He shook hands and said his goodbyes and was off.
“Well,” Bea said, waggling her brows.“He’s held up considerably better than most of the men I’ve buried.I might need to put myself back on the market.”
“You’ve been on store shelves so many times no one wants to buy what you’re selling,” Deidre said.
“Just because you decided to be a dried-up prune since your twenties, doesn’t mean the rest of us had to be.I always said what you needed was a good?—”
“Bea!”Deidre said, flushing furiously.
“Oh, lighten up and go read one of your romance novels.It’ll make you feel better.”
“That’s great news about the records James has,” Dottie said, trying to change the subject before things got too explosive.“Maybe between what he and Josephine have between them, we’ll be able to find some leads.”
I thought about the nameless girlfriend of Henry’s and the cryptic conversation he’d had with his sister the night of his death and sighed.We had a lot of work to do.
“Leads would be good,” I said.
CHAPTERSEVEN
I closedthe shop at two on the dot, and Dash was leaning against his SUV in the parking lot when I came out the back.He was clearly out of work mode.He wore a pair of shorts like so many on the island wore that could be worn on a golf course or in a swimming pool.His white linen shirtsleeves were rolled up, his aviators on, and he looked like a man who had intentions.I didn’t know what those intentions were, but I was willing to bet they were dangerous.
He smiled and my knees turned to jelly.“Good grief,” I said under my breath.
“Get in,” he said.Then he looked at Chowder.“You too.”
“What’s going on?”I said, resisting the urge to run into his arms.That was something desperate women did, and I wasn’t desperate.
“A little afternoon surprise.”
I wondered if I was reading too much into the way he’d said it.My face must have shown exactly what I’d been thinking when he said afternoon surprise because one brow went up and a corner of his mouth followed it.
“Unless that surprise includes a foot and back massage I don’t think I’ve got the energy for much else.”
I mentally smacked myself in the forehead.What are you playing at, Mabel?You are no match for the likes of a man like Dashiel Beckett.
His smile grew wider.“That can be arranged.”
“Dumb, dumb, dumb,” I muttered.
“What was that?”he asked.
“Nothing.”
Chowder looked up at me and then trotted off toward Dash and hopped into his car.
“You can put your feet up in the boat,” he said.“You need some vitamin D and drinks and a meal you don’t have to prepare for yourself.”
“I’m not dressed for a boat ride.”
“Then we’ll swing by your house on the way.”
I should have argued, but a day out on the water did sound nice, and the weather was perfect.
“Fine,” I said.“The traitor can ride with you.”
I followed him home and then changed into a strapless one-piece bathing suit in red-checked gingham and a pair of wide-legged shorts in solid red.It was decent enough to wear out to dinner.Fifties styles were always practical.I slipped on my red wedges and pushed my sunglasses up into my hair.
I put towels in a tote, along with a thermos of iced tea and a few tea cookies.And then I dug out Chowder’s life vest and sun hat.
