“A term used on the ranch,” he said easily. “Here, so close to the city and away from a concentrated gathering of a bovine population, I’d call my skill in certain areas a mission.” He slid his fingers down her thigh. “A calling.”
The itch spreading through her body made everything else fade away. It didn’t matter that they were incompatible, or temporary or anything else that wasn’t right. “You realize we’re stuck with each other for the night,” she whispered.
He kissed her jaw. “Those damn motion sensors.”
She arched into his touch. Other than their labored breathing, the house was quiet. For once, she appreciated the silence.
* * *
New York Tattletale
A Big Sparkler
by Peeps Galloway, Gossipmonger (and proud of it!)
Hola, City Dwellers!
By the time you’ve engrossed yourself in my compelling prose, I’ll be in sunny Mexico, submersed in a passion fruit margarita—or three—soaking up rays and balmy ocean breezes and wishing you were here to share in my nirvana.
But when I got such a hot tidbit, I naturally had to share it with my rabid readers. (Bless you all.) Thanks to my assistant’s loyalty (and the fact that I have a popularity quotient that, frankly, keeps this publication in the black), I’m able to bring you yet another update from the Rutherford estate.
I have to say after the recently thorough performance of my snooper network, I was a bit miffed to hear this latest news, as it’s two and a half days old!
For shame, right?
Anyway, this bite is much bigger than a tidbit—in fact, it’s 99 whopping carats. Yes, it seems Rose Rutherford’s latest sparkler is a diamond-and-sapphire necklace, with the big blue rock weighing in almost in triple digits.
Too much, you say?
I do, and often, when referring to the fiery-haired widow, but when it comes to hot gems, I say the bigger, the better.
The central stone necklace, mined in Sri Lanka in the 1920s, is reportedly a stunner, and caused quite a stir at dinner on Thursday night. (Yes, I know, two and half days ago.) But would your zealous correspondent let that get her down?
No way, amigos!
Because the real scoop is that at the grand party tonight, the necklace is apparently not part of the dress code.
The wardrobe is, however, full of costumes from the roaring twenties, which will be worn by the fortunate few bunking in the house. The priceless bauble, on the other hand, has been given the night off.
Curious, no?
I’m truly sorrowful if you’re stuck in the sticky heat that is Manhattan at the dawn of September, but don’t worry, busy bees, I’ll drink an extra margarita in honor of your misery and tip my masseuse according to my state of bliss.
Wait. Strike that.
You have my sublime column to make your day—and possibly your entire weekend—so you’re undoubtedly content as a cat with a bowl of cream.
Drink up!
La suya en espíritu, si no el cuerpo (Yours in spirit if not body),
—Peeps
* * *
JARED SNEAKED OUT OF Victoria’s room a few minutes after six Sunday morning.
He took a long, hot shower to try to wake himself up. He hadn’t gotten much sleep, but oh, what an excellent way to lose it.
Surely Mrs. K would give him a double shot of coffee once the kitchen was open for business.
Thinking ahead, he decided to be proactive and put on his trunks and a T-shirt. Knowing he’d be in the water all day, he didn’t even bother with shoes.
When he got to the dining room, a large poster sitting on an easel dominated the entrance.
A Night of 1920s Culinary Delights
Bathtub Gin
Caesar Salad
Stuffed Clams
Chicken in Wine Sauce
Asparagus Tips au Gratin
Pineapple Upside-down Cake
Victoria arrived behind him as he was reading.
In contrast to his bleak-eyed appearance, she looked refreshed, composed and beautiful as always in a pale green sundress.
He fought to come up with a neutral topic of conversation, and the giant poster seemed a convenient, glaring recommendation.
“How’d she get a printed menu so fast?” he asked, still finding it hard to believe Rose was determined to add a costume party to this already bizarre weekend.
“Shelby’s always been a full-service caterer. And Calla’s handy on the computer.”
Jared studied the elaborate script and color graphics of the featured dishes. “Wasn’t Prohibition going on during the twenties?”
“If there’s no alcohol, I’m boycotting.”
“I’ll open a speakeasy in the parlor,” he assured her.
“Oh, Jared,” Rose began excitedly as she approached. “I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve got great news.”
“More?” he queried, fighting to keep the sarcasm out of his tone.
Her eyes danced with fun. “This news is special for you.”
Jared didn’t have to look at Victoria to know she was smirking. “Can’t wait to hear it.”
“I found a costume in your size.”
Oh, boy. “No kidding.”
Rose wrapped her arm around his and led him to the other side of the dining room, where a rolling clothing rack filled with various outfits had been parked. She pulled out a black suit on a hanger and handed it to him.
The pants had white pinstripes, the shirt was black and the tie white. There was a matching fedora. Terrific. He’d be the best dressed gangster at the party.
