Page 18 of My Beautiful Sin

“I’m sorry about your dad,” I tell her. “But I bet it comforts him to know the hotel’s in your hands.”

“Thanks. That’s sweet.” She taps the edge of a stack of promotional postcards, straightening them. “So, what is it you think my dad might be able to help you with?”

“Peter White,” I say. “He was my uncle, and he was killed when I was seventeen. I’m just trying to find out more about him. You know, fill in the gaps in my personal history, and understand why he might’ve been killed. The murder was an odd one.”

“I know the name. He’s the man my father bought the hotel from, right?”

I nod.

“I’m sorry, but that’s all I know. I don’t even think we have any documents or notes that Mr. White left for my father about managing the business. I assume you’ve talked to the police.”

“Of course, but this isn’t really about solving his murder. This is more about me understanding the man that he was.”

“I get that. I’ve been packing up a lot of my father’s things over the last few years, sorting through them, learning a bit about his life. Again, I’m sorry for your loss. I wish I could help.”

“Well, thank you for your time,” Lamar says. He glances at me, and I nod. As far as I can tell, there’s nothing else to learn here. We say our goodbyes, then head out.

Once we’re on the street, I pull Lamar to a stop. “She didn’t look familiar to you?”

Lamar shakes his head. “No. Trust me. I would remember her.”

I roll my eyes.

“Speaking of good-looking women…” He trails off with a nod to the DSF across the street. “Mind if we pop in?”

At first, I’m confused by the question. Then I remember Tracy Wheeler, currently interning at the Devlin Saint Foundation. The same Tracy who turned Lamar’s head when we went to the gala together not so long ago. “You are such a manwhore.”

He manages to look innocent. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Millie already texted me. You sent her a text asking if she wanted to join us for lunch tomorrow in LA.” Millie is a friend from our days at the Irvine PD. She quit not long after we joined up in order to go to law school. Now she’s an Assistant US Attorney based in LA.

“She can’t, by the way,” I continue. “She’s prepping for trial. But she said she was excited you asked.” I cross my arms over my chest. “She’s a friend. Don’t toy with her. Tracy either. I like them both.”

He holds up his hands. “Whoa. I’m not looking to hurt anybody. But if I like someone and they like me…” His smile widens. “And, honestly, what isn’t there to like?”

I try to keep a straight face, but end up laughing. “Manwhore,” I repeat. “And don’t think the fact that I’m laughing diminishes my message. Hurt either of them, and I’ll have your balls in a sling.”

“Noted,” he assures me. “My balls and I will be on their best behavior.”

I shake my head in exaggerated exasperation. The truth is, I do hope he finds someone, I’m just afraid that in his search, he’s going to end up hurting one of my friends. It’s not an unreasonable fear. I’ve never seen Lamar get serious about anyone. He’s dated a number of women and men in the time that I’ve known him, always nice people, usually fun, usually smart. The kind of people that I could see him being happy with on a long-term basis. Yet for some reason, it never works out.

I don’t know why, and it makes me worry. I love him dearly, but I also know that I don’t completely understand him. One of these days, I’d like to. But until then, we continue to muddle along.

“Don’t break Tracy’s heart,” I order as we reach the DSF’s main entrance.

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

I’d like to give him a sterner warning—after all, I feel a bit protective of Tracy since she works for my boyfriend—but he’s already opened the door for me. I enter, pausing for a moment to take in the familiar interior, so stunning in its simplicity of stone and steel.

I cross to the reception desk where Paul, the same man who greeted me the first day I arrived, still sits. He looks up now with a smile of welcome. “Ms. Holmes. Shall I let Mr. Saint know that you’re here?”

“It’s Ellie, Paul. And sure, that would be great. But let him know that it’s no big deal. We actually came to see Tracy, so if he’s busy, he doesn’t need to come down.”

“I’ll let him know. And I’ll buzz Tracy.”

I thank him, and Lamar and I wander toward the wall of windows that opens onto an outdoor seating area. These walls are meant to be pushed completely aside, disappearing like pocket doors into the structure to make an indoor-outdoor entertaining area. The foundation holds a lot of fundraisers, and with the view of the Pacific beyond the flagstone patio, you couldn’t ask for a better location.

Lamar leaves me to run to the men’s room, and I’m watching the ocean when Tracy comes up behind me.