Read Online Torch Ginger by Toby Neal - Free Book Online Page A

interest me. On all levels.” He was turned away from her, addressing his remarks out into the shimmering air in front of them, so Lei was able to tolerate the intimacy of what he was saying.
    She floated into the warm water surrounding him, put her lips near his ear. “I like you too.”
    Then she moved away, breaking into another set of laps. He seemed to chase her, and back and forth they went.
    Purple darkness spread from above, stars filling the sky like night-blooming jasmine. The pool went dark as a well. Lei got out, wrapped herself in a towel from the cabana. Alika stayed in the pool, his arms draped along the tiled edge, his head thrown back, eyes closed.
    “Wanna show me the rest of your burglary?”
    “Sure I can’t show you my etchings upstairs?” Teasing in his voice.
    “Not tonight, but I’m sure they’re . . . unforgettable. I really do have to get going.”
    He sighed with exaggerated disappointment, getting her to smile, and hoisted himself lightly out of the pool, belting on one of the terry cloth robes. He handed her another and they padded through the Mexican tiled kitchen to the garage.
    He flicked on powerful overhead lights. The garage was in disarray. He pointed out buckets partly full of paint left behind while full ones were gone, empty pallets where supplies would have been, and the area where a truckbox of expensive construction tools had been. Only a rolled carpet remained.
    Lei photographed the scene. “Your insurance should cover this.”
    “Yeah, but that’s not the point. I don’t like the idea that someone’s got access to my place. I’ve changed the locks and alarm codes, but too late already.”
    “I thought this was a model home.”
    “It is. But I’m going to live in it—might as well. I always pick one of the houses and live in it while it’s on the market. Actually helps it sell.”
    “Nice to be able to live like this.”
    “It’s a gamble.” He shrugged. “With the economy what it is, I could be in this one awhile.”
    Lei couldn’t muster any sympathy so didn’t try, finishing with the photos.
    “Okay. I’ll open a new report for you tomorrow, and if you need copies for the insurance company I’ll send them to your e-mail.”
    “Think this could have anything to do with Lisa and her problems?”
    “I know she was your friend, but we haven’t been able to find her and we want to question her anyway. I’d say she’s definitely a possibility as one of the burglars. She could have taken a key from you, had it copied. Maybe she thinks you can afford it.”
    He cleared his throat. “She had a key. I’d told her she could use the pool.”
    “Did you change the locks?”
    “Yeah. Yesterday.”
    “So when exactly did you notice the stuff was missing?” She picked up the clipboard again, noted Lisa Nakamoto as a possibility.
    “Two days ago. Can’t believe she’d do that to me.” He shook his head, and gave the e-mail info to her for the insurance claim. They went back into the kitchen, where Lei picked up her dirty clothes, wrinkling her nose.
    “Ugh. I don’t want to get back into these. Can I borrow the robe?”
    “Only if you bring it back and use it again,” Alika said. “In fact, I’ve got something coming up I think you’d enjoy.”
    “What kind of something?”
    “An event. I need a date. Interested?”
    “What kind of event?” Lei kept her eyes on the incident report, trying not to notice her heart had sped up.
    “An event. You know, music, food, you wearing something tight and silky. Maybe some heels . . .”
    “Wait a minute. Really? You’re asking me out.”
    “My God, woman, you aren’t making it easy.” Alika’s deeply injured tone made her smile. He went on. “It’s a ball to benefit the National Bird Refuge at Kilauea. They have a lot of outreach programs to schools and so on that rely on donations. It’s at the Princeville Hotel.”
    Lei had driven by the hotel’s magnificent edifice and speculated on the view