The next morning, I rubbed at my eyes, trying to shield them from the sunlight peeking through our hotel room curtains. Why the hell was Florida so sunny? Pelican Bay was on the ocean, but the sun never tried to kill us in so many different ways.

The door to the bathroom shut, and Broadrick stepped into my line of view. Okay, fine. I jerked my head in his direction, hoping to glimpse hot SEAL body.

And let me tell you, I was not disappointed.

"Good morning," he said, grinning with his toothbrush stuck between his lips.

I smacked mine together and let my gaze wander over his shirtless form. The muscles.... They... did things to me. From a distance they appeared hard, but I'd let my fingertips run over them a hundred times and they were the exact opposite.

Broadrick chuckled. "Are you done ogling me yet?"

"No."

In complete disregard to my answer, he turned around and shuffled back into the bathroom, humming a tune under his breath. I gave the now quiet room an "ugh" and threw the covers over my head. How did I end up with a morning person? It had to be illegal somewhere.

I wrapped the comforter around my shoulders, tightening my cocoon, and let my eyelids slip closed. Just because he wanted to get up and be cheerful did not mean I had to follow suit.

The bed dipped at my feet as NB jumped his little Jack Russell butt on the end and then walked up my body like he owned me. Who was I kidding? He did.

I flipped back the covers an inch to give him a smile, and he rewarded me by dropping a soggy, dripping, chewed on stuffed hedgehog. The toy hit me on the cheek and I jerked, trying to get away from his most-loved disgusting toy.

"Eww, NB." I flicked the toy off the bed, and he used my stomach as a launching pad to chase after it. The smell of doggy breath lingered for a few seconds after his departure.

Broadrick returned from the bathroom a second time, but sadly, this time wearing a shirt. All those muscles were no longer available to be ogled. Pity. "Do you have big plans for today?"

"Obviously." My eyes widened at his question. Of course, I had big plans. I always had big plans. My entire life was a big plan. "Big, big stuff going on today."

He sat on the edge of the bed. "Yeah, like what?"

I adjusted the covers. "Big stuff, Broadrick. My schedule won't allow it. At eight I have to wallow in self-pity and then stare into the abyss, Jazzercise, dinner with me. I'm booked."

"Are you also planning to solve world hunger?"

I narrowed my eyes at him in a glare. "Maybe."

How did I forget the world hunger part?

He grinned. "Just make sure you don't tell anyone."

"Shut up." I tossed a pillow in his direction. My life wasn't a reenactment of The Grinch movie. Just to prove I had everything together and was a great adult, I rolled out of bed with a mumbled complaint.

The island made a few efficiency apartments available to security member teams, but since Broadrick was so adamant about buying a place, we'd opted to stay in the resort in a regular room until we found something. It sounded great in theory, but stomping around the king-sized bed to toss clothing out of my suitcase didn't have the same effect as using a closet.

"That's a cute outfit," Broadrick said as I finished buttoning the tiny jean shorts.

I pulled on the sleeve of the blue striped boat neck shirt. "Thanks."

His whole Grinch comment still had my hackles raised, but I wasn't one to turn away a compliment.

"I'll check in this afternoon. You two, be good," Broadrick said and gave me a quick kiss on my temple.

NB gave a tiny bark, and I scoffed. "We're always good."

The heavy metal door closed behind Broadrick, and I counted off another thirty seconds in my head.

"Alright, let's go, NB," I said, and the little dog headed for the door while I turned and marched right back into bed. The covers weren't as soft now that I'd clad my body in daytime clothing, but I still wrapped them around me. Once NB figured out we weren't going outside, he bounced on the bed and snuggled up at my ankles.

Without a crime to solve, we had no reason to leave the room. There were other things to do. I fluffed the pillows and grabbed the remote off the nightstand.

Except we had a crime to solve. A murder, actually.

"No. It's not your problem, Vonnie," I told myself. I wasn't a PI any longer. With a press of my thumb, the television turned on.

I flicked to our favorite app and then current show obsession. NB never guessed the murder correctly, but I kept talking him through the clues with every episode of Forensic Files. We made it through two episodes before NB began nudging my feet to get me out of the bed.

"Not now. I'm very comfortable," I said, pushing him away lightly. He pawed at my knee, disrupting the covers and then bumped his wet nose against my cheek. "Really? You have to pee now?"

