What Celeste considered dramatic, Nat thought of as practical.
“No. We haven’t found anything more than the original loose connection. Nothing indicates he’s working with the team that made us the offer.”
Natalie grumbled, unconvinced. He’d come to the Hideaway, gotten in her face for a reason. To rattle her, obviously, but likely to scope out the situation. “Thanks, I guess. I feel better now that we have cameras all over the property. If he shows up again, we can charge him with trespassing and kick him out of town.”
“Right there with you,” Celeste muttered.
With an effort, Natalie put Jackson out of her head. He didn’t deserve another thought and she refused to let anything sour her happy, pre-date mood. Pouring the batter in the pan, she slid the pan in the oven. Once the timer was set, she moved to clean up.
“What can I do to help?” Celeste asked.
Natalie nodded at the dish towel. “Dry?”
“Sure. But that’s not what I mean.” Celeste joined her at the sink. “Your thinking face is in overdrive. Is it the situation or Trent?”
Once more, she was grateful she hadn’t been the one to put her sisters on alert. “Not Trent. He’s with the Guardian Agency. Is there a better character recommendation?”
“Probably not,” Celeste mused. “So what’s on your mind?”
Natalie rinsed the sink and leaned back, staring out the window as she gathered her thoughts. “A lot,” she began. Royer was out there somewhere, a threat to her and Trent. Corey was probably involved with Royer, likely another example of her trusting too easily. And she was way too attached to Trent, whose career would take him away as soon as this case wrapped up. Once all of that came to light, it would be the same old song with a new verse.
Celeste rubbed Nat’s shoulder. “Starting with?”
“Starting with my reputation for moving too fast, for leaping first and looking second,” Nat summarized.
Celeste snorted. “That’s bullshit.”
She gawked. Celeste was the sister who didn’t swear.
“I mean it, Nat. You’ve always seen the world through a happy-filter. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s one of your many gifts. You were a healthy, happy kid raised in a loving home. There areso manyreasons to punch Jackson in the face, but top of the list for me is the way that experience makes you second-guess yourself all the time now.”
“Not all the time,” Nat murmured.
Celeste raised an eyebrow.
“More than either of us would like,” she allowed. “Thanks for that image of you busting up his face. That’ll hold me for some time.”
“Glad to hear it,” Celeste said. “But I’m not done. I’m guessing that you’re dwelling on the past because you have feelings for Trent.”
Nothing slipped by her oldest sister. She wanted to be annoyed and couldn’t manage it. That bubble of joy in her chest whenever she thought of Trent was too powerful. “It’s too early forfeelings, but yes. I like him.” She pressed her hands to her face, then pushed them through her hair. “Too early,” she repeated, determined not to let her heart have its way. “But weboth know me.” She shrugged. “I’ve been daydreaming about how things might go if he wasn’t passing through.”
“Time is a construct,” Celeste quipped. “Grab as much of what makes you happy as you can.” She wrapped her in a tight hug. “For now or forever, there’sno wayany man will fool you again. Your ex was a one-time fluke, I promise.”
Natalie clung just for a moment more. “Thanks.” Celeste always knew what to say, exactly how to comfort. It was her sister’s superpower. “You’re the best. I’ll be okay,” Natalie promised. “Forever isn’t the point because Trent is so much fun right now, despite the circumstances. And you’re right, it’s important to enjoy the time we have.”
A lesson all three of them had learned during their mother’s illness.
While the cake baked and then cooled, Natalie and Celeste chatted about other things, including ways to combat what would likely be an increase in traffic and nonsense when the condos were completed on the lot next door. The topic wasn’t quite as fun as thinking about her hot date, but it was necessary and interesting. She enjoyed hearing about her sister’s goals and dreams and she tucked the information away, mulling on what she might do to help see those dreams come true.
CHAPTER 15
Trent experienced the strangest satisfaction as he returned to the Hideaway late that afternoon. Natalie had been top of mind all day. During his conversation with Corey, while updating his boss, and in the quiet hours while he searched for Frank Royer’s likely hiding place.
And in a few minutes, he’d get to see her. Good grief it felt intense for only a few hours apart. But he couldn’t wait to hold her again. To kiss her. Maybe they should take that picnic she’d promised up to their bedroom and?—
His thoughts screeched to a halt.Theydidn’t have a bedroom. This amazing house on the edge of the island wasn’ttheirhome, it was her family business. And he was here for the purpose of finding a killer. A killer who was way too interested in Natalie.
This wasn’t the time to get distracted. He had to get out there and find Royer. Corey hadn’t given him anything helpful. The big man had been a wall of grunts and single-syllable evasions. Until they understood the leverage, Trent had zero hope of getting him to flip on Royer.
