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Fourteen

GREYSON PULLED ONTO the paved drive leading up to the Expressive Wellness Retreat and Spa. Twisting cyclones of snow whipped across the road in the burgeoning wind.

Riley tapped her foot, nervousness tracking through her. “You feel we’re ready as a couple?”she asked, not at all prepared for what was to come. How would she keep her true feelings from coming out?

“I do.” He smiled, but there was tension—or was it restraint?—in his expression. Was he not looking forward to this? He hadn’t been given a choice. It was him or her brothers. What if he was dreading it?

“Ready?” he asked.

No. She nodded.

He got out of the car and strode around the SUV to get her door, but a man in a white puffy vest, matching white pants, and a bright-blue long-sleeve shirt beat him to it.

“Welcome,” the man greeted them as he opened Riley’s door.

“Thank you,” she said, stepping out into the blustering wind that swirled her hair about her face.She managed to corral it by grasping it in one hand and sliding the hair band she always kept on her wrist around it with the other hand, pulling it into a low, sideways ponytail.

“I’m Alvin, a crew member here at Expressive Wellness. Welcome to the crew. I’m at your service.”

“Crew member?” Riley said. “I’ve only heard that at Disney World.” She smiled.

He offered a thin smile. “Once you enter those gates, you’re part of our crew too. Allow me to get your bags.” He moved for the rear hatch of the Rover.

“Thank you.” Greyson opened it with his key fob and moved to help.

“Thank you, sir, but I’ve got it.” Alvin slung both duffels over his arms. “You two pack light.”

Greyson refrained from commenting, and so did she. Alvin didn’t need to know this was a last-minute trip, though she bet he already did—their reservation having come in just last night. What he really didn’t need to know was how short of a stay it might be, depending on where the investigation led them and whether Kelly showed up, which was still a viable possibility—or at least Riley prayed so.

****

He tapped the wheel as their car pulled to a stop outside of the retreat .

Now he knew where they’d be and where he’d sit back and watch. He grabbed the long-range binoculars on his passenger seat.

The problem was how he would reach them while they were surrounded by other people.

He’d keep a good eye on them and pounce when the opportunity presented itself. Even if he found the key, he needed the woman to tell him what it belonged to, which meant taking her. The question was what he did with her after he got what he needed.

****

“This way,” Alvin said, leading them toward a black wrought-iron fence with two ornate doors. He pulled them open and gestured them inside. They entered an expansive garden adorned with beautiful poinsettias in red, pink, and white in what looked like handmade pottery containers.

Wrought-iron chairs faced the elaborate stone fountain that was no doubt lovely with its water flowing in the warmer months. Wind chimes of agate, quartz, and topaz clanged in the lonesome wind.

A wooden pagoda stretched overhead with twisty vines wrapping around it, devoid of flowers or fruit, but Riley could only imagine how beautiful a canopy it would be to walk under in the springtime.

Alvin led them through the garden and into a vast open area with a series of adobe buildings surrounding it. “This is the main courtyard, or square, if you will, of our retreat center. We spend a lot of time out here on warm days. There is our lap pool.” He pointed to the right at the covered pool. “Our hot tubs are still open, though. They are in our grotto past the gym facility. Oh, and here comes our director, Miss Chase.” He indicated the thirty-something woman with short blond hair cut above the ear, striding toward them. She was dressed in the same colors as Alvin, though she wore white linen pants, a blue cashmere sweater, and, to Riley’s surprise, white heels. Sensible, two-inch ones, but still heels on snow-covered terra-cotta tiles.

“You must be Allie and Noah. Welcome to our crew.”

“We’re thrilled to be here,” Greyson said.

“Yes,” Riley said. “We’re very excited to be here. It sounds wonderful.”

“Well, I don’t like to brag, but it is a truly transforming experience. You won’t leave here the same.” She extended her hand to Riley. “I’m Julie Chase, the director.”

Riley shook her hand. “How nice of you to greet us personally.”

“My pleasure.” She shook Greyson’s hand. “And you have perfect timing. We’re just preparing for brunch.” She checked the gold watch on her left wrist. “It’ll begin in twenty minutes, and it’s a delicious spread if I do say so myself. It’s also a wonderful time to get to know the other visiting crew members. Ready for the experience to begin?”

Greyson slipped his arm around her waist and tugged her close against his solid frame. “Of course we are. Right, luv?”

Luv? That sounded amazing on his lips, pretend as it was. “Absolutely, honey.”

“Wonderful.” Julie smiled with shiny, white teeth.

Someone used whitening strips.

“Allow me to show you to your room so you can get settled in, and then you will meet us in that building.” She pointed to the far end of the courtyard, catty-corner from them. “That’s our dining room, where all our meals are served.”

