by Carolyn Rae
Going from manager to working for a former assistant would be a slap in the face. Was his step-father trying to oust him from the family business? Or was Stevie, Jr. behind this?
Steven, Sr. continued. “I’m putting Benson in charge of packing up the contents of your store, and I’ll hire a real estate agent to sell the building. I’ve already rented a building in University Park near the university, but it will take some time to fix it up for my purposes. Why don’t you take a week or two off to think about the position I’m offering? Like him, you’ll be eligible for a five percent bonus calculated from the sales you close. If you decide you no longer want to be part of the Harrold’s Jewelry Store chain, I’ll be disappointed, but then you’ll be free to follow your own inclinations.”
Justin swallowed. Dumfounded, he tried to think what to say. He wanted to call his stepfather an asshole or an SOB. He clenched his fists, then slid his hands in his pockets. Steam must be coming from his ears, but it wouldn’t do any good to let his anger spew forth. He might explode. It wasn’t smart to burn any bridges now and ruin any chance to show his stepfather he could succeed in the jewelry business. “Nice of you to fill me in. I’ll let you know what I decide.” He spun and strode from the office.
He marched to his car so mad he could hardly think. His stepfather was doing it again, treating Justin like someone who wasn’t worth giving a chance.
Justin had changed the displays in the front window weekly and had sales to push merchandise. He kept the store clean and sparkling and spent money on ads to draw in customers, but sadly, it hadn’t helped enough. Stevie racked up better sales due to the more affluent customers who came into his shop.
Justin sat slumped in his car. He needed to calm down before driving anywhere. He wished he had someone to confide in. What he needed was time to think, maybe somewhere removed from his apartment so he could take a fresh look at his options. He’d give his high school friend, Lucas McBain, a call and ask about staying in Barefoot Bay, at Casa Blanca Resort and Spa, where Luke furnished security services.
In high school, he and Luke had hung out and sometimes shared problems with studies. Neither had trouble attracting beauties. Years later, as a groomsman at Luke’s wedding, Justin had noticed how much in love his former schoolmate was with Arielle. Her black hair, ebony eyes, and pale skin made her enticing, and his friend bent over backward to grant her anything she asked for. Love shouldn’t be that overwhelming. Justin hoped they were happy together, but couldn’t imagine being that captivated with any woman.
Justin dialed. “Hey, Luke, how are you doing?”
“Just great.”
“How do you like working security there?”
“I really like it. Casa Blanca Resort and Spa and the surrounding villas hardly have any crime to speak of. The residents and vacationers can be sure they’re safe, even walking around after dark. Dallas may be warm most of the time and have lots of sunshine, but Barefoot Bay is better. When it rains, it comes down in sheets and is over in less than an hour. Then the sun comes out, and everything sparkles.”
“I have some free time. I was thinking of flying down there, you know, for rest and relaxation.” He wasn’t going to mention his employment problem just yet, although maybe Luke might suggest options Justin hadn’t considered.
“How much free time?”
Justin had enough in his checking account to last a couple of months. “Oh, a week or two.”
“I remember you used to do grunt work for a PI. A problem has come up you might be able to help with.”
“What’s that?”
“Expensive jewelry has gone missing from women vacationing or living at the Casa Blanca Resort. We’ve alerted the residents and the vacationers, but only one person has come forward with any information.”
“So how can I help?”
“Maybe, you could get to know some of the women—I’m sure it’s a woman doing this.”
“What makes you think that?”
“Someone saw a woman running down an alley the night before a ruby ring was reported missing. Perhaps you could mention you’re a jeweler and offer to appraise their diamonds, emeralds, or sapphires. If you do it for several women, it won’t seem unusual when you speak to the suspects I’ve listed.”
It might be interesting to do PI work again. “I don’t know. That sounds kind of pushy and underhanded.
“But if you catch the perpetrator, it’s worth it.”
“Do you think the thief is someone who lives there year round?”
