Murder for the Halibut (19 page)

Jordan reached over and playfully punched Rosie’s arm. “You are so in trouble, Rosie.
Now Alex will get a big head, wondering if all I did these past two months was think
about him.”

Remembering the one and only night they’d spent together in Ranchero before he went
back to El Paso, Jordan felt her cheeks heat up and hoped he hadn’t noticed. The truth
was, he had popped up in her mind many times in recent weeks, but she
had
thought about other stuff.

Sheesh!

“Good to know,” Alex said, meeting her eyes with a teasing wink. “It might give me
leverage when I wine and dine her this evening.

Jordan grunted. “Oh no! We have to be back on the ship by six.”

Alex was staring at her, his eyes still playful. “That’s not a problem,” he said,
shrugging. “I see you, me, and the rest of the gang at a nice dinner on board tonight.
Then you, me, and—did I mention you and me alone while I show you how much I’ve missed
you?”

When his words finally registered, Jordan narrowed her eyes in question. “And how
do you propose to sneak on the ship?”

She was having a hard time concentrating under his intense gaze. The last time she’d
seen him, he’d been so involved with helping her brother solve a murder that they’d
only been able to spend a little time together before he flew back to El Paso and
his undercover assignment. The idea of spending a night with him now seemed impossible.

He caught her staring and gave her a devilish grin. “Hold that thought, Jordan—at
least until later.”

“But how—”

“I told you, we wrapped up the undercover gig a few days ago. While Uncle Sam is deciding
what to do with me next, they gave me a week off to chill.”

“But how did you know I was here?” Jordan asked, still finding it hard to believe
she was really staring into his those awesome blue eyes.

“I tried to get in touch with you but kept getting voice mail. You didn’t even answer
my emails.” He looked around the table. “I tried everyone before I began to worry.
I was so excited about seeing you, I’d completely
forgotten this was the week you all were going on the cruise.”

“Did you say earlier that Ray kept your secret?” Lola asked, before tightening her
lips in a pout. “If he knew and didn’t tell me, I’m going to kill him.”

Alex patted her hand. “Don’t blame Ray, Lola, and don’t even think about doing any
bodily harm. I made him swear not to tell anyone, especially you. I know how close
you are to Jordan, and I was afraid you’d let it slip out. My surprise would’ve been
ruined.”

“I still can’t figure out how you’re going to wine and dine us tonight,” Rosie said.
“We don’t eat until eight, and the ship sails at seven.”

Alex leaned across the table and kissed her forehead. “As much as I love you, Rosie,
you and the others will get dined, but only Jordan will get wined, if you get my drift.”

“But how—”

“Okay. I can see I’d better explain everything before you wear me out with questions.
When I found out you were on the ship, I pulled a few strings.” A glint of humor crossed
his face. “All these years with the FBI finally paid off. I called the Dallas field
commander who got in touch with Wayne Francis, Michael’s boss. He worked out the details
so I could board the ship right here in Philipsburg and cruise the rest of the way
with you.”

Jordan sprang from her chair and showered his face with kisses. “You’re going to be
with me until we get to Miami?”

“Actually, I found out what flight you’re taking back to Ranchero and booked it. I’m
afraid you’re stuck with me for an entire week.”

“Fantastic!” Lola said. “Ray could use your help on the ship.”

Alex narrowed his eyes. “Why would Ray need my help?”

All three women began talking at once, but then Rosie and Jordan gave in and allowed
Lola to do the explaining.

“Did you know Ray hired on as private security for some rich businessman?”

“The pastry guy, right?”

“Yes, and I can tell you he’s a class-A jerk. Anyway, a few nights ago, someone waltzed
right into his cabin while he and his wife slept and made off with a pretty expensive
piece of jewelry. Ray and Goose—he’s the head of security on the ship—are working
to catch the thief. That’s why Ray’s not with us right now.”

