Читать книгу The Bridal Bouquet - Tara Randel - Страница 12
ОглавлениеIT DIDN’T TAKE Dylan long to get the ball rolling. Knowing Esposa might be near infused him with an energy he’d been lacking. He had to do something now, because waiting was no longer an option. Closing the book on Esposa meant moving on with his life.
The beach teemed with locals enjoying the wintery Saturday night. The bonfire burned bright, the wood crackling as the steady wind kept it stoked. His brothers had spread out among family and friends, sharing their brand of humor and chatting up the fine people of Cypress Pointe. Dylan stood alone, dwelling on his next move.
A hoot of laughter caught his attention. Derrick, holding court. He wished he could laugh as easily, but his mind was elsewhere and his thigh ached in the cold air. He chose to ignore it, focusing instead on the prospect of nailing Esposa.
When his mind started going around in circles, he finally entered the merry group, hands jammed deep in his pockets. After asking a couple of leading questions, his uncle pointed out the police chief, Bob Gardener. The older, stocky man lingered on the edge of the gathering, dressed in his official uniform, obviously on duty. Dylan made his way over, gritting his teeth as he tried not to limp, and introduced himself, mentioning his agency and title.
“Your office gave me a heads-up,” the chief said.
“Already?”
“We’re with the joint task force,” he explained, directing a no-nonsense look at Dylan. “They made sure to let me know you aren’t active in the field at this moment.”
“I’m not. I came to town for my cousin’s wedding, but I can’t ignore it when a suspected big-time drug dealer might be in the area.”
The chief nodded. “Figured as much.”
“Do you have information you can share with me?”
“First, I have to establish whether this is this coming from you in an official capacity or personal interest. I know this guy shot you and your partner.”
“Esposa. Yes.”
News traveled fast in the law-enforcement world, but he didn’t blame the chief for asking. Finding Esposa was a personal matter, as well as a professional one, and the chief had a right to know. Dylan had already spoken to his superior since the call from Tom. He was on leave, but they could command him not to nose around, though how would they stop him? The unspoken code was that Dylan had better be discreet, and if he did indeed find Esposa, he better not play cowboy and go after him alone. Dylan had been a field agent long enough to know that the hero always died, except in the movies. He was part of a team for a reason and would call upon them if needed.
“It’s both, personal and private, at this point. Is that a problem?”
“Not as long as we follow protocol. Until your supervisor says otherwise, you have limited authority in my jurisdiction, but if we find the guy you’re looking for, I’d like to work together.”
“I intend to.”
The chief regarded him once again, sizing up the man who’d come into his town requesting information. Dylan didn’t like it, but he understood. He didn’t always play well with others, but in this case he’d liaise with local law enforcement to a T. Esposa wasn’t going to get away because Dylan went rogue.
“We’ve had activity at the marina,” the chief revealed, having made sure they were far enough away from the crowd so no one would overhear. “Usually we get an influx of weekend tourists who dock and head into town to shop or visit the restaurants. The locals keep their boats moored there. But lately there have been vessels coming in and out that are suspicious.”
“How so?”
“Idling in during the early morning hours. Docking for short periods of time. Definitely not tourists.”
“What can you tell me about the marina?”
“Run by a private company. Got a guy on duty during the day.”
“Have you checked him out?”
“No red flags. Been working there for years. Company man, runs the place efficiently.”
A gust of wind whipped up the flames of the bonfire. Bright sparks shot up in the air before burning out, ash drifting down to the sand. The scent of burning wood floated toward Dylan as he processed the information. The chief knew the locals, so he’d have to trust him on this.
“Who noticed the boats coming in and out at night?”
“Local fishermen. They’re a tight group, watching out for each other. Notice when strangers show up snooping out their favorite spots.”
“Are you looking at any possible suspects?”
“A few guys have come across our radar.”
He reined in his impatience at the chief’s vague answer. “Names?”
“A couple of young punks showed up here about three months ago. Been hanging around the marina. Had a couple run-ins with ’em. Ran their names through the system. Petty stuff mostly, but with the news of a drug dealer in the wind, we’re taking it seriously. I got the names back at the station.”
