Page 52 of Just One Summer with the Grumpy

“Dang. Hemustbe a good kisser.” She paused. “Oh.”

“Oh, what?”

“Hang on a sec.” She went silent for about a minute, then whistled, low and slow. “Daph, I hate to be a downer, but you should see this.” My phone buzzed.

I opened the link on the screen and read the headline.

BILLIONAIRE CHASE EVERETT ACCUSED OF STEALING FORTUNE FROM DYING UNCLE

“You know what? I have to go,” Bridget said. “Sounds like Pops is in the kitchen again, and that always spells disaster. Read that article and text me when you’re ready to talk. I’m always here for you, okay?”

“Okay,” I said softly, my stomach feeling a bit unsettled at the seriousness in her voice.

We hung up and I began to read. Soon I found myself hugging my knees against my chest, staring at the photo at the bottom of the article, its cruel accusations ringing in my ears.

A distant family member had accused Chase of manipulating his uncle into changing the will to make him the sole heir. Since the change had been witnessed only by two medical workers and not notarized, the family member had challenged his fortune in court. The judge had awarded in favor of Chase, but the damage had already been done. The family had ostracized Chase, disowning him and trying to destroy every bit of wealth he had. They’d even tried to block the purchase of the island, but in the end, Chase had held on. Barely.

This version of the story didn’t sound at all like the story he’d told me the other day. Could Chase be misleading me as much as I misled him? The thought cut deep.

I had to find out more. The article didn’t name his accuser so I couldn’t ask them for details, but I knew one person on the island who would possibly know the truth. I would confront him today. Now, before I saw Chase or anyone else.

I shot off a quick text to Bridget about getting back to her later, then hurried to take a shower.

“Didn’t think I’d see you again,” the pool man muttered when I approached.

I didn’t ask what that meant. We’d had two conversations before he found me kissing Chase in the darkness on the beach, our hands all over each other. He probably saw me as a traitor, and maybe rightly so. “I came to ask what you know about Chase.”

He turned, putting his weight into the net pole. “If you’re in his bed, isn’t it a little late for that?”

I bristled. “I’m not in his bed, and even if I were, that wouldn’t be any of your business.”

“Then leave me to mine, because I am not losing my job.” He turned back to the pool and scooped up a floating insect.

I’d handled this all wrong. With a sigh, I went to the pool shed and retrieved a second net. Then I started cleaning out the pool right along with him.

"What you saw,” I told him. “That was completely unplanned. I didn’t expect to be attracted to him, and I don’t think he expected to be attracted to me either.”

“I know a desperate attempt at job security when I see it,” he grumbled. “I will not reveal my secrets so you can tell him and get me fired.”

I glared down at him, my voice firm. “First of all, I am not manipulating Chase to keep my job. That’s disgusting. Second of all, whatever you tell me is between us. It’s just that I need to know everything before I let things progress any farther.”

He gave me a sideways look. “You didn’t believe me about him before, so why now?”

A tourist walked by with a blue-and-white-striped towel under her arm, so I waited for her to pass and lowered my voice to a whisper. “I found an article about the accusations against him. You know, manipulating his dying uncle to get his fortune. Did that really happen?”

The pool man looked torn. He glanced from one side of the pool area to the other, then gestured to the pool shed. I followed him and started stacking the pool nets on the wall.

“They’re not accusations,” he said quietly. “They’re facts. I talked to the cousin who sued him when he visited a few months ago. He had evidence, but Chase’s attorneys got the evidence thrown out in court. I’m telling you, Chase didn’t win because he was in the right. He won because he had all the money in the world for the best attorneys and buying off witnesses. His uncle told everyone that Chase wouldn’t get a cent, and suddenly the uncle’s dead and Chase gets all the money? Seems fishy to anyone with half a brain.”

It did seem odd, when he put it that way. But there were two sides to every story…weren’t there?

The pool man suddenly ducked into the shed. I stared at him in confusion before realizing he was hiding. In the distance, Chase emerged from the hotel with another man. He spotted me and waved me over.

I didn’t want to meet his friend. I wanted to confront Chase, get the truth. I needed to see what he was hiding right now, not put on another girlfriend performance.

Although it wouldn’t be a performance this time. But still.

I returned the net to its hook in the shed and approached.

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