While my mind was admittedly still on Drake Deadly and his untimely death, my bank account was running on empty, so I tried to focus as I parked my car in the Sunset Acres visitor lot next to Sam's, and she, Caleigh, and I walked onto the grounds. Which, as it turned out, was nothing like the retirement home I'd been picturing. I'd had in mind bingo, shuffleboard, and the scents of disinfectant and Bengay, but Sunset Acres was more like a small resort set in the middle of Culver City. A golf course sprawled to our right, the hiss of sprinklers hitting the grass in the distance mingling with the thwack of golfers taking their aim. Several townhouses lined the course, as well as a maze of three-story condo buildings winding through the main complex. We passed a sparkling swimming pool—full of the over-sixty set doing laps and relaxing on chaises in the late afternoon sunshine—a fitness center full of state-of-the-art equipment, and a lounge with a full bar.
"Geez, I wanna live here," Sam said, glancing into the gym. "This place is way better than my apartment complex."
"Probably way pricier too," I noted. "You need Manchester kind of money to live here."
"Well, forget Junior's college fund. I'm saving up for this place from now on."
"The potluck is in the Azalea Room," Caleigh said, nodding down a paved path to our right as she shifted our offering in her arms—a cold spinach quiche we'd picked up from Whole Foods on the way over.
Sam and I followed as we approached a complex of community rooms, all sporting names of flowering foliage. I noticed several other people converging on the pathway with casserole dishes in hand. The dress attire looked to be Sunday best, and I noted a couple of women even wearing ornate hats adorned with flowers and feathers.
"I'm suddenly feeling underdressed," Sam mumbled, nodding toward a lady with peacock plumage trailing down her back.
"Bea said they do this social every month. It's the event to be at," Caleigh informed us.
"Let's just hope our blonde thinks so too," I told her as we entered a large, noisy room marked Azalea.
Hardwood floors and warm throw rugs made me think of an oversized family room, with several groupings of sofas, armchairs, and low tables situated around the space. A tall stone fireplace sat at the far end of the room, ablaze with an inviting fire, where several men in slacks and sport coats had converged. Long tables in cloth coverings lined the sides of the room, laden with everything from tuna salad to berry cobbler to Crock-Pots bubbling with meatballs and stews. The mingling scents made my stomach growl as Caleigh set our quiche down on the nearest table, shifting a couple plates of cookies around to make room.
"Is Gammy Manchester here?" I asked Caleigh, realizing I wasn't exactly sure what the woman looked like.
Caleigh nodded. "That's her. By the Tiffany lamp." Caleigh gestured toward a tall, slim woman with ramrod straight posture and coiffed grey hair. She was dressed in white slacks and a loose silk blouse in a light blue that complimented her pale, rosy skin. Her makeup was tasteful, her jewelry minimal but I could tell expensive even from across the room, and her smile pleasant as she nodded to the woman next to her, chatting up a storm. Everything about her exuded a poise and confidence that only years of never having to do without created.
"That's Janet she's talking to," Caleigh said, indicating Gammy's companion. "She's the one who organizes the social events."
"Not a lot of blondes here," Sam noted, eyes scanning the room. She was right. Salt-and-pepper seemed to be the predominant hair color, heavy on the salt. I spotted a few dye jobs among the crowd—some more tastefully done than others—but no one stood out as reading "skanky" like Kendall had described Alejandro's alleged affair.
"Maybe we should split up," Caleigh suggested, grabbing a finger sandwich and taking a bite. Then she scrunched up her nose and groaned.
"What?" Sam asked.
"It's liverwurst."
I shuddered as Caleigh forced herself to swallow the bite and discreetly wrapped the remaining sandwich in a paper napkin.
"I'd like to talk to Manchester." I nodded toward the older woman. "Maybe you two can scour the room for the blonde?"
"On it," Sam agreed. Caleigh nodded then followed Sam as she slowly made her way down the food table, scrutinizing every woman she passed.
I left them to it and approached Ms. Manchester, who was still engaged in conversation with Janet the Planner.
"Uh…Eleanor?" I asked, remembering the name in our files and stopping myself from calling the woman Gammy just in time.
She nodded a goodbye to Janet and turned a pair of pale blue eyes my way, an expectant gaze in them. "Yes?"
"Hi, I'm Jamie." I gave a little wave. "Mary's granddaughter."
"Nice to meet you, Jamie. And please call me Ellie." Her sparse eyebrows formed a small frown as she foraged for recognition. "Mary. She lives in the Rose Garden complex?"
"That's right." I gave her a bright smile. "I hope I'm not interrupting?" I asked, eyes going to Janet's retreating form.
"Oh, no, not at all. I was just telling Janet that she's outdone herself this month. Quite a turnout." She smiled, nodding around the room.
"Agreed. I hadn't expected so many people."
"Is your grandmother here?" Ellie asked, eyes going behind me to scan the room.
