Katrina snorted out a laugh, stepping back to look up at him.“No, I don’t want you to thump him.One, I don’t want you getting in trouble.And two, it wouldn’t do any good.My brother’s head is too thick for the message to get through.”
She was probably right about that, he thought, watching as the medical examiner’s vehicle left, immediately followed by the ambulance and police cruisers, Ferguson’s unmarked sedan pulling up the rear.After that, the people who’d still been standing around went back inside the resort, leaving him and Katrina alone.
“You know,” Darwin said, “I really think your brotherisconcerned about keeping you safe.”
She shrugged.“Maybe.Or maybe he’s just doing what Dad taught us.Protecting the family.Even if it means that innocent people get hurt.”
Darwin wasn’t sure if Katrina was referring to Arthur Davis or someone else.
“Do you think your brother and father are somehow involved in Arthur Davis’s death?”
“I hope not, but I don’t know,” Katrina finally admitted a long moment later.“I can’t believe they’ve changed that much from the father and brother I grew up with.They’re still my family, even if we aren’t as close as we were.”
Darwin didn’t point out that she was letting her emotions rule her head, because seriously, was she wrong to do that?As she said, they were family.Besides, from that conversation he’d overheard between Rhett and Arthur, it sounded like her brother was more likely to be the killer’s next victim than a murderer.He probably shouldn’t mention that to Katrina, though.
“If it makes you feel any better, there is someone else we need to consider when it comes to Arthur Davis’s murder,” Darwin said.
“Who?”
“Upton,” Darwin said, then immediately held up his hands at the look of disbelief on her face.“I know it sounds insane.The guy doesn’t exactly come across as the cold-blooded killer type.But we did see him coming out of the grape fields shortly before we stumbled over Arthur’s body.Are we honestly supposed to believe he was out there doing the scavenger hunt by himself?You have to admit, it’s convenient.”
And suspicious.
Chapter seven
“Ihopeyoudon’tmind having dinner by ourselves tonight,” Darwin said as the hostess led them to their table in one of the resort’s restaurants the following evening.“I think I’ve had about as much socializing today as I can handle.”
“Definitely not,” Katrina said, giving him a smile.“After the day we’ve had, I could use a little quiet time with just the two of us.Besides, there’s way less chance of Upton finding us here.”
“Yeah, that is a plus,” Darwin agreed with a chuckle.“Can we agree now that if he pops up at the next table, we make a run for it?”
She laughed.“One hundred percent.”
She couldn’t deal with Upton anymore tonight.
They took their seats at a table for two in a nice little nook in the far corner of the restaurant, with a view of the vineyards from the nearest window and lots of privacy.The hostess handed them menus, promising their server would be with them soon.
“Well, that was a painful day of fun and games,” Katrina said to Darwin after the woman left.
He groaned.“I’m not sure what was worse.Everyone figuring out we don’t know almost anything about each other, or Upton making it clear he knows everything about you.”
Yeah, that had been awkward.
“But on the bright side, now I know that you prefer Star Trek over Star Wars,” she said with a grin.“How else would I have learned that?”
“True.Like the way I learned you’re secretly addicted to all those baking competition shows,” Darwin teased.
She laughed.Today had been more mandatory fun for the wedding guests.While most of the games had been okay, the one where they asked couples questions about each other and then compared their answers ended up being pretty embarrassing for her and Darwin.While it’d been clear Khloe and Asher––as well as the other couples––knew loads about their significant others, it had been equally obvious she and Darwin didn’t know much of anything.Especially when it came out that they’d beenseeing each otherfor a few months.
It didn’t help that Upton had showed up in the audience, chirping out answers to questions about her background.Answers that Darwin couldn’t have known.Answers that Upton shouldn’t have known either, come to think of it.Some of that stuff was so obscure that the only way he’d know them was if someone had given him the answers.She had no doubt thatsomeonewas her mother.
Katrina had been both embarrassed for Darwin and annoyed at Upton, a guy she used to think of as a friend.If her mom had actually prepared a background file on Katrina so Upton could show up Darwin in front of everyone else, Katrina was going to be furious.
Of course, it would be yet another example of her mother thinking she knew what was best for Katrina.And the fact that her mother had enlisted Upton into this scheme––a man Katrina didn’t have any chemistry with or interest in––proved how little her mom knew about her.If she didn’t realize Darwin was exactly the kind of man Katrina could fall for, it was beyond sad.
“You know,” Darwin said, leaning forward to rest his elbows on the table, a twinkle in his eyes.“We may just have to accept people are thinking you hired me to be your boyfriend for the week.”
“Huh.I hadn’t thought of that.But now that I think about it, people were looking at us sideways today.I wonder if that’s why?”
