joy if he flaked. How quickly things change.

  Wyatt came over to where the two waited. Randi got up and met him part way. It was time to think like a Marine. Act like this was a mission. Because until I hear otherwise, that’s exactly what this is. When she reached Wyatt, she put her arms around his neck and gave him a hug. He was stiff at first before returning it. When she pulled away, she saw him looking at the other guy with an odd expression.

  The man winked at Wyatt and said, “So this is your girlfriend? Good taste, Wyatt.”

  Wyatt arched a brow, looking extremely puzzled by the comment. Randi slipped her arm around his waist, still not sure what was going on and why he wasn’t leaving. Frustrated, she said, “I told you he was. Now if you don’t mind, we’re meeting someone for lunch.”

  The man once again laughed smugly. “You must mean his brother, Nate.”

  Randi’s frustration turned to panic. She looked at both men closely. There was only a slight resemblance. By the look on Wyatt’s face, this was, in fact, his brother. Oh, shit! Reaching out her hand to Nate she said, “Sorry, I thought you were some creep trying to hit on me.”

  “Guess you don’t remember our meeting before,” Nate said as he shook her hand.

  “I’m horrible with faces. Sorry.” Randi wasn’t sure how many times they had met. Was it briefly or had they hung out a lot. Maggie, I wish you would’ve told me more about Wyatt and his family. If so, maybe now it wouldn’t be so darn awkward.

  “No problem. We weren’t close or anything.”

  Was it her imagination or did Nate’s jaw twitch as he said that? There was definitely something he wasn’t saying. Once Randi got Wyatt alone, she’d see if she could get him to talk. Who knows? Maybe he didn’t approve of me, I mean Maggie, being with Wyatt. That would explain his odd behavior.

  “Why don’t we grab lunch? I’m starving from catching a few waves while waiting for you two lovebirds.” Nate didn’t even wait for a response and headed to the dining room.

  Randi paused for a minute. “Sorry, Wyatt. I told him you were my boyfriend because I thought he was trying to hit on me.”

  Wyatt looked down, meeting her eyes. She couldn’t read him, but he didn’t appear angry at all, at least not with her. She wasn’t so sure about his brother Nate.

  Wrapping his arm around her, he said, “Like Nate said, you two weren’t close. Let’s go eat.”

  The lunch couldn’t have ended fast enough for Wyatt. Sitting in front of Nate, pretending to be Maggie’s boyfriend, freaked him out. Every second that went by he wanted to drag Nate from the table and ask him what the fuck was going on. As soon as they were back in their hotel room, he laid into Nate.

  “Care to tell me what the fuck that was?” Wyatt demanded.

  Nate went over to the bed and laid down, crossing his arm under the back of his head. “That’s a good question, Wyatt.”

  “I don’t have time for your riddles. Why did you let her believe we were dating? I mean that’s fucked up.”

  “Wyatt, she honestly didn’t know who I was. I’d been watching her from a distance, even before I approached her. She didn’t hold herself the way Maggie did. The way she greeted me definitely wasn’t the same either. Although she was confident, it wasn’t the in control way Maggie had.”

  “So you think she has amnesia or something and has forgotten you?”

  “No. I’m telling you this woman is not Maggie.”

  “Of course she is. I’ve met her several times with you. I know what she looks like.”

  “And I’ve slept with Maggie and was . . . close to her. I’m telling you, just looking at her I knew it wasn’t her.”

  “How?”
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  “Just trust me on this. I know Maggie, and this is not her.”

  Wyatt walked over and plopped down in the chair. “Then who the fuck is she?”

  “That’s a damn good question, and I don’t know the answer, but I’m kind of freaked the fuck out right now. Whoever she is, she’s an impostor. She’s someone posing to be a master sargent in the US Marine Corps. I think we need to take this to the authorities.”

  “With what proof? It’s only our word against hers. What are we going to say? Hey, officer, my brother Nate here used to have sex with this woman and believes she’s not the same woman six years later. They’re going to think we’re fucking crazy. Hell, I think we’re fucking crazy.”

