Page 10 of Last Ticket to Paradise

Gunther dug into his pocket and pulled out a pipe. “Do you mind? Palumba is still old-school, allowing people to indulge in their bad habits.”

Georgette shook her head. As long as he didn’t smoke the same tobacco as Brice.

He tamped the tobacco down into the pipe and lit it, clenching it between his teeth. “This stay, I’ve been here for about two months, and Nicole has been here a month.”

Georgette’s heart thumped in her chest. Two months? Time to forget about Jake flirting with the bikini-clad woman. Gunther and Nicole had been here at the same time as Jamie. “Maybe you ran into my sister here.”

Gunther leaned back and puffed on his pipe. “Your sister was here in Palumba?”

“Yes. She was staying here at the Palumba Falls until about two weeks ago.”

Nicole joined their conversation again. “Your sister? What’s her name?”

“Jamie Lawson.”

Silence descended on the little group. Gunther flicked a finger at the bowl of his pipe, and Nicole stubbed out her cigarette in an ashtray. A couple on the edge of the group resumed their conversation in low voices, and another person jumped up to join a friend at the hot tub.

Georgette’s eyes darted around the group. Did Jamie’s name cause this sudden uneasiness? “Did you meet her?”

Nicole sipped her drink. “Of course, we met Jamie. So, she’s your sister.”

Gunther’s eyes traveled the length of Georgette’s body. “Jamie’s your sister? You two look nothing alike.”

Georgette heaved a sigh. Like she’d never heard that before. “Actually, we’re twins—fraternal twins.”

Nicole asked, “Did you come out here to meet Jamie?”

Georgette smoothed her dress across her thighs. She didn’t want to pass her mother’s hysteria along to this group. “Yeah, but it was a surprise. She didn’t know I was coming, and apparently, she left for another island. D-did she tell you where she was going?”

Gunther bit the tip of his finger and rolled his eyes heavenward. “I think she left with Jean-Claude, didn’t she, Nicole?”

“Yes, I believe he was the last one.”

Georgette sucked in a breath. “The last one?”

Nicole laughed. “Her last conquest on the island.”

Georgette exhaled. That made sense. Jean-Claude must be the Frenchman Nigel had mentioned. Jamie hooked up with this Jean-Claude, and they took off together.

Gunther shook his finger at Nicole. “Now,Nic, don’t shock Georgette. Jamie’s her sister.”

Georgette smiled and waved her hand. “It’s okay. I know my sister better than anyone. Were you a conquest, too, Gunther?”

Nicole threw her head back and laughed. “Darling, Gunther’s as gay as Old Paree.”

Georgette covered her mouth with her hands, a flood of warmth washing over her face. “Oh.”

Gunther smiled and patted her leg. “Now you’ve ruined it, Nicole. I was gearing up for a nice flirtation with Georgette.”

Nicole snorted. “Good, I just saved you some wasted time, darling.”

Georgette giggled. “Well, if Jean-Claude was Jamie’s last conquest on the island, who was her first?”

Gunther tipped his head toward the pool. “Our hunky host.”

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