“It’s possible, but if it is, the woman couldn’t wear it to any occasions for fear of being caught. We really need to get this solved. If word gets around, it will be bad for Casa Blanca Resort. I own another cottage, which I usually rent out, but you could stay there at no cost since you’d be doing me this favor.”
“It won’t be a hardship. I enjoy meeting women, especially if they’re good looking or have a great personality, but remember, I don’t have a PI license. I only worked for one while I was in high school and college.”
“When can you get here?”
“I’ll reserve a flight for Monday. I’ll pack tonight.”
Monday morning, after landing at the Naples Municipal Airport and renting a car, Justin drove across the causeway to Mimosa Key Island. With the windows open, he inhaled the sweet, salty tang of ocean breeze. Bright sunshine warmed his bare forearms and legs, making him glad he’d changed into shorts before leaving the airport.
On the shore of the island, Justin’s friend, stood beside a car parked along the palm-shaded pavement at the end of the causeway and waved. Justin strode over to meet him, and they shook hands. “Great to see you again,” Justin said. “You look different with a beard, but I’d know those hazel eyes and that grin anywhere.”
Luke got in his car. “Follow me.”
Later, in the office of McBain Security, Luke pointed to his wife, who was on her way out. “You remember Arielle from our wedding?”
Again, Justin admired her fair skin and exotic looks. The hug and kiss she gave Luke showed they were still in love.
Luke stepped behind a desk. “This is a mixed use development with cottages for rent and homes of permanent residents. I have a list of likely female vacationers and residents. I omitted the ones who strike me as very unlikely to do this. Now, our craft teacher, Lisa Davenport, is new, so I don’t know much about her. You’ll meet her when I show you around the Casa Blanca Kids Club. There are all sorts of activities there to keep children busy.”
Luke handed him a list with four names and a piece of paper listing the missing jewelry, a three carat emerald pendant, a five carat diamond ring framed by two small triangular shaped diamonds, and a two carat ruby ring. “Why isn’t there a chain to go with the emerald pendant?”
Luke shrugged. “Maybe the thief wanted the owner to think it had fallen off— “
“So, have you called the police?”
Luke shook his head. “I was hoping we could keep it quiet, at least from people on the mainland who might want to vacation here. That’s why I want you to check into it.”
A door near the desk opened. A woman strode through the office. Petite, she had golden blond hair and hazel eyes. She wore a flamboyant orange off-the-shoulder blouse and white shorts with orange and pink flowers. She smiled widely. “Introduce me to this gorgeous man.”
Justin appreciated flattery any day and wondered what she was like.
Luke smiled. “Chenille, this is my friend Justin, who’s just arrived from Dallas. I used to hang out with him in high school. He’ll be staying here for a couple of weeks. Chenille’s my sister. You’ll probably run into Gussie, my other one later.”
She reached out and held his hand a moment longer than usual. “Welcome to Barefoot Bay. We’re holding a charity gala Friday night to benefit a school for the blind in Naples. Since you just arrived, I assume you don’t know anyone other than Luke and Arielle. Would you be my guest at the gala?”
Well
, she didn’t let any flowers grow underfoot. However, that might be a good way to blend into the society here. He smiled. “I’d be honored. What time shall I pick you up, and where are you staying?”
“Seven o’clock Friday night. I live in the pink cottage right next to my brother’s office. My window looks out onto his building, so I can see if anyone is trying to break in.”
Luke laughed. “No one would dare break into our office. We have alarms out the wazoo.”
Chenille laughed loudly. “I’ll see you then.” She strode out the front door. Before shutting it, she turned and grinned. “Till Friday then. I’m really looking forward to dancing with you.”
“By the way,” Luke said after the door closed behind Chenille, “I’ve asked Charity Grambling, who owns the Super Min store and her sister, Patience—I guess you could say they’re the town gossips—to stop talking about missing jewelry, but to report any news they pick up to me.”
