He’d had time to think about it, and believed he had an idea what some of it, at least, was about—and where it might’ve come from.

He also believed he knew how to find out.

He glanced over to where Emma manned the bar.

He just needed to bide his time, and use the right approach.

“Let the games begin,” Jack called out, and held up a hat. “Everyone picks a number for the first round.”

SHE REALLY DID SUCK AT FOOSBALL. SO GREAT WAS HER FAILURE even Carter beat her. Now that, she thought, was humiliating.

Still, she’d killed at pinball with a run of luck and skill that had put her slightly ahead of both Jack and Del in that field of play. Much to their chagrin.

And that was satisfying.

She felt she’d hold her own at poker. But currently Mal and Parker were ripping it at competitive DDR. She’d have to ace her run to have even a fighting chance for the trophy.

She sipped wine as Parker and Mal hit double A’s at the end of their second of three rounds.

Shit, she was probably doomed.

It was probably unfair to think having Mal there balanced things out—but it did. Parker was perfectly capable of getting her own man if she wanted one, but it just added a nice touch.

Plus, they looked really good together.

Really good.

And maybe she should switch back to water if she was heading toward even around the borders of matchmaking.

She shrugged, took another sip, then prepared for her round with the Xbox.

She entered the final round tied with Mac for fifth after scorching Jack at DDR.

“Damn the Wii,” he muttered. “It killed my standings.”

“You’re in fourth.” Emma poked his belly. “I’m dead last. Something’s wrong with that pinball machine. And my Xbox controller was faulty.” She plucked the cigar out of his hand. “For luck,” she decided and took a puff. “Ugh, can’t be worth it.”

Forty minutes into Texas Hold ‘Em, Laurel went all in on a pretty heart flush. The pot would put her on top, and potentially eliminate Emma, Mac, and possibly Carter.

As the bet rounded the table, she felt a buzz as her opponents folded one by one. Until Carter.

He considered, weighed—endlessly, she thought. Then called.

“Ace high heart flush.” She spread her cards.

“Very nice,” Del told her.

“Oh.” Carter adjusted his glasses, looked sorrowful. “Full house. Queens over sevens. Sorry.”

“Woo!”

At Mac’s cheer, Laurel scowled.

“Sorry, I have to cheer. We’re getting married.”

“Maybe you could check the sauce,” Mal said.

“Yeah, I can do that.” She pushed away from the table. “It was the stupid foosball.”

She took her time, stirred the sauce, then wandered over to step onto the deck.

Mac’s prediction had finally come true. It had cleared up. Maybe it had waited all day to do it, but the skies bloomed blue again. There’d be a moon out later, and the stars. Lovely night for a walk on the beach.

She went up to see Emma at the bar pouring a Diet Coke.

“You out?”

“I’m out.”

“Yay. I won’t come in last.”

“I could hate you for that, but I’m magnanimous. Jack’s down to his last chips. Our love did not soar us on wings of skill and luck this day. But, hell, it was fun. Oops, there goes my man. I guess I should commiserate.”

It took another thirty minutes for the eliminations, and a few more for the tallying.

In the end, Del turned from the board to reach for the trophy. “Ladies and gentlemen, we have a tie. Parker Brown and Malcolm Kavanaugh each end with one hundred and thirty-four points.”

Mal grinned at Parker. “Looks like we share the spoils, Legs.”

“We could have a tiebreaker, but I’m too damn tired.” She held out her hand for a shake. “We share.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

DEL FOUND HIS OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO EMMA ALONE FOR A good stretch the next day when he suggested the two of them drive to the local nursery to see what sort of plantings she’d like to put in.

She jumped on the idea so quickly and enthusiastically, he felt just a little guilty. He’d make up for it, he decided, by letting her pick whatever she wanted, even if it meant hiring a local landscaping crew to maintain it.

She cut that sop to his conscience the minute she hopped in the car with him.

“Low maintenance is key,” she began. “I’d love to do whole rivers of color and texture, but you don’t live here. No point in having all that, then needing to hire people to deal with it when you’re only here off and on through the year.”

“Right.” Anything she wanted, he told himself again. Anything.

“Next key is sticking to plants and grasses indicative of the beach, and going for a natural look. It’s going to be fun!”

“You bet.”

“It will.” She laughed and poked him. “I’m going to enjoy this a lot, plus it goes in as my own little payback for the vacation. It’s such a beautiful place, Del. We’re all so happy to be here.”

“Payback? Come on, Emma.”

“It feels good to do something to show appreciation.You’re not taking that away from me, so don’t even think about it. Boy, it’s a gorgeous day. I can’t wait to get started on this.”

“It’s nice to get away, relax. It’s good for everybody.”

“No argument from me.”

“Dump the stress. We’ve all got it. Not just work, but outside sources bring it, too. Laurel going head-to-head with Linda added plenty for her.”

“Oh, she told you about that. I wasn’t sure she would.” Emma sat back as anger shifted over her face.

“It’s lucky she caught Linda before she strolled right in Mac and Carter’s place, but I don’t like knowing she had to take Linda on alone.”

“She handled it, sent Linda off with a bug in her ear. But, I know what you mean. She didn’t have any backup when Linda went after her. She was so upset.That woman knows exactly where to slip the knife.”

“Nothing Linda says means a damn.”

“No, but words hurt, and she knows which ones to use. She’s . . . She’s a predator, that’s what she is, and she goes for the weak spots. She really piled it on with Laurel. First her father, then you. Stab, stab, claw.”