Almost Paradise Read online

  So he’d started thinking of her as just a woman. Noticing the scent of her cologne. The way her cheeks flushed after she’d been working out. The way she still filled out a tank top even after nursing two children. He’d let his mind wander to what it would be like to have his lips teasing and tasting the soft flesh. And nothing.

  He wasn’t put off the way a guy might be if he had to kiss his cousin, or the ugly girl with a unibrow. And he’d certainly mastered not thinking of Claire as anyone’s wife. He’d simply had no reaction. No response. Not even a nervous twitch.

  What he’d had was a permanently limp dick and the horrible realization that no matter his intentions to rescue Claire, he might never be husband material. And that had scared the shit out of him.

  Chapter Twelve

  “What the heck is going on?” Lexie Hale set the phone into the cradle and stared as though she expected the apparatus to reply.

  “Hm.” Nick lifted his nose from the GoPro Flip 3.1 filter he was attaching for one of the tourists who recently purchased the cute little underwater video camera.

  “That’s the third phone call today about the Delucas.”

  “What about them?” Returning his attention to the Lilliputian camera, he maneuvered the tiniest of screwdrivers.

  “I don’t know.” She continued staring at the phone. Perhaps if she willed it, eventually the thing would talk back to her. Like on Star Trek. “ Right after Billy and Angela left, I got a call from a Miss Magnolia Maplewood.”

  Nick looked up again. “Who?”

  “You heard me. Magnolia Maplewood.”

  “I’d change my name if I were her.” He went back to work on the new filter.

  “I’ve heard worse. Anyhow, she wanted to

  confirm all of the Delucas’ snorkeling reservations.”

  “Not so unusual. The Delucas are arriving in a few days.”

  “I know. Next another call from LA. The woman was with—”

  “Let me guess? Daisy Dogwood?”

  “Ha, ha.” Lexie shifted, placing her hands on the computer keyboard. “No. All she gave me was the company name and said she was calling for Billy with regard to Tom Deluca. And just now some guy, also from LA, wants to talk to Billy. I think one of us should call Billy and tell him about all these calls.”

  Nick slapped the red filter lid closed on the palm-sized camera. “Isn’t this too cool for words?”

  “Yes. Too cool.” Lexie resisted the urge to roll her eyes and mumble the old cliché about men and the price of their toys and kept her gaze on the screen in front of her. “Something’s not right. When I wouldn’t give the last guy Billy’s cell number, he started asking me questions.”

  “What kind of questions?”

  “Weird stuff like how long had Billy known the Delucas. Did he have any contact with Tom while he was deployed?”

  Nick scanned the shop, his eyes falling on his son playing with the stuffed sea animals. “Who was the first company that called?”

  “Washington and Roberts.”

  “Sounds like lawyers.” The muscles in Nick’s jaw pulled with the clenching of his teeth. Everyone knew that except for his wife, Nick wasn’t fond of lawyers. Lawyers meant lawsuits.

  And lawsuits cost money.

  “Doesn’t sound like—they are.” She scrolled further down the page and hit enter. “Holy shit.” Nick moved beside her. “Now what?”

  Her stomach did a somersault, and the remainder of her lunch threatened to make an unwanted appearance. “The guy from LA is with a detective agency.”

  Putting the camera down, Nick turned on his heel. “I’ll make the call.”

  * * *

  Everything any man could want in a woman stood before Billy. By the sink, dirty cake plate in hand, Angela was a damn siren of simplicity. She called it boringly average. He would have called her damn appealing.

  A need swelled inside him to move closer, pull her into his arms, and taste the lips that only a few short weeks ago had left him feeling alive and hungry for more. Would the world as he knew it cease to exist if just this once—

  “Anchors Aweigh” blared from his pocket.

  Angela’s glance dropped to his ringing pants before flying back to his face.

  While heat rushed to her cheeks in an embarrassed flush, blood rushed in an altogether different direction for him. Damn. Turning halfway, he tapped the phone. “I’m almost on my way in.”

