Page 20 of Love Overboard
Lacey pressed her fingers against her temples. “You can’t be serious. The four of you are going to climb into a motorboat with a total stranger and go careening across the water to Punta Verdad?”
“Mercy, no.” Althea raised her head from her cards. “You couldn’t pay me to get on that thing. The website said you had to get out of the boat on your own and wade ashore. I might be able to manage the exodus, but imagine me trying to climb back in.” She laughed. “He’d have to haul me up with a fishing net. The locals would think he caught a two-hundred-pound tuna.”
Daisy laid her cards on the table. “The trip doesn’t appeal to me either. Althea and I decided to stay here.”
Lacey turned to Gerry. An ex-librarian might be an easier sell than the career-military-wife Emily.
“Ms. Paroo, this sounds kind of dangerous.”
Emily slid in front of her friend. “It was Gerry’s idea. She needs material for her book.”
Gerry peered over the frizzy gray mop of hair. “Ineedmaterial for my book.”
“She believes the lighthouse will be a great location for the feuding couple to reconcile.”
“It’s agreatlocation,” said Gerry.
Lacey glanced from one to the other. Their placid expressions told her she wasn’t reaching them. “What if someone gets sick? Or you have trouble reentering the boat? There will only be the guide to take care of you.”
“I’m sorry, Lacey.” Emily’s smile didn’t look sorry. “You can’t talk us out of this.”
“I don’t … this isn’t—”
“Of course, you’re welcome to tag along.” Emily focused on her khaki slacks and picked at a stain.
“What?”
“Come with us.” Gerry propped her bony arms on Emily’s shoulders and leaned forward. “Do you have some time off?”
“Yeeees …”
“It requires one hour to get there, one hour back, and I can take the pictures and notes for my book in an hour. That’s three hours, tops.”
Lacey studied both ladies. Gerry’s stoic face waited, and Emily scrubbed her pants leg. “You’re sure I can’t talk you out of this?”
“We’re sure,” Gerry said.
Lacey sighed. “I’ll have to do my shopping later.”
“That’s wonderful, dear.” A gleam entered Emily’s eye. “I’m sure you’ll enjoy yourself.” She hummed a little tune as she walked away.
Lacey’s insides tugged like a fish with a hook in its jaw. It was too late now. She’d taken the bait and wanted to make sure the women returned safely. Her gut told her there was more to this lighthouse excursion, but what could it be?
CHAPTER 9
“WHAT AREYOUDOING HERE?”
Jon wished Lacey’s tone sounded less like a kindergartner staring at a piece of broccoli. He stood at the marina, eyeing the trio before him. Emily wore a blue-and-white-striped shirt with khaki pants. Gerry had gone bohemian with a gauzy tie-dyed skirt and matching top. Lacey had traded her crisp white uniform for a pair of capris and a loose cotton blouse with colorful flowers embroidered on the lapel. Her silky hair was pulled into a ponytail. A trickle of sweat dripped down the side of her slender, exposed neck and cascaded to the hollow of her throat, drawing his eyes along the same path.
“Jon.” She waved a hand in front of him.
He snapped out of it. “Yes?”
“What are you doing here?”
“I came for the fun.” Jon gestured at his T-shirt and cargo shorts. “Althea told me Emily and Gerry planned to take on the south side of the island alone. I wondered if it was such a good idea, so I offered to escort them.”
“When exactly was this conversation?” Lacey frowned at the silver-topped instigators.
