Private 09 - Paradise Lost (3 page)

"Even you?" I asked.

Tiffany blushed and shrugged. "We all have our weaknesses."

"Everyone except Taylor," Noelle amended. "She's been coming down for the last few Christmases as Kiran's guest, and she's yet to win."

"Not for lack of trying," Tiffany added, rolling her eyes. Noelle laughed lightly, and I looked down at my hands. It was going to be so odd seeing Taylor Bell and Kiran Hayes again after more than a year. I hadn't spoken to Taylor in ages--not since the night she disappeared from Easton so mysteriously. The last time I saw Kiran was the night she confessed that she had played a role in Thomas Pearson's kidnapping. The kidnapping that had led to his murder. Even with all of that hanging over us, I couldn't wait to see them. I suppose that time heals all wounds. Or absence makes the heart grow fonder. I guess cliches are cliches for a reason.

"So, what do you think, Reed?" Noelle asked with a smirk. "Up for a little Upton?"

"Please," I said with a scoff. "I haven't even met the guy. Besides, I'm not really into players." Not anymore, I added silently, thinking of Thomas.

"Believe me, when you see him, you'll be in," Tiffany said, toying with the hair at the nape of her neck. She was still blushing. Whatever the allure this guy had, it was strong.

"So, what else do I need to know?" I asked, hoping to change the subject. "The Upton Game isn't all you guys do down there, is it?"

Tiffany and Noelle pretended to have to think about it. "It's the only thing worth doing," Tiffany joked.

"Well, there is Casino Night," Noelle added.

"Ah, Casino Night," Tiffany added, quickly sucking a bit of chocolate from her finger as she adjusted her position in her seat. "The Ryans throw it every year on the night after Christmas, and we all lose tons of money."

"Sounds like fun," I said wryly. "I guess I won't be participating." 

"Oh, we'll front you some green," Noelle said casually, like it wasn't even a question. "You have to come. Whoever has the most chips at the end of the night wins all the money that's been spent at the tables. We usually give it to charity, but if you win, you could keep it." My face burned. "Because I am a charity case."

"I didn't mean it like that," Noelle said, rolling her eyes. "I just mean, it would be great if you won."

"They have everything," Tiffany said. "Craps, roulette, blackjack, poker--"

"Poker is the most competitive," Noelle put in. "Every year the girls try to beat the boys. It's like an all-out war."

"Really? Poker's my game," I said. "I used to play with my brother and his friends."

"Nice. We have a ringer," Noelle said, lifting her glass.

"Omigod, can you teach me?" Tiffany asked, leaning forward in her seat and placing her feet on the floor. "I totally suck."

"Sure," I said. "Do you think your dad keeps cards on the plane?" I asked Noelle. She was already out of her seat. "Are you kidding? He and his cronies take this jet all over the world. How do you think Daddy won the house in Majorca? He bluffed on a pair of sixes at fifty thousand feet."

Tiffany laughed as Noelle put her hand on my headrest. "Why don't you come with? I'll introduce you." I bit my lip. Noelle's father was still on the phone and was obviously tense. Probably doing some big business deal. Hardly seemed like a prime time for an intro, but who was I to judge?

"Okay." I unhooked my seat belt and followed Noelle toward the back of the plane. Her father glanced over his shoulder, saw us coming, and blinked. I heard him say something into the phone about calling back, and then he flipped it shut. He stood up as we approached and tugged on the waistband of his perfectly cut trousers. He had shed his suit jacket and wore a crisp white shirt, dark-blue suspenders, and a dark-blue-and-red tie, which was still tightly knotted. He had to be at least six foot four, with broad shoulders--definitely an athlete. His brown hair was cropped close to his head in a military Caesar, and he did not look old enough to be Noelle's father. Hot uncle, maybe, but not her father.

He looked at me for a long moment before smiling at Noelle, which gave me the uncomfortable sensation that he felt I was in the way.

"Pumpkin," he said, giving Noelle a kiss.

"Daddy," she said. "You've been on the phone for so long; I haven't had a chance to introduce you to my friend." Her tone was admonishing, and his reaction was chagrined. Was there no one Noelle couldn't intimidate?

"Daddy, this is Reed Brennan. Reed, this is Wallace Lange," Noelle said proudly.

"Reed." He cleared his throat and nodded.

"Hello," I said. There was a long moment of silence. Noelle looked at her father as if she were expecting him to say or do something.

