Dangerous Relations Read online

  "Margaritas. I drink only margaritas in Key West."

  "Do you come here often?"

  She grinned, flashing perfect white teeth. "Not as often as I'd like."

  Brett gave her order to the bartender, and they exchanged names and home states. When her drink arrived, they clinked glasses in silence and walked outside to watch the sunset.

  They flitted from topic to topic, never touching on anything serious. They nibbled on appetizers, and when the crowd started coming, they rose, as if in unison, and went to his room where they made hot, torrid love.

  They were inseparable for the next three days. Brett experienced a sharp pang of loss when he kissed Suziette good-bye at the Miami airport. He paid scant attention to business the entire month before her visit to his Fort Lauderdale home.

  Their second long weekend together left him more besotted than ever. Suziette was a fun-loving girl, a passionate sex partner eager to try new positions. As generous as she was with her body, she gave out personal information like a miser making charity donations. Two months passed before he learned she lived in Thornedale; two more months went by before she revealed she had a three-year-old daughter.

  None of that mattered. Brett was obsessed. He beamed as Suziette gushed over the wonders of south Florida and the possibility that she'd never have to go through another freezing winter.

  He adored Leonie from the moment she stepped off the plane and greeted him with a hug. Rather than being frightened off by the prospect of raising someone else's child, he decided then and there to marry Suziette. The three of them would be a family and live in a new community of homes ten minutes north of the condo he shared with his brother.

  Once the idea caught hold, Brett realized he wanted a family more than anything in the world. He'd had a family the first ten years of his life, but it fell apart when they moved to Florida. His parents divorced and his mom fell ill. Three years later, he and Rob were living with an aunt and uncle who begrudged them every cent of their upkeep.

  Before he popped the question, Brett told Rob what he intended to do. Though two years younger, his brother had a more cautious nature. He warned Brett about taking such a major step with someone he barely knew. Brett waved away his brother's concern and proposed to Suziette the last night of her and Leonie's visit. Suziette thanked him ardently, but flew home without giving him an answer.

  For two days Brett paced and fretted, worried he'd offended Suziette by going about the matter the wrong way. Finally Suziette called him to say she accepted his proposal, and invited him to visit her in Thornedale.

  He'd been hurt when, hours before their wedding ceremony, Suziette informed him she absolutely had to live in Rolling Hills or she didn't know if she could go through with the wedding. Puzzled, too, as up until then she'd been all for their living in Florida, close to the company's main office.

  Anger at this last minute ploy had fused with Rob's warning not to rush into marriage with someone he hardly knew. For a moment he'd considered chucking the whole business. But then Leonie had pranced into the room to ask him to tie the bow of her frilly white dress, and he was overcome by his desire to create a family with his beautiful Suziette and her adorable child.

  Recalling his wedding brought a sad smile to his lips. He'd been happy then, utterly enchanted by his new bride. His fist pounded the steering wheel in exasperation.

  Of course he'd been happy. He'd been naive, like Adam in the Garden of Eden. Not naive, but downright stupid! That was before he'd found out Suziette was shallow, materialistic, and fickle, with no staying power as a wife, a mother or anything that required loyalty and hard work.

  Leonie proved to be the only worthwhile part of their marriage. Brett's expression softened as he thought of the tender-hearted, golden-haired little beauty. Leonie would make a wonderful mother, judging from the way she cared for her plush giraffe, Mr. Bonkers, which she never let out of her sight.

  He longed to comfort Leonie, to hold her in his arms and tell her everything would be all right. He acknowledged to himself how much he'd been counting on Ardin's intelligence and compassion to view things his way and help him adopt Leonie. Ardin--his solemn, book-loving childhood friend--recognized the special bond he shared with Leonie. Once she had a chance to reflect on the situation, she'd have to admit that Julia was in no shape to raise an active child.

  He'd make everything turn out right. Brett sped down his street, spurred on by his natural optimism. Somehow he'd convince Ardin, Julia, and the court he was the best guardian for Leonie. It was a complicated process and required hard work, but adopting Leonie was what he desired more than anything in his life.

