Get Fluffy (17 page)

My comment allowed Bruce the opportunity to openly gawk at Tova. His eyes devoured her model shape tightly wrapped in a short tweed skirt, draped t-shirt that more than hinted at her cleavage, and a pair of suede knee-hi boots.

I didn’t believe for a minute she was in the market for a yacht. “Why are you following me?”

Her eyes widened. “I-I didn’t.”

Bruce’s face flashed from outraged to injured. “You followed her? Are you playin’ me?”

She started to shake her head, then stopped abruptly. “I-I came by your place to talk about, well, you know
 . . .
” She swallowed and swayed slightly. “I saw you and—” she covered her mouth.

“Bruce, you’d better get her off Cliff’s yacht. She looks like she’s about to throw up.” I interrupted before she ratted out Darby. And she really did look like she was about to puke.

He forgot all about me as he helped Dingbat Tova to dry land. I waited until they were a few yards down the dock before I called out to Darby.

“Coast is clear. Quick, turn off the lights, and let’s get out of here.”

She bound up the stairs, and we jumped off the yacht. “Where did she come from? Why is she following you?”

“I’m sure it has something to do with my visit with her earlier today.”

Tova and I were going to have words later.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

It was completely dark, with only the full moon as a flashlight. It had taken us mere minutes to rush to the Jeep and race back to Laguna. I wasn’t sure what had happened to Tova, but I wouldn’t be surprised to find out tomorrow that somehow her getting sick would be my fault.

“I can’t believe we made it off
Ruthless
without getting into serious trouble. I don’t ever want to experience that again.” Fear laced Darby’s words. Under the streetlights I could see her flushed cheeks.

“Definitely a close call.” Unlike my best friend, I liked the adrenalin rush. I felt like I could run a marathon in record time. “You put Cliff’s notebook back where you found it, right?” I asked.

“Yes. Are you going to call Malone tomorrow?”

“Absolutely.”

Speaking of calling, my cell rang just as we entered Laguna city limits. I fumbled around in my purse, not wanting to miss Grey’s call. I was running late to dinner. I glanced at the number as I answered. It wasn’t Grey. I turned on my hands-free.

“Hey, Mama,” I kept my voice light.

“Why haven’t you called?” her voice cracked with tension.

“I did. I left a message.”

“You could have tried again. I raised you better than that.”

I kept my eyes on the road and pressed the accelerator harder. “I sent you a text.”

“You should have standards, Melinda. Texting promotes bad spelling and bad grammar. I heard about your little friend. Did you know she was Mona’s daughter?”

Apparently the tabloids had caught wind of Darby’s parentage. I glanced at “my little friend,” who was exerting great effort to not hear my speaker phone conversation. “I had no idea. What about you?”

“I knew Mona had a child, but I had no idea whether her unfortunate offspring was a boy or girl.”

The passenger-side tire blipped off the shoulder for a brief second. Darby scrambled for something to brace herself.

“What is it with y’all?” I shouted. “How many more secrets are going to come out before this is over?” I could feel Darby’s stare.

“Everyone has secrets,” Mama’s voice sizzled with exasperation.

“What do you need, Mama?”

I could hear the faint sound of drumming fingers. “Did you find your brother? Do I need to call the FBI? The National Guard?” she asked as I pulled into my driveway.

There was a car I didn’t recognize parked behind Darby’s Fiesta across the street. It couldn’t be Tova’s. It was way too modest.

“Mama, hold on a second. Darby, do you know whose car that is?” I whispered.

There was just enough light from the street lamp that I could see her shake her head. “No.”

I had a bad feeling. “Lord have mercy,” I muttered.

“Melinda, what’s going on?”

“I said, just a minute, Mama.” I took a breath. “
Please
.”

My heart raced as the driver’s door opened, and the inside light flicked on. A tall, dark haired man stepped out. Then the passenger door opened, and a leggy brunette joined him. Their doors closed in stereo, filling the quiet neighborhood. He said something to her over the top of the car, and she smiled. My stomach dropped.

“Mama, I’ve got to go. I’ll call you later.”

“Melinda, what—” I disconnected as she continued to talk.

“Do you know them?” Darby asked, watching from the side mirror as they crossed the street to the driveway.

