by Jana DeLeon
Bea reached out to clasp his hand with hers. “I know you would, but I can’t just go sit in my house and do nothing. The worry would drive me to drink and you all know how my mouth gets when I drink.”
His lips twitched. “The same as it is when you’re sober?”
She smiled. “Aside from Nelly, you and Birdie are my oldest friends, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you. But there’s nothing any of us can do right now but wait and hope all of this is over soon.”
He nodded. “Well, if you think of anything, you know where to find us. I can always provide you with an endless supply of ice cream or maybe more of those cookies that you like so much. Our new salesgirl said you left with a whole bag of them yesterday.”
“I did, and I’m not even telling you how many are left. I might tap you for more, though. You probably just decreased your profit with that offer.”
“It will be worth it. You let me know, Bea. Anything at all that you need.”
“Thank you, Tom, and you give Birdie my love.”
“Always.”
Bea watched as he walked out and then Nelly stepped up beside her.
“Your announcement cleared out most of that crowd,” she said. “A few still bought books. Probably trying to save face at being exposed.”
“How did they take my exchange with Veronica?”
“Most appeared to take it as Veronica being the bitch that she is, but a few looked a little worried.”
Bea sighed. “Which is exactly what I didn’t want. I don’t want people thinking Alayna is going to bring something bad to the island.”
“It’s not your fault or her fault if something happens,” Nelly said. “If people want to blame someone then they can darn well place the blame where it belongs—with the criminals and with the FBI, who seem to be chasing their own tail.”
Bea nodded. “Now if we could convince everyone of that.”
Chapter Eighteen
Luke hauled a box of equipment out of the back of his truck and Pete grabbed another one and followed him to Alayna’s door. It swung open before he had a chance to knock and Alayna motioned them inside. They placed the boxes on the kitchen counter and Luke pointed to Pete.
“Alayna, this is my buddy Pete,” Luke said. “He’s a doctor with the Navy and he’s going to help me get all this set up. Pete, this is Alayna.”
Pete extended his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, although I wish it were under more pleasant circumstances.”
“Me too,” Alayna said. “Thank you for helping, but I don’t want to take up your free time. I’m sure you already work hard enough.”
“Electronics are easier than patients,” Pete said. “Especially guys like Luke.”
“Hey,” Luke protested.
Alayna smiled. “I can see that. He has a bit of a stubborn streak.”
“A bit?” Pete laughed. “That streak is holding his back up.”
Alayna laughed, almost surprised that the sound came from her. She’d been anxious all afternoon but the second she’d heard Luke’s truck pull up, so much tension had left her body. Plus, she’d instantly gotten a good feeling about Pete, and if she was being honest, she was glad to have him there. A buffer, of sorts. Her emotions were running high and she didn’t want the combination of stress, fear, and attraction to cause her to let things happen with Luke that had no place in her life right now.
“How long do you think this will take?” Alayna asked.
“Two or three hours,” Luke said.
“That means four,” Pete said.
“Tell you what,” Alayna said. “You guys get to it and let me know when you have about an hour to go. Then I’ll get started on dinner.”
Luke clapped Pete on the back. “Buddy, you are in for a real treat.”
“What can I do now?” Alayna asked.
“Nothing at all,” Luke said. “We’ll be up in the attic and all over the outside and inside if that’s okay.”
“Of course. Whatever you need,” Alayna said. “Since we’re working with limited room here, I’m going to take my book and sit outside for a while so I won’t be in your way. There’s water, juice, beer, and sodas in the fridge. Please help yourself to anything.”
“Thanks,” Luke said. “Let’s go get the rest of those boxes.”
Alayna grabbed herself a bottled water and her Kindle and headed outside. She’d briefly considered a run—Lord knew she could stand to burn off some energy—but ultimately, she decided that both the road and the beach were too sparsely populated this time of year for her to feel safe. Same with the paddleboard.
She plopped into the lounge chair and blew out a breath. This was not how she’d hoped her return to Tempest Island would go. Basically, she was no better off here than in New York. She was still clinging to her home and afraid to venture out alone. The view was way better, but in exchange for that, her presence here was putting Bea at risk. She kept trying to tell herself to trust the FBI, but she simply couldn’t.
If she was overly cautious and nothing happened, then she’d just lost some free time and some sleep. But if she wasn’t cautious and she needed to be, things could go very wrong. It wasn’t worth the risk. Once the FBI located Warren, then she could get back to figuring out how to untangle her very tangled life. But for now, she was back on high alert.
She settled into her chair and tried to concentrate on the book, but her mind kept wandering. Finally, she put her Kindle down. It was no use. She needed to do something. But what? She couldn’t go downtown because the hordes of gossipers would descend on her. She’d talked to Bea earlier and she’d been correct in her prediction that everyone on the island would suddenly have the urge to read. She’d already eliminated running and paddleboarding, and her house was presently occupied by two hulking men with a ladder and power tools, so it wasn’t really a viable place to indulge in diversions.
Her Occupy Alayna’s Mind space was apparently limited to the patio.