  He'd make amends for the way he'd mishandled things this evening and regain Ardin's good will. An image of her lovely pale face hovered in his mind's eye. Poor Ardin, forced to bear the brunt of his ridiculous tantrum after she'd broken the news about Suziette's will. He was glad she'd responded to his massage and calmed down. The only trouble was, he'd found himself fighting the urge to kiss her slender neck. But that, no doubt, was a whacked-out reaction to the funeral and the other surreal events of the day.

  An apology was needed to clear the decks. Brett grinned as the best, most appropriate gesture for his rude behavior came to mind. First thing tomorrow morning he'd start things moving in the right direction.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Ardin woke up at nine the next morning after a night of little sleep. She'd tossed and turned on the wobbly cot for what seemed like hours, doing reruns of Brett's visit.

  She really was going bonkers, terrified he was about to strike her when he'd only been letting off steam. And he had plenty to be aggravated about. How was she to know the poor guy had absolutely no inkling of the contents of Suziette's will? Still, that was no excuse for her dumb, sexist remark that had sent him storming out of the apartment.

  His whirlwind departure left her feeling bereft. There was no point denying the strong physical attraction she'd felt when he massaged her back. Probably because he was so damn good-looking. Ardin shook her head. Handsome or not, Brett Waterstone was not on her agenda. No man was on her agenda, as her mother was quick to point out every chance she got.

  A shower and two mugs of coffee helped revive her. By ten o'clock she was in her Honda and on her way to Aunt Julia's.

  She pulled into the driveway of the large colonial, next to a black Jaguar. Frank's car, she noted with surprise. What was he doing here? She started up the wide bluestone steps as her ex-father-in-law came out of the house. His fit physique and dapper appearance made him appear ten years younger than his sixty years. Today he wore a blue blazer, grey slacks, and a colorful designer tie. As usual, every razor-cut salt and pepper hair was in place.

  Frank's mind was clearly somewhere else. He stepped down and would have collided with her, if she hadn't darted to one side.

  "Ardin! Sorry, I didn't see you!"

  "That must be some important deal you're cooking up," she said, trying for a joke. But even when she and Corey were married, she'd never felt comfortable with this successful businessman who had a finger in every Thornedale pie. He sat on several boards, including that of the assisted-living residence where her mother now resided. He played Santa Claus every Christmas for the children in the local hospital. And, up until four days ago, he'd been Suziette's boss.

  Frank jerked his thumb over his shoulder. "I stopped by to see how Julia was faring today--if she could use help with anything."

  "That's kind of you."

  Ardin was about to ring the bell, when Frank said, "I'm glad she has you to look after her."

  "Actually, I'll be going home in a few days. I've been here for a month now. My boss won't hold my job forever."

  "Maybe you should consider moving back to Thornedale," Frank said.

  She turned around to meet his gaze. No, he wasn't joking or teasing, as often was his manner. His suggestion left her speechless.

  "I mean it, Ardin. Vera's ailing, Julia's in total shock over this
dreadful business, and Leonie--the poor, little mite--could use some proper mothering."

  "I can't, Frank," she began, annoyed with herself for explaining something this personal to the man who'd tried to make her look bad when she'd divorced his son eight years ago. "I have to--"

  Frank leaned closer. His Armani cologne filled her nostrils. "I'm worried about Julia. Everyone knows Suziette ran wild till the day she died, though poor Julia insists her only child was an angel."

  "She considers Leonie the result of 'that time someone took advantage of poor Suziette.' She'd never believe that recently Suziette was--" She stopped short and covered her mouth.

  "Sleeping with Corey?" Frank asked, one eyebrow cocked. He smiled at Ardin's evident discomfort. "Did you forget I'm privy to everything that happens in Thornedale?"

  "I must have." She blushed, wondering if Frank knew of Brett's visit last night.

  "Ardin." Frank put his hand on her upper arm.

  She was forced to meet his steady blue eyes. He's a handsome man, she mused, not for the first time. An older, more forceful version of Corey.

  "I never told you how sorry Betty and I were that things didn't work out between you and Corey."

  Despite her best intentions, the old resentments flared up. "You could have fooled me, Frank. I remember your telling my mother, my aunt, and anyone you could grab hold of that the breakup was my fault. That I was a delusional alcoholic, and my bruises came from falling down drunk!"