Good. Somewhere to start. “Anyone else you’re looking at?”
The chief hesitated. Dylan had to hand it to the man. He’d shared a lot so far, but now wasn’t the time to backpedal.
“Still think I’m going to interfere?” he asked.
The chief met his gaze head-on. “Look, I’m bein’ careful. For both of us.”
Dylan’s hands fisted in his pockets. Patience, he reminded himself. He wasn’t going to find Esposa tonight and he needed the chief’s assistance. No point blowing it by ticking off this man.
“Got it.”
The chief chewed on Dylan’s answer before replying. “Local guy. Will Lawrence. Also been hangin’ at the marina, which is odd ’cause he doesn’t own a boat.”
“Does he have legitimate reasons for being there?”
“He’s an accountant.”
“So he could be there on business?”
“Yeah. The company that runs the marina is out of town, so Will does the bookkeeping. Known the guy since he was a kid, but I gotta say, something feels off.”
A jolt of excitement charged Dylan’s veins. He never ignored a fellow officer’s gut when he claimed something was hinky. “I’ll run his name. See if I can find anything more.”
“Doubt it. He’s a Cypress Pointe resident. Never been in trouble with the law or run with the wrong crowd. He was popular in school. Runs a stable business.”
That the chief knew of. People involved with criminal activity didn’t usually announce it to the world.
The chief’s face remained tight, his gaze daring Dylan to contradict him. “I pride myself on knowing the people around here. Just ’cause something might be off doesn’t mean he’s a criminal.”
“Fair enough.” Dylan scanned the crowd, still jazzed that there might be some leads in this town. “Is he here tonight?”
“Haven’t seen him.” The chief craned his neck, his gaze hunting over the people assembled. “His sister is by the fire. Over there, talking to two other women.”
Dylan searched in the direction the chief pointed out, his chest tightening when he saw Kady, the woman from the wedding. Just to be sure, he asked, “Her name?”
“Kady Lawrence.”
“You don’t say.”
The chief shot him a sharp look. “You know her?”
Dylan shook his head. “Only met her briefly at my cousin’s wedding.”
“She’d be the one delivering the flowers.” The chief squinted, like he was searching his memory. “She got into some mischief as a kid, but nothing serious. She works at the family flower shop. Nothing to tie her to her brother’s activities besides the family business.”
But there was a connection and Dylan never took opportunities like this for granted. Kady’s brother might be innocent, but he was a solid lead Dylan planned on pursuing. Spending time with Kady to get to the truth was an added bonus.
The few minutes they’d spent talking at the reception had him thinking about her on and off all day. She’d managed to snag and hold his attention, something that rarely happened when he was deep in a case. Well, he wasn’t technically on a case, but he had been focused on Esposa for the past few months. She might not have any tie to this investigation, but now he had an excuse to seek her out. Not that he’d reveal a thing. He still intended to keep his cover hidden until he learned anything useful.
Watching Kady laugh with her friends, Dylan resisted the urge to pull her from the group and question her. Because he wanted to be near her again? Smell her sweet perfume? Slow down, Matthews. She’s part of the puzzle.
The chief’s voice cut into his thoughts. “Got a local PI by the name of Max Sanders keeping an unofficial eye on things. He helps me out from time to time when I’m down on manpower. Good guy. You’ll probably want to speak to him.”
Dylan nodded, tucking the information away. “Thanks, Chief. I really appreciate you filling me in.”
Hands on his hips, legs spread in a military stance, the chief said, “Look, Matthews, I don’t have anything substantial to book these guys on, let alone connect them to Esposa. I haven’t searched the boats because I don’t have cause to. On top of that, your guy hasn’t been seen around here. This could be a complete misunderstanding.”
“Even strange boats in the marina?”
“I don’t know for sure if they’re involved in illegal activities or transporting drugs. It could simply be some fishermen I haven’t met before, looking for a place to drop their lines.”
Dylan watched the chief, his gut churning. The older man said one thing, but his eyes said another. He suspected the events were connected; he just couldn’t act on it. Yet.
