chapter eight

He had barely stepped inside when his masculine aesthetic sense was assaulted by the aggressively pink decor—from the cushions to the curtains, not to mention the sheets. And the ruffles and lace! Was the whole purpose of this bungalow's setup a sneaky attempt to make a man feel completely out of place? He wouldn't have put it past Mrs. Poole. Still, the place was comfortable and very well kept. It also had the advantage of being spacious.

"Well, you'll get used to it, Hogan!" he muttered to himself as he stepped into the kitchen...

Where, once again, he recoiled in shock. It was overflowing with "cute" knick-knacks, and most of the kitchen appliances were covered with small, metallic embroidered cozies: the toaster, the teapot, the blender... Annoyed, Jack ripped them off one by one, stuffed them into a drawer, and announced:

"Sorry, but with me, the camouflage ends here!"

Claire arrived at the elementary school a full thirty minutes early. After dropping Chise off at the gate, she parked her car and played crossing guard until all the children were safely inside. She'd return in the afternoon for school dismissal, and then have the whole weekend to find a replacement for Bella Martingale.

It hadn't been easy to call Bella the previous night and inform her she was being let go. Still, Bella had taken the news rather well. The fact that Claire had invited her for tea at the Lagoon Hotel the next day had surely helped ease the blow.

Before heading back to her shop, Claire made a quick stop at the real estate agency. Archie Adelson's latest acquisition, combined with the arrival of the man in charge of his security, had kept her up most of the night. What exactly were Adelson's plans for the dolphin enclosure? And how did Jack Hogan intend to implement his so-called expertise in security? Patty Barnes and Lucy Gaynor might have some answers. Not only had they handled the transaction, but they usually knew all the latest gossip on the island.

Lucy was seated behind her desk when Claire walked into the agency. The young woman removed her rhinestone-studded glasses, tucked a stray lock of brown hair back into the clip holding her bun, and exclaimed:

"Claire! What brings you here this morning?"

"Curiosity," Claire replied with a smile. "Were you present when Hogan finalized the deal yesterday?"

Lucy's eyes took on a dreamy look. "Of course! Patty and I were both at our desks when he signed the paperwork. Adelson had given him full power of attorney to act on his behalf."

At that moment, Patty emerged from a nearby office and asked eagerly:

"Did someone just say my name in the same sentence as Jack Hogan's, or am I hearing what I want to hear?"

"Lucy and I did say both your names," Claire confirmed, amused. "I'm here to do a little digging into what Archie Adelson is planning for the dolphin enclosure, and what role Jack Hogan might play in all that. Do either of you have any info you can share?"

Just then, in perfect synchrony, both women turned their gaze toward the door, giving Claire the distinct and slightly annoying impression that she no longer existed.

"If you want information," came a voice as Jack Hogan stepped into the agency, "you might as well go straight to the source."

Well played, Claire thought, irritated, as she turned on her heel to face the intruder. Today, he had swapped his jacket for a rugged, adventurer-style shirt.

"Let me just remind you that you are the one who cut our previous conversations short," he continued.

Claire clenched her jaw. Jack Hogan couldn't be allowed to see how flustered she felt. Hadn't she mastered the art of hiding her reactions during unexpected situations back in her public relations days? Years working for the city of Miami had taught her to stay composed in the eye of the storm. Forcing a smile, she replied:

"If you're referring to our brief encounter in my office yesterday, let me clarify: that was not a conversation—it was an ultimatum."

"Clearly, I need to work on my interpersonal skills," Hogan said, with a self-deprecating smile.

Turning to Lucy, who was now practically drooling over him, he added:

"Good morning, Lucy. Did you manage to find the gate key?"

"I found something even better," Lucy purred.

She held up a ring of keys and continued:

"This set opens every door on the property. Right, Patty?"

"Exactly," Patty confirmed, then added confidentially to Claire, "We had to call Mr. Eisenring at the retirement home to see if he remembered where he'd put the keys when the Holcombs closed the dolphin enclosure. Thank goodness the old caretaker still has his wits—he remembered everything."

Snatching the keys, Hogan declared, "Perfect! I'll head over there right away." Then he shot Claire a pointed look.

Trying to ignore the flutters that look triggered, Claire focused on trying to decipher what had provoked it. Did he think her cotton blouse and Bermuda shorts were too casual for someone in her position? Or maybe it was the sandals that bothered him. Well, tough! Claire did own a whole closet full of chic outfits—buried under layers of mothballs—and she had sworn never to wear a power suit again.

"You're dressed like an explorer, Ms. Betancourt," Jack observed. "Care to join me on a little expedition to the dolphin enclosure?"

Patty and Lucy barely stifled squeals of envy while Claire quickly responded:

"That's very kind of you, but I don't have the time to go with you."

"Your schedule is that full?"

"Yes, I have a mountain of official paperwork to sign, and I need to head to city hall immediately."

As she turned toward the door, he followed her, courteously bidding farewell to Patty and Lucy.

"I haven't had the chance to thank you for last night," he said once they were outside.

Claire resisted the urge to turn around—she was certain Patty and Lucy were plastered to the window by now, gossiping furiously.

Sensing the ambiguity of his own words, Jack clarified:

"I mean it—I'm grateful you recommended Mrs. Poole's dollhouse."

"Have a nice day, Mr. Hogan," Claire said briskly.

"I thought you wanted information, Madame Mayor…"

Sliding her sunglasses from her forehead down to her nose, Claire replied:

"There's more than one way to get information."

"Of course. But isn't the simplest solution to come with me to the dolphin enclosure? Have you ever been inside?"

She had to admit she hadn't.

"Why not seize the opportunity then?" Jack suggested. "Aren't you just a bit curious about what's behind those big iron gates?"

Fighting the temptation, Claire replied:

"I can wait for another time."

"As you wish, Claire…"

Using her first name—an obvious attempt to break the ice. She knew the tactic… and yet it almost worked.

"I would've liked your company, though," he insisted.

At that moment, Claire nearly gave in. But in one final burst of willpower, she held her tongue.

Opening his car door, Jack added with a sigh:

"Honestly, big empty houses creep me out a bit."

Was he ever going to leave? Claire was getting exasperated. But when he finally got behind the wheel, rolled down the window, and met her eyes… she was caught.

"Fine!" she snapped, irritated with her own weakness. "I'll come with you."

Throwing a quick glance toward the agency, she caught sight of Patty and Lucy with their noses pressed to the glass. She muttered under her breath:

"This is going to be a mistake…"

Without commenting on her remark, Jack gestured toward a grocery bag and said:

"I picked up a few basics—feel free to grab a doughnut."

Claire cautiously peered inside the bag. It contained doughnuts, coffee, spicy chips, and beer. So this was Jack Hogan's idea of basic groceries?

Careful not to make any comment, she simply said: