Carolina Isle by Jude Deveraux Page A

early forties, and dressed in cotton trousers and a shirt. It would have been an ordinary outfit if it hadn’t been so tight. Buttonsbulged over her large breasts. She’d tied the tail of the shirt around her waist so there was an inch of trim, tanned flesh showing. Her trousers were tightly belted and so snug around her hips that if she’d had a tattoo you probably could have read it.
    But it was her expression that was the most lascivious. She looked greedy as she smiled warmly at the two men. The women stepped back and the men stepped forward.
    â€œHello,” David and R.J. said in unison. They were in front of Sara and Ariel, blocking their view. “We’ve come about—” Again, they said the words together.
    The woman laughed. “I know who you are and I can guess why you’re here. Come in, please, but don’t mind the way I look. I’ve been painting the back hallway.”
    David and R.J. stepped through the doorway, their eyes on the woman and hers on them.
    Ariel looked at Sara as though to ask if they should dare enter the house. “As long as she doesn’t try to get in the bathtub with me, I don’t care what she looks like,” Sara said, following the men into the house.
    When the four of them were inside, the woman said, “I’m Phyllis Vancurren and welcome to King’s Isle, although I imagine you wish you’d never set foot on the place.” Turning, she started down the hall, motioning for them to follow. “I just made some tea. Would you like some?”
    David and R.J. practically ran after her, but Sara and Ariel held back. “I like Larry Lassiter the lawyer more than I do her,” Ariel said.
    â€œI’m sure she’s a fine person and has nothing on her mind except giving us food and a place to stay.”
    When Ariel looked at Sara with wide eyes, Sara grinned. “If they’re casting a play for the woman who looks in the mirror to see if she’s the most beautiful, then kills the girl who’s prettier than she is, there she is.”
    â€œCome along, girls,” Phyllis called over her shoulder. “By the time you two slowpokes get to the kitchen the tea will be all gone.”
    â€œWho do you think she wants?” Sara asked under her breath.
    â€œDavid,” Ariel said instantly. “She wants David.”
    â€œI don’t see why. R.J. is smarter.”
    â€œYou don’t think about smart when you want to go to bed with someone.”
    â€œTrue, but the morning
does
come,” Sara said.
    The two women walked into the kitchen to see R.J. and David sitting at a big oak table drinking iced tea out of tall glasses.
    â€œI was beginning to think that the two of you got lost,” Phyllis said, her voice a sort of purr.
    â€œDo you have a telephone?” Sara asked.
    â€œI already told R.J. that no one on the island has a working phone right now. And we won’t have any for about ten more days. A trawler hit the underground cable and cut it in half.” Phyllis filled more glasses with ice and tea. “Usually we’re quite modern here on King’s Isle. We have telephones and even the Internet, but right now we’re in the dark ages. The dark ages with electricity and flush toilets, that is.” She looked at R.J. and David as though she’d made a very funny joke. They laughed as though she had.
    â€œDo you have rooms to rent?” Ariel asked.
    â€œHoney, as you can see, that’s all I do have. I have rooms and rooms and more rooms. They all need painting and fixing up, but I do have them.”
    Again the men laughed as though she’d said something witty.
    Sara gave a fake smile. “So how much do you charge?”
    â€œWhatever you have. Or you can send me a check when you get back to the mainland. I’m flexible.” She looked at R.J. with lowered lashes. “You look like a man who pays his bills.”
    â€œYeah,” R.J.