  “Good,” Nick responded. “You’ve had a few calls regarding that client of yours, Tom Deluca.”

  “What about him?”

  “Have you done anything to piss this guy off?”

  “No. Why?”

  “What about the boat? How many years have you been refusing to captain his excursions?”

  “Since I came home. What aren’t you telling me?”

  “You’ve had three calls today about the Delucas. One from some lady with the dumbest name. Another from lawyers in LA.”

  “Lawyers?”

  “Yeah. Lexie did a quick Internet search. Out of LA. They’re no slouches.”

  “What do they want with me?”

  “That’s what I’m asking you.”

  “Well, I doubt Deluca’s hiding my baby.” Billy sneaked a quick peek at Angela, relieved she didn’t appear to have heard his remark. He hadn’t thought of her when he’d tossed out the flippant reference to

  Nick’s ex-girlfriend waiting until she was dying to tell Nick they’d had a son. “They didn’t give any information?”

  “None. But the third call was from a PI firm.”

  Angela was already busying herself at the kitchen sink. He wondered if she was supposed to be on her feet this long.

  “Billy?”

  “Sorry. I’m on my way back now.”

  “You may want to call Brooklyn. He really came through for us with info on the asshole from Kara’s past. If it weren’t for him, the creep probably wouldn’t be rotting in jail today.”

  “Yeah. I’ll call when I get to the office.”

  “Don’t you want to go ahead and call him now?”

  “No.” He had no idea what the lawyers or PI wanted, but he wasn’t going to find out while standing in Angela’s living room.

  She looked up just as he slipped his phone into his breast pocket. “Something wrong at the shop?”

  “No. But I do have to get back.”

  “Okay.” She tossed a dishrag onto the counter and walked toward him. “Will I—”

  “Do you—”

  Their words tumbled over each other.

  “You first.” She smiled.

  “Do you have plans for dinner?”

  “I’m afraid I do.” She glanced at the sink and back.

  “Lexie and Kara have been keeping you pretty busy.”

  “Well, yes.” Her cheeks rose in a half hearted attempt at a smile. “But I’m not having dinner with them tonight.”

  All the heat rushing through his veins chilled. “Maybe some other time.”

  He thought this time the smile that bloomed seemed more sincere. “I’d like that.”

  With a wave and a forced smile, he walked away. His back to her now, his smile slipped and his molars bit into each other. She had a date. Probably with Dr. Slick or maybe some new guy more than happy to put a ring on her finger and get her pregnant. Not necessarily in that order. Shit.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Billy walked into the office he shared with Nick and collapsed into his desk chair. He’d have to be blind to miss his partner’s glum expression. “You on KP duty?”

  “No.” Nick pushed away from his desk, turning to look at his longtime friend.

  “Then what’s the sour face for?”

  “You do remember the last time we had a lawyer call looking for one of us?”

  “Yeah, you married her.” Billy picked through a stack of mail.

  “The lawyer might have been good news, but the phone call wasn’t. Patty Ann was dying. And the time before that, the witc
h from New York sued us.”

  “And she was forced to drop the case when we proved her a liar. I’ve known Tom Deluca since I was a kid. He and his wife started coming out for an annual dive trip when I was in junior high, maybe high school. Never missed a year even after the kids were born. The few times my leave and their dive trip coincided, they’d asked me to be their lead.

  “Nice people. Cute kids. I strongly doubt they’re suing us. This probably has something to do with his wanting to buy a place here on the island. Maybe he wants to start a business too, or buy into ours.”

  Nick leaned back, his previous scowl, slipping slightly. “Hadn’t thought of that. Every weekend diver thinks they can run a dive company. But still, why the PI?”

  “Background check to see if we’re worth the investment?”

  “I don’t know.” Putting his hands behind his head, elbows sticking out like chicken wings, he nodded. “Maybe. But I’d still have Brooklyn check into this, too.”

