Murder at Dolphin Bay (Sand and Sea Hawaiian Mystery Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

of my life. Kilo was absolutely perfect for me and I was sure we’d enjoy many years of happiness together. Now I just needed to get him to notice me. My whole being was immersed with happiness as he stepped out of his car. God, he was a babe. But that happiness turned to anger when I saw him walking around the car to open the passenger door. He held out a hand to a bleached blond bimbo who caused quite the disturbance among the guys in the crowd as her fit but voluptuous body came into view.
    What is it with busty blondes and men anyway? Working at the resort, I’ve witnessed men of all ages make fools of themselves as they panted after some silicone-enhanced Barbie doll while their wives looked on in anger. They’re on vacation in one of the most romantic places in the world with the women they’d pledged to spend their lives with. Shouldn’t their focus be on them and only them?
    I was never settling down unless I could pull off a miracle and convince Kilo to marry me and forsake all others. I knew a lot of men, but in my humble opinion there wasn’t one that would be worth all the trouble that seemed to come with tying the knot. Don’t get me wrong; I like to date, and I do so fairly often, but marriage? Thanks but no thanks.
    Right about the time Kilo announced he was taking Barbie—not her real name—to Australia with him for an upcoming surf competition, I decided I really needed a walk. I thought about telling someone where I was going, but all eyes and ears were on Kilo, so I motioned for Sandy to follow me and started down the beach.
    I knew I should give up on Kilo. He barely knew I was alive and he certainly didn’t see me in the way I wanted him to. But I kept thinking he’d tire of dating supermodels and turn his sights elsewhere. I’d tried to be patient and wait for him to realize the best life partner is one with whom you share a background and common interests. I’d bet Barbie didn’t know how to surf, spear a fish, or free dive for shellfish. What could the man possibly see in her?
    I stopped and stared at the water. The tide had turned and the waves had gentled quite a bit. The moon had risen higher in the sky and was shining down on the water, providing a nice glow in the otherwise dark night. Maybe I should just go home. I had my own car and my enthusiasm for the evening had waned considerably after Kilo arrived with his date.
    “Beautiful night.” Luke walked up and stood beside me.
    “It’s all right.” I shrugged. “Was that your dad you were talking to?”
    “Yeah. He was pretty upset to hear about Branson but not all that surprised.”
    Okay. Now that had my attention. “Why wasn’t he surprised?”
    “He mentioned that Branson had gotten wrapped up in a business deal that appeared to be less than legit. Bran wanted my dad to invest in his project, but after doing his due diligence my dad decided to pass.”
    “What kind of business?”
    “He’s part of an investment group that’s planning to build a resort not far from Dolphin Bay. My dad commented that on the surface the project looked to be potentially profitable, but it’s his opinion that the seed money is dirty, and he wanted no part in it. He also mentioned that there were some zoning issues that as far as he knew had never been resolved, as well as backlash from local environmental groups. In his opinion the whole thing wasn’t likely ever to get off the ground, and even if it did, he didn’t need the hassle.”
    “Does your dad know the identity of the people involved in the project?”
    “Branson never said who he was in business with, but I got the feeling my dad has an idea who might be involved. He also told me Branson said he was spending time with a woman who lived on the island. Apparently she’s significantly younger than Bran and quite the looker, so he’d been bragging about his new relationship to anyone who would listen. Her first name is Helena, but that’s all my dad knew.”
    I sat down on a