“And here’s yours, Victoria,” Rose said, handing her a stop-sign-red satin gown. “You’re so tall and thin, you’ll look stunning.”
Victoria held the dress against her body. “If I don’t breathe.”
In his effort to picture Victoria in the clinging fabric, Jared nearly forgot his dread at being trussed up like Al Capone.
“Good morning, Calla,” Rose said, heading off. “Come see your costume.”
“At least you didn’t wind up with the tweed suit,” Victoria whispered to Jared.
He turned his attention to the costume she pointed to, which was made of gray wool. Yikes. It was due to get up to ninety-seven degrees by afternoon.
“You couldn’t force me into that at gunpoint.” Smiling, he slid his finger down her dress. “At least there’ll be high points to this party.”
“Easy for you to say. Everybody there won’t be able to count your ribs.” She regarded the gown at length. “I should probably skip breakfast.”
After returning their costumes to the rack, he led her to the buffet, where several chafing dishes had been set up. “But think of all the calories you burned last night.”
“And will repeat tonight?” she asked quietly.
“I’m up for it if you are.” He placed a spoonful of scrambled eggs on her plate. “You should load up on protein.”
“Considering your stamina, I’m gonna need more than one helping.”
“You can have all you want.”
Her gaze moved to his. “Of you or the eggs?”
“Bo—”
“Did you see my costume?” Peter interrupted. “Very smart. I’ve always wanted a tweed suit.”
Jared covered a laugh with a cough.
“How’d you sleep, Peter?” Victoria asked.
“Like a baby. Probably because of all the skiing.” He smiled
at Jared. “I haven’t been in the water that much since my college swim team days.”
Jared nodded even though he doubted Peter had been considered for a swim team since he’d graduated from the tadpole group at his local YMCA.
Peter continued, “Emily said she was restless because of that business the night before. She seemed to think we’d be the next victims.” He lowered his voice. “Personally, I think Rose took the necklace herself.”
At that wild statement, Victoria looked interested. “Really? Why?”
“She certainly enjoys the spotlight and everyone making a fuss over her.”
The irony of this being said by a man who spent every waking moment bragging about imaginary accomplishments was obviously lost on him.
“Even buying the necklace in the first place. Who’d want something with such a sad and gruesome past?” Peter shook his head ruefully. “My Emily would never touch such a thing.”
“Rose seemed pretty upset about the necklace being gone,” Jared said.
Peter angled his head, looking troubled. “I guess so, but who else would take it? I mean, none of us are thieves.”
“How do you know?” Victoria challenged.
Her rival silently considered her question, then raised his finger to make his point. “I did once steal a pen from the office, then lost it on the subway. I felt so guilty I bought an entire box as a replacement. I always wondered how the office manager accounted for the extras in the inventory reconciliation.”
Good grief, the man really was a dweeb.
Either out of questions or bored, Victoria shrugged and headed to the table with her breakfast plate.
Jared followed her. As they sat beside each other, she slid her bare foot over his. She’d been wearing sandals, so this wasn’t an accidental brush. It took very little to turn him on where she was concerned, but skin-against-skin was a huge enticement.
He remembered her long, sleek legs tangled with his throughout the night. Her glossy hair teasing his skin as she kissed her way across his chest. The glorious sensation of her body contracting around him.
“This house gives me the creeps,” Emily said as she settled into the chair on the other side of him.
And the fantasy vanishes… .
Within a few minutes, everyone else had joined them at the table. Conversation centered around the activities for the day and, once Rose had left the room to change into her swim gear, a complaint from Emily about her costume being too plain next to Calla’s flapper outfit. David also wasn’t thrilled with wearing used clothing.
Shelby and Mrs. Keegan wandered around with fresh refills of coffee and juice. When Shelby reached Victoria, she raised her eyebrows. Victoria, in turn, gave her friend a discreet thumbs-up.
A woman’s version of a good score was clearly the same as a guy’s.
Interesting.
“Could I get some tea?” Emily asked Shelby when she offered to refill her coffee cup.
Her hands full and a sheen of sweat on her face, Shelby nonetheless agreed.
Victoria rose. “I’ll get it.”
“Thanks,” Shelby said. “There should be some in the pantry.”
Jared tossed his napkin on the table. “I’ll help you.”
Victoria gave him a look that clearly said she knew his generosity was tied to getting her alone in the kitchen.
He grabbed her from behind the second they were out of sight, and placed a kiss on her shoulder. “Mornin’.”
She squeezed his hands, then wriggled from his grasp.
“You okay?” he asked as she darted into the pantry.
“I’m fine. Let me get the tea, then we’ll talk.”
He wasn’t sure why, but he was suddenly on edge. Had one night been enough for her? Was he not even worthy of the entire weekend? “You weren’t running from my touch last night.”
