If At First (Crimson Cove Mysteries Book 1) Read online

  “From your mother,” Sierra noted.

  Lainey nodded, looking down. “She really is the worst of the worst. She was on the phone, telling whoever she was talking to that Sage’s parents told her Vincent Banks would be the most successful of all the guys we knew. He was a guarantee of a bright future filled with financial growth and opportunity. She said her parents were mad because they had caught her with Jake a couple of times. And she confessed she wanted to be with him and not Vince at all. Her parents didn't care. Well, Tom didn't care.”

  “He forced her to date Vince?” I wrinkled my nose. “Gross.”

  Sierra shook her head. “My parents might be insane, but they would never force me to date someone.”

  I opened my mouth to agree but then closed it. They both laughed at my face. “We all know my parents would completely tell me who to date.” I rolled my eyes. “Louisa can convince my dad of anything. I’m going to end up at the Crimson Cove debutante ball and they will be auctioning me off to the richest person.” I mimicked a weird accent and closed one eye like I was a Caribbean pirate. “Hey, you. I got a good woman for you. Very cheap!” We all laughed but deep down we knew it was true. Arranged marriages weren’t uncommon amongst the people our parents wanted us to be.

  “Speaking of the richest people in the crowd, are you dating Vince?” Sierra asked.

  “No.” I slumped in the chair and covered my face, speaking through my fingers. “Honestly, he just saved me from my dad. He heard my dad getting mad at me, and he interrupted and made it seem like we were going out tonight. And of course Dad was ecstatic.”

  “Ewwwww, now you owe him.” Lainey laughed again.

  I nodded, hands on my face and all.

  “Well, so long v-card,” Sierra mocked and grabbed my arm, pulling me into her and stroking my head. “And Sage is never going to get over this, so you better start planning the path to redemption with her. Sucking up, phase one, commences the moment she is allowed out of the yard again.”

  I smiled weakly. “At least this gets you off the hook. She will be so busy hating me, she won’t remember to hate you.”

  “True story.”

  The three of us hugged, and I wondered if they were as confused as I was.

  We wiped and powdered once more before leaving my bedroom, looking like we were going to the Goth prom.

  When we got downstairs my dad smiled wide, but the hurt and fear still lingered in his eyes—Louisa, not so much. She beamed and nodded. “You girls look lovely. Very elegant.”

  “Let’s get this over with,” I muttered just low enough that the stepmonster didn't hear it.

  “Yup.” Lainey sighed and Sierra stalked to where her father was in a tux and talking on the phone. I followed her, wanting to know what he was saying and if he had heard anything from Sage.

  “I will be in touch.” He hung up and smiled at us all, his stare also filled with emotion. “You girls look beautiful.” He kissed Sierra on the cheek.

  “How’s Sage?” Lainey asked, without even trying to contain her worry.

  “She’s been discharged from the hospital. Her family is terribly upset, naturally. Ra—the Swansons are at the Millers’ place trying to cope as the police search their property and clear away the remains. They left the bod—her there a long time to process the site, apparently. Had to call in someone from New York.” He struggled with that, which was out of character. He was a big-time New York lawyer. He didn't struggle to speak about anything. He nodded and glanced at Sierra. “But we will all put on brave faces for our friends and show the world no one can bring Crimson Cove down. This will be solved before dinner tomorrow night, I’m sure of it.” His left eye twitched a bit.

  “Why don't we get a picture of you three looking so lovely before your dates arrive?” Louisa pulled out the camera as Lainey’s mom jumped up and forced lip gloss on Lainey who didn't even struggle.

  They positioned us at the fireplace and stepped back, all looking too excited and far too normal.

  “Smile, girls.” Lainey’s mom lifted her cheeks, reminding us how one smiled.

  I lifted my cheeks as Lainey’s hand sought out mine. I reached and grabbed for Sierra’s, and we held to one another, still rocked from the events of the past twenty-four hours.

  “Cheers.” Louisa laughed and took the photo. “Now that is a great photo of solidarity and friendship.”

  I swallowed hard; I hadn’t realized just how tough this would be. Our friendship and our secrets were a heavy burden to bear.

