A Billionaire for Breakfast by Mila McClung Read Free Book Online Page B

bachelor party, did he?”
    “No, he hasn’t even thought about it.
But after five marriages I don’t imagine he’d want one.”
    “Get your friend to corner him and
the other guys. I’ll bet she could draw them in.”
    “Kylie? You want to use her as bait?
Isn’t that dangerous?”
    “I won’t let anything happen. I
failed with Gayle because I let someone else take responsibility. This time I’m
going to be right here, with you!”
    He kissed her, swept her up into a
fever again.
    The afternoon had settled into a
warm, sweet cadence. The guests were either sunning down at the beach or
napping or tinkling ice in colorful drinks in the pool room.
    Tess had rounded up Kylie and
delicately explained the situation to her. The woman seemed far more interested
in Tess’ relationship with the handsome Angel than in playing a game of chase
with the suspects in a murder.
    “I knew you’d be after that guy, I
could tell he did something to you! Some girls have all the luck!”
    “Will you help us, Kylie?”
    “I don’t know. Where are the police
in all this?”
    “They didn’t have enough evidence to
arrest anyone. And Angel thinks some of them were paid off, anyway.”
    “So why would they listen to us even
if we did find a killer?”
    “He has a friend on the force, a
Captain Pettigrew, who will take any new evidence we can show him.”
    “And what do I have to do again?”
    “Just talk all of these men into
meeting you in the guest house out back for a mini bachelor party. Say you have
a surprise for them.”
    “What kind of surprise?”
    “There isn’t one. That’s a ruse, to
get them out there.”
    “Oh, I see. Well, what makes you
think they’ll meet me?”
    “They’ll meet you, if you put all
that Kama Sutra stuff to good use.”
    “Whoa, girl, I’m not signing on for
that!”
    Tess grinned. “I was kidding. Just be
yourself, you know, and lure them in.”
    “All right, I’ll do it! Goodness
knows it’ll bring some excitement to this dull afternoon! I can tell you,
darling, I’ve about had it with the Caymans and their cruel, dreary men!”
    “I thought you and James Fielding …”
    “Oh, God, Tess, don’t mention his
name! What a creep! I think I’d take old Jack over him! At least he’s good in
bed!”
    “Poor Kylie. This hasn’t been the
best experience for you. I’m sorry your plans fell apart.”
    “Oh, I’m not. Who was I to think I
could come down here and wrap up a billionaire like a stuffed fish and take him
home? Trouble is, the ones round here smell like stuffed fish!”
    They laughed. Tess had been worried
about Kylie but she saw then she had no reason to be afraid. Kylie would pick
herself up and start over yet again. The woman was as resilient as a willow,
and just as enduring, too.
    Angel and Tess watched silently
through a partition in a bedroom closet as the suspects entered the guest house.
It had a shell-shaped roof as well, but was much smaller than the main house,
with open screen walls that let the breeze flow through at will.
    Jack Leonardi came in first then
James Fielding and Diamond Scott and finally Patrick Mercer, who seemed very
annoyed at his companions.
    “What’s going on here?”
    “I heard it was a private bachelor
party,” Jack said.
    “Well, if it’s private, what the hell
are you doing here? I never would have invited you!”
    “Somebody did.”
    “You mean Kylie Preston did! I’ll
have her fired for this!”
    Tess was wounded at the tone of
Patrick’s voice.
    “I thought there’d be some music
here,” Diamond sighed. “What kind of party is this?”
    Just then Angel pulled a string which
let drop a huge poster of Gayle Stewart. The four men jumped.
    “Someone’s playing a morbid game! Who
did this? Was it you, Jack?”
    “No, I … I’d never …” He seemed
genuinely shocked.
    “Diamond?”
    “No, man. I ain’t the playing kind.”
    “James?”
    “Of course not!”
    “I did it, Mr. Mercer!” Angel called
from the