TURTLE DOVE (Alton Rhode Mysteries Book 7) by Lawrence de Maria

school and her only close relative was her older brother, who was a missionary in Ecuador, and who she adored. She hoped to join him at his mission eventually. After a pleasant half hour or so at the bar and two bowls of peanuts, most of which I ate, we went back to the condo. I told the girls I would take them to dinner later but Anna insisted on repaying our kindness by cooking for us. I remembered meals prepared by college kids, and that must have shown on my face. Anna laughed.
    “Don’t worry, Mr. Rhode. I’m a great cook. My brother and I have basically been on our own for years and I’ve done most of the cooking. Even took some classes.”
    “I’m not sure we have much in the larder,” I said, still looking for a way out.
    “I told you I stocked up at that gourmet market,” Alice said. “I’m sure Anna and I can whip up something. It will be fun.”
    “You win,” I said. “But only if Anna stops calling me Mr. Rhode. Pretty soon she’ll be bringing me my pipe and slippers.”
    “You have neither,” Alice said. “But you do look like you could use a nap. I’m going for a swim. Want to join me, Anna?”
    “I don’t have a bathing suit.”
    “I just bought a couple. One of them should fit you.”
    The nap sounded like a splendid idea. I stopped worrying about dinner.

CHAPTER 7 - CAPTAIN VOLE
     
    I awoke to the smell of fresh apple pie, which I soon discovered was cooling on the kitchen counter. As far as wake-up odors go, it’s in my top five. I looked at my watch. It was just after 5 PM. I guess I needed that nap.
    I heard conversation coming from the deck. I could see Alice and Anna in lounge chairs taking the sun. I was halfway onto the deck when I realized they were topless. Alice didn’t do anything, but the girl crossed her arms over her chest. I mumbled an apology and started to go back inside.
    “Alton, you don’t have to go,” Alice said. “We’ll get decent.”
    They both put on the tops of their bikinis as I sat in a chair. I figured that either looking away or obvious staring could be considered rude, so I opted for the nonchalant glance. Since I was pretty familiar with Alice’s anatomy, most of the glance went to Anna’s. She was petite, with a firm figure and small but perky breasts with large pink nipples. She did not seem the least perturbed that I’d seen them. It made me wish I was back in college.
    “I think I’ll start dinner,” she said.
    After she went into the house, Alice and I stared out at the ocean. It was a beautiful day.
    “Enjoy the view?”
    “You bet,” I said.
    “You’re welcome.”
    “The Lord doth …”
    “Oh, be quiet.”
    A little while later the apple pie smell was getting a serious run for its money in the kitchen. Anna apparently did know how to cook.
    Alice stood.
    “I think I’ll see if I can help her.”
    Alice has many strong suits, but cooking isn’t one of them.
    “Don’t help too much,” I said.
    “Suck farts. Why don’t you make yourself useful and open some wine?”
    I did and we each had a glass with some canapés that Anna had somehow crafted out of cheese, olives and prosciutto. Dinner consisted of an arugula salad with olive oil, lemon and feta cheese, followed by sautéed chicken with a tarragon and wine reduction, and roasted potatoes. The meal was high-end-restaurant quality and I said so, having resisted the temptation to tell Anna that she was going to make some man very happy someday. That might be considered as sexist. Besides, I had recently seen her boobs and the remark might have an entirely different connotation. I don’t consider myself politically correct, but I’m no Cosby either. 
    We took our coffee and pie out to the deck.
    “What are you going to do after you graduate, Anna?” Alice said.
    “Eventually I’d like to join Sam in his missionary work, but he thinks I should be a little older. He’s very protective, but he’s probably right. So, I’ve applied for a teaching position at Alliance