Neighbors and More (High Rise Series) Read online

  “Interesting.” He chuckled and gave her a light kiss on the lips. “I was sure you’d know our dear neighbors’ dirty secrets.” Alexa, as a long time resident of the Blue Waves, could help their research better than any detective.

  “You bet. I lived here since I was ten. Since Mom moved to New York, and Dad sold the big house on the Intracoastal.” Her lips stretched into a bitter line, and her gaze drifted to the ocean and her memories. “Dad thought I’d be safer in this apartment when he stayed late at work. After we married, Greg decided to settle in my apartment. I’ve never left it. Now, it’s becoming a den of trouble.”

  Poor Alexa, growing without a mother, she hadn’t been a happy child, and married to her autocratic selfish husband she’d been a very unhappy wife. “Why did your mother leave?”

  Her face instantly closed.

  He regretted his question. “I’m sorry I shouldn’t have asked.”

  “It’s okay. Maybe it’s time to get this off my chest, and move on.” She held his gaze. “For years, Dad claimed she abandoned us. I was devastated. I couldn’t believe she’d leave me behind, and not even try to see me for years. God, I resented her so much. Later, I heard she died of cancer. I was fifteen.” Alexa’s voice became a murmur, as if the words couldn’t pass her lips. “Dad refused to let me go to her funeral,” she added in a sniffle.

  Dante pressed his lips against her temple. Damn her father.

  “At the time of my wedding, I heard gossip that she ran away with a friend because she couldn’t cope with her husband anymore. Some even whispered that she came back to the building at some point. But Dad never let me see her. I don’t know if it’s true.”

  “Did you ask Greg?”

  She nodded. “He’d never betray his best friend. He scolded me for doubting my father. But... You see, Dad was not a demonstrative guy. He never hugged or kissed me, no matter how hard I excelled in school and sports, no matter how hard I tried to make him proud of me. So now I wonder if my mother reached the same point I reached a few days ago. That urge to go away because there was no other alternative.”

  Dante understood her feelings and cursed both her father and husband. “It’s possible. And it’s also probable that she’d tried to take you with her, or see you, and he didn’t let her.” He hoped he could soothe her, but no words would ever erase the hurt of growing up without a mother.

  Wanting to distract her from her pain, he changed the subject. “Now tell me more about Julia.”

  “Julia?” Alexa had that dazed look as if she were still far away.

  “Yes, we were talking about Julia before I asked the wrong questions.”

  Alexa sighed and nodded. “Julia told everyone that it was love at first sight with Steve. They got married a month later when she found out she was pregnant. Their daughter Katy is now twelve. Once, Julia confided that Steve’s parents offered her money to get an abortion and stay away from their son. But she insisted she loved him and would never get rid of their baby. You see, Steve was a god-sent boyfriend for her. He took her away from her lousy family, lousy house, and lousy life. I give her credit that after she married well, she sent her brother and sisters to college.”

  “So Julia doesn’t have any personal fortune. Only what came to her from Steve. She’s not working. Their divorce would have left her in a pitiful financial situation.”

  “Okay.” Alexa snapped her fingers. “We have her motive for wanting to kill Steve. Does it make sense? Julia preferred to be the rich widow rather than the poor ex-wife. With Steve dead, she’d receive the substantial life insurance he bought years ago. Does it make sense?”

  “Perfect theory. “ He smiled, pleased that Alexa had put aside the difficult memories. “And of course, Julia would try to throw it on you because she hates you for taking Steve away from her.”

  Alexa spun her head. “I didn’t—”

  “Don’t get offended. We’re just speculating.”

  “On the other hand, we caught her with Tom.”

  “But we’re not sure Tom would want to marry her. It’s one thing to date a woman and a much more serious one to ask her to marry him.” Dante bit his tongue the second he said his last sentence. He’d just shot himself in the foot.

  A shadow passed over Alexa’s eyes. She inched away from the cocoon of his chest. “Yes. Of course,” she muttered and slipped off his lap to stand.

  Dante immediately grabbed her hand. “We are talking about Julia, Steve, and Tom. Not about us, Alexa.”