“You know I care deeply for all of you, including Ray, and I’ll be glad to help out
any way I can, but I don’t know what I could possibly do that they haven’t already
done. Ray’s a damn good cop.”

“Don’t forget to tell him about Stefano’s murder,” Rosie blurted.

Alex cocked his head. “There was a murder on the ship?”

“We don’t know that for sure,” Jordan said. “But we think one of the chefs died from
an allergic reaction to peanuts, and several of the other contestants had pretty good
motives to kill him.”

Alex threw back his head and laughed out loud. “So, how did you three jump straight
from allergic reaction to murder?” He shook his head, still laughing. “I’m beginning
to think your imaginations have all been working
overtime. To be honest, Jordan, I can think of better ways to use your creative talents.”

Jordan blushed at the innuendo, but she wasn’t finished arguing her case. “When Rosie
and I tell you about what we know, you won’t be making jokes at our expense.”

“What do you and Rosie know that I don’t?” Lola asked, shooting Rosie a dirty look.

Rosie ignored Lola’s question and looked at Jordan, who nodded. Turning back to Alex,
she said, “We’ve been trying to get Ray alone for two days now, so we could talk to
him. We think Thomas Collingsworth killed Stefano.”

“What?” Lola exclaimed. “The guy who dresses like he just stepped out of a bad thrift
store?” She frowned. “I don’t buy it. I’d bet money that man couldn’t even kill a
tiny mouse, let alone a walking, talking human being.”

“Whoa!” Alex said, holding up his hand. “Who is Stefano, and why would this Thomas
guy want to kill him?”

“Because Stefano is probably the father of Thomas’s only child,” Jordan began.

“Criminy!” Lola exclaimed. “I can’t believe you two kept that from me.”

Jordan sent Lola a don’t-be-mad-at-me look before she turned back to Alex.

“Keep going,” he said, making a rolling motion with his hand to speed her up. Obviously,
he was interested in more than just her creative mind now.

“And because somehow ground peanuts ended up in only Stefano’s spice bottle that night.”

When Jordan saw that she had Alex’s undivided attention, she plunged ahead with what
she thought was the
smoking gun. “And finally, because Thomas was the only one who knew that Stefano was
allergic to peanuts and didn’t bother to say a word to the doctor until after Stefano
was unable to be revived.”

Alex studied her face. He was no longer smiling.

Looking through her closet, Jordan mentally kicked herself for not bringing anything
sexy to wear. It would be hard to show Alex how creative she was when all she had
to offer was her usual dinner outfit of black slacks and a lightweight sweater.

O
h well. Maybe if I keep him so busy looking into my eyes, he won’t even notice my
outfit
, she thought, reaching for the lowest cut blouse she could find.

She pulled out the green and black silk number she’d brought for the Captain’s Gala
at the end of the week. It was the same one she’d worn to the Cattleman’s Ball several
months before—the blouse her escort had said made her green eyes look like emeralds.
A flashback of sitting in the emergency room that night in Fort Worth when her date
was pronounced DOA popped into her head. She
closed her eyes to make it disappear, and when it finally did, she shoved the top
back into the closet.

No way she wanted to chance such a thing with Alex—just in case the blouse was cursed.

At the thought of the man who had wiggled his way into her heart with a pan of lasagna
and homemade sangria, she giggled.

“Did you say something?” Rosie asked from the bathroom.

“No,” Jordan hollered back. “I was just thinking about the night Alex cooked for me.”

Rosie stepped out of the bathroom, her streaked blond hair hanging loosely down her
back in a cascade of curls.

“Wow! You’re getting all dolled up, aren’t you?” Jordan commented. “I hope you’ll
remember that Alex is my boyfriend,” she added playfully.

“Honey child, even if I did take a stab at that gorgeous hunk of manhood, I would
be disappointed. He only has eyes for you.”

“I hope you’re right. There are some hot-looking crew members walking around the ship,
and he is definitely appealing to females.” She paused. “So, why are you wearing your
hair down tonight instead of pulling it back in your usual French braid?”

