Page 97 of Tempt Me

Sheriff Briggs took my statement about what I heard at the party and said he would look into it. He seemed excited by my thoughts about the autopsy too. Though he’s so eager to impress Russell Everton after making all those missteps in the initial investigation, I think he’ll take theories from any source he can get.

I check to make sure my blueberry basil jam has cooled enough, then I get to work on the mascarpone filling.

Russell is an intimidating man, I think as I sift powdered sugar into a bowl. I recall what Caden told me on the beach—all those rules, all those conditions and expectations…I didn’t realize how tightly he was bound by his father.

I’m glad Caden apologized for calling me a gold digger. I can forgive him now and move on. I don’t like holding onto grudges or bad feelings. This is a clean break. The only man I’m going to think about from now on is my future husband.

I add mascarpone to the sugar and then fit the bowl into my electric mixer. I wonder if I could make some macarons for the wedding. The raspberry lemonade ones have been coming out exceptionally well. Lucille might gripe but I bet Luke would love it. And I know if Lucille gave any pushback, he’d stand up for me. He’s always so supportive.

I beat the sugar and cheese together for a few seconds until they’re incorporated. My stomach gives a little shiver. Soon, I’ll be Mrs. Luke Richards. And, if my Magnolia Day booth goes well, it could be the start of something more. Maybe Eric Kim would let me do a little pop-up shop at Perks. It would mean more time in Magnolia Bay, but Luke would understand that. I start to spin wild fantasies about opening my own bakery, becoming a name in my own right on the North Fork. What would I call it? Something in honor of Grace. Or my mom, maybe.

I’m just adding vanilla extract to the bowl when suddenly, there’s a pounding on my door. I jump. Who would be calling so late at night?

My first, wild thought is that it’s Caden, coming to confess his love again.

“Isla?” Luke calls.

Now I’m really confused—Luke said he was going to stay in the city tonight. I hurry to open the door and gasp.

“What happened?” I cry as he pushes past me into the apartment. His face is crusted with dried blood. It’s on his hands too. His eyes are wild. I catch the scent of whiskey on his breath.

“Your fucking ex attacked me,” Luke says.

“What?”

“Caden Everton,” Luke growls.

My mind is spinning. “Caden attacked you? Why?”

Luke suddenly looks wary. “You haven’t talked to him, have you?”

“No, why would I—it’s the middle of the night. And he’s not my ex,” I remind him sternly. “Why would Caden hit you?”

Luke slumps onto the sofa and I hurry to grab a dishtowel and soak it with cool water.

“He said we can’t have the wedding at Everton,” Luke says.

“What?” I whirl around, my heart pounding. “What are you talking about? He—he can’t do that!” Everything is settled. The wedding is just over two weeks away!

“He can,” Luke says. “He’s so jealous, babe. And acting like a real asshole. You should have seen him.”

I come over and dab at his face with the towel. “Start at the beginning,” I say. “And tell me everything.”

“I was at the Minton Club,” he says, wincing when I dab at the blood on his nose. “They were having a game night, poker tables, roulette, the works. I was there with a potential buyer for one of the Sixth Ave properties. Wining and dining him, playing craps, that sort of thing. Then I see Caden and his brother Alistair harassing this waitress.”

“Harassing how?” Alistair has always had a playboy reputation but not Caden.

“Touching her, saying inappropriate things, that kind of stuff. So I went over to tell them to knock it off. Caden got pissed—he started getting in my face saying no one tells him what to do. He’s an Everton and he can have whatever woman he wants. I think he might have been drunk. The poor waitress looked scared to death. I was trying to diffuse the situation when security came over. Caden tells them it wasmewho was harassing the woman.”

“What?” I yelp.

“I tried to set things straight and that’s when he said he wouldn’t let us get married at Everton. I think…” Luke looks at me with his wide brown eyes, so fearful and forlorn. “I think he’s trying to break us up, babe. I think he’s jealous and he still has feelings for you. In his deluded mind, preventing us from getting married at Everton will stop us getting married at all.”

I stare at him, stunned. This doesn’t sound like the Caden who apologized to me earlier—though he did admit he was jealous. Was it really that strong? Strong enough to sabotage my wedding?

“Security had to escort him out,” Luke says. “Look. I got it on video.”

He takes out his phone, opens the video, and presses play. I gasp. Caden’s face is twisted with rage, his expression murderous as two burly security guards take him by the arms and haul him away. I’ve never seen him look so dangerous before—not even when he was threatening Carl. But the man in the video seems capable of anything.

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