Secrets Under the Sun, page 16
“Not so fast, buster. If I’m dreaming, I’m dreaming big. Every room would need to be sanded and painted.”
“What colors would you like?”
It was fun standing here with Dean’s arms around her, creating fantasies. “Not white. I always find white walls too sterile and cold. Something soft and warm. It needs to feel homey. Welcoming.”
Dean kissed her cheek. “I think any home you’re in would be warm and welcoming.”
“Soft buttery yellow.”
“Yellow?”
“For the kitchen, with navy blue accents. Then lavender for Thea’s room and a pale blue for Xander’s. It would be so great if they had their own room. I’m not sure how much longer I can keep them together.”
Dean’s hand reached out and pointed to The Hideaway. “But you’ve got this great place. Does Georgie have a favorite color?”
She nodded. “Yes, peach. Mom loves how calming and peaceful a soft peach is.”
“And what about you? What’s your room going to look like?”
“Hmm.” She tipped her head and pictured what she’d like in there. “Maybe sage or a really light periwinkle.”
Dean’s arms stiffened. “What’s sage or periwinkle?”
Eleni chuckled. “Sage is a soft, light green. Almost a mossy color. Periwinkle is a light bluish purple.”
As she inhaled Dean’s manly scent, she wondered if he’d ever share a room with her. Not just for a few hours but permanently. In her dreams, he absolutely would.
“This all sounds perfect, Leni. What else would you have in your fantasy house? What kind of furniture.”
“You know I have a soft spot for antiques. I’d probably go and buy up half of Haddie’s stock at Secondhand Antiques. Maybe I’d have Ben make some custom furniture, too. Dressers and large armoires, if Haddie didn’t have something I liked.”
“Are there no closets in the bedrooms?”
“I think I remember them being kind of small, so I’d need extra space. Unless my fantasy consisted of a closet that grew as you used it.”
Dean laughed. “I guess you’d have to contact Dr. Who to get that kind of work done.”
“Closet space is great, but one of the things I remember loving about the main bedroom was the window seat. I’d fix that all up nice, with cushions that matched the bedspread and curtains. I could sit in it and read while watching the ocean and listening to the waves.”
As his arms tightened around her, he spun until they faced the ocean. “Is that window seat big enough for two?”
She grinned at him. “It could be if we were creative.”
Dean ran his hands over her back until she pressed fully against him. “I can be creative.”
Now, he was speaking her language. The kids were away most of the day with her mother. What else did they have to do?
She touched her lips to his. “Maybe you could show me.”
Dean rested his arm on the back of Eleni’s chair as Marek stood and offered his hand to Nadine.
“Would you care to dance, beautiful lady?”
Nadine made a surprised face. “Who? Me? Why, I’d love to, kind sir.”
Dean laughed at the antics of the happily married couple now swaying to the music on the dance floor. Sundown was a casual restaurant on the ocean, near the pier. It had soft music, and often local musicians played guitar or keyboard. He preferred that to a few of the other bars, where it was so loud you couldn’t even hear the person next to you.
They’d come here a few times when they’d gotten someone to watch all the kids. Tonight, Vlad was keeping Georgie company with a sleepover for Kandra and Livy.
“I hope the kids are good tonight and aren’t too much for Mom,” Eleni said as her hand tapped to the beat of the music. Dean wasn’t much of a dancer, yet he still itched to hold her in his arms.
“I think your mother is happy that you’re getting out. Vlad is frosting on the cake.”
The smile on Eleni’s face was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. He loved when she was happy. Making her that was his new number one goal.
“It is nice to get away from the house every now and again, especially with good friends.”
“Good friends.” He squeezed her hand, remembering exactly how good they’d been together. Unfortunately, they’d need to go their separate ways once they got back tonight. Eleni was responsible for all four kids. It was Marek and Nadine’s turn for a quiet night alone. They were warming up on the dance floor right now.
