Page 27 of Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds

“I know,” Brie said. “Tape it behind the dresser. People look in drawers, maybe even under drawers, but I don’t think anyone would think to look behind a dresser.”

I grinned. I couldn’t help it. “You must watch a lot of crime shows.”

She shrugged. “Just common sense.”

It was a good idea. If someone was determined, they might find it, but short of carrying it with me wherever I went, it was

the next best thing.

I glanced over to where Jason was working. He had a small crowd around him and seemed to enjoy his job.

I asked Brie, “Do you know anything about Luis?”

“Yeah, he’s great.”

“Does he live on the island full-time? He seems too old to have a job.”

“He’s ancient. He doesn’t work here, though sometimes he helps out. He has full run of the place because he’s Ethan Valentine’s

great-uncle. At least, that’s the rumor—Luis has never said anything, and if you ask him about Ethan, he just smiles and nods

and ignores you.”

That surprised me.

“Luis lives in Ethan’s house,” Brie continued. “The big house on the cliffs to the south. I’ve never been there—it’s off-limits.

I heard a couple hiked over there once, and when they came back, they were told they were no longer welcome on the island.

Given a full refund and shipped off the same day.”

“That seems a bit excessive.”

“Ethan Valentine is a total recluse. Like, a nerdy hermit. Honestly? I don’t think he’s there most of the time, just comes

and goes without anyone knowing when. He has a yacht and a helicopter, and Kalise said he’s a pilot, so he flies himself.

Luis lives there full-time, has a golf cart he drives to get back and forth. At least, that’s what I’ve figured out over the

last couple of years since Ethan bought the island.”

“And Ethan never comes here, even though it’s his resort?”

“Nope,” Brie said. “He’s at his house, or off the island. He runs a mega-company. Maybe not Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos super mega,

but big.”

I hadn’t really thought about Ethan Valentine and how he owned the island. It didn’t seem important, but it was odd.

“Rumor is that when he bought the island, he wanted to shut down the resort,” Brie said.

“Kalise and Tristan, who’ve both been here forever, put together a proposal to revitalize the place and presented it to his team, and Valentine watched the video and said do it.

So Kalise and Tristan run the place. Kalise says it’s the best of all worlds—she feels like it’s her resort because Valentine doesn’t get involved in day-to-day management.

When she wants something, she puts together a proposal, sends it to him, and he gives a thumbs-up or thumbs-down. She’s never even met him.”

“I wonder if they told Valentine about the murder,” I mused.

Brie shrugged, then said, “What do you keep looking at?” She craned her neck.

“I’m not,” I said and almost blushed. Yes, I had been checking out Jason across the way. I couldn’t hear him, and I couldn’t

always see him through the crowd, but every once in a while, the crowd parted and I could watch him work.

He was a lot of fun to watch.

“Oh. My. God. You’re hot for Jason.”

“No!” Now I did blush.

“Yes you are. You can’t stop staring at him.” Brie nodded. “He’s cute. Go for it.”

“Stop.”

She laughed. “You’re what, thirty? And a prude?”

“No, and no.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“I’ll be thirty tomorrow, and I’m not a prude. Just selective.”

“You selected well. I approve.”

“I don’t need your approval.”

I didn’t want to talk about my sex life with a teenager.

“What’s our next step?” Brie asked.

“Hello, ladies!”

I yelped as Jason emerged from around the side of the canopy. Had he heard what Brie and I were talking about? He couldn’t

have—two minutes ago he was across the beach at the bar.

Brie laughed and said, “Are those for us?”

Jason held two glasses of champagne in one hand and a plate of hors d’oeuvres in the other. He placed them on the small table.

Shrimp, stuffed mushrooms, steak bites, cheese, and crackers.

“Thank you,” I said.

Brie took the glass of champagne as she got up. “I’m going to catch up with my dad. Later.” She wiggled her fingers at us

and left me alone with Jason.

Where I wanted to be. But not when all these people might see.

What do you plan to do? Jump him on the lounge?

Maybe.

“Aren’t you working?”

He sat down where Brie had been, then moved closer to me. Our knees touched.

“I’m entitled to a ten-minute break now and again.”

“Oh. Thanks.” I sipped, then picked up a cheese slice on a delicate cracker. “I went hiking up to the cliffs that you jumped

off of yesterday.”

“I didn’t jump. I flew. Or, technically, glided.”

I involuntarily shivered, remembering how terrified I’d been, even though I hadn’t known who he was at the time. “Did you

talk to the police about the body?” I asked, not meaning to be so bold.

“Gino Garmon is handling the investigation here. But I’m certain something happened on St. John. No one brought her back to

the island.”

“Don’t you think that it’s strange for St. Claire security to handle a murder investigation?”