I tried again. "Thank you so much for inviting me on vacation. It's incredibly generous of you."

"Oh, you're welcome." Then his phone vibrated on the table, and he glanced at it distractedly.

"Excuse me," he said gruffly, grabbing for the phone. "Hang on," he said into the receiver. He held the phone to his chest and looked at Noelle. "I don't really have time for social hour right now, Noelle," he said pointedly.

Noelle rolled her eyes. "Do you have a deck of cards?"

"In the cabinet."

He sat down, turned away, and began talking into the phone. Noelle stared at him for a moment, annoyed, before moving on.

"Sorry. He gets crabby when he's in business mode," she said, yanking open the cabinet. Inside were a few decks of cards, a full set of poker chips, and a folded felt poker tabletop.

"Always be prepared," she said wryly. She pulled out the tabletop and chips and handed them over. We were about to return to our seats when her phone beeped. She pulled it from the pocket of her dress and rolled her eyes again.

"Dash."

My throat went dry. "He called?"

"No. Texted, the wuss," she said. "He wants to know if it's okay with me if he comes down this year. I don't know why he would, since his parents are going to be in Europe with his aunt's family until Christmas."

Um, maybe because he wants to be with you? I thought but didn't say. She quickly texted back, her fingers flying over the touch screen.

"What are you writing back? "

"That he can do whatever he wants. I'm not his keeper." She finished her text and dropped her phone back in her pocket.

"Noelle--," I began.

"Reed," she said firmly. "We are not talking about this anymore."

"But I have to ask you something," I said, clutching the poker tabletop to my chest. She clucked her tongue impatiently. "What?"

"If you're still mad . .. why am I here?"

Noelle thought about it a moment, then smirked. "Let's just say you're lucky I don't have to kiss you."

CHAPTER 4 THE OFFICIAL KICKOFF

"What do you think? " Noelle asked as we stepped out onto the Spanish-tile patio at the rear of the Ryan family estate. The backyard fronted a cliff overlooking the ocean, and the water was so crystal clear I could see a school of tiny fish swimming beneath the surface. The sun shone down on the glistening infinity pool as palm trees swayed in the breeze. Gorgeous tropical flowers in bright pinks, oranges, and purples burst from flower boxes and vases everywhere. A steel drum band played a jaunty tune as waiters circulated with yummy-smelling barbecue and frothy drinks. I had shed my sweater, exposing my wrinkled T-shirt underneath, and I was still way too hot. But I couldn't have cared less.

Every stressful Dash-and Josh-related thought I'd had on the plane melted away like sorbet in the sun. One deep breath of this laid-back island atmosphere and Carefree Reed was in the house.

"I can't believe we're still on the same planet," I replied, thinking of the slush and snow back in Connecticut.

"Aw. It's so nice to see the world through the eyes of a novice traveler," Noelle said, slinging her arm around me. "Come on. Let's get some food. I'm famished."

Tiffany had broken away to find her dad, who already was there some where. Mr. and Mrs. Lange were standing just across the patio. Mrs. Lange had, in fact, met us at the plane, but after the briefest of hellos, she had spent the entire limo ride talking on her cell, arranging details for some fund-raiser she was throwing the first Sunday of the New Year. Now she and her husband were chatting with Amberly, her prepped-out parents, and her crunchily handsome brother, Austin, who had just arrived. I had never met Mr. Carmichael, and I couldn't help but stare at him. This man--this tall, hard-bodied, towheaded, merry-eyed man-had had an affair with Cheyenne Martin a few weeks before her death. And he hadn't even attended her funeral. Did Amberly know? Did her mother know? And more important... gross.

"So, where's this Upton guy?" I asked, forcing myself to look away from Mr. Carmichael. Noelle smirked. "Let's see if you can pick him out yourself."

"Upton Game, the solitaire version?" I joked. Taking her up on the challenge, I scanned the party goers. If I were the hottest guy ever to walk the earth, where would I be?

"Noelle! Reed!"

I recognized the squeal before I had a chance to spot where it was coming from. Suddenly Kiran's slim arm was wrapped awkwardly around my neck. Her drink spilled, splashing on my shoes, but she kept bouncing up and down as she attempted to hug Noelle and me at the same time.

"Omigod! It's so good to see you guys!" Kiran cried. "It totally sucks that you had to miss my birthday party, but I'm so glad you're okay!"

