Lana'i of the Tiger (The Islands of Aloha Mystery Series) by JoAnn Bassett Read Free Book Online

didn’t prove to be
the Angelina Jolie that Tyler had hoped.
    “A thousand dollars? For using a
greenhouse? That’s ridiculous,” she said when she came to the White Orchid the
next morning. “For that kind of money we could rent an upscale venue like the
library at the Lodge at Koele, or even the ballroom at the Four Seasons Manele
Bay. Darling, I agreed to keep our wedding low-key, but that doesn’t mean paying
Park Avenue prices for a trailer park setting.”
    Tyler looked stricken. “The
White Orchid Bed and Breakfast is a labor of love for these people, Deedee. Not
only have they put a ton of money into it, but they’ve invested their time and
talents. It’s got way more ambiance than the cookie-cutter hotels you’re so
fond of. Believe me, sweetheart, you won’t regret getting married here. It’ll
make a great story for our children, even our grandchildren.”
    “Whoa, whoa. Don’t you go getting
ahead of yourself, Mr. Tyler Benson. I agreed I’d think about having kids.
No promises. For the foreseeable future my focus will be on making Double D as big
a brand as Victoria’s Secret.” She shot him a sultry smile, and ran a
well-manicured fingertip up his chest, his neck, and finally his chin. When her
finger reached his lips, he kissed it.
    “Baby-doll, I’m one-hundred
percent behind you,” he said. “What makes you happy, makes me happy. But believe
me, having a small private wedding here will be great. It’ll be as cozy and
romantic as getting married in our own home.”
     “Sweetie, our home is at least
ten times bigger. And about a thousand times more elegant.” She paused
and batted her ridiculously lush eyelashes. “I’ll let you win this one, lover.
But you’re going to owe me, big-time. And you know what they say—payback’s a
bitch.”
    Tyler Benson’s narrowed his eyes.
It looked to me as if he wasn’t used to being threatened. Especially in front
of an audience.
    ***
    Tyler and Deedee left to go up to
the Lodge at Koele for lunch. I got busy with the wedding preparations. I
snagged Mr. Shu, the gardener, as he arrived in his beater truck.
    “Mr. Shu,” I said. “I’m Pal—er,
Penny Morton. I’m helping Darryl and Ewa with the bed and breakfast while
they’re over in Honolulu with their new baby.”
    “Baby? What day she have the
baby?”
    “She had it two days ago, on
Thursday. It’s a boy. They’re both still in the hospital.”
    “Something wrong?”
    “No, they’re both doing fine.
But the law says the hospital has to allow a new mother to stay at least two
days past the delivery date if she wants to.”
    “Why she want to stay in
hospital?” He wrinkled his face up like he’d just taken a whiff of something
foul.
    “I don’t know. I guess because
it’s her first child, and they’re helping her learn what she needs to know to
be a good mother.”
    “ Pfft ,” he snorted. “That
like telling a seed how to make root and leaves.” He shook his head in scorn.
    “Anyway, I wanted to talk to you
about the greenhouse.”
    He clasped his hands in a fist
at chest level. It freaked me out a little, since it’s the same stance we take
before a kung fu match.
    I went on, “You see, we’re
having a small wedding ceremony in the greenhouse next weekend. Only a few
people, but the bride and groom want to be surrounded by living things, especially
orchids. They’re holding it inside because then they won’t have to worry about wind
or possible showers. And, it will be more private.”
    “Married in a greenhouse?” He
squinted his eyes up so tight they nearly disappeared behind the wrinkles.
    “Yes. I’ll need you to clean out
the orchid area and make a place for the wedding couple and the minister. And then
clear a spot for a handful of witnesses.”
    “Clear a spot ? What are
you saying?”
    “Clean out an area big enough so
at least seven people can stand close to each other. Move the tables around,
take out the buckets and fertilizer. You know, make