He looked surprised. “Murder? They don’t know what happened to Diana. Why do you think she was murdered?”

I forgot that I had made that leap, but Trina had overheard that Diana was strangled. Maybe Gino hadn’t shared that information with the rest of the staff.

“Well, um, she’s young. She’s healthy, I presume. She left and disappeared and was found dead. And—I overheard someone say

the police believe she was strangled.” There. I could get it out there without ratting out Trina.

“I heard the rumor,” he said, “but the police haven’t confirmed it. It could have been an accident. St. John has some crime

problems, though the police do a good job of keeping violence out of the tourist areas. You’re not worried that something

might happen here, are you?”

He took my hand and seemed genuinely concerned.

“No, just curious. I really want to know what happened to her.” I looked at our joined hands and wished he didn’t have to go back to work.

“If I promise to find out for you tomorrow, will you at least try to enjoy the luau tonight?” He squeezed my hand. “Please?”

“I’m having fun.” I smiled to show him yeah, having a great time . I don’t know if he bought it. “I like watching people,” I admitted. “I’m not really into crowds, but I promise, I’m enjoying

myself and looking forward to the lagoon tonight.”

He smiled, leaned forward until his lips were almost on mine. If I edged forward an inch, they would touch. I held my breath.

Jason whispered, “I might be a little late because of the luau, but no later than midnight. I promise.”

“Should I bring anything?”

Stupid question.

“Bathing suit optional.”

Then he kissed me. His lips were warm, salty from the ocean breeze, a hint of coconut, and perfect.

Oh, God, so perfect .

I might have moaned out loud. I touched his shoulder, maybe to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating. Maybe so I wouldn’t fall

over. He was warm and muscular, and if there weren’t a hundred people on the other side of the canopy I don’t know what I

might have done.

Then he stood up. “I wish I had more time, but I have to get back to work.” He sounded sincere. “I’ll see you tonight.”

He winked and walked away. I didn’t say a word. I couldn’t. He took my breath away.

Damn. I liked the daredevil bartender. A lot.

I watched Jason as he made his way back to the bar and relieved Callie. He turned and looked at me, gave me his award-winning

half smile, and I waved back. Then he was busy with serving others.

Reluctantly, I averted my attention to the crowd.

Jane and Amanda would tell me to get out on the dance floor, talk, be social. Instead, I sat here sipping champagne and people-watching. I wasn’t sad and I didn’t feel left out. I hadn’t lied when I told Jason I didn’t like crowds. I did like observing.

Quickly, I realized not everyone was happy or social.

Anja and Nelson stood off to the side, aloof, her with wine, him with beer, not talking to anyone or to each other. That seemed odd, considering they had been joined at the hip (though not as close as the honeymooners) since we

arrived. I recalled the comment about Anja’s mistake, and in light of reading Diana’s comments, I wondered whether she could

have been blackmailing them even though she’d disappeared before they arrived. Someone like Nelson Stockton might make the

gossip rags. Maybe Diana knew they were planning the trip.

David and Doug were sitting together at the edge of the luau with a large group of people, all drinking and laughing.

CeeCee and Trevor were sitting with the honeymooners, which I thought was an odd foursome. For the first time, the Kents didn’t

have their hands all over each other.

I couldn’t see any security personnel, including Gino Garmon. Kalise moved fluidly from group to group, the perfect activities

director, making sure everyone was enjoying themselves. Tristan assisted staff at the crowded pool bar. Servers moved with

grace through the throngs of people who seemed to pay them no attention, grabbing flutes of champagne or food from their trays.

I didn’t see Amber or Parker. I hadn’t seen Amber since this afternoon when she walked off after her confrontation with Gino,

and I hadn’t seen Parker since yesterday afternoon, before I went to the Sky Bar. But everyone else I’d met—and the many I

hadn’t—were here.

I walked over to the buffet and helped myself to a little bite of everything, then headed in the direction of David and Doug.

They were comfortable, and I wouldn’t have to talk—I could simply listen to the large group. Instead of cutting through the

crowded dance floor, I walked around the perimeter of the party. I heard a familiar voice.

Sherry.

“I couldn’t get away today,” she was saying. I didn’t see her or who she was talking to. She paused for a few seconds, then

said, “I hired you. You’ll do what I say.” She was on the phone with someone. I still couldn’t see her; she stood behind a

vine-covered trellis. “Noon, tomorrow, same place.”

I kept walking before she saw me, and I missed the end of the conversation.

Her tone had been... well, cold. Cold and all business. I worried about Brie and her dad, because Sherry was up to something.

Or maybe the call was innocuous, like a vendor in her interior design business. Clearly, my imagination was in overdrive.

There was a killer on the island, so I saw—and heard—malevolence in every conversation.

Didn’t mean Sherry was up to something.

Didn’t mean she wasn’t.