“But you don’t think so.”
The chief went silent for a long moment. “No. I don’t.”
“Then we keep investigating. By the book.”
The chief shook his head. “You aren’t gonna give up on this, are you?”
“Not until I find the guy who killed my partner.”
The chief puffed up his cheeks and blew out a breath. “I get it, but I gotta say, be careful.”
“Always.”
Loud voices carried over the crowd, catching their attention. The chief perked up, his gaze assessing the situation on the other side of the bonfire. A heated argument between two burly guys looked like the makings of a fight. “Gotta get to work. Stay in touch.”
As the chief lumbered away, Dylan stared at the fire, lost in his thoughts. A group of women deep in conversation caught his eye, Kady among them. A strong protective streak swept over him, reminding the agent in him why his job was so important. But the urge to see her again reminded him that he was attracted to this woman. The brief encounter at the reception wasn’t long enough. Another chance to talk to the pretty lady presented itself and he wasn’t going to squander the opportunity.
* * *
WILL LAWRENCE STARED at the numbers, his eyes blurring. The dim lighting didn’t help. He could look at them a million more times but nothing would change. He needed more work, or a miracle, to replace the money in his family’s accounts.
He’d been an idiot. Knew better than to fall for get-rich-quick schemes. He’d been lured in by the promise of easy cash, sure this onetime venture would secure retirement not only for his folks, who’d worked for years to support their children, but also for Kady and himself. Flat out, he’d been played. Now he found himself in serious trouble.
Never look a gift horse in the mouth.
His granddad’s old saying. What would the old man say now if he knew what Will had done? Getting involved in an investment through the friend of a friend was a risky choice, but with his parents talking seriously about retiring, he’d hoped to add more funds to their portfolio.
From the partially open office window, Will heard a commotion from the beach, a mere block away. Rubbing his eyes, he stood and crossed the room. Stared outside. Normally he’d be part of the rowdy crowd, enjoying his friends. Joking around like he didn’t have a care in the world.
All that changed three months ago. It felt like a lifetime.
He turned, going back to his desk. He’d reviewed his personal budget, but even drastically changing his lifestyle wouldn’t be enough to make a difference. His only hope was the two appointments set up for next week. Through the grapevine he’d learned the country club needed a new bookkeeper. It was a big job, meaning lots of extra hours on top of his already established practice, but he would do it. If he was offered the job.
Then there was Jenna at Charming Delights Catering. Her business had grown quickly, so he scheduled an interview for next week. Every new account he could secure would help in the long run.
He’d already picked up additional work at the marina. Lined up some safe investments, which would bring in close to half of what he owed, except it took time. He was amazed at how quickly one could lose a bundle of money versus it slowly trickling back. But he had no one but himself to blame.
Slumping in his chair, he scanned the room. Anything else beat concentrating on the unchanging numbers. His gaze came to a screeching halt when he viewed the diplomas on his office wall. Top-ten college. Graduated summa cum laude. His CPA accreditation. First in his class.
What good was it all now? If word got out that he’d lost his own family’s money, his reputation would be useless. Unless he fixed the situation. Fast.
This morning, when his sister balked at selling the shop, he’d been relieved. If his folks reconciled their true financial situation, they would learn money was missing. Demand explanations. Wanting his parents to be set when they retired was a lame excuse for his losing their money, even if it was true. They would be disappointed in him, with cause. He’d let them down. Thank goodness they didn’t have a clue.
But instead, Kady’s argument about running the shop saved him. Changing their parents’ minds bought him more time. They could go on a much-needed vacation and enjoy themselves. He would make it up to them no matter how long it took.
Kady managing the shop and weddings would keep her in the dark as well. He actually agreed with her vision, was happy she finally settled down to make a wise career choice. They didn’t usually see eye to eye, but her plan to build up their wedding market share made sound financial sense. Her business plan was good, as were her projections. She could actually make a name for The Lavish Lily since his parents wanted out. He was proud of her.
He only hoped he hadn’t ruined her dreams.