  Frank cleared his throat. "My dear, I do apologize. We were wrong. We realized just how wrong when Tiffany made the same accusation." He lowered his voice. "She threw Corey out three months ago and he came to stay with us. But they've patched things up this weekend. You'll be glad to hear Corey's getting help."

  "Why should I care? Your son needed help years ago when he used me as a punching bag and you looked the other way."

  "Yes, dear, I know." A note of irritation crept into his voice. "As I said before, Betty and I regret our poor behavior, but all that's water under the bridge." He gave a small laugh. "Corey's remarried, and you've certainly gotten on with your life." He glanced at his watch. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm on my way to a meeting and I'm already ten minutes late."

  He zoomed off in his Jaguar, leaving her seething. The arrogance of the man! Of course she'd gotten on with her life. But marriage to Corey had left her too wounded and wary to risk another chance on love.

  She rang the bell. As she waited to be let in, she considered all that Frank had told her. What an interesting coincidence that Corey had gone back to his wife the same weekend Suziette had been killed. Ardin shivered in the warm April sun.

  Maybe Corey killed Suziette. After all, they had been lovers. Maybe she'd provoked him, and his quick temper drove him to tighten the scarf around her throat.

  She shuddered. Best to leave it to the police to find Suziette's killer. They were trained to search for clues and to deal with motives and evidence.

  She waited several minutes before Aunt Julia came to the door. Although she was a large, fleshy woman, today she looked like a pillow that needed fluffing up. She still wore her bathrobe. She pressed Ardin close, enveloping her in her sadness.

  "I'm so glad you're here. Leonie's been asking for her mother and her daddy, and I've run out of things to tell her."

  Her aunt was starting to sniff. To prevent a crying jag, Ardin took her by the arm and led her toward the kitchen. "Why don't I make you a cup of tea? Where's Leonie?"

  "Here I am, Cousin Ardin. Drawing."

  Leonie sat at the round kitchen table. Behind her, the sun blazed through the picture window, making her blonde hair glow in a halo of light. She wore a white polo and denim overalls. Her plush giraffe, Mr. Bonkers, stood on the table amid a spray of colorful crayons. The little girl reached out to the chair beside her and held up a teddy bear almost as big as she was.

  "Look what Uncle Frank brought to keep me company."

  Ardin stroked the head of the teddy bear. "He's great, Leonie."

  Leonie dropped the bear back in his seat and swept the giraffe into her arms. "I still love Mr. Bonkers the most, and always will."

  Ardin looked down at the picture Leonie was drawing.

  "This is our new house. And here's Mommy and Daddy and me."

  "It's lovely." Ardin swallowed the knot of sadness she felt for her little cousin.

  Leonie pursed her lips. "I want to give it to Daddy. Where is my daddy?"

  Ardin gnawed at her lip. "I suppose he's at work. He came to see you yesterday, didn't he?"

  "Yes, but today's a different day."

  Leonie fixed her sky-blue eyes on Ardin. "Grannie says Mommy isn't coming back."

  "That's right, honey." Ardin tried to draw the child into her arms, but Leonie wriggled free.

  "Will you be my mommy?"

  Ardin blinked back tears. "I'm your special Cousin Ardin who loves you."

  "Leonie, why don't you and Mr. Bonkers run upstairs and play in your room?"

  Leonie pursed her bow-shaped lips together. "It's not my room, Grannie, it's the guest room. And we played there all morning. All by ourselves."

  "Just for a little while, I promise." Aunt Julia's voice quivered. "Cousin Ardin and I need to talk."

  Leonie poked a finger into one rosy cheek as she thought this over. "Okay, Grannie." She offered a dazzling smile. "Then can we go to the park?"

  Ardin saw her aunt had reached her breaking point. "As soon as Grannie and I finish talking, I'll play with you."

  "Do you promise?"

  Ardin placed her hand over her heart. "I promise."

  When Leonie was gone, Aunt Julia turned to Ardin, tears glistening in her eyes. "She's so like Suziette when she was three-and-a-half: alert, curious, active." She sighed. "But what am I to do? With my heart condition, I don't have the strength to raise another child."