Parrying was always priority number one with Kiran. Higher on the list than attempted murder. She pulled back and placed her now empty glass on the tray of a passing waiter.

"Let me look at you," she said, holding both my wrists. "What are you wearing? You need to get out of those New England rags and get into the islands!" Kiran certainly had done just that. She wore nothing but a red bikini top, a tiny red bikini bottom, and a red-and-white sarong that exposed her entire leg. Her heels were at least four inches high, and the white beads around her neck were the size of grapes. Her long dark hair was swept up in a tight bun, and huge D&G sunglasses practically covered her face. I smiled as she plucked a piece of lint from my T-shirt. Even with the fashion critique, it was good to see her.

"I told her to change on the plane, but she just wanted to get here," Noelle said with a shrug.

"Well, we can't blame her for that. Hi, Noelle," Taylor Bell said, joining us. She bit her lip and looked down at the ground before meeting my eyes. "Hey, Reed."

"Hey!" I reached over and hugged her, since she was clearly tentative about seeing me.

"You look incredible."

"Thanks," Taylor said, blushing.

What little baby fat she'd been carrying around a year ago was gone and had been replaced by some serious muscle tone. Even her face looked tauter. Gone were the rosy red cheeks, replaced by pronounced cheekbones and a slight tan. Her blond hair was as curly as ever, but it was longer, grazing her shoulders. Her buttery locks danced in the island breeze as she turned around to show off her new physique and blue strapless dress.

"I've been dieting and working out like a fiend for the last nine months," Taylor said giddily.

"I am so winning the Upton Game this year."

""Wait a minute. You didn't shed the poundage just for Upton," Noelle said incredulously. Taylor blushed deeply. "No. Of course not. I did it for me." But she obviously had done it for Upton. Which Noelle was clearly about to say before we were interrupted.

"Noelle! So good to see you!"

We all turned around to find a tall girl with stunning green eyes and gorgeous auburn curls striding toward us. She wore a green halter dress and gold hoops and was trailed by a guy who could only be her brother. He had the same eyes and hair color, though his was straight and brushed aside in a preppy 'do. He wore madras shorts and a light-yellow polo shirt, and he had a kind of tight look about him, as if he were born with a stick up his butt. Clearly these were the Ryan twins.

"Paige. Good to see you, too," Noelle said as she hugged the girl, though I could tell from her tone that she didn't mean it. "Hi, Daniel," she added to the guy.

"Noelle," he replied with a nod. "Don't suppose Dash is with you."

"Not at present, no." Noelle looked past the twins at an older couple who were now approaching. "Mr. and Mrs. Ryan. You've outdone yourselves once again."

"Ah, Noelle. Always so polite," Mrs. Ryan said.

She leaned in and gave Noelle a double-cheek air kiss, gripping Noelle's elbows as she did so. I couldn't help but notice the size of the emerald on her finger. It overlapped the two fingers on either side and was surrounded by huge diamonds. It was so big it was ugly, even though I knew it must have cost a fortune.

"Ryan family, this is my friend Reed Rrennan," Noelle said, stepping aside. Mrs. Ryan, a Rillings alum like her daughter and descended from Jessica Billings, the Billings founder, clearly recognized my name. Her green eyes quickly flicked over me, and she pushed up the sleeves of her flowing blue silk jacket, which she wore over a black top and pants. For a woman of her age, she had a seriously toned body and healthy tan, and her auburn hair was cut into a sleek, short 'do. If not for the sour look on her face, she would have been very attractive.

"Reed Brennan, the girl whose questionable leadership skills put the future of Billings at risk," she said tersely.

My jaw dropped. Paige hid a laugh and looked away. I felt myself start to close up--the unworthy Croton girl--but something inside of me said no.

"My questionable leadership skills? Do you mean the way I saved the house from being disbanded by raising five million dollars for the school?" I'd had enough of backing down. She couldn't talk to me that way, even if this was her insanely sprawling estate. Kiran suppressed a giggle, but she didn't do a very good job. I could feel Noelle trying not to smile as well.

"Well, your insolence certainly hasn't been exaggerated," the woman said. "I can see why the girls voted you out, but I can't imagine why they let you back in."

"Calista," her husband said warningly, stepping up to grip her arms from behind. He looked at us and smiled. "Why don't you kids go grab yourselves something to eat?" Then he forcibly turned his wife around and led her away.