She stared out at the surf and an image of the space above Bea’s bookstore flashed through her mind. Common sense told her she couldn’t do it, but it hadn’t stopped images of a commercial kitchen and crisp white table linens on cherrywood furniture. She could see the sconces on the brick walls and a huge painting of the sea at the entrance.
Before she could change her mind, she slipped inside, working her way around the equipment and the men, and located a notebook and a pen. Then she headed back outside to work up a menu. It was all a pipe dream, but thinking about menus was the only time she’d been unable to think about anything else. It should have occurred to her before now, but then she supposed when she was in New York, losing her restaurant, the last thing she wanted to think about was food.
So if she was creating the perfect high-end menu for an upscale beach restaurant, what would that look like? Steak, of course. This was the South. And lobster, because, hello, island. But not just broiled. Lobster mac and cheese definitely had to be on there. Shrimp, fish, scallops were all requirements, and another meat source like chicken and maybe also pork, for variety.
Sides had to include sautéed mushrooms, grilled asparagus, scalloped potatoes, and creamed corn. ‘High-end’ didn’t have to be a bunch of items people couldn’t pronounce. In fact, things they already knew that were simply elevated in taste would be perfect for fine dining at the beach. Now what about appetizers?
Three hours later, she had pages of notes on everything from the wine list to what the servers would wear. She smiled as it all came into full vision. Bea was right—it could work. It could work really well. Even with prices substantially below New York’s, the profit margin would likely be higher. Mainly because the rent was on a whole different level. Not that she wouldn’t pay Bea rent or profit share or whatever she wanted, but still. There was no way the cost of operating here could be anywhere near operating in Manhattan, even on the island where things had more of a premium.
“Alayna?” Luke’s voice broke into her thoughts. “Sorry, I didn�
��t mean to interrupt you.”
“You didn’t. I was just doing some wishful thinking.”
He glanced down at her notebook. “That was a lot of wish. Anyway, you said to let you know when we were about an hour out. My best estimate is that’s where we are now.”
She rose from the lounger. “Great. Then I’ll get started on dinner.”
“We wired everything in the kitchen first to make sure we’d be out of the way. We just have the outdoor cameras to install back here and then we’ll be ready to power up the entire system and get it all programmed in. You’ll have two keypads for the alarm, of course, but I can also set up an app on your iPad and phone. I can set the cameras up on your iPad, phone, and laptop.”
“Wow! That’s a lot more than I expected. Are you sure you gave me the right price?”
He nodded. “I explained the situation and my buddy gave me everything at his cost. And since you’re paying for labor with dinner, it’s a good deal.”
“If I wasn’t so desperate for the additional security, I’d feel guilty.”
“Don’t. My buddy was happy to help and so is Pete. I work with a lot of good guys.”
She smiled. “Yes. You do. And I best get to working on dinner for two of the best.”
Bea unlocked her house and walked inside, tossing her purse on the kitchen counter. Then she grabbed a beer and went and flopped into her recliner. It had been a long, hard day, and she felt as if she’d repeated the same thing so many times that she might not ever be able to say anything else. Some people were genuinely concerned but most were just curious. This kind of excitement simply didn’t happen on the island. There was crime, but nothing that captured national news channels for weeks on end.
She’d talked to Alayna while she was closing out the register and her niece had filled Bea in on the security additions and invited her to have dinner with the three of them. But Bea figured Alayna had a full house already and Luke watching over her. With her complete lack of sleep the night before and all the aggravation of today, Bea was ready to sit and do absolutely nothing. Except maybe drink. And she was really glad she’d stocked up on alcohol the day before, because one beer wasn’t going to be enough for the day she’d had.
She got up and headed to the kitchen. Surprisingly enough, she was hungry, but when she checked the meager offerings she had in the fridge, she sighed. Maybe she should have taken Alayna up on her offer. At least she wouldn’t have been eating frozen waffles or cereal. She took the milk out and smelled it, then blanched. Okay, frozen waffles it was.
A knock on her door surprised her, then she frowned. Surely there wasn’t a person rude enough to interrupt her evening wanting gossip. She stomped to the door, ready to lay into whoever had violated her personal space with their bullshit, but when she opened the door, Nelly stood there holding a covered dish and smiling. Behind her were the other members of the Jokers, their poker club—Birdie Armstrong, Scarlet Southerland, and Isabella Rodrigues, Izzy for short.
“It’s poker night,” Nelly said as she walked in. “Don’t tell me you forgot.”
“I guess I did,” Bea said. “I don’t know that I’m up to it, though.”
“Nonsense,” Izzy said. “You’ve had a horrible day and you could use some distraction, some great food, and drinks with friends. Besides, I made cheese enchiladas.”
“Well, hell. Why didn’t you say so when I opened the door?” Bea asked.
They all laughed.
“I made my famous banana cream pie,” Scarlet said. “I know you love it. And wine, of course. Can’t have poker without wine.”
“And I brought quesadillas,” Nelly said.
“I brought chips, queso, and guac,” Birdie said.
