CHAPTER TWELVE
Veronica gripped the balustrade, staring at Rico. He grinned and waved at the crowd, his face lit up by the flickering tiki torches at each end of the stage.
Host of the party? He was young, college aged. Veronica had known plenty of superrich teenagers, so it wasn’t a stretch that Rico was rolling deep enough to rent the place. But according to Mac’s research, no one was renting. And there was no way this was an illicit squat—security was too tight, and apparently there were parties every night. Someone would have noticed by now. Did he own the rental company? Did his parents?
Up on the stage, Rico fanned ten crisp bills out with a snapping motion. He took the microphone from the emcee, a wolfish grin spreading across his face. “Just to show how dedicated we are to finding the best tan in Neptune, we’ve got a thousand bucks for our winner tonight. How do you like that?”
The crowd roared its approval. Rico gave the microphone back to the guy in the fedora and sat back in his chair like a spoiled prince on a throne.
The emcee paced back to center stage. “And now, if y’all are ready for it, we’re gonna start the show. First up is Aurora, from Tucson, Arizona. Aurora, why don’t you show these people what you’ve got?”
An auburn-haired girl in a leopard-print bikini leapt lightly up on the dais and shouted a hello into the mic. Some burlesque-style music started up over invisible speakers, and she gyrated on stage, spinning in a slow circle. When her back was to the crowd, she shook her hips, looked over her shoulder, and suggestively pulled the waistband of her suit down, flashing her tanned backside at the audience. Then she untied her halter and spun back around, making the straps dance against her breasts. Tantalizingly, she lowered the triangles of her bikini top, revealing a pale patch of skin underneath. Rico whistled appreciatively and the crowd went wild.
“Take it off!”
“More!”
“Flash!”
“My cousin thinks he’s a ladies’ man.”
The voice was deep and soft, close to Veronica’s ear. She gave a little start and looked up into dark brown eyes, flecked through with greenish gold. The man was about twenty-six or twenty-seven, with dark, curly hair and broad, chiseled cheekbones. Unlike the other guys, dressed in loud floral shirts and flip-flops, he wore a perfectly tailored gray suit, no tie, and black loafers. Around his neck was a single lei made of purple and white orchids.
“Your cousin?” She smiled, cocking her head a little. From the suit, the smirk, the casual contempt for Rico’s antics, she knew the drunken debutante voice wouldn’t work with this guy.
“Rico.” He nodded down toward the stage, where Rico was on his feet now and dancing with the tan-line contestant. “Like a kid in a candy store.”
“You don’t approve?” she asked. She angled her body slightly toward him. Her heart beat fast, but she kept her movements composed.
“Oh, I don’t mind at all. I love a good party as much as anyone. But Rico likes to play games, to make it a sport.”
“And what do you like?”
“I just like to get what I want.”
The way his eyes moved over her left no mystery as to what that was.
“I’m Eduardo,” he said.
“I’m Amber.” She glanced around the terrace, gesturing. “Is this your place? It’s gorgeous.”
“Thank you. I hope you’re enjoying yourself.”
“What’s not to love?” She lifted her cup, then pretended to take a sip. “So what do you do, Eduardo? Besides throw amazing parties?”
“I’m a student myself. I’m doing my MBA at Hearst.”
“Your MBA?” She laughed. “What do you need an MBA for? You already have everything an MBA could want.”
He laughed too. “This? This is all inherited. I have to be able to stand on my own feet, to do my part. Otherwise it will all be wasted.”
“That’s … that’s an interesting outlook.” She frowned slightly. Not one she would have expected from someone who threw a high-end carnival every night of spring break.
“Family is important. This is how I honor mine.”
Below, a fresh contestant was entertaining the audience with the stark white lines under her string bikini.
“What’s your family’s business?”
“Real estate, mostly. Some investments and the like.” He waved his hand as if this was all too dull to speak of. “Tell me, Amber, would you be interested in walking down the beach with me? It’s lovely this time of night—and we can speak a little more privately there than we can here.” He drew closer to her. She could smell notes of sandalwood on his skin, as clean and expensive as everything else he wore.
Veronica smiled, calculating. Eduardo struck her as the type who might try even harder to get what he wanted if there was an obstacle in his way. “I don’t think my boyfriend would appreciate that.”
Eduardo looked around as if expecting to see this alleged boyfriend. “Oh, is he here with you? I didn’t notice.”
“He’s inside, dancing,” she said. “I came out to get some air.”
Eduardo leaned closer, his breath warm on her neck. “You know, it’s spring break. You’re supposed to break the rules on spring break. And in my opinion, any man who’d pick a sweaty dance floor over your company probably doesn’t deserve your attention.”
She raised an eyebrow. “And it’s Rico who thinks he’s a ladies’ man?”
He threw back his head and laughed. Below, on the dais, the women were lining up for the finale, posing like beauty pageant contestants. One suddenly whipped her halter off and shimmied, to the raucous approval of the audience.
From the depths of her bag, Veronica heard her phone chime.
“I’m so sorry, I have to check this,” she said, rummaging in her purse.
“Of course,” he murmured. She turned her back and took a few steps away, opening the message.
It was from Mac.