  “Then you need to get the proof and fast. Whatever she is doing, it can’t be good. She has access to things we don’t want in the wrong hands.”

  “Nate, I’m leaving in a few hours for Rhode Island to meet with the police there. I have to find out what went down the day Johnson was killed.”

  Nate got up off the bed and grabbed his suitcase. “I’m nothing to her. My staying here won’t do us any good. Hell, I don’t know if I’m coming or going; I can’t wrap my head around all this crazy shit. Wyatt, she believes you two were lovers. Use that to gain whatever you need. When you do, let me know. In the meantime, I’ll take your place in Rhode Island. One way or another, we’ll get to the bottom of this.”

  “Are you thinking what I am? That she could be the mole? She could be the one who set them all up?”

  “Not sure what to think. I know I can’t be around her.”

  “Why?”

  Wyatt saw, for the first time, the torment in his brother’s eyes. “There is only one way Maggie would allow anyone to impersonate her. She must be . . . dead.” Nate choked on the last word.

  It was a punch in Wyatt’s gut. Not for him, but for Nate. He knew Nate was right. Whoever this woman was, it wasn’t Maggie. And this woman could possibly be a killer. And here I was worried that I was attracted to Nate’s former girlfriend. Hell, it’s worse. She’s not the sweet tender thing I thought. She’s a better actress than I could’ve imagined.

  Everything Nate said was right on the money. It didn’t mean he liked the way he was going to have to handle this. It was time to step up the game. Back to his old ways as a Green Beret. Anything she said, did, or anywhere she went was now under his scrutiny. You have no idea who I am, and until I say so, you’re not going anywhere.

  Nate grabbed the files he’d given to Wyatt earlier. “Wyatt, don’t underestimate her. Think about these pictures. Two choppers. We don’t know if she was there or not. She wears the uniform well enough that no one has questioned her. My gut is telling me she’s not alone in this. I want to find out everything there is about her. If she is the one who hurt Maggie, I want to be the one who–”

  “One step at a time, Nate. She’s a suspect only right now. Until we have the facts, no harm can come to her. We need her right now if we’re ever going to get all the answers. If you ask me, she’s the link to Collins. I’ll keep her close. When I push hard, I have a feeling Collins will show up to protect her. If he does, then we’ll know. They’re in it together. Who’s in charge has yet to be seen.”

  “Roger that.” Nate opened the door, turned to Wyatt, and said, “I need to know.” His voice was now soft and filled with pain.

  “I promise you we’ll solve this, Nate. For Johnson and Maggie.”

  Once the door shut and he was alone, Wyatt picked up a ceramic coffee cup that was on a table and flung it across the room. It hit the wall and shattered into pieces. Fuck. When I thought we were so close, I find out we know nothing. And what I know now is worse than I imagined. God help this woman if she is the mole. No matter what I may have felt, it’s over. Even if you’re not the mole, you’re a liar. A fraud. And you’ll be brought to justice.

  Chapter Four

  She was glad she hadn’t seen Wyatt again yesterday. Lunch had been stressful enough. It made sense that he’d spend time with his brother. Randi needed time to plan how she was going to get the information Kevin required while still keeping her distance. Of course, calling him my boyfriend threw that right out the window. I might as well have kissed the man.

  The brief contact was electrifying; Randi didn’t want to think about his lips on hers. That would make it impossible to stay focused. She heard Kevin’s warning loud and clear. Wyatt was not to be trusted. She had to agree. He was holding something back. When she looked deep into his eyes, she couldn’t believe he might be a cold-blooded murderer. She needed to know what he was hiding.

  I can’t blame the man for lying or trying to hide things from me. God knows I have done more than my fair share, rattling off lies every second of the day.

  The one thing she did recall Maggie saying about him was that he was a police detective. That meant he was very familiar with interrogations. When she texted Wyatt’s photo to Kevin, she had included that tidbit. Hopefully, it’d help in his background research. It also meant Randi was going to be on her toes at all times. Nothing was going to slip past Wyatt. If she felt her cover was blown, she’d tuck her tail and get out of there quickly. Mark and Kevin would need to take over. Spending the rest of her life behind bars when there was still a killer on the loose didn’t appeal to her.