"No. Her hip is bothering her," I lied. But given the audience, I figured it was a pretty plausible one.
"Ah. Poor thing," Ellie said.
"But I figured I'd come down and fix a plate for her." I gestured to the table.
"Very nice of you," Ellie agreed. "I can't imagine my granddaughter braving the potluck."
Neither could I. Kendall Manchester and liverwurst went together like a Kardashian and Arby's. But I just smiled. "Well, I live nearby."
"I see. How nice for Mary." I could see her gaze roving the room again, signaling I was losing my audience's attention.
"Are you here alone?" I asked.
"Hmm?" Her eyes snapped back to meet mine.
"Uh, just wondering if your husband was with you or…" I trailed off, hoping she would pick up the thread.
"Oh, no. I'm a widow. Have been for, gosh, well on twenty years now." She got a far-off look in her eyes, as if remembering another lifetime.
"I'm sorry," I told her automatically.
But she just smiled again and shook her head. "That's quite alright. I lost Gavin a long time ago, and I moved on with my life."
And there was my opening. "Moved on?" I asked, giving her a sly smile. "Does that mean there's a new man in your life?"
She laughed, her cheeks tinting pink. "As a matter of fact there is."
"Well, do tell, Ellie," I prompted.
"Oh, there's nothing much to tell really," she hedged. "Nothing as exciting as the fellows my granddaughter brings home."
Again, I could well imagine. Kendall had a bit of a wild streak and the common sense of a sheltered 90210-raised child. The product of which had resulted in the kidnapping debacle where I'd originally met her.
I was about to assure Ellie that her new relationship absolutely was of interest to me, when a man in a navy polo shirt and dark slacks approached us, wrapping one arm around Ellie's shoulders. "Hello, ladies," he said in a thick Spanish accent.
Ellie turned, and immediately her face lit up, taking ten years off her age. "Hello, darling." She turned her cheek so he could deposit a quick kiss on it. "We were just talking about you."
"Oh?" the man said, raising a pair of dark eyebrows. "All good, I hope?" he joked.
"Always. This is Jamie, Mary's granddaughter," Ellie said, making the introductions. "And this is Alejandro."
"Nice to meet you," I told him.
"Likewise, Jamie," he said, giving me a smile that showed off about a hundred gleaming white teeth. His skin was a rich tan, laugh lines creasing at the corners of his eyes and mouth that put his age at least in his sixties, though I doubted it was quite as high a number as Ellie's. His thick hair was combed back from his forehead, still dark though there were streaks of grey edging their way in at the temples. He reminded me of an older Antonio Banderas, his eyes saying all kinds of sexy things even if his mouth was idle.
"I was just telling Jamie what a lovely turnout we've had here today," Ellie said. "It's a shame Mary couldn't be here."
"Is she ill?" Alejandro asked, dark eyebrows drawing down in concern. Clearly he seemed to know Mary too. I had to tread lightly here.
"Hip," I said quickly. "Do you live here at Sunset Acres as well?" I asked, changing the subject away from my little white lie.
Alejandro chuckled and shook his head. "Too rich for my blood, I'm afraid." He gave me a wink.
"Oh, don't be silly." Ellie gave him a swat on the chest. "He's being modest."
That, I doubted. "How did you two meet, then?" I asked.
"At a social mixer Janet put together this past fall," Ellie answered.
"Oh?" I turned to Alejandro. "Then you must have other friends at Sunset Acres?" I asked, thinking of one blonde friend in particular.
"I like to be involved in the local community."
That was as vague as could be.
"We've been together ever since," Ellie added. "It's going on, what, four months now?" She turned to Alejandro for confirmation.
He nodded. "At least. Though, it feels like I've known her all my life."
Ellie giggled and blushed, suddenly seeming more like a tween than a grandmother. Though, the look wasn't altogether terrible on her. I could only hope I could still giggle and blush so happily at her age.
"That's a lovely accent," I told Alejandro. "Where are you from originally?"
"He's Spanish," Ellie said. "From Spain."
"Oh? Which part?" I pressed.
"Lugar de pasión y amor." He leaned in, kissing Ellie on the cheek again.
"And that means?" Even though I'd grown up in Southern California, I'll admit, my Spanish was a little rusty.
"The land of passion and love. Amor!"
Ellie did more giggling. I'd swear her age was decreasing by the minute. She was clearly smitten. And by the way Alejandro was looking at her, all smoldering eyes, he appeared to be the same.
Though, as I well knew, appearances could be deceiving. And he'd once again dodged my question.
"That's a lovely watch," I said, gesturing to the Rolex on Alejandro's left wrist.
For a brief second his charming smile faltered, and he had the good graces to look sheepish. "A gift. She is too good to me." He shot Ellie another heated look.
"Nonsense," Ellie shot back. "I'm only as good as you deserve."
"Ellie!" a woman in a long dress with ample hips called from across the room.
"Ah. That's Margo. I told her I'd help her slice the carrot cake. If you'll excuse me." She gave me a polite nod. "I hope Mary feels better."
