Catching Sam: Book 2 of 5: The MacDonald Brothers by Emily Matthews (best mystery novels of all time TXT) 📗

her of a summer camp full of cabins. He stopped in front of what could only be described as a large, elegant hut. It appeared to be made of straw, but Annie was sure that was just for looks.

Pika took her bags and walked her to the door. He opened the door, entered, and set her things on the bed. It was magnificent. She’d only seen places like this in magazines.

“Do you need anything, mi amore?” Pika asked with a deep bow.

“No. I’m great. So great. This is incredible!” The bungalow was one big circular room with a bathroom off to the side. High ceilings were littered with fans made of wooden palm leaves. A four-poster, king-size bed, covered in a fluffy white comforter and a million pillows, backed up against one wall and faced the ocean. Netting was bunched up and tied neatly on each corner post. Presumably, they could enclose themselves in the mesh and sleep with the windows open.

“Ocean is that way,” Pika said, pointing needlessly. The room’s whole back end was made entirely of windows and huge, floor-to-ceiling, glass doors that stood open, letting in the ocean breeze. The ocean was literally out her back door.

“The walkie-talkie to contact me is on the coffee table. What kind of drink would you like? I’ll bring it to you on the beach.”

“Oh, my. I don’t know. How about you surprise me?”

She wondered briefly if she should wait for Sam. Eh, you snooze you lose, she decided. She wasn’t wasting a second more.

“As you wish, my dear,” Pika said as he backed out of the room. “I’ll see you on the beach in a few minutes then.”

She changed into her swimsuit, freshened up, and walked the short distance from the bungalow to their private cabana. She plopped onto one of two full-sized chaise lounges that sat about fifty yards from the ocean. On the table between the chairs were instructions on how to hook into the Bluetooth speakers and how to contact the front desk.

The chair was on wheels, which made it easy to pull out into the sun. She relaxed into the soft cushions and stretched out. The sun warmed her body, and the waves calmed her soul. Pika brought her a daiquiri in a coconut shell and a plate of fresh fruit. He carried the small table out to her and put it all by her side. He went back to the room, brought her the walkie-talkie, and told her to call when she needed a refill. She felt like a princess.

“Pika, you are positively the best. Thank you so much,” she gushed as she took her first sip of cold, fruity deliciousness.

She was blissfully aware of nothing and floating off into neverland when she heard something behind her. When she turned to look, it was Sam, wearing nothing but swim trunks. Her jaw instantly went slack. Holy shit. His business suits had been hiding a muscular torso, a trim waist, and long, lean legs. She hoped she wasn’t drooling.

“Mind if I sit here?” he asked with a smile, pulling the second chaise lounge next to her. “Hey, where’d you get that thing?” He nodded to her drink.

“Pika. If you want one, just use the walkie-talkie. This place is so awesome.”

“What’s this?” Sam asked, picking up George Washingstone, who was sitting next to the walkie-talkie on the table.

“Oh, yeah. That’s for you. I saw it in the shop and thought of you. It’s silly, I know. You don’t have to keep it.” Her cheeks were burning. The little trinket seemed so stupid now that she was actually giving it to him.

“No, I love it. Thank you.”

“It’s hard to buy for the person who has everything,” she said, laughing away the awkwardness.

They ordered lunch along with Sam’s drink, and spent the afternoon in the sun, sipping piña coladas and dozing. They walked down to the water and waded for a bit but didn’t get in. The silence didn’t bother her one bit.

“I love listening to the waves,” she said once they’d returned to the cabana. “Pika asked if I wanted to play music, but I told him no. I hope you don’t mind. I can feel myself unwinding when I close my eyes.”

“I don’t mind. This is your beach day. You should do whatever you want. How often did you go to the beach in California?” Sam asked.

“As often as I could in the summer. In the winter, only once or twice a month. It’s therapeutic, you know?”

“Did you go alone?” he asked nonchalantly.

“Are you trying to ask if I had a boyfriend?” She laughed. “Yes, I went alone, and no, I didn’t have a boyfriend.” She debated whether or not to go into her whole “story.” The drinks and the sand said may as well.

“I’ve changed a lot in the last few years, Sam. You wouldn’t have noticed me three years ago, much less been attracted to me.”

“Why do you say that?” He seemed genuinely interested. “And what do you mean ‘changed’? What’s different?”

“Well, for starters, I weighed about thirty pounds more than I do now. I had this mousy brown hair that always fell in my face. I wore glasses and clothes that were a size too big and boring as hell. I had a slight overbite that I was always self-conscious of. And that’s just physical changes. I was also a doormat for anyone who cared to wipe their feet. I was shy and quiet, had no self-confidence, and never spoke up or stood up for myself.”

“Huh. So you decided to change after your ex went to prison?”

“That was part of it. I’d always wanted to change. I just didn’t know how. One day I discovered self-help books and videos and began devouring anything I could get my hands on. I hired a personal coach and started making gradual changes.

“Once Wayne left, the weight just came off without me really trying. That might have been stress, I guess. I got braces and contacts, which was