The Delacourt Scandal by Sherryl Woods

beach. Still, she dutifully kept all of her guesses and her questions to herself and settled back against the soft, buttery leather to enjoy the ride.
    When Tyler finally pulled to a stop in the driveway of a beachfront house, Maddie looked around with undisguised curiosity.
    He chuckled at her struggle with restraint. “Okay, go ahead. You can ask.”
    “What?”
    “I can see you’re dying to know where we are.”
    “I know where we are,” she retorted. “We’re at the beach.”
    “At my family’s house, to be precise.” A boyish expression washed over his face. “It’s been a while since I’ve been here.”
    She studied him intently, then concluded, “But you love it, don’t you?”
    “Every weathered shingle of it,” he confirmed. “My brothers and I replaced those a few years back, after we bought it from our parents. My sister, Trish, says it’s about the only work we ever did here. We tended to party a lot. Now the rest of them are married, so if there’s any partying to be done, I guess it’s up to me.”
    He held out his hand again. “Come on. I’ll show you around.”
    He conducted the tour with evident pride, pointing out every change he and his brothers had made to the structure. The rooms were filled with sunlight and comfortable, worn furniture. The wood floors had been worn smooth by sandy feet. Ceiling fans, which he turned on as they went, kept a salty breeze stirring through the rooms. Finally he gestured toward a deck that faced the Gulf of Mexico.
    “Have a seat and relax. I’ll run to the store and pick up what we need for a feast.”
    The chaise lounge, deep in the shade, looked tempting. “Are you sure? I could come along and help.”
    “A polite, dutiful offer, but unnecessary. I’ve got it covered. If you want something to drink, there may be a few beers or soft drinks in the refrigerator—help yourself. And there are paperback novels scattered everywhere if you feel inclined to read.”
    “I’ll be fine.”
    He studied her intently for a heartbeat, then grinned. “Thanks for coming with me, Maddie Kent.”
    Only after he’d walked away did she whisper, “Thanks for inviting me.”
    And for leaving her alone so she could snoop, she thought with some degree of guilt.
    As distasteful as the thought was, the opportunity was too good to pass up. And so the minute she heard the sound of the car’s engine begin to fade, Maddie began exploring.
    Unfortunately, there didn’t seem to be much to find, she decided ruefully after completing her inspection of the second floor. The bedrooms were simply decorated. The drawers held an anonymous assortment of bathing suits, shorts and T-shirts. The closets were virtually empty except for the occasional pair of old sneakers and discarded socks. No secrets here, she concluded with regret. Just evidence of a houseful of bachelors who passed through whenever the mood suited them.
    Back downstairs she found cupboards filled with playing cards and board games, stacks of CDs and old magazines, and the promised supply of dog-eared paperbacks. Far more enticing was the collection of old snapshots she found in a drawer. She took them with her to a chair and studied them with fascination.
    The photos seemed to span at least ten years or more, beginning when Tyler was maybe twelve. She recognized his smile, as well as the fact that he was the smallest of the boys and the only one whose hair was the color of straw. She recalled various newspaper photographs of his parents, both of whom had darker coloring, more in keeping with that of his brothers and his sister.
    None of the pictures appeared to be more recent than his college days. Other than his sister, Trish, who was in the family photos, there didn’t seem to be any women, not even as the boys grew into men. Whatever bachelor parties they threw, apparently no one wasted time taking snapshots.
    Oddly, there didn’t seem to be any pictures of their parents. Had Bryce Delacourt been the one