  We gripped one another, not moving, maybe not knowing where we should go next.

  The doorbell rang, making me jump and the grip on our hands tighten. Jake and Andrew strolled in, smiling wide and looking the way they should, both in tuxes with their hair slicked back and their perfectly straight teeth gleaming white. They were freshly shaven and dressed like gentlemen. There was something in their eyes though—something that lingered there from the news none of us could shake.

  Jake walked to Sierra and Andrew to Lainey, offering the girls white rose corsages to match their lapels. They let go of me and joined their dates so we could finish getting ready. We knew the group photos would come next.

  Vincent came in after them, holding a white rose bracelet and wearing his cheeky grin. I contemplated telling him I didn't want an escort, but the look on my dad’s face was too much to bear. I couldn't break his heart, not on the night of the gala and the night after Rachel had been murdered. Dad was barely holding it together.

  Vincent walked to me, looking down on me with appreciation or perversion; it was tough to tell with him sometimes. “You look beautiful.” He said it so low I almost didn't hear him, and he was close enough I could taste his delicious cologne. He slipped the stunning bracelet over my hand and tightened it so the rose sat perfectly. He bit his lip and stared at the sight of our hands together. “I have to talk to you.” Again he whispered.

  I nodded, realizing I had been right and this had been a ploy of some sort. “Not here. Whatever game this is, let it play for the night so my poor dad doesn't think I dumped you for one of the cocktail waitresses.”

  “You mean when you come out of the pantry and go on a crazed hot-waitress safari?” He smiled wryly.

  “I will kill you if you ever bring that up again.” I couldn't help but laugh. “Anyway, I’ll break the sad news to him tomorrow that we just didn't work out.”

  He chuckled and lifted his gaze to mine. “We aren’t breaking up, Linds. That's not what I want to talk to you about.”

  “What?” My stomach landed in my lower belly with a thud. Those devilish green eyes, and the way his stare bored into me as if he might devour me any second, had me on pins and needles. But the fact we were suddenly an item, and it was his idea, freaked me out completely. “Do you need me to hide some drugs or smuggle a girl into the country or something? Did you kill Rachel?”

  “No. None of the above. I just want to spend time with you. Jesus, you look beautiful. That's it.”

  “You said that already.” I swallowed hard, wishing he wasn't staring down on me so intently.

  “I just wanted to say it again, in case you doubted my sincerity.”

  “That's fair. I usually do.”

  His lips twisted into that grin, the one I hated. The one I had to remind myself I hated. “I know you do.” He lifted my hand and kissed the back of it, squeezing gently.

  “More pictures—one of all of you, then one of the gentlemen, and then one of the couples,” Louisa started barking her orders and waving her hands.

  Lainey’s mom and Louisa positioned us into one long row, girls standing just in front of their prospective guys. Vincent slid his left hand, the one my dad couldn't see, around the front of me and pulled me into him with a subtle jerk. His breath hit my ear and I stood there, completely confused sexually and insanely uncomfortable for all five photos she took of the six of us.

  The initial discomfort didn't go anywhere, and it worsened when it was time for t
he couples photos.

  “You guys are such a pair,” Louisa squealed as we positioned, just the two of us in front of my massive fireplace.

  “Yes, we are,” Vincent whispered in my ear.

  “Stop,” I muttered back using Sage’s stawwwwwp.

  “We both know I don't have to and you can’t make me.” He chuckled, tickling the side of my face with his laugh. “Your dad wants you to marry me, we both know it. So play nice or I will propose in front of everyone.”

  “You wouldn't dare.”

  He scoffed. “Hands down, I would. In a heartbeat.” His eyes sparkled.

  “I am going to knee you in the balls again, before this night is out.”

  “I look forward to it.”

  That made me smile for real.

  Chapter Eleven

  King Poop of Turd Island

  When I walked out of the house after eight hundred photos were taken and retaken, I groaned, stretching my neck and back.

  “And this shit just started.” Lainey grumbled with me.

  “We are never going to make the night. I am already exhausted. I think I slept for an hour this morning, maybe two.”