* * *
KADY’S EYES BURNED as the bonfire smoke blew in her direction. She blinked, which only caused tears to well. What was she? A smoke magnet? It seemed smoke had radar and blew in her direction, no matter where she sat. “Why do I let you guys talk me into coming out here?” she muttered, her throat drying up as the smoke engulfed her again.
“Because you need a night out with the girls,” her friend Nealy answered.
“You’re so busy conquering the world of wedding flowers, we don’t see you,” Lilli added.
“Except this isn’t a girls’ night out. It’s the entire town of Cypress Pointe out. And you’re both here with your significant others.” Coughing, she grabbed the water bottle from Lilli’s outstretched hand.
“You make that sound like a bad thing,” Lilli said.
“Look, bonfires are special to both of you. I get it. You have wonderful memories associated here. All I do is end up going home with a scratchy throat and smelly clothes and hair.”
Nealy laughed. “You are so not a romantic.”
Lilli tapped a finger against her chin. “We need to find you a guy.”
“Whoa. Put the brakes on.” Kady held up her hand. “I’m not looking.”
“That’s your problem. You should be.”
“Why bother? I know most of the single men in town. Dated some of them. It didn’t happen.”
“That’s no reason to close yourself off,” Nealy argued.
Sure it was. Most of the guys she’d dated were as busy as she, always canceling at the last minute with work obligations. She got it, but for once she’d love to be put first in a relationship. Take Brad, for instance.
She’d trusted him. Thought she’d fallen hard for the country-club general manager she’d met while attending a business meeting there. She’d been talking with the event coordinator about her floral services when Brad walked into the office. They’d clicked. One date led to another and soon they were an item. Kady couldn’t believe how well they’d synced.
Until they didn’t.
After three months of assurances that he wanted to settle down, Brad jumped at an opportunity to move to a big club in Texas and hadn’t asked her to come with him. Worst of all, he’d bragged about acquiring only quality vendors, like Kady, to land the job.
While still in Florida, he’d promised she would be the exclusive florist for the club, which quickly fell through when the new general manager didn’t agree. Not only had her heart been bruised, but Brad had also cost her business she’d been counting on, while using her to advance his own career. After that, her trust level in men plummeted.
Since then, having gone on too many bad dates to count, Kady decided she and dating were like oil and water. Didn’t mix well. She accepted that. Why couldn’t her friends? Running her business and building a brand were the most important relationships in her life right now.
“You two are disgustingly happy and I’m thrilled for you both—truly I am. But not everyone is looking for their soul mate.”
Nealy leveled a glance at Lilli. “That is true. Things weren’t smooth sailing for either of us when we started out with our guys.”
“But they are now.”
Lilli’s smitten expression made Kady laugh. “Spoken like a bride-to-be.”
“The bride-to-be who has venue choices to make,” Nealy reminded her. As her event planner, she’d been after Lilli to make decisions so she could get the wedding ball rolling.
“And flowers to select,” Kady added.
“I will.” Lilli’s eyes went all dreamy. “We’re enjoying the moment.”
Nealy sputtered, “You’re making Max crazy. The PI is ready to drag you down the aisle.”
“There is that, too.”
Kady smiled at her childhood friend. She was delighted about the upcoming nuptials, especially since she’d be doing the flowers for the wedding and all the other related events. If Lilli ever set a date, that was.
“Hey, look. Dane’s waving at me.” Nealy stood, waving back to the man who owned the Grand Cypress Hotel, home to this year’s florist convention. “I should see what he wants.”
Lilli followed, brushing sand off the seat of her jeans. “And I should find Max.”
“Nice,” Kady mumbled, still seated. “You drag me down here then dump me.”
“We’ll be back,” Nealy assured her as the two took off. Yeah, right. From past experience, she knew once those two got with their men, there was no separating them. She smiled.
The wind picked up again, blowing the acrid smoke in Kady’s direction. Her nose burned and she blinked back fresh tears. Pushing up from the sand, she was ready to call it a night. The entire population of Cypress Pointe might enjoy the revelry of a bonfire on the beach, but Kady was not one of them.