My heart was beating in my throat. I swallowed past it. “The good looking idiot in the suit is my brother.” I turned off the engine when I realized it was still running.

“I’ll be going,” Darby said, clambering from the Jeep.

“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea.”

We got out, and I waited for bad news to meet me in the driveway. Darby immediately made a beeline for her car. She waved as she drove off without a backwards glance. Coward.

My brother, who hasn’t hugged me since the day he left home, wrapped his arms around me and squeezed, lifting me off my feet. Not an easy task.

“What’s wrong,” I managed to force out.

“Nothing.” He let go and stepped back. “You look good, Mel. Were you at an exercise class?”

I felt a tad awkward in my yoga getup with these two dressed for a date at the symphony. “Something like that. You’ve been off the Mama radar. What’s going on?”

His lopsided smile was forced, as if he was nervous and unsure of his reception. “Nikki, this is my little sister, Melinda.”

Nikki was not southern. My bad feeling metamorphosed into relief. A wave of giddiness washed over me. Mitch was fine. He was more than fine.

And Mama was going to throw a Texas-sized fit.

Nikki held out her slender hand, which I quickly accepted. Her grip was firm but not competitive. Impressive. Even in the dark I could see she oozed exotic beauty.

She tipped her head sideways and offered a genuine smile. “I’ve heard a lot about you. I hope you don’t mind we showed up unannounced. I told Mitch we should have called first. It looked like you were in the middle of something.”

An intimate look passed between them that spoke volumes. She was chastising Mitch.

“Excuse us for one moment.” I grabbed my brother by the arm and dragged him toward the front door. I looked back one last time at the woman who probably wasn’t a Vegas showgirl. Knowing my brother, she’d graduated from Brown, top of her class. But that wouldn’t matter to our Mama.

I held back the smile that was itching to escape. “Mitchell, tell me.”

He smiled sheepishly. “I wanted you to be the first to meet my wife, Nikki Langston.”

“Oh my gawd. Mama’s gonna have your hide,” my southern accent had landed. I let out a Texas whoop my Daddy’d be proud of.

I was
so
out of Mama’s crosshairs for a good six months.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

It’s funny how some things just work themselves out. Being the wonderfully supportive little sister I am, I relinquished my house to the newest Langstons and ordered Mitch to call the folks. It was time to break the horrific news—there would be no Dallas wedding.

Not only that, Nikki’s full name was Nicole Rosa Isabel Espinoza Langston. I couldn’t wipe the gratified smile off my face. If I hadn’t been in the middle of my own ridiculous drama, I would have hopped on the first plane to Dallas to witness Mama’s meltdown. Trust me, there will be fireworks of epic proportions. And for once, I wasn’t the target.

Don’t misunderstand, it’s not Nikki’s nationality that will throw Mama into a conniption fit, it’s the competing heritage traditions. In Dallas, charity events, parties and weddings are a reflection of your reputation.

Mitch had every reason to be wary of Mama.

Now that my brother’s alien behavior had an explanation, it was time to concentrate on the rest of my life, which was spiraling down the crazy drain.

My best friend was still the number one suspect in the murder of a local pseudo-celebrity. I was still guardian of a high maintenance dog. And I was still being sued.

I did what any semi-sane person would do. I headed for The Top of The World. I followed the twisting curves higher and higher, the night breeze dancing through the palm trees.

Unlike Tova’s desert landscaping, Grey’s had curb appeal. A potpourri of impatiens, cosmos and petunias with a handful of mini palm trees as accents. I pulled into the driveway and shut off the Jeep. I faced my four-legged passengers. Missy, who rode shotgun, knew exactly where we were and was eager to show Grey some love.

“Missy, you already know the rules.” I turned to Her Highness. “Fluffy, here’s what you need to know. Stay off the couch. Stay off our bed. Grey bought you a bed. Use it.”

Fluffy sat at attention, her long nose pointed toward Missy, but her eyes questioning me.

“She’s not allowed on the couch or bed either.” Sheesh. I hadn’t realized dogs could experience sibling rivalry.

Missy pranced in the seat, anxious to unload. I reached over to release the harness just as she sneezed. Bulldog drool shot out all over the inside of the Jeep and onto me.

“Yuck.” I pulled out a box of tissues from the middle console and wiped her sticky chin. Behind me, Fluffy rubbed her nose with her paw. She’d also been a causality of Missy snot.