  “I think I had three.” Sierra yawned and climbed into the back of Vincent’s limo.

  “I have something in the back I think we can all use,” Vincent said with a laugh as he climbed in after me. He sat next to me, placing his hand on my knee. I glared at it until he moved it. “We need to look the part. I have never seen your dad this happy. Honeymoon in Monaco maybe?”

  I brushed my dress where he had touched and spoke through my teeth, “Stop.”

  He leaned in with a grin. “Never.”

  Sierra wrinkled her nose. “Oh my God, you all actually like each other. Look at the sexual tension coming off you both.”

  Vincent gave her a harsh look while I gasped, shaking my head in protest and pleading with my eyes, but she just laughed cruelly.

  Jake chuckled and nudged Vincent as he climbed in. “Vince has always liked you, Linds. Don't you remember the photos we had taken when we were little? It was always Sage staring at Vince who was staring at Linds who was staring at Ra—never mind.” He stopped short and laughed uncomfortably. I glared at him, wondering if he was going to say Rachel? I was probably always staring at her, but my eyes would have been filled with daggers. I had hated her my entire life.

  “Who wants some?” Jake cleared his throat as he grabbed the bottle of champagne from the holder, popping it out the door so it fizzed onto my driveway.

  I remembered those photos. Who the hell had I been staring at? It had to be Rachel. No one else’s name started with a Ra—”

  My cheeks were bright red, and I couldn't lift my eyes above the knees of the people in front of me. When I did, Lainey was still giggling and nodding. “I remember that.”

  “You’re embarrassing Lindsey and of course myself.” Vincent’s voice was its usual blend of insincerity and mockery.

  “Nothing embarrasses you, Vince.” Jake scoffed.

  “Okay, you're embarrassing yourselves.”

  I sighed, avoiding Vincent’s stare. I knew it was on me. Normally, I could feel his eyes from across a crowd. I had thought it was because he was fond of tormenting me or judging me. I used to imagine he was thinking of all the things that were wrong with me. The list was fairly huge in my mind.

  Andrew held up the glasses for Vincent and Jake to pour. “We getting hammered or what?” he asked in his typical chilled-out tone.

  My flaming cheeks and pressed lips made it impossible for me to answer, but I nodded my head uncomfortably as I took my drink.

  “Hell, yes we are. We are getting drunk and acting like crazy teenagers because it’s what we do. It’s what the media expects from us, and it’s what Rachel would give them.” Vincent lifted his glass. “To Rach, may she be at peace in a beautiful place filled with designer clothes and hot guys and drama enough to appease even her.”

  I shuddered, remembering the last time we had toasted Rachel, and lifted my glass, clinking it against his with everyone else. A pasted and forced smile rested on my face as we all downed the first glass. Sierra grabbed the bottle and drank from it. “And may she find friends twice as loyal as we ever were.” She laughed and chugged from the bottle.

  My forced smile fell from my face, as did Lainey’s.

  Jake pulled the bottle from her hands. “Sierra, why don't we hold off on getting sloppy drunk until closer to midnight?”

  “Why don't you stop telling me what to do?” She held her glass out at Andrew who poured her another, all the while looking uncertain about his choice.

  Lainey gave me a look. I had to assume she was worried Sierra would spill the beans on what had happened the night Rachel had died and get us all in trouble. Sierra was the most reckless of us all, and we all knew too well how loose lips sank ships.

  Vince leaned in, speaking softly, “You want some ephedrine?”

  I shook my head.

  “I do.” Sierra held her hand out. He placed three small pills in her palm and gave three to Jake. Lainey, Andrew, and I didn't take any.

  “How much longer till we’re there?” Sierra sighed, looking restless.

  “It’s a ten-minute drive from my place,” I offered, trying not to sound as pissed with her as I was. I was done giving her leeway. She was being an asshole. She had gone from tired to cranky addict in a matter of moments.

  She flashed her sexy smirk. “We should blow this off and go skinny-dipping.”

  Jake nodded but Lainey and I both shook our heads. “We can’t. You know we can’t. We have to at least make an appearance.” I turned to Vincent. “You know we have to go.”