She glanced at him over her shoulder, her eyes narrowed. “And I’m not now.” She returned to her pantry search. “You’re making too much of—” She stopped abruptly. “Oh, my.”
She turned around, holding not a box of tea but a black velvet case. The kind you kept jewelry in.
“Rose’s?”
“Who else?”
Jared couldn’t be sure Victoria was holding her breath as she lifted the lid, but he sure as hell was.
12
THE JEWELRY CASE WAS EMPTY.
Victoria wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting. Rose had somehow forgotten she’d tucked her priceless necklace behind her supply of oolong? The thief had freaked out over her comprehensive investigation and decided to dump the booty?
Both scenarios seemed ridiculous, even though she’d dreamed, if only for a second, that this theft ordeal might finally be over.
The simple truth was that she had been running from Jared. She hadn’t wanted Richard to see them together. She was supposed to be working, making the deal of her career.
Last night had been memorable, but was it worth risking her promotion?
“Do you think that’s the case Rose kept the necklace in?” Jared asked.
“Yes. Though we’ll have to ask her for verification.”
“How did it get in the pantry?”
“No idea.” Though her mind raced with possibilities. Why had the case been hidden? To make for easier transport of the necklace? To avoid detection? To make somebody else look guilty?
“Mrs. Keegan isn’t the thief.”
Victoria blinked, focusing on Jared instead of the case. “I don’t think so, either, but I’m going to have to talk to her.”
“Finding the empty case in the pantry is an obvious attempt to throw suspicion on Mrs. K. Too obvious, in fact.”
“Or Shelby.”
Jared shook his head. “After yesterday everybody knows you’re looking into the theft. They know you and Shelby are friends. This is intended to point to Mrs. K.” His lips twisted in a mocking smile. “What better patsy than the hired help?”
Like him.
She really didn’t want to go down that road just now. Their differences were already glaringly obvious. “Maybe we’re giving the thief too much credit for being clever. Maybe he or she simply dumped the case in a convenient place. Maybe Emily took the necklace.”
Jared looked confused. “How’d you get there?”
“She was the one who wanted tea. Maybe this was her way of confessing.”
“Or trying to throw you off.”
Victoria snapped the case closed. “Mission accomplished.”
“What’re you gonna do with it?”
“I have no idea.” She was way out of her depths—not a familiar feeling unless her mother was present. “Keep it to myself for now.”
“I’m sorry if you two are making out in here,” Shelby announced as she pushed open the kitchen door, “but I really need that tea.”
“So much for exclusivity on big news,” Jared mumbled.
Shelby halted on the opposite side of the island. “What’s that?”
Silently, Victoria held up the jewelry case.
Her friend’s eyes widened. “No way.” She grabbed the case and flipped it open. “That would’ve been too easy, huh? Where’d you find it?”
“The pantry.”
Shelby flung her hand in that direction. “Anybody could have put it in there. People have been in and out of here all morning.”
“Victoria thinks we need to question Mrs. K,” Jared said.
“What p
eople?” Victoria asked at the same time.
As their voices clashed, she shifted her attention to him. Considering the annoyed look on his face, she couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to the slow, sexy voice whispering, “Mornin’.” The justice business was hell on relationships.
Is it? You said you were only having a fling… .
Now she was in a relationship? That’d happened fast.
“I’m questioning everybody,” she reminded Jared.
“Naturally.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “We can’t let feelings get in the way of a thorough investigation.”
“You two can argue later.” Shelby tapped her fingers on the counter. “I’ve got chicken to marinate. Peter came in earlier, asking for flavored cream for his coffee. Calla offered to help carry the serving dishes to the dining room. Rose wanted me to be sure to set out the blackberry jam Sal’s sister-in-law makes and sells to the local—”
“Emily?” Victoria interrupted. She drew the line at interest in homemade jam.
“She hasn’t been in here, as I recall,” Shelby answered, “but I wasn’t here every minute, either.”
“Everybody had access,” Jared confirmed.
“Exactly. But about Mrs. K…” Shelby bit her lip. “The thing is…her son has a gambling problem.”
Victoria’s stomach tightened. “How do you know that?”
“She told me last night. She’s terrified Richard’s going to blame her for the theft.”
“Is the son in debt?” Victoria asked.
Shelby winced. “He hocked her pearl necklace last month. She’s trying to get him into counseling. You don’t honestly think she’s guilty?”
“No, but…” Victoria considered Jared’s stony expression. “You have to admit this news complicates things.”
“How?” he challenged.
Victoria faced him. “Her son sinking in debt gives Mrs. K a good motive.”
His eyes narrowed. “So you’re gonna follow Richard’s suspicions just so you won’t lose the contract.”
“He doesn’t know about the jewelry case or the son!” Victoria snapped, exasperated.
Breathless on the Beach Page 15