“No reason.”

“Oh no! You actually blushed,” Jordan observed. “Tell me you aren’t getting all sexy
for Goose.”

“Absolutely not!” Rosie exclaimed, much too vehemently to be believed. “The man’s
married, and you know how I feel about that.”

Jordan studied her friend. “I believe you, but I see the way he looks at you. Before
this goes any further, I need
to tell…” But she stopped herself from blurting out that she’d seen Goose go back
into the bar in San Juan where that sexy young woman waited.

“Tell me what?”

Jordan waved her off. “It’s nothing.”

Rosie’s eyes twinkled. “Goose does flirt a little, and I wish I could say I hated
it. Nothing will ever come of it, but it is nice that he finds me attractive.” She
moved around to the closet. “What are you wearing tonight on your first night alone
with Alex?”

“Hopefully something to get his mind off robberies and murders.” She frowned. “Did
you see the way his eyes lit up when we told him everything that’s going on around
here?”

“Yeah. Like Ray—once a cop, always a cop. My guess is we won’t be able to get a word
in edgewise with Goose, Ray, and Alex all huddled together solving crimes. I probably
curled my damn hair for nothing.”

Jordan grinned. “Oh, I don’t know. I’m sure we can scout out a good-looking guy for
you to flirt with.”

“Make him rich, and you’re on.” Rosie patted Jordan’s behind. “Get dressed, sweet
pea. I can’t have Alex blaming me because you’re late.”

Ten minutes later, they were on their way to the restaurant, and Jordan could hardly
contain her excitement. Finally settling on a rust-colored satin blouse and a simple
black and rust sweater that toned down her unmanageable red hair, she could hardly
wait to actually be with Alex. If they were lucky, they would get away by themselves
as quickly as they could after dinner to catch up on each other’s lives—among other
things.

As soon as they approached the restaurant, Jordan
spotted Alex and gasped. If she thought the man looked good in jeans, the sight of
him in navy blue slacks with a light blue button-down shirt that made his eyes resemble
a cloudless sky nearly did her in.

She was tempted to ask if he wanted to skip dinner.

And those Paul Newman eyes told her he was thinking the exact same thing as they traveled
down and back up the length of her. Ordinarily, she would have wised off with some
remark like “I’m up here, Alex,” but for some reason, tonight, she rather enjoyed
the scrutiny.

He greeted them both with a kiss on the cheek, giving Jordan a whiff of his clean-smelling
cologne and arming her with yet another argument for bypassing dinner and going straight
for the
dessert
.

“I got here just as Victor and Michael were being escorted to the table. Since they
didn’t see me, I decided to wait for the two of you and surprise them, as well,” Alex
said.

“Did you get a chance to talk to Ray about what we told you earlier?” Rosie asked.

Alex shook his head. “I spent so much time filling out all the paperwork and then
getting settled in my cabin, I barely had time for a quick shower before dinner. I’m
hoping to get a chance to hear what Ray has to say while we eat.”

“Hey there. Sorry we’re late,” Lola said, rushing up with Ray following close behind.

Ray shook Alex’s hand. “Good to see you again.”

“Okay then, it looks like we’re all here except Goose,” Rosie said, the disappointment
in her voice probably apparent only to Jordan.

Ray scrunched his face and sighed. “I haven’t been able to talk to him since last
night.”

“Wait. Didn’t you and Goose question the crew members today?” Jordan asked.

“I did, but Goose didn’t show up. His staff and I spent five hours questioning them.
So far, we haven’t found anyone who looks like the man on the security tape. And we
still don’t have a clue where Goose is. Right before I left the room, I talked to
Orlando, who is next in command in the security department, and the only one on board
with a background in criminal justice beside Goose, by the way. He was going to have
someone go up to Goose’s room and see if he left some indication as to where he could
be. I told Orlando I’d be at dinner, and he promised to let me know as soon as he
finds out anything.”