  “I understand.” Her voice remained steady. She settled in her chair and cast him a confused look. “Steve asked me to marry him.”

  Damn it. “I’m sure he did it for the wrong reasons.” A hiss escaped Dante. What a sucker that Steve was. “We both know the man didn’t love you.”

  “Whatever. Are we done with Julia?”

  “Pretty much. Unless you remember more juicy details.”

  “You should have typed or recorded what I said.”

  “I have an excellent memory. I will type everything later on. Besides, you were so comfortable on my lap a moment ago,” he added with a mischievous grin. “There was no way on Earth I would have moved and dislodged you.”

  “Hmm. We can’t converse seriously and flirt. And now we really need to discuss.” She laced her fingers and assumed a prim attitude that made him smile.

  “Okay, you said you don’t trust Carter. Why? Just because he tried to kiss you?”

  “It’s the way he looks at me. His eyes are icy blue, so cold, unreadable, yet calculating and chilling. You haven’t noticed?”

  “He doesn’t look you in the eyes for long. Is that what you mean?”

  “Yes. Maybe. He looks at me, then lowers his eyelids, and gives me a sideways glance. As if he’s warning or threatening.” Alexa’s shoulders rose in a shudder. She reached for her can of beer and sipped.

  “I can’t stand the guy too, but I’ll pay closer attention to his eyes the next time I see him.”

  “Who’s next on your list?”

  “Dianna. What do you know about her?”

  “Not much.” Alexa scoffed. “We’re not exactly best friends. You probably know as much about her as I do.”

  Dante chuckled. “We’ll compare notes. Why don’t you start?”

  “Dianna came from Brazil ten years ago. She’s a nurse and works part-time at Broward Hospital, two days a week. We use the same beauty salon and our bills go on Greg’s credit card. If you can make her hair stylist or her manicurist talk, you’ll probably learn a lot. We don’t use the same technicians though,” she added with a pout while curling a long silky strand around her fingers.

  “Did you know she was a model in Rio?”

  Alexa jerked back. “No kidding? How did you find out that detail?”

  Dante smiled. “She told me when… when we went out once.”

  Damn. He should think first before talking. On the other hand, it was better to be honest with Alexa if he planned on any serious relationship with her. Was he? He frowned, surprised by the new direction of his thoughts.

  Where had the confirmed bachelor who hated commitment gone? He hadn’t been himself since that trip to Sicily. Things had worsened upon his return to Florida. The need to protect his nonna, and now Alexa, had challenged his previous devil-may-care attitude.

  Alexa stabbed her finger into his chest. “You dated Dianna? When?”

  Her words hinted of jealousy. He suppressed a grin. “Never dated her, sweetheart. Last year, before you and I got involved, she said she wanted to see my boat and asked me to take her for a ride. We never went out again. She was already dating Greg.”

  “Did you—” Her eyes narrowed dangerously.

  He understood her meaning. “Alexa, let’s not ask indiscreet questions about our pasts. We need to focus on the present.”

  Staring at the ocean, she shifted in her chair and pulled her legs under her. The wedding party had left the beach. The gentle hum of the breeze lulled them with peace, but not
hing was peaceful in their building.

  The doorbell interrupted the silence. Alexa spun her head toward him, eyes widening. “Reception didn’t call. It must be someone from the building. Greg most probably. Or maybe the detective if he’s still around.”

  “Do you want me to see who it is?” He stood, waiting for her permission to answer her door.

  “No, I’m going.” She resolutely walked inside.

  A moment later, he heard feminine voices and strained to recognize the foreign accent, while remaining out of sight on the balcony. No kidding. Had they attracted Dianna Oliveira by gossiping about her?

  Why was she here?

  “Dante, come here please,” Alexa called. “Dianna wants to talk to us.”

  He sauntered into the living room, his curiosity piqued. “Hello, Dianna.” Her heady perfume wafted around as she twirled toward him.

  “Dante, I’m scared.” The sultry Brazilian beauty grabbed his hand. The quivering of her lips attested to her fear.

  Dante freed his hand and motioned her to the sofa. “Have a seat and tell us why. Can I get you a drink?”

