Seduction on the Sand (The Billionaires of Barefoot Bay #2)(20)

Liza’s smile faltered, and her gaze shifted to the framed picture next to her computer. “Oh, he’s not my...” Liza gave a tight smile. “Sure. I’d love to bring him over, thank you.” A box flashed on the screen, taking her attention back to the computer. “Ugh, still says ‘file not found,’ but...”

“But what?” Frankie leaned forward, trying to get a better look at the screen.

“Well, when I saw that notice that you were trying to track down a will and I found it, I had a chance to see the document scan.” Her pretty mouth drew down. “I hate to tell you, it looked legit.”

“It did?” Worry clamped her chest.

Liza’s gaze softened and grew sympathetic, like a doctor about to deliver very bad news. “Frankie, we do see this kind of thing from time to time.”

“What kind of thing?”

“Older folks do get scammed like that. These con artists and developers comb old-age homes and even some neighborhoods looking for elderly citizens who haven’t written a will, then they persuade the person, who is oftentimes not completely, you know...” She tapped her temple and gave a sympathetic tilt to her head.

“Nonno was pretty alert,” Frankie said. But then, she’d been gone awhile. How did she know how alert he was? She didn’t know he was sick enough to have a stroke, either.

“I’m sure he was, but in some cases, these people don’t know what they’re signing because they don’t have family to advise them.”

And neither had Nonno, because she was in Washington, DC. Tamping down guilt, she leaned forward. “Can you fight that?”

“Oh, absolutely, with the right attorney. Unless, of course, the land gets sold before you get a hold of it. Then you’re in trouble.”

Frankie pinched the bridge of her nose, squeezing against the frustration headache that had started hours earlier. “So, what happened to the document?”

Liza whooshed out a breath that fluttered her bangs. “I do not know, and I tell you, I’m freaking Sherlock Holmes when it comes to investigating things like this. I’ve dug through every file I can find, but it’s gone.”

“Then, that’s good, right?”

She shook her head. “It’s just weird. It could mean that it was flagged by someone, somewhere, and pulled from the system, or it could mean that someone made an offer on the land and a Realtor has the will.”

Frankie sucked in a breath. “No!”

“Don’t panic yet. I’m going to make this a top priority, and I promise to call you when I find it. Is this still your cell number?” She read from the open file, and Frankie confirmed.

Liza walked out with her, still chatting as they went down the hall, but when she opened the door, she went stone silent. Then she turned to Frankie. “Brace yourself. Hottie in the office.”

Frankie laughed, remembering how a handsome man could send a reaction fluttering through the otherwise dull halls of a government building. She inched around to take a peek, her whole body tightening at what she saw. Not a hottie... her hottie.

“There you are,” Elliott said, coming toward her with outstretched hands. “I thought you got lost in the maze.”

Instead, she was lost in an unexpected embrace.

She turned to say goodbye to Liza, who was staring hard at Elliott, a frown tugging as if she was trying to place him.

“Liza, this is Elliott Becker. Elliott, Liza Lemanski, the most helpful person in this building.”

Elliott nodded hello. “Helpful, as in you straightened everything out?”

“Not exactly,” Frankie said. “But thanks for trying, Liza.”

She gave a wave, and another scrutinizing look at Elliott, which Frankie imagined he was used to, though Liza wasn’t exactly salivating; she was more curious than anything. “Nice to meet, you Elliott Becker.” She said his name slowly, as if trying to place it or remember it for later.

With a final nod, he gave Frankie a nudge forward. “Let’s go celebrate.”

She eyed him. “Celebrate what? The brick wall I just ran into?”

He shrugged quickly. “Well, my business situation went well.”

“I guess one of us should be happy.” The weird thing was, despite the frustrations of the last few hours, she felt oddly happy right here on his arm.

That was weird, wasn’t it?



Chapter Seven

“I don’t believe it.” Frankie stood with her hands perched on her hips, turning once to survey the plush, high-end villa, called Rockrose. Tucked into a garden and looking out over the aquamarine waters and pure white sands of Barefoot Bay, this one-bedroom vacation home was private, expensive, and perfectly appointed.

“You don’t believe what?” Elliott asked as he joined her.

“That you would willingly choose to sleep on hay in a goat shelter when you are paying God knows what for this place.”

He laughed. “I told you I’m eccentric.”

“Or nuts.”

“A little of both. Wait here, I’m going to get some stuff.” He headed to the back, presumably the bedroom, giving her a moment to inspect the luxurious furnishings and finishings. Light, tropical fabrics accented the dramatic Moroccan-style architecture of the whole resort, with rich wood floors leading to a pool and patio. But it was the front veranda and the water view that captivated Frankie, so she stepped back outside to lean against the rail and drink in nature’s finest work.