  He shrugged. “I’m down with skinny-dipping. My place is empty. My pool is clean. We can just go there.”

  “Drop us off at the gala first.” I glared at him, grateful he was up to his usual asshole antics. It was easier to be mean to him when he was being a douche.

  “An hour at the gala and then we go skinny-dipping?” Jake threw it out there, obviously trying to be helpful with a compromise.

  “Fine,” I said, knowing I wouldn't be going anywhere with any of them. I would suffer through the stupid gala before I went skinny-dipping the day after Rachel died.

  The ride got awkward as Sierra stopped talking, maybe getting the sense that Lainey and I were annoyed with her. The guys joked but we didn't talk.

  When we got to the clubhouse even I was impressed with the decorations. There were twice as many as last year, covering the beautiful seaside golf resort.

  It was lit up so as the sun was setting, the clubhouse became brighter. There were paths lit by torches and the patios had tiny white lights everywhere. The sky was calm and dark blue, with just the hint of pale blue at the horizon.

  There was a red carpet where the car stopped, and when the valet got the door I noticed the way he kept his eyes low. I didn't like this trend of drivers and valets not looking you in the eyes. It was unnerving.

  I climbed out behind everyone else, letting Vincent take my hand in his and squeeze it as he lifted me from the car. He held me tightly, leading me away from the cameras and the flash. I kept my face down, but I could hear the words being spoken by the reporters lining the strip.

  “This is Vincent Banks’ limo. Over here! Vincent, over here!”

  “Smile. Vincent, over here!”

  “Friends of the deceased girl, Rachel Swanson, are just arriving. Each is in black with a white rose, signifying the loss this quaint town has suffered.”

  “Vincent Banks, the son of the shipping tycoon and oil billionaire Grant Banks, is here tonight. He has with him a girl I believe is the daughter of one of the initial Crimson Cove investors, Mark Bueller. But where is Sage Miller, the girl we are so accustomed to seeing on his arm?”

  “You are right, that is Mark Bueller’s daughter. I think her name is Louisa Bueller. She’s probably a fill-in for the lovely Sage Miller, who we reported earlier was taken to hospita
l after finding out her friend had died. She hasn't taken the news well.”

  “Poor girl. Of course she hasn't.”

  “Good on Vincent for coming out and showing his support of the town and his father.”

  I tried not to notice they had called me Louisa. I tried not to have hurt feelings when they called me a fill-in girl. I tried not to take it personally that they didn't really know me that well.

  Anonymity was not something most of us had. But Lainey, Andrew, and I usually managed to scrape by with some. People recalled us but not in the way they remembered Vincent, Rachel, Sage, Sierra, Ashton, or Jake.

  Vincent apparently took it personally enough for us both. He stopped walking and turned, waving slightly while sliding an arm into my waist and pulling me to him, too tightly to be a fill-in girl. “Thanks for coming everyone! As you know, we have suffered a terrible loss here in Crimson Cove. The death of one of our dear friends has been unbearable. Our hearts are with the Swanson family. I am grateful to you who all still managed to come out and get shots of the dresses and tuxes when a much more important story is here—just up the shore.” He managed to sound sincere in it all as he mocked them.

  He waved and then glanced down at me. “Thank them, Lindsey!” He said my name loud enough that I winced.

  “Thank you!” I waved as well, flinching when the cameras’ flashes hit me. I hated the stupid rags and our town being part of the gossip. I liked my bit of obscurity, and I suspected I had just watched it die.

  Vincent leaned down and pressed his lips again my cheek while whispering, “I am going to have that man fired for calling you a fill-in girl.”

  I forced a laugh. “Please don't. I don't actually care.” I didn't jerk away from him but I turned, dragging him with me this time.

  When we got inside I sighed. The room was beautiful and there were only the photographers who were polite enough to ask before they shot you. “That was insane. Why are there so many here? Why aren’t they at Rachel’s?” I glanced at Vincent, giving him a scowl. “Sage’s going to see the news and see the kiss, and she’s going to hate me.”