  “Just water, please.”

  Dianna dropped onto the edge of the sofa. Alexa sat not far from her. As they both crossed their legs, Dante’s eyes almost crossed. His gaze shifted from one sculptural pair of legs to the other. From one tempting beauty with black hair and dark chocolate eyes to the other with golden brown hair and green eyes. He mentally shook himself into sanity. The Blue Waves building boasted many gorgeous females, and Greg knew how to choose his women.

  Dante went to the kitchen and filled three glasses with cold water and ice. He added a wedge of lemon on the side of each glass.

  “What scared you, Dianna?” he asked as he carried a tray with the glasses to the living room and set it on the glass cocktail table.

  “I am afraid of Greg.”

  “Greg? Why is that?” Alexa leaned forward, her eyes narrowed. “You recently said he planned to buy a penthouse in preparation for your wedding.”

  “I exaggerated because I was fed up with Greg continuously playing the doting ex-husband on you.” Dianna lowered her head. “He mentioned once that a penthouse would be a good investment and he missed the view he had from your condo. I think… I think Greg killed Steve.”

  “What?” Alexa echoed Dante’s surprised shout. He motioned to her to calm down and spun to focus his attention on Dianna.

  “Why would you throw out such a grave accusation?”

  “Because I made a mistake by telling him what Steve asked me to do as a favor.”

  “A favor?” Dante urged. She wasn’t making much sense.

  “Two weeks ago Steve asked me to talk to you, Alexa, and plead his cause. He wanted to marry you. And to be honest, I wanted you married and out of the way, so that Greg would stop knocking on your door every other day. I realized that as long as you were without a husband, Greg would not marry me. So I promised Steve I would talk to you.” She paused and bit the skin at the side of her nail. “I thought that mentioning it to Greg would make him understand that you were off limits to him. But Greg got mad and threatened to throw me out if I said one word to you. I kept my mouth shut.”

  “But that doesn’t mean Greg killed Steve,” Alexa protested with a frown.

  “If you had seen Greg’s expression and heard how he cursed Steve you’d agree with me. He didn’t want Steve to come near you.”

  “Did you tell this to the detective?” Dante asked.

  “Are you crazy? Greg would kill me. He’s already enraged since you two are flaunting your relationship without any shame, as he said.”

  Dante scoffed, but then sobered when he noticed Alexa flexing her fingers nervously.

  “We shouldn’t have crossed him,” she mumbled.

  “Alexa, what happened to the assertive pledge you made?”

  “Does assertiveness work when you’re dealing with someone obsessed?”

  “I know what you mean,” Dianna said. “I love Greg and admire him. He’s a powerful man, so sure of himself. I wanted to marry him, but now I don’t know anymore. If he’s a killer… He scares me.” Her hand shook while she drank half of her glass of water as if the coolness could quench both her thirst and her fear.

  “Dianna, you were the last to see Steve. You two chatted while he was in the Jacuzzi. How did he look? What did he say?”

  “He looked cheerful. Happy. He laughed as he called to me.” She glanced at Alexa, twitched her mouth, and hesitated. “He said, ‘Thank you for talking to Alexa. We’re getting married soon.’ Did you really agree to marry him?”

  “No.” Alexa brought both hands to her chest. “No,” she repeated louder. “Did you say that to the detective?”

  “Yes. I was the first one he interviewed. I had to.”

  “No wonder Ladd is convinced I agreed to marry Steve.” Her eyes shot daggers. “I wish…” She didn’t finish her sentence but Dante understood. If Steve were alive, Alexa would have probably punched him where it hurt.

  Dianna stood. She was calmer than when she’d arrived. “I have to go and fix dinner. Please, don’t mention to Greg that I was here. And don’t repeat Steve’s last words. Greg would go berserk, if he heard that you agreed to marry Steve.”

  “I told you, I didn’t, damn it.”

  “Yes. Yes. Still, be careful what you say around Greg. No need to aggravate him more.”

  Alexa punched the arm of the sofa. “Believe me, I’ve known Greg long enough, certainly better than you have. But thanks for the warning.”