Zipping up the jacket she’d layered over a sweatshirt and jeans, she coughed again as she weaved through the crowd, headed to the parking lot. She passed a group of laughing guys, swerving out of their way when she heard a deep male voice.
“Kady?”
She swung around, her foot sliding in the damp sand. Her pulse jumped as the hunk from the wedding headed in her direction.
“Hi. Dylan, right?”
“Yeah. Enjoying the bonfire?”
She brushed ash from her sleeves and answered, tongue in cheek. “Sure.”
His metal-colored eyes sparkled with humor. “I’ll take that as a no.”
She laughed. “You’d be correct.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Friends dragged me out. You?”
“Family dragged me out.” His smile, somewhere between sad and amused, reminded her of just how attractive she found him.
“Part of the wedding festivities?”
“Apparently.” He rubbed his leg and tried to hide a grimace.
She nodded toward his leg. “Are you okay?”
“Injury. Been standing out in the cold for too long.”
“There’s a bench over there.” She pointed. “You can have a seat.”
“If you’ll join me.”
Her stomach fluttered at his invitation. Trying to act nonchalant, she shrugged. “Why not? I was only planning to go home and take a nice warm shower to get the stench out of my hair.”
“Bet you’re loads of fun on a camping trip.”
“Never been.”
“Fun times.”
Kady slowed her pace to match Dylan’s gait. He’d changed into a jacket over a Henley shirt, with jeans and boots. Shedding his formal wear hadn’t made him any less attractive.
When they reached the bench he eased down gingerly. Not sure how to act around him, she perched at the far end, leaving plenty of space between them. Not that she had to worry—it seemed like the entire town surrounded them. If he started anything sketchy, she’d yell at the top of her lungs.
“I promise you, I have no evil intentions.”
Great. Obvious much? “A girl can’t take chances.”
“Very wise of you.”
She sat back and relaxed a bit. “And kind of insulting to you?”
“Nah. I get it.”
His easy acceptance made her loosen her tense shoulders. Here she sat, on a bench, curious about the good-looking guy who’d not only kept her from ruining a flower arrangement at the reception, but was also the man she’d been thinking about all day. Why not enjoy it?
“Do you have these public bonfires on the beach often?” he asked after a few moments.
“Yes. It’s a tradition. They’ve been part of Cypress Pointe history for as long as I can remember.” She drew up her leg and turned to angle herself in his direction. “Kids used to start the fires on their own, so instead of banning them, the town council decided to set up specific nights for the fires so the authorities could monitor the crowd.”
“Smart. Although starting fires when you’re not supposed to is more fun, it is more dangerous.”
She tilted her head inquisitively. “Is that a guy thing?”
He chuckled. “Just an observation. Our family gatherings are usually barbecues, so we always say fire fixes everything. Well, except for the time my brother Dante accidentally set the field behind our house on fire. We all ran outside to contain it before the fire department arrived. On the way, he grabbed an heirloom quilt my great-grandmother had made and used it to try to smother the flames.” He shook his head, a crooked grin lighting up his face. “My mother was not happy.”
“I imagine.” She bit her lip, then asked, “How many brothers do you have?”
“Three.”
“Wow. Your mom must be wonderful to put up with your antics.”
He glanced at the crowd. Looking for his mother?
“She is.” He turned his attention back to her. “You have any siblings?”
“A brother. But he hasn’t started fires or destroyed heirlooms.”
“Why not?”
She silently chuckled at his serious face. Like fire and destruction were normal parts of life to him.
“My brother is too upstanding and too good at everything he does to engage in troublemaking.”
“Oh. Sorry to hear that.”
Her eyes went wide. “Seriously?”
“I’m just saying, my brothers and I have lots of great stories.”
She shook her head, trying not to laugh.
“So you’re saying your brother is a decent member of society?”
“He is.” Her eyes narrowed. “What’s with all the questions about my brother?”
“Nothing. Just making conversation. Family is usually a safe topic.”