“Thank you again for helping us put the Christmas tree up. It was so much faster with an extra set of hands.”
Dean caressed her cheek. “It’s been a long time since I’ve decorated a tree. I appreciate being included. You always make me feel like one of the family.”
Wasn’t that the truth. Between her mother and her children, being at Eleni’s brought a feeling of home that he hadn’t felt in too many years. Often, Maggie arranged for someone to put up and decorate a tree for him just so he’d have one there. But he’d never been involved. Not since he was much younger, and his dad had still been alive.
Dean picked up his soda and took a sip. Nadine had a fancy drink and Marek had a beer, but he didn’t feel right drinking in front of Eleni, not with all she’d confided in him about her husband.
“Do you want to order another appetizer?” Eleni asked as she nibbled on the last nacho in the tray. “You were eyeing those pretzels with the cheese dip.”
“You’re too observant. I can’t get away with anything around you.” She knew his entire work schedule, when and where he ate, how often he took a short break, and even when his hip was bothering him. Which made the fact she still didn’t know exactly who he was more pronounced. He needed to tell her and soon.
Once he and Trey set a few traps, he’d let Eleni know what was going on. Not that he was in any hurry to find the culprit. The most recent marketing hadn’t gone anywhere, so maybe the person stealing it had decided enough was enough and given up.
Marek and Nadine sat down and cooled off with their drinks.
“Your friend, Hugh, is chatting up Cindy Turner over there,” Nadine said, her chin tilting in the direction of the corner.
Dean glanced over to where the assistant manager cozied up with a voluptuous woman in a corner booth. “Do I know her?”
Eleni shook her head. “She’s a long-time islander. Works in the snack shop at The Sands. I thought she had better taste than that.”
Another person to look into. He couldn’t access much information on someone who didn’t work for Yios, but it was a start. Possibly a link.
“Dean wants some pretzels and cheese,” Eleni said. “Should we get something else, too?”
Nadine grinned. “How about some of the loaded potato skins? I love how much bacon they put on them.”
Dean waved his hand at the waitress and put in the order. The singer had started a sultry ballad, and Eleni swayed to the beat. He needed to man up and dance.
“Would you care to join me on the dance floor?”
Eleni’s mouth curled up in surprise. “I’d love to. Are you sure?”
“I wouldn’t have asked if I wasn’t.”
As they made their way over to the empty space, Dean circled his arm around her shoulder. “It’s a great excuse to get you in my arms in public.”
“I’m sorry about tonight. Nadine mentioned they’d take the kids to their house soon to reciprocate.”
Their feet stepped side to side as his hand brushed along her lower back and hers combed through the hair at his nape.
“The kids seemed excited about seeing the Christmas lights along the island. Not to mention the boat parade.”
“We’ll wait for the lights for another few weeks. If you drive around the island right before Christmas, so many more houses have decorated. Will you come with us?”
Dean shrugged, “I don’t see why not.” Unless they found who’d been responsible for stealing their marketing ideas. Even then, did he have to return to the rat race? He’d been running Yios Corp. from Last Chance Beach for four months now. The company had been thriving, and Dean had somehow managed to work a full-time maintenance job at the same time. How much more could he get done if he wasn’t cleaning toilets?
It was something he really needed to think about. Make plans for.
Eleni twisted her head and chuckled. “Must be Ocean Pearl day at Sundown tonight. Reva’s here, too.”
Swirling Eleni in a circle, he peeked around until he saw the Activities Director sitting at the bar. Hair and makeup was even more outrageous than when she was working. She was in full flirt mode as she chatted up the bartender.
Wouldn’t Trey be heartbroken?
Truthfully, his brother wouldn’t care. The poor woman was just one in a line of many that Trey used. It was hard to feel sorry for her, though, with the way she treated him.
Even though Reva was working it tonight, he had a feeling, with all the pictures he’d seen in her office, if Trey showed up in town, the bartender would be yesterday’s news.