Bea’s mouth watered as the women placed their dishes on the counter and moved through her kitchen grabbing utensils and plates to get things served. Her eyes misted just a bit as she watched. They’d coordinated this. Cooking her favorite comfort foods and gathering here tonight. These women were the best defense against the crap that life tossed at you that a woman could have.
They all filled their plates and in their usual poker night format, headed to the table to eat first and talk. Then it was on to cards.
“Okay,” Izzy said as they sat. “We won’t beat to death the situation with Alayna because this night is about putting that to rest for a while. But just tell us if she’s okay and if there’s anything we can do.”
“She’s fine,” Bea said. “The FBI doesn’t think she’s at any risk. She had a great security system installed at the beach house today and my renter next door, who is military, has taken an interest in looking out for her. As for what you can do, you just did it. A night of good food and great friends is just what I needed.”
“Whose food are you calling good?” Scarlet asked. “My pies are legendary.”
“Just like your boobs,” Birdie said, and they all laughed.
Scarlet adjusted her well-endowed chest and gave them a sly smile. “Guess which one I’ve caught more men with?”
Scarlet had been married and divorced three times, each time resulting in a better payoff. The Jokers liked to tease her about thinking she was Delta Burke’s character from Designing Women. Scarlet took it as a compliment.
“So who’s up on the chopping block these days?” Birdie asked.
Scarlet gave a dramatic sigh. “I’m afraid I’ve been running solo for a while.”
“What about that attorney on the mainland?” Nelly asked.
Scarlet gave her a mischievous grin. “He lacked the, um…size I’m looking for.”
“Good Lord, woman,” Bea said. “You’re pushing sixty. Does that still matter?”
Scarlet waved a hand in dismissal. “Wallet size. You can work with the other.”
They all howled. When they finally settled down, Izzy looked at Scarlet and shook her head.
“I don’t know how you do it,” Izzy said. “All those men. I just had the one and the thought of doing all that training all over again makes me tired enough to stay single.”
At forty-eight years old, Izzy was the youngest of the group. She’d been widowed five years before when her husband Antonio had died suddenly from a heart attack. Given that he was a doctor, the shock had been huge for everyone, especially Izzy. Neither she nor Antonio had any idea that he’d had heart issues. There had never been any signs. Izzy was a physical therapist and had her own practice on the mainland.
“Honey, I don’t know how you do it,” Scarlet said. “A woman has needs, if you know what I mean.”
“I have a vague recollection,” Izzy said drily.
They all laughed again, and Bea felt the tension slip from her shoulders. It was hard to remain stressed and angry in the company of these women. Their regular talk and joking reminded her that this was just another blip on the radar. It too would pass, and life would be back to normal.
She hoped.
Alayna watched as Luke armed the security system using the keypad by the front door and then showed her the app on her phone that allowed her to arm and disarm. Pete had left twenty minutes before after consuming what he declared to be the best meal he’d had in forever. Alayna was so grateful for all the work he’d put in with Luke that she was happy to feel she’d repaid it a bit.
“Now you try it,” Luke said.
She disarmed the alarm and it beeped twice to let her know she’d been successful, then the lights on the system turned green. She armed it again and smiled.
“That’s simple enough,” she said. “When I saw all the boxes you carried in, I was a little afraid.”
“That’s because we put connections on all the windows and doors and cameras to cover every angle on the outside,” Luke said. “Under normal circumstances, it would probably be overkill, but yours aren’t normal circumstances.”
“You can say that again.”
“I guess you haven’t heard anything else from Davies.”
“Not so much as a text. But then, until they fi
nd Warren, there’s really nothing to say. And I don’t think he likes being bothered with me anyway.”
“Well, that’s his problem. He put you in the middle of this by arresting you along with Warren. They should have bothered to do their homework before they implicated you in something. Once they make that first move, it’s all over. Even if they make a statement about your innocence later on, the damage is already done.”
She sighed. “So true. I knew as soon as my arrest hit the news along with Warren’s that my career in New York was over. There are simply too many restaurants—too many great options. If people don’t want to be associated with someone who consorted with and might have aided a criminal, then it’s not like they’re going to be short on great food. And the best restaurants wouldn’t hire me for the same reason. It might cost them business. Even the slightest downturn in a place like Manhattan can cost you your business.”
He shook his head. “It’s wrong on so many levels that you had to go through that.”
“What happened to you was worse.”
“Doesn’t make what happened to you or what’s happening now any better.”
Her heart clenched at his words. He’d lost so much so young, and even though she’d lost her parents as well and the car accident was certainly tragic, it still didn’t compare to what had happened to Luke’s family. She wondered briefly if the FBI agents who’d pushed his mother to the breaking point had ever apologized or even felt guilty for their actions, but she didn’t want to ask. What good would it do? Even if they were sorry, the damage was already done.
“At least I have people supporting me,” she said. “Aunt Bea and her best friend Nelly, who’s like another aunt to me, you, and even your buddies who don’t even know me are pitching in. It’s nice to not be alone this time even though it was my choice at the time.”
“That must have been hard.”
“It was. I had an attorney but besides being questioned by the FBI, I never left my apartment. The press was hounding me, so I avoided anything public.”