Ten minutes later Justin unlocked the door to the cottage which Luke had assigned him. After hanging up his clothes and sliding underwear and socks into a drawer, Justin booted up his laptop. Using Luke’s password, he did background checks on all the suspects. None had criminal records. The only information on Lisa Davenport, the new craft teacher, was that she’d taught at a small private school in north Dallas. One suspect was a desk clerk who’d signed on as a temporary employee, who’d return to college at Vassar in the fall. Another was a maid, who’d been hired on the recommendation of another worker, who said she used to clean for her neighbor.
Hoping to find the missing jewels before they disappeared, he visited the pawn shop on Mimosa Key and the nearest two in Naples on the mainland, but none of the missing items turned up.
* * * *
A few days later, Lisa twined the last pink crepe paper blossom onto the artificial tree and sighed. She looked at her watch. “We’d better get ready,” she told Lucas McBain’s sister, Gussie. She was a fashion blogger and stylist for brides who arranged weddings at Barefoot Bay. “Are you wearing that pink wig or a blond one?” Lisa asked.
Gussie shook her head. “Tommy likes to see me in my natural color, so I guess I’ll wear my hair in a ponytail and pin a wreath of flowers around it. See you there.”
Lisa barely had time to rush back to her cottage, take a shower, and put on the new dress she’d bought through Gussie, who’d arranged a blind date for her with Rocco Cardinale.
“He moved here from New York,” Gussie had told her when Lisa asked about him. “He’s been here just long enough to be able to run for city council, so he’s met a lot of people. However, no one’s seen him out with any of the single women. The resort gives out brochures telling about your craft classes, but he can introduce you to permanent residents with children who might enjoy them.”
He must be at ease talking with people since he’d been elected. Either he hadn’t dated much, or he’d kept a low profile, and gossip hadn’t ferreted out whom he’d been seeing. Well, she’d have a chance to make up her own mind about him. Besides, she wasn’t ready to be involved with any man. Bill had been okay with her possible inability to have children—the disappointing news she’d gotten from her gynecologist had shocked her and sprung a big crack in one of her daydreams—but that wasn’t something she told anyone but her parents and her best friend. However, she and Debbie no longer talked.
Wearing the golden-yellow silk dress with an overskirt of matching organza that flattered her long red hair and fair skin, Lisa answered the door. Olive-skinned with dark wavy hair, Rocco Cardinale had a pleasant smile. He wore a gray pin-stripe suit with a lavender tie and shiny black shoes,
At the gala, she discovered he moved well on the floor. Rocco whirled her past Lucas’s other sister, Chenille, who was with an even smoother dancer. Fit and muscular, the man moved gracefully across the floor, his dark brown hair neatly cut, his brown eyes twinkling as he shot her a stunning smile. Was he really smiling at her while dancing with Chenille, or had he seen someone else he knew?
When her ex-fiancé had flirted with other women, she’d thought he was only basking in their attention. For all she knew, he’d basked in their touch as well as her ex-best friend’s, whom she’d caught him with. How could they do that to her?
But this new guy—she met his gaze again, and his smile grew wider. Her insides sparked with excitement. She’d sure love to dance with him.
When he nodded to several women, and his expression seemed merely friendly, that made her smile.
Rocco spun Lisa around, and then asked her a question. Guess she should pay attention to her partner instead of looking elsewhere, but oh, that guy was handsome.
“What did you say?” she asked.
Rocco pointed behind him. “He tapped me on the shoulder. Is trading partners okay with you?”
That marvelous dancer now stood behind Rocco. Wow, was it ever okay. Lisa looked up into brown eyes sparkling with amber glints and a warm smile.
“Say yes,” he said in a whiskey-husky voice.
He was hot, the hottest guy she’d seen in a long time. “I’d love to.” She’d better say something to Rocco. “I’ll catch up with you later, okay?”
“Of course,” her date said and took Chenille in his arms. Now, her new partner smiled at Lisa as if she were the only one that mattered. A warm feeling spread over her. She was delighted to be with him, even if only for one dance.
Again, he flashed her the smile she feared she wouldn’t be able to get out of her mind.