I swear the dog had a bladder the size of a piece of corn.

"Fine." I threw back the covers as he jumped out of the way, off the bed, and circled my feet. He stood quietly for half a second while I clipped on his leash, and then we were out the door.

NB pulled me through the short hallway, and I pushed the exit door open, letting the sun hit us full blast. I touched the top of my head, feeling for my sunglasses, but came back empty. Damn it. They weren't a requirement in Pelican Bay and I hadn't gotten used to keeping them on me at all times.

We'd have to make our walk quick. I blinked a few times to settle my eyesight and started toward the water. A quick stroll by the public beach area would help wake me up after the relaxing morning.

A woman in a white breezy outfit wearing an oversized matching white hat walking a pure white mini-Scottie dog bumped into us as the paths met.

"Ms. Vines, it's lovely to see you again," she said.

I nodded. "And you. I love your Scottie." The long-haired white canines were always some of my favorites.

Barbara Mars tipped her head in shock. "My dear, Biscuit is a West Highland Terrier. One of the most sought-after breeds in America."

Hmm, okay then. I was pretty sure they were the same breed, but whatever. Hers sounded richer, so I let her have it. It's not like I had any experience with show dogs.

"I rescued NB from the streets. He's very thankful for his new life of luxury." If only he had better ways of thanking me.

She stared at NB, fixing the edge of her hat. "What does the NB stand for?"

"Not Brent," I answered quickly, letting the wind take a piece of my hair and whip it around my face before I fixed it. Hopefully, she would not ask for more details.

"Not Brent? What does that mean?"

No such luck on that part.

I shrugged and waved my hand in the air. "It's a family name with a long story. I wouldn't want to bore you with the details."

"Quite right," she agreed, and I released a breath in relief. "We met yesterday at the accident scene. I'm Barbara Mars, but you can call me Barbie."

I shook her hand. "Vonnie. I like the name. I've never met anyone who goes by Barbie."

She popped out a hip and tossed her head back. "Thank you. I was spectacularly hot in my younger ages. Really lived up to the name."

I grinned, and the images of astronauts in my head swapped with those of beach Barbie. The dog made a bit more sense, too. Didn't barbie have a Scottie dog? Or was he a poodle?

"Have you heard anything from the police?" she asked.

NB strolled over to Biscuit, and they sniffed one another. I tugged on the leash to keep NB closer and easier for me to grab if I needed. You never knew with my dog, and I didn't need him peeing on the showroom quality canine. "I haven't, but I'm not sure Detective Parsons liked me very much."

She scoffed and then covered her mouth with her hand. "That man is infuriating. I've called him four times this morning, and he hasn't responded once."

I bit my lips and smiled. Yeah, I could see Parsons acting that way. He had a vibe about him.

"I know everyone says Melissa tripped, but it's very suspicious. Don't you think?" She leaned in to whisper the question. "She was so young."

I nodded and kept my eyes wide. "Yes, very."

Suspicious in the fact that it definitely didn't happen. Were the police lazy or covering up a crime?

No! I shook my head, refusing to let the thought settle. I am not a PI, and this is a matter for the police to handle. I'm sure they have it all under control.

"The police here are morons," Barbie said. "You have to stay on them at all times or nothing gets done. That's why we voted to bring in your man's security team. These streets aren't safe any longer. Even the housing market has sunk on the island. The condo where you found Melissa has been on the market for over a year."

"A year? That is a long time." I guess. Real estate wasn't my calling, so I had no idea how long an overly expensive condo on a private island took to sell. Apparently in my-and Mrs. Mars'-heads they should fly right off the shelves.

She nodded and stared at Biscuit as he circled NB, their leashes getting tangled up. I untwisted mine, and NB walked over to a rather large plant that looked like it belonged in a pot sitting on a windowsill. Did house plants grow like normal bushes on the island? I'd have to Google it later.

"It's a disgrace, and it's making people think something's wrong with the condo. I can't have that."

NB lifted his leg and peed on the plant. I stepped in front of him so Barbie didn't notice. I wasn't sure which plants he could pee on yet. "Why is that?"

Barbie led her dog over to the plant and he peed overtop of NB's area. "A condo sitting vacant for that long will bring down the property values. I'm right next door. What if someone thinks something's wrong with my place next? The negativity will seep out and infect us all."

That sounded extreme, but I smiled and nodded. "Plus, the dead body."