And why had she suddenly gotten so prickly? Because Will always ended up being part of the conversation, no matter where she was. With her folks. On the job. People always wanted to know how Mr. Wonderful was doing, even people who didn’t know him well. She hadn’t realized how defensive she’d gotten about her brother until just now.
“Okay,” Dylan said, bracing his arm along the top of the bench. His fingers were mere inches from her shoulder, which she found very distracting. “We’ll switch off the topic of family. So, the bonfire. Do folks from surrounding towns join in as well?”
“It’s usually just Cypress Pointe.”
“Seems like you have a nice town. Safe place?”
“Why, are you planning on moving here?” Now, wouldn’t that be interesting, running into this hunk around town.
He chuckled. “No. Since my cousin lives here I’m curious.”
“Well, not much crime. A nice tourist spot. Not much traffic. Good restaurants. Awesome beach views.”
He nodded, watching the people on the beach. Like he was looking for someone. She ignored the regret washing over her. Already tired of talking to her? It shouldn’t matter, but it did.
The moment dragged on until he spoke again. “Did you grow up here?”
“What are you, a census taker?” she teased, afraid it came off more defensive than joking.
“You got a chip on your shoulder?” he responded.
Okay, he gave as good as she did. His aim directly hit its target. “Fine. I deserved that.” She ran a shaky hand through her hair. “To be honest, it’s been a while since I spent time talking to a nice guy.”
His mouth thinned and his gunmetal eyes turned serious. “You sure I’m a nice guy?”
If his expression was supposed to make her nervous, it didn’t. If anything, she wanted to know why he’d think differently. “I haven’t seen otherwise.”
“We don’t really know each other.” He paused, leaning in close. His fingers nearly skimmed over her jacket. In a quiet voice he said, “But I do know I like spending time with you.”
His statement caught her off guard. Made her blood race.
“Um, thanks.”
His chuckle sent chills over her skin. “You’re welcome.”
Nervous now, she tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry for coming off rude. I’m not usually hard to get along with.”
“No worries.” He glanced at his watch. “I need to get back to my family. They’re probably heading over to the hotel soon.”
He stood, a little shaky on his leg, but caught himself. She wondered what had caused his injury. How long ago he’d been hurt. Not that it was her business, but honestly, in the short time she’d known him he triggered the inquisitive side of her nature. She wanted to know more.
He held out his hand. “Nice to meet you. Again.”
She rose and took his hand in hers. The zing of pleasure she’d experienced earlier returned, stronger this time. “Likewise.”
They remained there, gazing at each other. Kady held her breath, hoping he might say more. Maybe ask her out? When he didn’t speak, she realized he wasn’t going to do as she’d hoped. Disappointment wrapped around her. What did she expect? She’d only just met the guy. He was probably leaving town soon. No point in starting anything if he wasn’t going to be around, even if he’d admitted he liked spending time with her.
“So I’ll see you around?” she asked.
She couldn’t quite interpret the expression in his eyes when he said, “Never say never,” before walking away.
Was that a yes or a no?
Tugging the car keys from her jeans pocket, she trudged to her car. How had she managed to screw up a possible date? She really needed to try harder. Lilli was right. But this thing with Dylan? It was different. Made her want to get out there again. She would hate to admit this to her friends, but maybe she did need their help. If not with Dylan, maybe another guy.
Once she got to the car, she slid inside, curling her hands over the top of the steering wheel and resting her forehead against them. Had she really blown her chance with Dylan? Her parents always accused her of being difficult. Maybe they were right. It would explain why her relationships never lasted. Even though Brad had been ages ago, she realized now he’d never been the man for her. But Dylan? He wasn’t like any man she’d ever met. He had her second-guessing herself, while at the same time he sent her pulse racing. It was out of the ordinary for her and she liked it.
Lifting her head, she stared at the beach. It looked like the party was winding down. Folks would return home and tomorrow things would go back to normal in this sleepy town. For her, it would be business as usual. Right. Once she convinced her folks to let her run the shop, lined up more wedding jobs and won the bouquet competition at the florist convention. By that time Dylan would probably be gone and she’d have missed her chance to learn more about the most interesting man she’d met...ever.