Chapter Eighteen
His phone rang just as Dean stepped inside his apartment. He glanced at it first, and when he saw it was Trey, swiped to answer.
“Hey, little brother. How’s Europe?”
“It’s great, but I’m back in the Boston office.”
“Everything okay?” Dean had kept track of the business, and nothing had seemed amiss in the last few days. Maggie would have informed him of any problems immediately.
“It’s all fine, except I do actually work as CFO of this place. Sometimes, I have to use my office.”
Dean chuckled. “I’ve been able to do my job without mine. It’s very freeing, as you would know as the king of delegating work. I learned at your side, which is why I’ve been able to stay down here as long as I have.”
“Which brings me to my next topic.”
“Next? Did we have a first topic, other than hello and how are you?”
“Not really. But seriously, Dean, what gives with the island life? You’ve been a hermit for the last twenty years.”
“I haven’t been a hermit. I’ve occasionally come out of my cave. If I must be labeled, I’d prefer troglodyte.” Dean could feel Trey rolling his eyes.
“Whatever we call you, you’ve suddenly emerged and become human.”
“Who told you that? They’d be lying. Ask anyone I work with. They’ll tell you I barely speak to any other staff and definitely not to guests.” It wasn’t false. Eleni and her family and Marek and Nadine were the only ones he’s spent any time chatting with. Plus, he had to give his brother a hard time or he’d suspect something was up.
“That’s too bad. I would have liked to see you actually interacting with other people. Or those kids you went trick or treating with. But back to the point of your being on Last Chance Beach. Have you gotten any closer to our little marketing thief?”
“Not really. I think we need to lay some bait. Maybe pass around some info to different people and see what turns up. Fake info, of course. Not the changes I really want to make.”
“You mentioned changes before. What exactly are you considering?”
“It’s too much to discuss right now, and I still need to do some research to see how it’ll all work.” He wasn’t ready to share his kids club idea with Trey quite yet. His brother would have him committed. But once he knew for certain that Eleni felt the same way as he did? Yeah, he’d be yelling from the rooftops.
“Okay, so who do we send information to? I’ve got the list of staff right here.”
Dean booted up his laptop and opened to his staff file. “Even though I think Aarya is excellent at her job, I can’t discount her. She lives pretty comfortably on the island. It could be her husband’s job, but without getting into their bank accounts, I have no way of knowing.”
“So Aarya gets some misleading info. And Hugh? He’s next in charge?”
“Yup, he’s high on my list. There are also a few women he’s constantly flirting with that could be getting some bedtimes stories from him without the man even realizing what he’s doing.”
“Great. When does he have time to do his job?”
“That’s a topic for another conversation. The next suspect is Reva or Chuck. She schedules activities for the guests, while he coordinates resort events. They both have access to the marketing info, as well as the front desk managers.”
“Seriously? Reva? I think she’d be grateful that I got her such a cushy position. I’d hate not to have her company when I visit the island.”
“I thought you had a whole list of island girls.”
Trey snorted. “I do, but Reva tops the list.”
“There might be one of the staff in the financial office who works on the budget when we have new marketing.”
“So, it’s not a short list, but still manageable. What about the administrative assistant to Aarya and Hugh? She’d have perfect placement to see the plans.”
“Eleni Griffin? No, it’s not her.”
“Why do you say that? She has access.”
“I know it’s not her. There’s no way she’d ever do something like this. Besides, if she was getting paid to sabotage us, she’s not using the money anywhere.”
“And how do you know this, Dean? Have you looked at her bank account?”
“No, of course not. But the woman lives paycheck to paycheck. She’s got secondhand furniture in her house. Her car is ten years old, and she’s as frugal as they come. She’s got no extra income streaming her way. Believe me.”
“I do believe you. I’m simply wondering how you know so much about this woman.”
Dean took a deep breath. He wasn’t ready to spill his guts to his brother yet. “I’ve been here for almost four months. I’ve gotten to know the staff pretty well.”
