Page 84 of Lilies from Hell

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“I missed you,” Grace murmurs close to my ear, gripping me harder in her arms as my smile grows.

“Missed you too,” I say, even though we just saw each other yesterday for another retail therapy.

She’s been a bit down lately and won’t tell me why. She loves to gossip. Sharing information about herself, not so much.

“Good afternoon, sir,” she murmurs after, bowing slightly to my father. I press my lips together, hiding a smile when I see my father’s displeased face.

“Stop calling me sir, Grace. You make me look older than I am.”

“Excuse me, sir. I mean, sorry, it won’t happen again,” she mutters quickly.

We both fade into the background when the captain, Grace’s father, arrives and greets my father.

“Did you bring your swimsuit?” I shake my head.

“I’ll lend you one. Today is pool and cocktails day,” she says cheerfully as she heads into the house.

I climb the stairs to her bedroom and see some new faces wandering around, as if they were waiting for someone.

“Who are all these people?” I ask.

“I have no idea, but from what I hear, they’re planning something big,” she says with a sly smile, and I nod without paying much attention, leaving my purse on her bed.

“Which one do you like?” She asks, showing me a couple of swimsuits. “I think this one would look better on you.” I squint at the piece of black fabric that is supposed to be the bottom.

“That’s going to show off my whole arse.”

“That’s the idea,” she says, holding out the black bikini toward me. “You’ll thank me later.”

“What are you up to?” She just gives me a big grin.

“Nothing you’ll regret. Trust me.”

“I trust you. That’s why we almost ended up in jail last time,” I scoff as I change into the bikini she gave me.

My curiosity always leads me into the worst situations. She gives me a look with a proud smile that makes me snort and look away.

“Come on,” she says without giving me time to react as she takes me by the arm, then leads me to the garden where there is a large swimming pool.

We both leave our towels on the daybed. I glance around the place. My eyes fall on a round table next to some chairs on the second-floor terrace, from where you could get a very good view of the pool. I lie down on the lounger with one leg tucked under me and my eyes closed. Grace returns with a couple of open coconuts.

“Cheers,” she says, clinking hers with mine. Then I take a long sip of the drink and let out a moan of approval.

“It’s delicious.”

“I know,” she replies with a proud smile.

I let out a little laugh and look over at that table again, this time finding my father arguing with the captain and other men sitting at the table.

When my eyes meet his, I almost choke on my drink. I glance back at him quickly with a smile I try to suppress, and he doesn’t hesitate to respond.

“Hello. Earth calling Lena,” Grace says, waving her hand in front of my face.

“Sorry,” I murmur, my cheeks slightly flushed. She just gives me an amused look. “Did you get the thief?” I ask, wanting to get her attention.

“No. But I have my suspicions.”