He smoothed back a wavy lock of dark hair from a firm forehead. “Hi, I’m Justin.”
Deciding to go with first names only, she said, “I’m Lisa.”
He met her gaze, smiled, and pulled her really close. Now her breasts were pressed against his firm chest. Her nipples hardened. Could he feel that? Heat rose from her chest to her neck. Was her face flaming? Surely not, but it felt awfully warm. She put her arms around his neck, loving the feel of his hair touching the backs of her hands. He moved his face next to hers. His skin, barely prickly, but warm, touched her cheek. So close, so intimate. Her heart beat faster.
He leaned his hip into hers, guiding her. “Mmmm. You smell sweet, like gardenias. Are you here on vacation?”
Smiling, she shook her head. “Not exactly.”
“Then you live here?”
“I wish. I’m working here for the summer.”
“What do you do?”
“I’m handling the children’s craft programs for the summer.”
“Do you enjoy that?”
She nodded. “I find it rewarding to help children learn to make something all by themselves. It gives them confidence, which should help them later on as they make their way in life.”
“You sound like a life coach.”
“I’m not, but if you handle business as well as you dance, I bet you’re good at it.”
He grinned. “You’re good for my spirits, but be careful. You just might swell my ego.”
She laughed. “Where are you from?”
“Dallas.”
“Oh, me too. The Mid-Cities actually.”
“Where?”
“Hurst.”
The band stopped playing, and he squeezed her hand. “Thank you for the dance, lovely Lisa. I look forward to meeting you again.” He escorted her to where Rocco stood and led his partner back on the dance floor. When she asked Rocco about Justin, her date admitted he hadn’t met him. She’d have to ask Gussie if she knew the man who’d dazzled her.
After Bill had cheated on her, she wasn’t sure she wanted to be involved with another man, but this one was interesting. He made her feel desirable, the way she hadn’t felt since Bill. She was only here for the summer, so why not enjoy herself?
Chapter Three
The following Monday, Lisa stood in her classroom and pointed to the butcher paper-covered table piled with newspapers, a bowl of flour and a pitcher of water. “Can you guess what we’re going to do today?” she asked her assistant.
>
Alex’s dark eyes lit up. “I know. Paper mâché. It’s messy, but the kids will have fun. Let me mix up the paste for you.”
“Thanks. I’d appreciate that.” Good thing the pink and gray tiled floor was washable. Lisa looked at the list of children enrolled. Only four. Surely, more vacationing parents would appreciate time to themselves without having to keep an eye on their kids. She’d loved seeing the excitement and pride in her students’ faces when she displayed their finished projects in the glass windows lining the front of her classroom. Maybe if these kids enjoyed her classes, they’d tell other children.
A woman with wild blond curly hair and freckles led in an equally freckled boy with brown eyes and dark hair. “Hi, I’m Zoe Bradbury, and this is Evan.” The boy held the hand of a cute toddler. “This is Maya,” he said.
Zoe laughed. “Don’t worry. I’m not leaving her here, just Evan. He’s eight.” She patted his shoulder. “Have fun. Since I’m not scheduled to pilot any balloon rides today, I’ll come back for you at lunchtime.”
Other parents breezed in, leaving two girls, eight and nine, and a boy, ten.
Soon all were tearing newspaper, mixing it with paste, their hands busy and their faces intent.
Evan spoke up. “I’m the wolf in a play my drama class is putting on. I want to make a wolf’s head, but ....” A soggy mess of newspapers lay in front of him, but he just sat there staring at it.
“I can’t do this right,” Evan said. “Can you help me make a wolf’s head? Or maybe I’ll have to ask my stepmom to buy me a rubber mask.”
“Let’s get a head to base it on.” She set a Styrofoam head in front of him. “Now pretend that’s a face and cover it with thin strips of newspaper.”
Lisa pulled up a picture of a wolf on her iPad and set it in front of him. Holding his mouth with his tongue sticking out to one side, he laid on one dampened strip after another, then glanced up. “It looks funny.”