  “Word is you’re not the only one seeking his services. He’s done really well for himself since he quit working for Uncle Sam and put out his own shingle.”

  “Here are the three phone messages.” Nick set the pink papers on the desk.

  Magnolia Maplewood? Who names their daughter Magnolia with the last name Maplewood? Billy held up the first message. “Who’s this lady?”

  “She didn’t say.” Nick shrugged. “But it’s about the Delucas again.”

  Billy hit speed dial to Luke “Brooklyn” Chapman. Former navy, former CIA, current owner of Brooklyn Security, and most importantly, one of the good guys.

  “Hello.”

  “Hey, Brooklyn. Bill Everrett here.”

  “Chief.” Brooklyn was the only person Billy knew who still called him by rank. “How’s it going?”

  “Good.” And for the first time in a long time, he meant it. “How’s Sharla?”

  “Throwing up.”

  “Not that parasite that’s been making the news?”

  “Nope. We’re pregnant.”

  Billy could see his friend’s grin as surely as if the guy was standing in the room. “Congratulations, man.”

  “Thanks. So, tell me, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

  Quickly Billy brought Brooklyn up to speed on the three phone calls including the names of the attorneys, the PI, and his longtime customer.

  “The Tom Deluca?” Brooklyn asked. “As in Deluca Land and Development?”

  “You tell me. My Deluca lives in LA. He’s in real estate, married with two kids.”

  “Give me whatever other info you’ve got on him, and I’ll get one of my LA people right on it. But if this is the same Deluca, the guy has bought and sold some of the most posh developments along the California coastline. He is not someone you want on the other team.”

  If Brooklyn was right and the two Tom Delucas were one and the same, today’s telephone mysteries might spell trouble after all. “Our shop manager should have contact details for you. That’ll give you something to go on. In the meantime should I call any of these people back?”

  “Give me a few hours to at least pin down which Tom Deluca we’re talking about, and then if it’s who I think it is, you might want Kara in the room when you call. Especially the lawyers.”

  “Got it. Will do. And thanks.”

  “Any time, bro. Any time.”

  Billy disconnected the call and shouted for

  Lexie.

  “You sound like the place is on fire.

  Something wrong?” His mother appeared in the doorway.

  “Just business. Intercom is broken.” Billy hoped to cover his growing concern.

  “What’s this?” Nick lifted foil from the edge of the dish Billy’s mother carried.

  “Banana-coconut fritters.”

  Nick slid one off the plate. “I love your fritters.”

  “They’re not mine.” She set the dish in front of Billy. “Sara Alani made them.”

  Midway to grabbing a fritter, Billy pulled his hand back. “Why?”

  “No reason. She’s a good cook.”

  “And…”

  “Why does there have to be an and?” “Because you’ve known Margaret Alani for most of my life, and this is the first time her daughter has made us fritters.”

  “Well, Sara may have finally broken up with that good-for-nothing boyfriend she’s been supporting for the last few years. Packed up and moved home with Margaret, so now Sara’s available.”

  “That’s nice.” He ignored the plate his mom was once again pushing his way.

  “You may want to try these,” Nick said, his mouth full. “They’re as good as your mom’s.”

  Maile tossed him a quick frown.

  “Well. Almost as good,” Nick corrected.

  “I’ll pass.” Billy picked up a pen and began tapping it on the desk, his mind preoccupied with today’s parade of phone calls. What was all the sudden interest in him and the Delucas?

  Maile waddled her way closer to the desk. “What aren’t you telling me? Is there a problem with the business?”

  Billy didn’t like the worry forming in his mother’s eyes. This business might belong to him and Nick now, but it had been his father’s baby first. The reason his parents had met. And it meant as much to his mother as it did to him. “No, Mom. Just a little confusion with one of our regular customers.”

  Indignation replaced worry. Her back straight and her chin high, Maile raised her hands to her waist. “Is some idiot suing you again? Don’t they know this is the best dive company on the islands? They can’t do any better than an Everrett!”

