As she suspected, Genesis wasn’t the best with consent, but his intent was good.
A man of action, he stood up. “I’m going to call the police.”
Gabby’s throat constricted. “Don’t just yet. She’s visiting a friend, and it’ll be a lot of fuss for nothing.” Gabby didn’t want to explain to the local authorities that she’d hidden Sheridan with her mother, especially given that Valentina hadn’t approved that particular move.
“Jasmine’s worried about the resort’s reputation. She’s worried someone will bring up—” He ran his hands through his hair again and groaned.
“What is she worried about?” Markus asked. He and Gabby waited with bated breath.
Phil talked over any answer that might have come. “These shrimp are great. What’s in this sauce?”
Gabby stroked the taser in her pocket.
“I’m calling.” Genesis stood up definitively and headed toward Jasmine, where they began exchanging words and angry looks.
Uh-oh.
The angry looks escalated to violent gesturing. Gabby couldn’t hear everything they were saying, but it was getting louder by the minute. The music paused at just the right time. A “NO!” from Jasmine punctuated a jazzy number with a flamenco beat.
Things were coming to a head, and the guests couldn’t ignore it anymore. Almost everyone was watching like it was a reality TV show. Some people were pretending not to listen, but conversation had stopped.
“Together” had been the wrong name for this party.
Markus reached for Gabby’s knee under the table, not in asexy way but more to get her attention. He gestured with his head toward the buildings away from the party, and Gabby followed his thinking.
This was the perfect moment to sneak out and snoop around the rooms.
Gabby tracked down her mom. “Mom, Markus isn’t feeling well, and we’re going back to the room. Please let me know if I miss anything exciting.”
No one was better suited to catching the hot goss than her mother.
It’s been a long day, the Togetherness Soiree, 2300 hours
Markus and Gabby left “Together” as quietly as they could and made a beeline for G and Jasmine’s place. The mansioniest mansion presided over the party from atop a cliff a short way down the beach.
Gabby’s dress and pumps were the wrong choice for anything but a cocktail party. She slipped the shoes off and scurried along the hydrangea-lined path, trying to avoid rocks. Why had she worn heels?
“Maybe we should check someone else’s room first,” Markus said, “You already searched G’s office.”
“I overheard Jasmine talking at the tea party. She does all of her actual work from her walk-in closet. There’s probably a computer or an iPad or something in there.”
When they arrived at G and Jasmine’s door, everything was quiet. That was good, but the house was locked.
“How are we going to get in?” Gabby peered through the window into the empty house.
With a self-satisfied smile, Markus punched the code in and swung the door open for her like it was no big deal. “Madame.”
“How’d you do that?” Gabby glanced at him with a hefty appreciation. Nothing was sexier than a competent man in a tux.
“I watched G enter the code last time,” he said, like it was no big deal.
In the interest of being efficient, they bypassed the kitchen and great room and headed up the stairs to the main bedroom, which occupied the entire second floor of the mansion. It was everything you’d expect it to be. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean. A private deck with sliding doors that let in the noise of the waterfall spilling onto the rocks below.
Gabby put her hands on her hips and looked around. “Do you like it?” she asked. To her mind, it was beautiful but not very cozy or welcoming.
Markus stopped to appreciate the room. “It’s big, nice lighting, but where’s the TV?”
“I know, right?” It wasn’t a space designed for regular people, which made sense, given that Jasmine and Genesis weren’t very regular. “I like mine better. Justin really did a great job.”