  It was the perfect opening. Though Ardin hated to cause her aunt pain, she felt obliged to bring up the subject of Brett's visit.

  "Aunt Julia, Brett wants to adopt Leonie. He started legal proceedings months ago."

  Her aunt nodded. "I know. Then why did Suziette ask me to be the child's guardian? She must have had her reasons."

  Ardin grimaced. No one had ever fathomed what passed through Suziette's head. "We have to consider Leonie's best interests. She adores Brett. She'll be happy living with him."

  Julia went on as if Ardin hadn't spoken. "Of course I said yes, without giving it a thought." Her heavy shoulders trembled as tears streamed down her cheeks. "It was almost as though she knew someone wanted to kill her." Her hoarse sobbing grew louder. "Who would want my dear, beautiful Suziette dead? To--to strangle her with her own scarf and leave her like that in the woods?"

  Ardin wrapped her arms around her aunt and let her cry. She thought back to Julia's frantic call on Thursday evening. Suziette was supposed to have picked up Leonie at five-fifteen, two hours earlier. Suziette wasn't answering her cell phone, and no one Aunt Julia called could tell her where Suziette might be.

  Ardin had hurried over to the house and, to appease her aunt, had called the police.

  Three hours later two policemen arrived bearing bad news. A neighbor had been walking his dog in the woods behind the houses and had discovered Suziette's body. Neither Ardin nor Aunt Julia could explain why Suziette had gone to the clearing where a playground was to be erected someday. It certainly was a well-hidden spot, Ardin had thought at the time, where two people could meet and not be seen.

  Now Ardin said, "Aunt Julia, you need to rest and not worry about looking after Leonie. Why don't you let her stay with the Presleys for a day or two? Vivie said Michelle would love having her best friend sleep over. Since the girls attend the same nursery school, the bus could pick her up there."

  Aunt Julia sniffed. "I can't send Leonie about like a wrapped parcel. Now that her poor mother's gone, she needs a sense of home more than ever."

  Ardin bit her lip to keep from pointing out that Leonie had a
home and was desperate to go there. Her aunt sighed and patted Ardin's hand.

  "You're a good girl, Ardin, and I know you're trying to help. I'll think about Vivie's offer. It's gotten so I don't know what to do. I'm tired. So very tired."

  Ardin filled the kettle and set out cups and saucers. "Don't think about anything right now. We'll have some tea, and then you'll go upstairs and rest. I'll stay with Leonie until you wake up."

  Aunt Julia flashed one of her warm smiles. "Would you do that? You're an angel, Ardin."

  "My pleasure. I'll call my mother to let her know I'll be stopping by this afternoon instead of now."

  * * * *

  A long nap did wonders for Aunt Julia. She came downstairs while Ardin was coloring with Leonie and insisted on preparing lunch from the platters of leftovers cramming the refrigerator. Finally Ardin got up to leave. She was touched when Leonie hugged her tight.

  "Now don't forget, Cousin Ardin. You promised to visit before you go home."

  Such a vital, loving child, Ardin thought as she drove back to her mother's apartment. A pang of sadness reverberated deep within her. She'd never have a daughter like Leonie. Nor a son. She thrust back her shoulders and accelerated through a yellow light. No matter. It was all for the best. She wasn't suited for family life. Her short, disastrous marriage to Corey had taught her that lesson.

  She was unlocking the door to the apartment, when Mrs. Katz, her mother's elderly neighbor, called to her from across the hall. "Ardin, dear, I'll be right over. I've something for you."

  A moment later, Mrs. Katz appeared carrying a crystal vase filled with twelve red roses.

  "The roses arrived an hour ago. I promised the delivery fellow I'd give them to you just as soon as you got home." She smiled, showing a dimple in her cheek. "They were so lovely, I couldn't resist putting them in my favorite vase."

  Puzzled, Ardin reached for the vase. "Are you sure they're for me?"

  "That's what the envelope said. Oh! The card. Be back in a jiffy."

  Ardin felt a surge of excitement as she set the vase on the dinette table. Mrs. Katz reappeared and handed her a small envelope. She stood there expectantly, as if waiting for Ardin to read its contents aloud.