Just One Kiss (The Town of Pearl 8)

* * * *

Mrs. Higgins watched from the window a huge smile on her face.

“I know what you’re up to,” Beth whispered as she joined her by the window.

Mary smiled.

“Look at them. Look at the body language. It’s perfect. She’s perfect for all four of them.”

“You are out of your mind. The Walters brothers haven’t been the same since their parents passed,” Beth stated as she looked out the window too.

“Lilly and Benny Walters were such loving, kind people. Lilly had a heart of gold. I can see her in Lucifer the most.”

“Which is why you planned it for him to meet Lucia first,” Beth accused.

“Well, look, they met at Francine’s, and I had nothing to do with that. It’s fate, Beth. We’re just giving it a little push.”

“We? Don’t pull me into your latest project.”

“Latest project? This isn’t some project. I knew the moment I saw Lucia, and the way that Salvatore watched her in town last week and even watched over her as she traveled through the woods, that something was happening. That man hasn’t been himself for years. Just as he was beginning to settle into civilian life, that situation with Lindsey Tompkins got out of hand. She could have been more understanding.”

“He could have hurt the girl terribly.”

“I doubt it. Besides, Lucia is special. Can’t you see it too? So sweet, shy, and hiding from something.”

“You aren’t going to go snooping around in her background, are you?” Beth asked. “You know that could stir trouble for her if she’s hiding from something.”

“I’ll give it some time. In the interim, we need to make sure that the others have excuses to come here or, at minimum, meet up with Lucia elsewhere to discuss the construction project.”

Beth shook her head.

“I think you went completely overboard with ripping out the wood, severing that pipe, and having Bob help you. I swear that man has it bad for you, Mary.”

“Well, Bob and I go way back, and it wasn’t such a crazy thing to do. Not if we’re successful. Just look at them. He’s so tall and handsome, and she’s petite and gorgeous. She has those soft doe eyes that draw you right in. They drew Lucifer in,” Mary said then wiggled one eyebrow up and down.

Beth laughed. “You’re crazy, Mary, but you are right. There’s something there.”

“There sure is, and I’m going to make sure they all have no choice but to face that attraction and take a chance. No matter what it takes.”

Chapter 3

Law Offices of McMillian and McMillian—South Carolina

“Derek, we’ve tried everything and we can’t find her. She’s disappeared.”

Franklin McMillian, Derek’s cousin, told him as he stood in Frank’s office. His other cousin William was standing there, too. They were both top-notch lawyers in the family and had been doing all they could to help Derek find Lucia.

“She can’t be far. There’s no way she made it this long on her own. Something could have happened to her. I’m desperate for answers,” Derek stated. He was playing up the whole concerned-boyfriend thing despite Lucia’s allegations of rape to her parents. Margie and Clarence Monte wanted exactly what Derek and his parents did. For Derek and Lucia to marry, combine their rich, upper-class bloodlines, and ensure their monopoly across the South was maintained. Neither family wanted tainted blood. Arranged marriages were more common than people knew. Some people also frowned upon them. That’s why the deal was done quietly and behind closed doors. He never expected Lucia to react as she did.

He did what was necessary. After all, she more than likely would be spending the majority of their marriage on her back. Well, bent over any piece of furniture he saw fit. He already planned out her punishment for leaving him.

“We called all the local hospitals, plus we have people calling other hospitals and emergency centers across the US. That’s a lot of man power and a lot of money,” Franklin stated.

“Plus we’ve kept it all under the radar as you requested,” William added and gave Derek the once-over.

He knew his cousin believed that Derek had indeed raped Lucia. Their father, Derek’s uncle, had made a previous rape charge back in college disappear. Derek had power and he had friends everywhere. There was no way that Lucia was going to hide forever.

“What can we do next? I need to know that she’s okay.”