Greyson nodded.

“Follow me,” she said, striding across the open space.

They hurried to keep up with the peppy director.

“That is our sports facility.” She pointed at the building on their right. “We have group classes but also offer personal training and free gym time, and we have a luxurious spa. Annabelle gives the best massage. Let me know if you’d like me to arrange a couple’s massage.”

Heat rushed Riley’s face, and she prayed the red didn’t show. “Thank you. We might take you up on that.”

Greyson glanced at her, eyes wide. Thank goodness Julie’s back was to them as shock registered on his face.

Between the flush on her face and him obviously taken aback, they weren’t off to a great start as a couple. More practice was required.

“We also have a ballroom in that building.” Julie indicated the building with floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

“A ballroom, really?” Riley asked.

“Of course. We only have the best here, and we find dancing is a wonderful way for couples to grow closer, and that’s our mission. To bring couples closer together and to help them grow as human beings by expanding their minds through their time here. Strong relationships and strong minds is our crew motto.”

“Very nice,” Riley said, reaching for Greyson’s hand. It took him a moment, then he slipped his fingers through hers, and she relished the simple touch. “Did you hear that, honey?” she said, leaning her head against his arm. His six-two stature dwarfed her five-six one, making his shoulder awkwardly out of reach to rest her head on.

“Yes, luv. I very much look forward to dancing with you.”

Such sincerity in his tone. She almost believed it was real.

“It sounds like a wonderful place,” Greyson said.

“It’s much more than a place . It’s—” Julie began.

A coyote howled in the distance. Once, then a second time, the sound echoing on the wind..

“Don’t worry,” Julie said. “They never bother us. Now, as I was saying. Expressive Wellness is much more than a place. It’s an experience.” She smiled again. “You won’t leave the same.”

“These are the crew quarters,” Julie said, stopping at the adobe building with a terra-cotta roof at the end of the path. She opened the carved wooden door, gesturing them inside. A small inner courtyard greeted them.

Julie strode at a fast clip down the long passageway ahead. “Here we are,” she said, stopping before a door with a wooden sign hanging where a peephole should be. It read Lovers’ Nest .

“Interesting,” Riley said, warmth rushing her cheeks, and again she prayed the blush settled before Julie spotted it. “I’ve never seen a hotel room with a name rather than a number.”

“Crew quarters,” Julie said with that same smile. “We feel numbers are impersonal, and we want you to experience the warmth and comfort of our accommodations during your time with us.”

What was with the cultish vibe? Okay, maybe that was reaching too far, but the crew bit bothered Riley, and a vibe was a vibe.

Julie reached into her pocket and pulled out three old-fashioned, ornate keys. She slipped two off the ring and handed them to Riley and Greyson. “One for each of you, though I doubt you’ll be apart. Our couples are always very close together, and I’m sure you’ll be the same, given the way you look at each other.”

Greyson tugged her to him. “Well, we are desperately in love,” he said, then pressed a kiss to her head.

Tingles shot through her.

“How sweet,” Julie said. “I think you’ll both fit in our little crew beautifully.”

Julie unlocked the door with her key and opened it for them, gesturing them inside with a sweep of her arm.

Riley cocked her head. Julie had a master key to their room? Though that wasn’t truly a surprise. It’s how things worked at hotels, and she figured this was a hotel of sorts, just a fancy one filled with activities.

They stepped inside what would be their room. The entryway opened up into a gorgeous, oversized room. A king canopy bed made out of hewn pine sat against the wall to their right. She took in the matching pine dresser on the side wall, then her gaze shifted to an adorable seating area. “It’s lovely.”

“Isn’t it?” Julie said. “It’s one of our best rooms. I’m so glad we had it available for you. And,” she said, moving for the oversized windows, “you have a view of our grotto.”

Grottos indicated plants, but Riley wondered what could possibly bloom this time of year. She stepped to the windows and gazed out at the lavish winterberries and rows of poinsettias artfully displayed. “It’s breathtaking.”

“It is,” Julie agreed. “We keep the hot tub water nice and steamy, so you’ll be warm and cozy no matter the weather. It’s the perfect place for couples to relax or meditate. Now,” she said, stepping back, “I’ll let you two lovebirds be. Brunch starts in”—she looked at her watch—“eleven minutes sharp. Don’t be late.”

“We’ll see you then,” Riley said as Julie popped out the door.

“Brunch provides a great opportunity to talk with Tate,” Greyson said, stepping to the window beside her, the light silhouetting his masculine form.

Case. Focus on the case . “Hopefully he holds the answers we need.”