  It was sad that at thirty-four she couldn’t see a glimmer of hope or happiness in her future. Was it because the past held so much pain that it held her back? She thought about calling someone to talk about her feelings. Someone who could help her understand this nightmare. One that she couldn’t wake from.

  No one would understand this mess. Mostly because she wasn’t able to share most of it. What she could share made her sound like she was batshit crazy. I’m my sister, but I’m not really her. I can’t tell you why, but it’s for a really good reason. Randi chuckled to herself. Funny how all my lies are for a really good reason. Will there ever be a day I can just tell the damn truth? Is that too much to ask?

  Since she wasn’t allowed to leave, Randi decided she might as well get to work. Knocking on Wyatt’s door seemed bolder than she wanted, so she asked hotel reception to ring his room. No need for him to have my cell number. The less he knows about me right now, the better.

  “McVeigh,” Wyatt said, his voice booming over the line.

  “Hi, it’s Ra, Maggie.” Randi couldn’t believe how close that was. It’d been so long since she called herself Randi to anyone. Why now?

  There was a pause, and she wasn’t sure if he’d picked up on her slip. Once he spoke, he seemed happy to hear from her.

  “Good morning, Maggie. I was just thinking about you.”

  No matter how sweet it was talking to him again, hearing him call her Maggie was the best reminder of exactly who he was. The problem was she now needed to play the game. Forcing herself to soften her tone, she asked, “I was wondering if you’d like to join me for a tour of the island.”

  It was something she sincerely wanted to do, just not with him. Yet having him sitting beside her on the bus while they traveled from one location to the next would give her the perfect opportunity to ask questions. In a public place, in case things go bad.

  “Bus tour?”

  “Yes.”

  “I have a rental. A Jeep. I think we could do a lot more exploring than we’d ever do on a bus. Besides who wants to see what the tourists see?”

  Me. And I don’t want you deciding to throw me into a volcano or something. “The tours are really good.”

  He ignored her and said, “I’ll meet you in front of the hotel in fifteen minutes. Wear your combat boots.”

  “I–”

  “Fifteen minutes, Maggie.” He disconnected the call before she could protest.

  She stood staring at the phone in her hand. There was no way anyone was going to tell her what to do. Unfortunately, it seemed everyone was doing just that. First Mark, then Kevin, and now Wyatt.

  Placing the phone back in its cradle, Randi headed over t
o the closet to dig out a change of clothes. She couldn’t be too upset at the change of plans; she was the one who’d initiated the contact to spend time with him. However, she wished she had control of the situation. Wyatt obviously wasn’t one who’d relinquish it easily. Just don’t think I’m going to be so agreeable the entire day. You might think we’re going to do this your way, but I promise you, Mr. McVeigh, I’m not the pushover you might think I am.

  Since she hadn’t planned to stay long, she had a limited choice of clothing. She’d packed her fatigues, so the boots were easy. She wasn’t going to wear the rest of her uniform out with him. That left only a T-shirt she’d picked up in Providence from an animal rescue vendor. “Ask me about my kitty.” Not something she would normally wear, but right now it was her best option. Seems to go right along with these short shorts too. Great impression, Randi.

  Quickly she slipped on her new outfit, grabbed her cell phone, and headed down to meet Wyatt. Just as she exited the hotel and headed to where Wyatt’s Jeep was waiting, she heard the ding on her phone. It was a text from Kevin.

  “Can you talk?”

  “With Wyatt. Urgent?” She knew he’d never reach out unless it was important, but she hoped he could update via text.

  “Yes.”

  Damn it. Wyatt had seen her, and there was no pretending otherwise. She walked over to his Jeep and said, “Sorry, can you give me two minutes? I forgot something.”

  “Take your time. We’ve got the entire day.”

  Yes, we do. Unless Kevin tells me otherwise. Randi headed back into the hotel and went to a corner of the lobby where she could speak without being overheard.

  Quickly she dialed Kevin’s secured line. “I only have a minute. What’s up?” Although she was alone, she still kept her voice low.