Chapter 23
You are like a chestnut burr, prickly outside, but silky-soft within, and a sweet kernel, if one can only get at it. Love will make you show your heart someday, and then the rough burr will fall off.” —Louisa May Alcott
Elianalaidherclotheson Asher’s bed to decide what she should wear tonight for Salsa and Salsa. Was this the kind of activity that required dressing up? Or was it more casual?
She threw the question out on social media, and immediately got answers that she needed to dress sexily in order to appropriately dance the salsa.
She frowned at her options. She could wear her jeans. Her jean shorts. Her swim suit—she giggled imagining Asher’s face if that’s what she wore. It was tempting for that reason alone, but she better not. Her swim-suit cover up could work. It was a teal green cotton sundress that hit her about mid-thigh and made her tan legs look pretty fantastic. She paired it with some dangling earrings and a pair of leather strappy sandals.
Asher said he’d meet her at The Palms ballroom, so once she was ready, she sneaked around the back of the house and walked. The sun was just setting, and it was one of those gorgeous summer evenings where the humidity eased up enough to remind a person why they lived in Florida.
She waved at Don and Nancy, who walked together, talking intensely. They narrowed their eyes when they spotted her before quickly walking away.
Okay.
She debated stopping by Grandma Winnie’s house, but opted against doing so when she saw the time. Grandma had been acting weird since their sewing day. It felt almost like she’d been avoiding them, but that couldn’t be right. She was probably tired. After her collapse last year, they’d all been on edge, worried that something like that might happen again.
Sweetie and Bear lounged by the fountain just outside of The Palms. Sweetie had one foot draped in the fountain, and Bear slept on his back with all four legs in the air. They weren’t dressed in adorable outfits today. That was a first. Eliana had no fondness for the alligator, but it gave her an off feeling to see them without their playful costumes.
She walked inside, and instead of the usual friendly waves and smiles, she was met with silence. People milled about, not making eye contact with one another, like robots going from point A to point B. Something was definitely wrong.
She found Polly at the entrance to the ballroom.
“Bruno is inside waiting for you.” Polly glanced behind Eliana. “Where’s Asher? Is he not coming?”
“He’ll be here,” Eliana assured her. “What’s going on, Polly? It seems like there’s a huge cloud over The Palms today.”
Polly sucked in her bottom lip, looked around, and then leaned close to whisper. “Whoever is revealing secrets posted five today. And some of them were pretty … personal. And one of them illegal.” She winced.
“Oh no.” Eliana could guess. “Embezzlement?”
Polly nodded. “Did you see it?” Luckily Polly didn’t wait for an answer. “Until we know who it is, no one trusts anyone right now.”
Something must have shown on Eliana’s expression, because Polly patted her hand. “Oh, we know it isn’t you, dear. But everyone’s on guard. It’s not a good feeling to have your past mistakes dredged up for everyone to see.”
Guilt dumped over Eliana like a bucket of ice water. She and Asher needed to figure out who was sharing these secrets … and soon. Before all of Diamond Cove was torn apart.
In the endearingly gruff way that only Bruno could pull off, he informed Eliana that they couldn’t wait any longer for Asher and needed to get started.
She sighed and checked her phone, but still no response to her:Are you coming?He was only fifteen minutes late, but she knew him well enough to realize this was unusual for him.
He’s fine, she told herself.
Bruno put her to work cutting up roasted tomatoes while he explained the importance of using a sharp knife. They slid the tomatoes into the food processor and then he passed along the roasted peppers, onions, and garlic.
“Eyes on the knife!” Bruno barked as her knife slipped and she nearly cut her finger as she glanced at the doorway again.
“Sorry,” she said but didn’t complain when Bruno motioned for her to give him the knife and finished cutting the onions in a fraction of the time it would have taken her.
“Hey, sorry I’m late!”
Eliana’s breath caught at the sight of Asher strolling in. He wore a white oxford that molded to his biceps and pecs, the sleeves rolled up to the elbow, showing off his toned forearms. She knew he was muscular. She’d seen him without a shirt, for Pete’s sake. But something about the contrast of his dark, hard edges in this button-up was doing something for her. Something that made the room suddenly feel a bazillion degrees. Bazillion was a word, right? She couldn’t even think straight.
He’d also gotten a haircut and beard trim. It was still him, just with clean lines, from head to toe. She suddenly felt lightheaded, and was very grateful Bruno’d had the foresight to take the knife from her.
Asher ran a hand over his hair self-consciously, and she realized she was staring. She blinked and tore her gaze away with effort. Monumental effort.
He came to stand beside her.
