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They couldn’t talk privately on the launch, but as soon as they reached the Setai, Pipe tried to make a getaway. “I need some exercise. I’m taking a beach walk. See you later.” She peeled off from him, her dress swishing around her thighs.
He had her arm before she could reach the sidewalk. “A walk sounds good. I’ll come with you.”
“No need,” she said brightly. “Why don’t you call some of your friends?”
“Why don’t I not?”
“Fine. I didn’t feel like walking anyway.”
“Good. Because you’re not going anywhere.” He led her into the hotel, but on his way to the elevator bank, he changed direction. Once he got her near that bed, she’d make him forget they needed to talk, so instead, he steered her to a seating niche.
***
The Setai’s Asian-inspired courtyard was an oasis of luxurious, lemongrass-scented calm with low couches that seemed to float on the shallow water of the central serenity pool. Except for the manicured palms and the single orange centered on each side table, the space was a composition of every shade of gray, from charcoal to pearl. The only sounds came from the distant murmur of voices and the calming trickle of running water, but not even the peace of their surroundings could convince Piper this would go well.
Coop folded himself next to her on the couch. “Considering how useless this trip was, I don’t see what you’re trying to avoid, so spit it out. What don’t you want to tell me?”
“Not entirely useless,” she replied carefully. “We’ve eliminated one more suspect. Since the prince is still showing off your ring, he has no motive to attack you.”
“Yet you disappeared.”
“I wanted to look around.”
“Look around where?”
She’d done what she thought she had to, but he wouldn’t see it that way, and she was having misgivings. “Aamuzhir’s bedroom. It gave me the creeps.”
He snapped to attention. “You were in his bedroom? Where anyone could have walked in on you?”
She shrugged. By the time she got out of that claustrophobic shoe closet, she had ridges in her back from the shelf edges. Fortunately, she’d found what she was looking for before the crew members returned. “He has some disgusting things in that room.”
“Stop hedging.”
She reached into her tote for the zebra-striped scarf she’d used as a sarong. He watched as she carefully unfolded it. Inside was his reproduction ring.
He sat up straighter. “What are you doing with that?”
The courtyard was no longer so peaceful, but she reminded herself she’d done what was best. “One of his girlfriends told me he was getting ready to have it sized to fit his finger. Any jeweler would know right away that it’s not genuine and pass on the news. So I took it. Aamuzhir might be a weasel, but he’s a weasel with unlimited funds, and you can’t have this hanging over your head for the rest of your life.”
He was staring at her as though she’d stepped in from another planet. “You stole the ring?”
“I had to.”
He looked more horrified than angry. “You realize if he doesn’t figure out you’re responsible, he’ll blame one of those girls or someone on his crew. Do you have any idea what he might do to them?”
“He won’t do anything.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I kind of do.” She made herself meet his eyes. “I . . . left a substitute.”
“I’m not following you.”
“The real thing,” she said in a rush.
He cocked his head. “You couldn’t have. The real ring is in my bedroom safe.”
She didn’t say anything. Just sat there and waited for him to figure it out.
