Inspector Harvey Dale's POV
When Lorenzo called asking me to be his best man, I took it as a polite gesture of gratitude for saving his son. But the moment he mentioned I'd be paired with that petite girl, my interest skyrocketed. I didn't waste time—booked a flight to Paradise Port right after Friday lunch. Darren, my childhood friend, offered me a place to crash until I found my own. Our families go way back; his parents' farm in Bellwood supplied livestock to my father's slaughterhouse for decades.
I'd promised to show up for the bachelor party, which turned out to be exactly what I needed—poker, whiskey, and cigars with the guys. I hit it off with everyone, and Rafael, whom I knew from before, offered to sell me his furnished apartment since he was moving in with his girlfriend. We scheduled a viewing for Sunday. Everything was falling into place, making me optimistic about my future here. But truthfully, all I could think about was seeing that little shorty again.