"Thanks," I told her, feeling a little guilty. And hoping some Mary in the Rose Garden complex didn't get a slew of sympathy cards.
I watched her—and Alejandro, who seemed permanently attached to her side—walk away, not sure I'd made any headway at all. It was quite possible they were a happy couple—Ellie enjoying giving Alejandro some of the finer things in life. Or it was possible Alejandro just enjoyed those finer things much more than he enjoyed Ellie. As I made my way toward where Caleigh and Sam stood near the fireplace, I wondered if his blonde at the Acres was as generous with gifts.
"I saw you met Alejandro," Caleigh noted as I approached the pair. "What did you think?"
"Jury's still out," I answered. "But," I added, "he's laying the amor stuff on pretty thick with Gammy."
"You think he's just trying to seduce Gammy?" Sam asked.
I shrugged. "Some women are a sucker for a Latin lover."
"Don't I know it," Sam mumbled, rolling her eyes.
"How was bowling with Julio the other night, anyway?" Caleigh asked, a grin on her face.
Sam waved her off. "It was a family night. Trust me, I'm not falling for those big brown eyes again."
"Uh-huh." Caleigh sounded about as convinced of that as I was.
"You two have any luck finding our mystery blonde?" I asked.
Caleigh shook her head. "If she lives in the village, it looks like she didn't show."
"Maybe she knew Alejandro would be here with Gammy," Sam said, nodding toward the pair at the cake table. "Maybe she didn't want to make a scene."
"Or maybe Kendall was mistaken in the first place," Caleigh offered. "I mean, maybe she misread the situation between Alejandro and the blonde? Maybe she's just a friend? Or relative?"
"Maybe." I watched Alejandro lean down and whisper something in Ellie's ear that had her giggling again. "But maybe we should keep an eye on Alejandro."
"You mean tail him?" Caleigh asked.
"I'll do it," Sam offered. "Julio's taking Junior to a ball game tonight anyway."
"Wow, bowling and a ball game all in the same week?" I raised an eyebrow at her. "You really are working this, aren't you?"
"You better believe it," she said. "I'm getting a spa day on Saturday too."
"Julio sounds like he's really taking care of you," Caleigh noted, getting that mischievous grin on her face again.
Sam shrugged. "For now. Until some hot little thing comes along and takes his attention again."
Caleigh frowned. "Don't you think it's possible he's just wanting to spend time with you? Make up for the last few years?"
"Well, let's put it this way—I'm not wearing a Rolex."
She had a point.
* * *
By the time we'd left Sam at Sunset Acres to keep an eye on Alejandro and I dropped Caleigh back off at the office and locked up, I was famished—not having actually partaken of any of the potluck offerings. On the off chance Aiden was free, I sent him a quick text.
Dinner in the cards tonight?
I didn't have to wait long before his reply pinged in.
Rain check? Looks like a late night here.
I tried to tamp down the flutter of disappointment and shot back an Understand. Don't work too hard. :)
His reply was almost immediate this time. You know me better than that.
I grinned. I did. Aiden's work ethic was almost as strong as his faith in the legal system. Even if I only shared one of those things with him.
Since Aiden was otherwise occupied, I scrolled through my contacts until I got to Danny's name. I hesitated a moment, wondering if it was a good idea to ask him to dinner. Then I felt silly for hesitating. Danny was my friend. I'd considered him my best friend, even, at times in my life. A friend could have dinner with a friend without it being weird.
I quickly shot off a text. I'm starving. Wanna get dinner?
I had to wait a couple minutes longer than I had with Aiden before a reply came in.
Sorry. Plans. Another day?
Plans. I hated that my mind immediately went to the wineglass bearing lipstick marks that I'd seen in his apartment the day before. Which was totally none of my business. Friends did not care if other friends had other friends who wore sexy lipstick.
I sent off what I hoped sounded like a nonchalant answer from a non-caring friend.
Sure. Another day.
Shot down twice in a row, I decided to soothe my ego's wounds with comfort food. I stopped at Panera for a quick clam chowder in a bread bowl and topped it off with a couple of chocolate-dipped cookies. I was feeling warm, full, and satisfied from the inside out by the time I finally pointed my Roadster toward home.
I slipped it into my designated spot in the underground parking then rode the elevator up to the twelfth floor where my loft apartment had a stunning view of downtown. I vaguely had the depressing thought that if business didn't pick up soon, I might have to downsize to something a little less view-centric and a little more budget-friendly. God forbid, maybe even in the Valley.
That last thought had my chowder gurgling in my stomach as I exited the elevator and stepped out into the hall.
Then froze.
Four doors down, a woman was standing outside my apartment door, banging her fists on it in a way that didn't seem like she was there for a friendly social call. Only as she turned away from the door and kicked it with the sole of her silver stiletto did I get a good look at her face and realized I knew the woman.
Jenna James.