took myself on a tour around the grounds and, wow, Mitch. This is one gorgeous property.”
“Thanks.”
They discussed the resort’s amenities while Reece loomed like a silent nag behind them. Since she wasn’t an actual investor or on the board, Mitch hadn’t considered Lena when he’d told Diana to arrange for his entire family to come out. He rarely saw the other woman, but since he’d loved her father and the old man had always been there for him, he’d readily approved her addition to the guest list.
“It’s so great to see you both,” Lena gushed again. “But I’m going to go ahead and pretend I’m a posh guest here and do the registration thing, then relax a little bit before the fancy soiree this evening.”
The men offered their goodbyes, and, as Lena turned to leave, she tossed an invitation over her shoulder. “Reece, you be sure and save me a dance. I’d love to revisit old times.”
“Old times?” Mitch teased under his breath as she left.
“Whatever,” he muttered back.
Mitch laughed in delight. This was going to be one helluva fun evening.
“You need to let me do my job,” Reece said when they were alone again.
Mitch shrugged. “We’ve been through this already. Go ahead, do your job. But don’t screw with my event and don’t be making any unfounded accusations. You nail someone, you better be damned sure you have the right person and enough proof to make a case.”
“You’ll have your proof by the end of the night,” Reece assured him.
The words were right, but the feeling in Mitch’s stomach was all kinds of wrong.
* * *
BELLE DISCONNECTED HER cell phone and was just tossing it in her evening bag when Sierra came into the cottage.
“What took you so long?” she asked. “We’re due on-site in five minutes.”
She spent ten seconds admiring her partner’s vintage Vera Wang dress before she glanced at Sierra’s face. Belle frowned.
“You’re chewing on your lip,” she mumbled.
“So?”
The brunette’s tone was not only confrontational, it had do-not-disturb vibes all around it. Belle wanted to know what had happened that afternoon, where Sierra had hauled Reece off to, that kind of thing. But it didn’t take a half-assed Sherlock Holmes like herself to put two and two together and realize wherever it was, whatever they’d done, Sierra wasn’t happy about it.
“So, nothing,” Belle said, backing down. No point in starting a fight. “Do you want to see what I found?”
Sierra took one eager step forward then grimaced and shook her head. “We don’t have time. Give me the summary.”
“The file was a detailed list of instructions on how to cause trouble for the resort. Everything from those animals in the golf course to the canceled meat order are listed there.”
“Diana typed up a list?” Sierra’s tone made it clear how dumb she thought that was.
“No, they’re instructions from the person she works for.” Belle checked her hair in the mirror one last time and adjusted the strap of her ice-blue evening dress. Bias-cut silk, it hugged her curves in ways she hoped Mitch appreciated. “Apparently she’s supposed to delete any files from the computer each day, too. Thanks for the idea to send her on that wild-goose chase to pick up the replacement supplies. Otherwise she’d have emptied the recycle bin and I wouldn’t have proof.”
“Who’s behind it?”
Belle paused, still trying to believe it herself. Then she shrugged and said with a frown, “L.N. Larry Nelson. Mitch’s manager.”
“No,” Sierra breathed, her blue eyes wide with shock. “He seems so geeky and devoted. Are you sure?”
Belle cringed at the question. She felt so defensive even making the accusation. Like a traitorous bitch.
“I don’t have proof positive,” she defended. “But his name is mentioned here and these are his initials. He’s also on the access list and was involved with the computer crash.”
“That’s pretty sketchy,” Sierra pointed out with a grimace. “Remember at one point you thought it might be Mitch based on that first note?”
“I never believed it was Mitch,” Belle defended angrily.
“Right, I know. But it looked like it. All I’m saying is this isn’t enough to hold up in court, if you know what I mean.”
“I know.” Belle’s defensiveness dropped away. She thought of the list. Only half the items on it had been crossed off. Some looked like they were supposed to take place after the grand opening. The ones about contacting the paparazzi would ruin the resort.
She shoved a hand through her curls and tried to think straight. They were silent for a few