  Both Alexa and Dante walked her to the door.

  “She doesn’t give a hoot about me. I don’t understand why she came to accuse Greg?” Alexa pinched her lips as she went to refill her glass with water. “I don’t see how Greg could have put Valium in the Amaretto.”

  “Good question. The carafe belonged to you. You said it was in your bar. Besides, the analysis showed it wasn’t contaminated with Valium. Only one glass was. One glass, Alexa. But you said Steve poured in front of you…” He refused to paint the situation darker, but the thought she was a prime suspect stabbed his heart.

  “Yes,” she murmured in a desolate voice as if a bleak future shaped in front of her eyes. Her cell phone ring pierced the silence. She checked the identity of her caller. “It’s Greg.”

  “Yes, Greg. What’s up?”

  A scowl gathered on her forehead as she listened to her ex and then answered, “You can offer a ride to Julia and her daughter, and take Dianna with you, but I’m not riding with them. I’ll see you at the church. Bye.” She shut her phone and hauled a deep sigh. “The funeral is the day after tomorrow, at ten.”

  “You don’t have to go.”

  A sad snort escaped her. “The whole building will point fingers and accuse me if I don’t show up.”

  “Fine. We’ll be there before ten, but tonight I’m staying with you.”

  “Dante, I’m too tired. Please, go back to your apartment.”

  Seriously worried about her safety in addition to her mental state, he shook his head. “I can’t leave you alone in this apartment. It seems that too many people have access to your key.”

  Chapter Eight

  Alexa opened tired eyes and peered at the digital clock on top of her night table. Six-thirty only. Why was she already awake when her head pounded like a fierce gong?

  Scenes from yesterday assailed her, each like a sharp arrow spearing through her fogged mind. Julia in Tom’s arms at the marina. The lovely boat ride interrupted by the detective. His search through her intimate apparels. Dianna’s claim that Steve confided Alexa had agreed to marry him.

  Why were they all determined to believe Steve’s lies? When would this mess end? Could she keep her sanity through it all?

  A mild, regular sound emanated from her right. She turned and swallowed a gasp.

  Wearing only shorts, Dante slept on the other side of her huge king-size bed, deliciously cute with his lips partly open over a soft snore a
nd his forehead mussed with strands of dark hair. A slice of morning hazed through the shades, brushing his sleeping face with a touch of sunshine. His masculine scent wrapped her like a warm mantle. The temptation to kiss him sent hot tingles all the way to her belly, but she reconsidered.

  Dear Dante, once more he’d shown a noble streak of his character last night. The man, who had lavished her with passionate kisses during the day, had controlled his lust and held her like a tender friend. Whispering soothing words, he’d kept her cuddled in his arms for a long time, massaging her back, and stroking her shoulders. When she drifted, he’d probably rolled to the other side and slept.

  Wide-awake now, she swiftly slipped out of bed and padded to her dresser to choose a bikini. Her hand rested on the side drawer where she usually left the pieces of jewelry she’d worn the day before. “Don’t leave it around,” the detective had told yesterday, after he’d ogled her jewelry boxes. The same advice Greg often gave her. Her mind dazed by the previous days’ events, she’d forgotten to lock her gems in the secret safe no one knew about, except Greg.

  Careful not to wake Dante, she gathered her precious trinkets, and stuffed them in a velvet pouch embroidered with her initials. Carrying her bikini and the pouch to her dressing area, she closed the door behind her.

  After her divorce, she’d personally repainted her bedroom and dressing closet, using the same pattern of light and dark pink, irregular stripes. Without hesitation, she reached between her gray coat and the brown one, and pressed upon the dark hot-pink spot that hid a tiny button.

  A small door swiveled open to reveal her secret safe. She entered the combination, pulled the heavy door, and deposited the pouch, then closed her secret cache.

  Reassured that she had regained enough self-control to hide her assets, she peeled off her long pajamas to slip into a bikini and covered it with a beach dress, the terrycloth cool against her skin.

  Ready to exert herself with a swim in the fresh ocean water, she indulged into a long gaze at Dante’s naked torso and chiseled features, and blew him a kiss.