Page 67 of Juniper Bean Resorts to Murder

“Sandra,” I say. I sit up straighter in the absurdly comfortable desk chair. “I want to know about my dad, but Sandy is more important right now.”

“I agree,” he says, nodding sharply. Something glimmers in his eye, a grim determination. “In that case, the person we need to talk to is not Rocco Astor,” he goes on. His gaze clashes with mine, sending a thrill down my spine. “It’s Tonya von Meller—Sandra’s mom.”

17

IN WHICH AIDEN’S HEART DOES INCONVENIENT THINGS

“All right,” Juniper says the next day, fixing me with a steely gaze. “I have a cover story. But you’re not going to like it.”

Something about the look in those blue eyes has me on instant alert. “I reserve the right to veto any and all proposed cover stories,” I say. Then I turn my attention back to my book. Today was a half day due to a teacher development meeting we had earlier, so now I’m home, seated in my favorite wingback chair, next to my shelf of classics and the bust of Shakespeare. Normally when Juniper interrupts me here, she crouches down by me, but today she just stands there, hovering from above.

“Youcould,” she says, drawing the word out slowly, “except…”

This solidifies my attention. I close my book with a snap, my eyes flying up to find hers again. “What did you do?” I say. “I’m getting the kind of ominous feeling that never bodes well, especially when you’re the cause.”

Juniper clears her throat, looking uncomfortable. And I can tell that she’s right: I’mreallynot going to like this.

“I’ll fill you in on the little details tomorrow,” she says instead of answering my question. “What I’m asking is just that you keep an open mind.”

“Why tomorrow?”

“Because I need to pick something up from your sister first—”

“Nope,” I say immediately. “If Caroline is involved, I’m already out.”

“You absolutely are notout,” she says, putting her hands on her hips. “I need your help. This is important. Are you going to abandon me and make me talk to Tonya von Meller all on my own? You don’t even know what my plan is yet.”

“I know you don’t want to tell me, which means that it’s nothing good.”

She ignores this very well-reasoned point. “I need to borrow an outfit from Caroline. That’s the only involvement she has.”

“Nothing of Caroline’s is going to fit you,” I say, returning lazily to my book.

“You don’t know that,” Juniper says, and even though I’m trying not to pay attention, I can practically hear her rolling her eyes. “You don’t know our sizes—”

“Caroline is probably a ten or a twelve,” I say. Then I let my eyes trail over Juniper, taking in the shape of her, displayed fairly well in tight jeans and a time-worn t-shirt. “While I would guess you’re somewhere around a size…four? Six?”

She gasps, looking scandalized and also thoroughly impressed.

I smirk.

“Keep your lecherous eyes to yourself,” she says, crossing her arms over her chest like a shield.

I laugh at this, throwing my head back and letting my book drop to my lap. “If either of us is lecherous, it’s definitely you,” I say. “Your eyes bugged out of your head when I showed you my tattoo.”

“Hey,” she says, stepping closer as her eyes flash with interest. “Speaking of that—”

Oh no.

“What’s in the fourth drawer?” she says, her voice eager.

“I’m not answering that,” I say. She’s been asking me this question at random intervals ever since last night, springing it on me when I least expect it. I think she thinks I’ll answer if I’m caught off guard. “And we aren’t talking about me. We’re talking about you.”

“Meh,” she says. “Fine. But just wait until you see me in one of your sister’s fancy-pants outfits.” She grins. “You’ll be drooling at how wildly attractive I am, and then we’ll see who’s the lecher.”

“My sister wears yoga pants and mom jeans,” I say, trying to ignore the effect that grin is having on my pulse. “Nothing about her is fancy.”

Juniper holds up one finger. “Maybe not now,” she says, “but I called her this morning and asked if she had any clothes that would make me look rich, and she said she had some outfits from back before she got married and had kids.”

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