“Not a mystery. A scoop. There’s a difference.” She took a sip of iced tea and settled back in her chair. The umbrella wasn’t big enough to shade the entire table and Katie had to squint a bit, even though she was wearing wire-rimmed sunglasses. “I’d really like to crack the Isaac Wells case, let me tell you. Now, there’s a mystery and a scoop.”

Tiffany froze. The topic was too sensitive.

Bliss cleared her throat. “I wish it were over, too.”

Katie thought aloud. “The old man, for no apparent reason, just up and vanishes. Some people, including the police, think he might have met with foul play. They have suspects, but they’re reaching for straws. I’ve been trying to come up with a reason why anyone would do the old guy in. He wasn’t very friendly and made his share of enemies, but none who would want to kill or kidnap him. And if he was kidnapped, why no contract or ransom demands? Gosh, I don’t get it.”

“No one does,” Tiffany said and picked up her glass of cola. Beads of sweat slid down the outside of the glass and she swirled the melting ice cubes. She thought of her son and knew in her heart that he wasn’t involved. He was only thirteen, for crying out loud, and yet she was worried. Worried sick.

“So, Tiffany,” Katie said, holding one hand over her glasses to shade her eyes, “what’s the deal with you and J.D.?”

Tiffany was taking a sip from her drink and nearly choked. “What deal?”

“You tell me. I saw you at the wedding reception, dancing with him. The man’s in love with you.”

“Love?” Tiffany shook her head despite the soaring of her heart. If only she could believe that J.D. really cared. “He’s just here on business.”

Bliss and Katie shared a knowing look. “Right.”

“It’s true. He’s buying a farm for his father’s new vineyard and winery.”

“I know all about the Zalinski farm being sold,” Katie said. “And I’ve heard the rumors about the Santini Brothers Winery expanding to southern Oregon, but that doesn’t explain why the guy couldn’t keep his hands off you last Sunday.”

Tiffany felt heat steal up the back of her neck. She remembered all too vividly J.D.’s lovemaking, but she didn’t want to attach any emotions to it. Not yet. “J.D. and I are—”

“Don’t say it.” Katie shook her head. “If you tell me you’re just good friends, I think I’ll scream.”

“That might be overreacting a tad,” Bliss said.

“I know what I saw.”

“It’s Tiffany’s business.” Bliss sighed and smiled at her older sister. “When Katie gets an idea in her head—”

“This isn’t an idea. This is gut instinct.”