I gently held her narrow face and cleaned her off. She watched me, not sure what I was about. “There you go, girlfriend.”

I scratched the top of her head and kissed her lightly. Fluffy licked my cheek, then turned away as if embarrassed.

I winked at Missy. “Well, well, well. Looks like Her Highness is warming up to us.” I rubbed Missy’s head and gave her a few kisses, too, not wanting her to feel left out of the love fest.

“Alrighty then.” I wadded the tissues into a ball and shoved them back into the console. “Let’s hit it, ladies.”

I slung my Louis Vuitton travel bag over my shoulder and raced the dogs up the stone walkway. We’d made it halfway to the house, when the front door swung open.

“I see you brought friends.” Grey’s deep voice made me feel a little dizzy.

He looked like home in his jeans, black t-shirt and mussed hair, and he smelled like dinner. More specifically, garlic mashed potatoes. My stomach growled.

“Never leave a soldier behind.” I planted a quick kiss on his mouth.

The dogs raced through the doorway. Missy immediately headed for her bed. Fluffy had no idea where she was going, but she wasn’t about to be left out. She immediately started her own investigation, starting with the kitchen.

Grey locked the door for the night, then grabbed my bag and tossed it on the bench in the hallway. “Must be serious. Louis’s heavy.”

“Mitch brought a wife.”

He grinned and raised his brow. “He was living a secret life.”

I nodded. “Nikki Rosa Isabel Espinoza Langston. I can already hear Mama. ‘What kind of name is that? Is she a prostitute? You cannot have an
ethnic
wedding.’”

He draped his arm over my shoulders and tucked me close to his side. He was the only man I’d ever dated who could make me feel petite.

“Poor Mitch.”

“He’s a big boy. He knew what he was doing. I feel bad for Nikki, she’s very nice. But it’s better for her to know the real Barbara Langston.”

“She does take some getting used to.”

“Amen. I’m sorry we’re so late. Have you already eaten?”

“I waited.”

We headed for the kitchen where he’d prepared an amazing dinner of grilled salmon, steamed broccoli and those garlic smashed potatoes I already mentioned. In the center of the round glass table sat a bottle of my favorite Pinot Noir.

I kissed him on the cheek. “I am the luckiest woman alive. It smells delicious.” I washed my hands at the kitchen sink. “Today was kinda wild. You wouldn’t believe it.”

He pulled out my chair. “Try me.”

We sat, and Grey poured the wine. His shirt sleeves were casually rolled to his elbows, exposing his forearm muscles. He placed my glass next to my plate, then poured some for himself.

I rested my chin in the palm of my hands and stared at him. I took a deep breath and savored the moment. “I’ve missed you.”

He looked over the rim of his wine glass; his eyes promised to make it up to me.

I shivered. “Stop it.” I tore my gaze away from his face and concentrated on my dinner. “This is so delicious. I just realized I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”

“Something kept you away from food?” He chuckled.

I savored a fork full of potatoes, then launched into my day. “First, Owen summoned a small group to his office this afternoon to inform us Mona was broke. So broke, she’d filed bankruptcy last month.”

“I’m sorry I missed that meeting.”

“Liar,” I said around a mouthful of salmon. I swallowed and then continued, “He gave me a copy of Mona’s will. She named me Fluffy’s guardian.”

“You get Fluffy?”

“Her well laid out plan of revenge. As her new owner, it’s my job to find her a bodyguard. Interested?”

His lips twitched. “No. Why does she need a bodyguard now?”

I pointed a floweret of broccoli at him. “I have no idea.”

I filled him in on the meeting and explained about the insurance money for both Darby and Fluffy. By time I was finished, so was dinner.

“How’s Darby holding up?” He leaned back in his chair and sipped his wine.

“She wouldn’t tell you, but not good.” I placed my utensils on my empty plate and pushed it aside. “I want to tell you something—a number of somethings. But you have to promise not to get upset until after I tell you everything.”

Grey pushed his plate aside too and sighed knowingly. He looked at me in that way that said he was done arguing. “I’m not sure I want to make that promise.”

“I didn’t say you couldn’t get upset.” We both knew that was a given. “Just wait until I’m finished. Then you can yell at me.” I shot him a self-deprecating grin.