  “Mom—”

  “Your father was one of the best. And you—” She spun around to point at Nick “The navy taught you well. Almost as good as my Eddie.”

  “Mom. We’re not being sued.”

  “That we know of,” Nick mumbled, shoving another fritter in his mouth.

  Maile didn’t hear Nick, but Billy did and shot daggers in Nick’s direction. The last thing Billy wanted was for his mother to worry herself over nothing. At least he hoped it was nothing.

  “Then what has you looking so out of sorts?” Maile’s expression hadn’t changed. She wasn’t buying it.

  “I’m not out of sorts. I’m thinking.”

  “About what?”

  Good question. He didn’t want her fretting over his business. He needed a diversion. “What do you think about ballroom dancing?”

  His mother blinked. “Huh?”

  “Dance classes. I thought it might be…good for me.”

  Maile Everrett stared at him so long he wondered if it wouldn’t have been better to let her think he was being sued rather than losing his mind. “I’m told women love men who can dance.”

  “This is about a girl?” Maile rubbed her hands together and ran around the desk. Leaning over, she threw her arms around her son. “This is wonderful. When do I get to meet her?”

  Oh Lord, what had he started? Billy pulled his mother’s arms away from his neck. “Mom. I can’t breathe.”

  “Nonsense.” She pulled back and batted his chest. “So when do I get to meet her?”

  “Soon.”

  “You promise?”

  “If things work out between me and this new lady, I promise you’ll meet her soon.”

  On that assurance, Maile bobbed her head, turned her wrist, and hurried toward the door. “Bradley and I are supposed to meet Margaret and her grandson at the park, and I still need to stop at the house and pick up Gunny. That dog is down right miserable when he doesn’t get to spend time with his boy.”

  “Have fun.” Billy watched his mother’s back until she was out of sight. At least she was right about that. The way Gunny hovered over Bradley, he made Lassie look like a pussycat.

  “Sounds like you’ve been holding out on me.” Arms crossed, Nick leaned back in his chair. “Who is this new woman?”

  “No one.” Unless he reconsidered…no.

  “You lied to your mother
?”

  “Gilded the lily.”

  Nick’s eyes rounded. “Man, I’ve never known you to outright lie to anyone, especially your mother.”

  “Have you ever met Sara Alani?”

  “Can’t say I’ve had the pleasure.”

  “About five six, a hundred and twenty pounds give or take a few, won homecoming queen Ava’s senior year, and has a pair of knockers a man could suffocate in.”

  “So what’s the problem?”

  “Nothing if she keeps her mouth shut. The woman has the IQ of a gnat.”

  “How do you know a gnat’s IQ?”

  “Seriously. My senior year of high school, that girl spent more time with my sister at my house than her own. Even then she was built for pleasure, but she put the D in ditz. Some days I wondered how she found her way home.”

  Nick chuckled. “Okay, I’ll admit with her being your mother’s best friend’s daughter, taking advantage of Ms. Alani’s assets could be considered ill advised.”

  “Agreed.” Besides, five minutes in the same room with her would be enough to send Billy screaming. Taking three long strides to the door, he leaned into the hall and called to Lexie.

  The back door swung open, and she came through, running in from the warehouse. “You rang?”

  Billy nodded and turned back to his desk. “Pull all the info we have on Tom Deluca and give it to Luke Chapman. I’ll give you his contact data.”

  “What kind of info?”

  Billy grabbed a pad and paper from his drawer. “Contact info. Everything. If you have his shirt size, give it to him.”

  “Got it.” Accepting the scribbled piece of paper, she spun on her heel. “Will get right on it.”

  “Oh, by the way—”

  She hesitated. “Yeah?”

  “Will you be seeing Angela at all tonight?” Lexie cast her gaze toward Nick and quickly back. “No. She has a date with Dr. Shepherd.” “Okay. Better get that info to Brooklyn.”

  Lexie waved the paper at Billy and left, closing the door behind her.

  “Told you to beat him to the punch,” Nick muttered without looking up.