Impressed, Marla wished she could swim laps with such little effort.
Dalton sat oblivious at her side, shades propped on his slightly humped nose. “Where should we go for lunch?”
“Lunch? We just finished breakfast.”
Typical man to think about his next meal.
“We could go to South Beach or Lincoln Road.”
“Or we could go home. Did you talk to Brie?”
He nodded. “She's fine. Anita is taking her out to eat after she finishes her homework. And before you ask, Spooks is behaving himself. He likes the new dog treats I bought.”
“Good. Oh look, here comes Alexis.” Marla waved.
Dalton gave a grunt of recognition. “I remember them. Her husband is the wine snob, and she's the workhorse.”
“Dalton, that's not nice.” Marla plastered a friendly smile on her face as Alexis strode over, a towel wrapped around her torso. Her sculpted arms made Marla wonder if she lifted weights for exercise.
“Marla, isn't it?” Alexis said in a throaty voice.
“That's right, and this is Dalton.”
“I haven't seen many people from the wedding party today,” Alexis replied. “Either they're sleeping in, or they left early. That wouldn't surprise me, considering what happened last night.”
Marla tilted her head. “We all had quite a shock. What a terrible tragedy. I feel so bad for Jill.”
Alexis scraped a chair over while Marla shot a glance at Dalton. The corners of his mouth turned down. No doubt he'd rather relax without the encumbrance of company.
“Heavens, child, I know,” Alexis said. “It was such a beautiful wedding. Just like Torrie to ruin things. Used to be the other way around, from what I understood.”
Marla's ears perked up. “Meaning?” She scrutinized Alexis's hair with a critical eye. Her auburn tint could use some shine. Copper highlights would do the trick.
“Jillian was the one who caused trouble in her younger days. I'm glad she's turned into a straight arrow. Changed her looks, too.” Alexis waggled her eyebrows. “Got a boob job, bleached her hair. I could use the opposite,” she said, chuckling and lifting her bosom.
“Tell me, how is your husband Eddy related to Jill? I know he's her uncle, but through which parent?” Marla hoped to delve into Jill's background without seeming too nosy.
A thoughtful gleam entered Alexis's expression. “Well, now, let me see.” She tapped her chin. “Sarah and David Barlow were Torrie and Jill's parents. Eddy was Sarah's brother. Jill brought her folks a lot of grief back then, and Eddy kinda feels bad that he didn't step in to help.”
“Is that why Eddy is helping the girls with this property thing?” Marla guessed.
“Uh, huh. That child has a lot of gumption, I have to say. I never thought Jill deserved . . . well, that's water under the bridge. Obviously, she's gone through a lot of changes.”
“Arnie's a good man and a friend of mine. I wouldn't want him to get hurt.”
“Jill will do well by him, and she loves his kids. They'll be fine. It's too bad she and Torrie got dropped that bucket of worms, though. Eddy was just working on an agreement for them. Now Kevin has gotten himself involved.”
“Kevin is their cousin, right?”
“Kevin is Luke's son. He's the other sibling. Luke, Sarah, and Eddy, that's the three of 'em. Can't say much for the other two, but my Eddy has done me proud. You have to come by our place sometime, child, and see our house. We have an extensive cellar, if you're into wine.”
“Where do you live?”
“In Coral Gables. We have our own pool, of course, but I have to get my early morning swim, or I'm ruined for the day.” She gave a trill laugh that sounded oddly like a neighing horse.
Dalton uttered a strangled cough. At Marla's glare, his face puckered and his lips clamped to suppress a grin. Okay, maybe he'd put that unkind image in her head.
“I suppose Torrie's funeral will be in Miami,” Marla said. “Is her home anywhere near yours?”
“Heavens, no. They live in Kendall.
Dalton sat oblivious at her side, shades propped on his slightly humped nose. “Where should we go for lunch?”
“Lunch? We just finished breakfast.”
Typical man to think about his next meal.
“We could go to South Beach or Lincoln Road.”
“Or we could go home. Did you talk to Brie?”
He nodded. “She's fine. Anita is taking her out to eat after she finishes her homework. And before you ask, Spooks is behaving himself. He likes the new dog treats I bought.”
“Good. Oh look, here comes Alexis.” Marla waved.
Dalton gave a grunt of recognition. “I remember them. Her husband is the wine snob, and she's the workhorse.”
“Dalton, that's not nice.” Marla plastered a friendly smile on her face as Alexis strode over, a towel wrapped around her torso. Her sculpted arms made Marla wonder if she lifted weights for exercise.
“Marla, isn't it?” Alexis said in a throaty voice.
“That's right, and this is Dalton.”
“I haven't seen many people from the wedding party today,” Alexis replied. “Either they're sleeping in, or they left early. That wouldn't surprise me, considering what happened last night.”
Marla tilted her head. “We all had quite a shock. What a terrible tragedy. I feel so bad for Jill.”
Alexis scraped a chair over while Marla shot a glance at Dalton. The corners of his mouth turned down. No doubt he'd rather relax without the encumbrance of company.
“Heavens, child, I know,” Alexis said. “It was such a beautiful wedding. Just like Torrie to ruin things. Used to be the other way around, from what I understood.”
Marla's ears perked up. “Meaning?” She scrutinized Alexis's hair with a critical eye. Her auburn tint could use some shine. Copper highlights would do the trick.
“Jillian was the one who caused trouble in her younger days. I'm glad she's turned into a straight arrow. Changed her looks, too.” Alexis waggled her eyebrows. “Got a boob job, bleached her hair. I could use the opposite,” she said, chuckling and lifting her bosom.
“Tell me, how is your husband Eddy related to Jill? I know he's her uncle, but through which parent?” Marla hoped to delve into Jill's background without seeming too nosy.
A thoughtful gleam entered Alexis's expression. “Well, now, let me see.” She tapped her chin. “Sarah and David Barlow were Torrie and Jill's parents. Eddy was Sarah's brother. Jill brought her folks a lot of grief back then, and Eddy kinda feels bad that he didn't step in to help.”
“Is that why Eddy is helping the girls with this property thing?” Marla guessed.
“Uh, huh. That child has a lot of gumption, I have to say. I never thought Jill deserved . . . well, that's water under the bridge. Obviously, she's gone through a lot of changes.”
“Arnie's a good man and a friend of mine. I wouldn't want him to get hurt.”
“Jill will do well by him, and she loves his kids. They'll be fine. It's too bad she and Torrie got dropped that bucket of worms, though. Eddy was just working on an agreement for them. Now Kevin has gotten himself involved.”
“Kevin is their cousin, right?”
“Kevin is Luke's son. He's the other sibling. Luke, Sarah, and Eddy, that's the three of 'em. Can't say much for the other two, but my Eddy has done me proud. You have to come by our place sometime, child, and see our house. We have an extensive cellar, if you're into wine.”
“Where do you live?”
“In Coral Gables. We have our own pool, of course, but I have to get my early morning swim, or I'm ruined for the day.” She gave a trill laugh that sounded oddly like a neighing horse.
Dalton uttered a strangled cough. At Marla's glare, his face puckered and his lips clamped to suppress a grin. Okay, maybe he'd put that unkind image in her head.
“I suppose Torrie's funeral will be in Miami,” Marla said. “Is her home anywhere near yours?”
“Heavens, no. They live in Kendall.
Similar Books