I downplayed Darby’s and my excellent adventure of breaking and entering (I used very passive verbs), but I was a good girl and didn’t leave out a single detail.

The muscle in his check twitched, and his green eyes sparkled with a great deal of irritation. But being the gentleman he was, he didn’t say a word. Yet.

When I admitted to poking my nose into Malone’s investigation, I thought he was going to explode like Old Faithful. “I promise I’m going to call Malone first thing in the morning and let him know about Cliff’s notebook.”

“I specifically said to stay away from Cliff.” His curt tone was not for show.

I had the stray thought that the make up sex tonight would be great. But I didn’t think he wanted to hear that right now.

“He wasn’t there. I swear.”

Under the table my legs pumped up and down with a life of their own. “Oh, and I have something I want you to look at.” I hopped up and grabbed my cell.

Spilling my guts to Grey had been more emotional than I’d expected. To be honest, I hadn’t really given it much thought. Oh, I’d known he’d be upset, but I figured he’d get over it. By the look on his face when I’d left the table, he didn’t look like he wanted to get over it anytime soon.

I came back with reinforcements—the dogs.

“You’re not going to stop this, are you?” He gathered the plates and carried them to the sink, clearly upset and exasperated.

The dogs sniffed the floor beneath the table looking for leftovers. Fluffy was so bold to actually sniff the table. Bad dog.

“I can’t.”

“Is this because of Caro?” Grey began loading the dishwasher with his back to me.

It was a simple question, and I understood why he was asking.

“Not at all. This is because Darby’s innocent.” I set my phone on the counter and helped him load the dishes. We worked in silence.

Once we finished, I said softly, “I need your help.”

“I know.” He leaned his back against the counter and tucked his fingers in his pockets. He wasn’t happy. “I’m more than a little upset, Mel.” I opened my mouth to answer, but he raised his hand for me to keep quiet. “But I know you’re going to do what you want. The only way I can reassure myself you’re not going to run head first into trouble is to do what I can to help.”

Jubilation exploded like a fireworks finale. I jumped him right there in the kitchen and peppered his face with kisses.

He finally broke down and laughed. “All right, get off me.”

I wiggled my eyebrows. “I bet you never thought you’d say that to me?”

I dropped to the floor and grabbed my cell. I pulled up the photos of Cliff’s paintings. “What do you make of this?”

I handed my phone to Grey just as his doorbell rang.

“Got another hot date tonight?” I asked.

He handed my phone back. “I can only handle one crazy woman at a time,” he said wryly.

Ironic really, because who was on the other side of the door? Dingbat Tova.

“I’d like to see Melinda.” Her voice was unrecognizably confident.

I strolled to the door, guard up. “Hey. How’d you know where to find me?”

She’d changed out of her seduce-newly-trained-security guard outfit and into a powder blue sweat suit and pumps. “I saw your car. I’ll take the fifteen hundred dollars. A check is fine.”

Grey looked at me questioningly.

“I’ll fill you in later,” I said. To Tova I clarified one more time, “I’m not apologizing.”

She rolled her shoulders back. “I know.”

I narrowed my eyes. “I’m not admitting to the fleas.”

She sighed, her face pinched into acceptance. “Just mail the check. I’ve already called my attorney to drop the lawsuit.”

I channeled my gracious winner face. But let’s be honest, inside I was a fist pumping freak. “Will do,” I said, straight-faced.

Tova turned around and runway-walked back to her Hummer.

I closed the door and let out my second Texas holler of the day.

“What was that about?” Grey asked amused.

“I found a way to get her to drop the lawsuit.” I preformed my celebratory dance with a few “whoop whoops” thrown in. I was quite proud of myself.

“You have been busy. What did you have to do?”

My party fizzled. “Pay her the original fifteen hundred dollars. But she’s cost me that much in just annoyance.”

“I’m proud of you, Babe. You’re dealing with an irrational person. That wasn’t going to change. You’d have paid more in legal fees. You did what you had to.”

I puffed out my chest and shot him a cocky grin. “Thanks,
Babe
.”

He held out his hand. “Let me see the phone.”

I pulled it out of my pocket and found the pictures again. This time my cell rang, interrupting us. “What in the world
 . . .
” I looked up at Grey. “It’s Tricia. Why would she call me?”

“Answer it, and let’s find out,” he said.