“You just said you never talked to them.”
Darn, he had said that. “There are a few I’ve gotten friendly with.”
“To the point of knowing what kind of furniture they have inside their house?”
Dean cleared his throat. “Can we get back to business?”
Trey chuckled, and Dean wanted to throttle him right through the phone. “So how old is this Eleni Griffin?”
“Um…mid to late thirties.” He knew exactly how old she was but wouldn’t share that with Trey.
“Married?”
“Her husband died five years ago.”
“Ah, so you think she’s innocent because of a sob story.”
“It’s not Leni. Take my word for it.”
Another chuckle. “Leni, is it? Exactly how well have you gotten to know her, dear brother? Methinks you didn’t need my list of ladies, because you already found one of your own.”
“Leni lives with her deaf mother and two children. She isn’t the type who’d ever sell secrets. She’s loyal to the core.”
“Oh, boy. A mom and two kids. You are sending me spiraling today, Deano. I thought maybe you had a hot little number keeping you warm at night, but to hear you say there’s a mom and kids in the deal. I am intrigued. We have got to get this mystery solved, so I can visit and check them all out.”
Dean expelled a breath and clenched his jaw. “Fine, let’s figure this out, so we can get it over with.”
Then, he’d have to tell Eleni the truth and hope for the best.
As she passed by the private road that led to The Hideaway, Eleni peeked through the trees. Several trucks sat in the driveway, including a blue vintage one that looked like Ben Hadley’s. Had he been hired to do work on the house?
A few minutes later, she pulled into the shell-filled driveway of Secondhand Antiques and climbed out of her car. The four children tumbled from their seats and scattered to find the items on their list near the large red barn. Eleni scooped up the box with the ornaments and wreaths she’d made and sauntered inside.
Kat stood next to the register, her laptop open.
“Working the real job?”
Kat laughed. “Someone’s got to pay the bills around here. Are those the wreaths and kissing balls for this weekend?”
Eleni held up a wreath made from white pine branches that Dean and the kids had helped her collect from different locations on the island. With a few pinecones, decorative, colored balls, and a bow, it looked nice.
“I made a dozen using these branches and a dozen with spruce for a slightly different look and scent. Same with the kissing balls.”
“I love all the accents you put on them.”
Eleni shrugged. “It’s amazing what you can get at the dollar store. I have more in the car. I imagine you’ll be inundated with people checking out all the Christmas lights, so I doubt this is enough. I can make more, but Haddie said she had other donations coming, too.”
“You do so much for us already, Eleni. I’m not sure how you manage with your job and the kids. Plus, today, you have all four of them.”
“I gave them a scavenger hunt to do while they’re here. I hope you don’t mind.”
“I think it’s great how you mix basic curriculum with the island’s history. Not sure I could do that. If Ben and I have kids, I hope that new school is built by then.”
“Um…Ben. Is he working on The Hideaway? I thought I saw his truck in the driveway on my way over.”
“Yep, he’s been over there every day for the past few weeks.”
Eleni felt the sinking in her stomach, which was ridiculous. She never could have afforded that place, no matter how many extra hours she put in. The taxes alone were most likely more than her salary.
“Do you know who bought the place?”
Kat shrugged. “You can ask him yourself. He just pulled in.”
“I’ll go get the rest of the wreaths.” Eleni darted back to her car and pulled out the boxes she’d stuffed the kissing balls in.
Ben shuffled over. “Need some help getting this inside the barn?”
“That would be great, Ben. Thanks.”
He hefted two of the larger boxes and strode toward the red building.
Eleni picked up the last box, then tucked the box of desserts under her arm. Inside the barn, she placed the wreaths on a table and the desserts on the back sideboard. When she spun back around, Ben was stealing a kiss from Kat. They were an awfully cute couple. It reminded her of the kisses Dean always tried to get from her whenever the kids turned their heads.
