Page 123 of Out on a Limb
“At least.” Julia unhooked her belt as I shifted into park. “I thought the other man in your life was going to murder someone.”
I couldn’t stop the smile creeping across my lips.
This morning was a complete mess, which was starting to feel a little normal at this point. “Getting arrested was definitely the better of the options Alan had available to him.”
If Dennis hadn’t been there then things would have been way worse than they were, because Andrew absolutely would have needed me to help him dig a hole.
And I didn’t have a good history with hole digging.
Helen leaned between the front seats. “Who is the other man in your life?”
“Andrew.” Julia flipped down the visor and checked her face in the mirror, wiping at a smudge of dirt on her cheek. “Are you sure we’re not under-dressed for this?”
Helen straightened. “Positive.” She grabbed her purse and opened her door. “It will be fine.”
“Wait.” Julia jumped out after Helen. “Which one is it? Are we not underdressed or is it fine that we are?”
“I’m sure it’s fine.” Helen flipped her long black hair over one shoulder before smoothing down the front of her tan dress pants.
I’d met her a handful of times before, and every single one of them she looked equally gorgeous. She was tall and statuesque with dark skin and rich brown eyes.
She was stunning. The kind of woman you couldn’t help but stare at and wish you could be a little more like.
“Pump the freaking breaks.” Julia held up one finger. “Ten minutes ago, this was just a casual lunch. Now we’re standing outside The Pearl and you’re,” Julia made air quotes, “sure it’s fine.”
“Iamsure it’s fine.” Helen pointed one coral-tipped finger Julia’s way. “You’re engaged to Grant Servantes,” her finger came my way, “and you’re the granddaughter of Ruby Johnson.” She straightened her shoulders. “You two can look however you want and no one questions it.”
Julia looked Helen up and down. “Says the woman who looks good in everything.”
Helen flashed her a smile. “I don’t look great in purple.”
“I doubt that.” Julia rolled her eyes. “Fine. Come on.” She bumped Helen with her hip as we walked. “But the food better be good.”
Helen linked her arm with Julia’s. “The food will definitely be good.” She snagged me with her other arm. “I promise.”
Helen worked for Grant. She started as his assistant, but he’d recently promoted her and was in the process of training her to do what he did.
Whatever that was.
We walked arm in arm into the main lobby. I’d been here more than a few times in my life, always along with my grandparents for some sort of event they were invited to.
The Pearl was a privately-owned hotel that catered to the most elite visitors to the central coast of Florida. It sat just south of Sweet Side in Waterhaven. The owners were a nice older couple in their early seventies—
“Hello, and welcome to The Pearl.” A man seemed to come out of nowhere, stepping directly in our path. “You must be Helen Marlowe.”
Helen’s whole posture changed immediately. Her hips twisted to the side and one shoulder dropped as her body contorted into a perfect hourglass.
I needed to learn how to do that.
“I am.” She dropped my arm to extend her hand the man’s way. “And you are?”
“I’m Gabriel Starkweather.” He took her hand in his. “My family owns the hotel.”
I leaned back to peek at Julia behind Helen’s back. She met my gaze with a lifted brow.
Helen was perfectly poised as she scanned the space. “It’s a lovely facility.”
“We hold ourselves to a high standard.” Gabriel’s eyes hadn’t left Helen since he appeared. “I think you will find it’s the perfect location for your event.” He held one hand toward a set of doors tucked into one corner. “I’ve taken the liberty of setting up a private room for the menu tasting.”
