Page 32 of Secrets in Calusa Cove

She knew this because, as a teenager, she had been the one cleaning the rooms, and sometimes, she’d worked behind the desk. Now, Harvey had stepped up his game and gone to self-check-ins after ten. Well, she was going to get there just before that, so it would be nice to see the old man. He had been mostly kind to her and her dad. She wouldn’t call him a friend, but Harvey didn’t bother much with gossip.

Of course, Lilly could still be working there, and that would be awkward, like most of their encounters.

Pulling into the parking lot, her jaw dropped. Damn, this place had changed. Most of the cabins looked as though they’d gotten a facelift or were getting one.

She parked in front of the trailer, snagged her small purse, and made a beeline for the door. It was still sticky as hell. But it was summer, and in Florida in August, you could fry an egg on the sidewalk.

The door opened, and Audra’s heart dropped to her toes.

Lilly.

“Oh. Hello, Audra,” Lilly said, waving an envelope. “I was just leaving this for you in the overnight box.”

Audra checked her watch. Fifteen minutes before ten. Yeah, that sounded about right for Lilly, especially if Harvey wasn’t around. In the past, she’d always come in late, left early, and made other people do the work she hadn’t wanted to do.

“Since you’re here, I’ll just hand it to you.” Lilly stretched out her hand. “There have been a few changes around this place and few new rules since Harvey passed.”

“Harvey died?” Damn, that sucked. “What happened?”

“Heart attack. Just dropped dead about six months ago. His wife didn’t want to deal with this place, so she sold it.”

“To you?”

Lilly laughed. “No. My husband and I don’t really have the funds or the time. Our new chief of police is the proud owner. I’m his manager—the eyes and ears of this place.” Lilly pointed toward the street. “Here comes our chief now.”

“And he puts up with you leaving early?” Audra wanted to ask who in their right mind would marry Lilly, but she decided to refrain.

“Wow, you haven’t changed.” Lilly folded her hands and tapped her toe on the wood porch.

Okay, so maybe that was a bitch move, but she and Lilly had never liked each other. Ever. Mostly because Lilly had had a thing for Ken. Lilly had been a grade ahead of Ken but the same age. She’d always run around bragging about how she’d skipped a grade and was planning on getting a scholarship to an Ivy League school so she could get the hell out of Calusa Cove.

Well, that had never happened, and she’d landed in community college forty minutes away. But Audra never knew what had happened after that because she’d left.

Dawson’s patrol car rolled to a stop, and he slipped from the driver’s side. God, that man was sexy, especially in his uniform. He had a five o’clock shadow that gave him this rugged look. He wasn’t too tall, perhaps six foot one or two, and he was thick. Not so much that he looked like a bodybuilder, but enough bulk that no one would dare mess with him if they came across him in a dark alley.

“Lilly, what on earth are you still doing here? I told you it was fine to go home whenever you needed. That’s what self-check-in is for,” he said.

Lilly smiled.

Audra sighed. More like her hormones melted.

“Hondo’s flight was delayed. He should be rolling in about twenty minutes from now,” Lilly said.

“What about the kids?” Dawson leaned against the post.

“My mom took them out for burgers and putt-putt golf,” Lilly said. “I did hire someone for the evening shift. He starts on Monday. So, I’ll be going back to my regular hours.”

“Good.” Dawson nodded.

“Before I forget,” Lilly said. “Those two guys in cabin three have not checked out.”

“Yeah. I noticed that in the app.” Dawson nodded. “Nothing we can do about it.”

“Should I be worried?” Lilly asked.

“I don’t think so, but I’ve got my guys keeping an eye on them. If you see anything that makes you uncomfortable, call me or one of my deputies.”

“Will do. I better get going,” Lilly said.

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