Colleen Coble (9 page)

Something in this book may have led to her brother’s death, but what?

Heather’s footfalls sounded impossibly loud when she stepped into Rosemary Cottage. “Hello?” she called, just to make sure she was alone.

Amy’s car was in the driveway, but that didn’t mean anything. The sea was just through the maritime forest, close enough to walk to the beach, and Amy seemed to spend a lot of time there. The house smelled of some kind of seafood, so Amy had been here.

Heather’s cell phone rang, and she dug it out of her purse. When she saw the name on the caller ID, her heart leaped. “Hello, Grant.”

“Heather, finally! Are you there?”

“Of course. I’ve been here for six days. I expected you to call sooner.” She couldn’t keep the whine out of her voice.

“I’ve been busy.” He sounded impatient. “Did you get your room at Tidewater Inn?”

He might have told her he missed her before he launched into the inquisition. “No, they were full. I’m staying with a nice lady in a cottage a bit off the water. It’s called Rosemary Cottage.”

There was a pause. “You need to get to the inn. You’ll have a better chance to get to know your target. The owners are friends of his.”

“Well, you should have made my reservations so I could have gotten a room. I’m on a waiting list, but it’s going to be at least three weeks before I can get moved over there. There’s a monthlong festival going on.”

“I see.” Grant’s voice was tight. “Maybe it’s just as well. You need to be part of village life so you’re not a suspect, and that length of time will help establish you as more than a tourist.”

“I’ve got a job serving at a local café. That should help make me a familiar face.”

“Good. Have you met the family yet?”

“I met the old lady in the café. She was alone though.”

“It’s a start. Well, keep me posted. We need this done as soon as possible.”

She gripped the phone and tried to think of a reason to keep him on the line. “You have everything ready for the pickup, right? I don’t want to be left high and dry.”

“You call the number I gave you, and I’ll pick you up in a boat out at the old lighthouse. Take a walk out there so you know how to find it. It’s remote, but that ensures no one will see you board the boat. Relax, I’ve got it all covered. And don’t be so skittish. It will show in your actions. I appreciate you doing this. When it’s all over, we’ll take a nice trip to Jamaica, and I’ll make it up to you.”

His smooth voice always got past her defenses. She still remembered the first time she’d seen him. He was thirty-two, too
old for her according to her dad, but that just made him more appealing. He reminded her of Ewan McGregor, and his blue eyes seemed to see the real person she was underneath. He’d flirted with her and bought her flowers that day in Atlantic City. They’d struck up an e-mail friendship that soon became more.

Was he ever going to marry her? She didn’t know, but she’d do anything for him, and this trip was all about proving it. “I love you. I wish you could have come with me.”

“I love you too, honey. We’ll be together soon. Be careful and keep me posted.”

Her lips curved. “I will.”

Still smiling, she ended the call. He wouldn’t have called to check on her if he didn’t love her. And he wouldn’t be attending to every detail if he didn’t want to make sure she was safe. He might not be effusive with his words, but his actions showed he cared.

She dropped her phone back in her purse and went upstairs. Every time she’d been here, Amy was around. Heather liked digging into people’s pasts, and Amy hadn’t revealed much about herself. This was the perfect time to snoop. Looking around the spare bedroom that had belonged to Amy’s dead brother hadn’t revealed much of anything.

Heather pushed open the door to Amy’s room and stepped inside. A quilt in blues and white covered the queen bed. The hardwood floors gleamed. The furniture was white too, and the pale blue walls and furnishings were welcoming.

There were pictures on the wall of her and a man. Heather froze when she recognized the man with his hand on Amy’s shoulder. Ben. The picture showed a loving relationship between them. His fingers curled around the top of her arm, and he was smiling down at her with an indulgent expression. Amy was laughing as she shook water out of her hair.

Obviously they were close.

Heather moved from the pictures to the dresser and went through the drawers. She found nothing but clothing, so she moved to the closet. She’d begun to push aside the clothing when she heard a sound and whirled to see Amy standing in the doorway.

Amy looked more astonished than angry. “What are you doing?”

“I—I was chilly and didn’t bring a sweater. I looked for you to ask if I could borrow one, but I couldn’t find you.” Heather kept a pleading expression on her face and hoped Amy would buy the explanation.

The question in Amy’s eyes cleared. “I have several sweaters and zip-up sweatshirts.” She went to the dresser and pulled out the bottom drawer. “I’m happy to loan you one. How about this one? It will look good with your hair and skin.” She held up a pink cardigan.

Heather loathed the color pink, but she forced a smile to her face. “Perfect.” Though she was anything but cold, she slipped it on. “I thought we were about the same size.” She started for the door, then paused and glanced back at Amy. “Nice picture there on the wall. Who’s the handsome guy?”

Amy’s smile vanished. “My brother, Ben. He died several months ago.”

Heather thought she managed to keep the shock out of her expression as she mumbled something about being sorry before escaping to the hall. The man she had known as Ben had a different last name. Maybe Grant could tell her what was going on.

N
INE

W
hat do you mean you asked Amy to dinner?” Curtis wanted to bolt back to the Coast Guard cruiser in spite of the enticing aroma in the kitchen. He sniffed. “Beef enchiladas?” He’d know that scent anywhere.

“I thought I told you yesterday, Curtis.” A huge red apron covered Edith’s shorts and tank. She vigorously tossed the salad ingredients. “I like her.”

He liked Amy too. That was the whole problem. His gaze landed on Raine, who was putting her doll in its little pink high chair.
Well, that isn’t the whole problem
. There were pictures that needed putting away, and he had to guard every word while she was here. It would be better to be gone.

He pulled out his cell phone. “I think I’ll see if Josh wants to meet for pizza.”

“He’s coming too. And Sara. Neither of them was about to turn down Mexican.”

His gut churned. “Ede, this is not okay. You should have asked me before you did this.”

A streak of red enchilada sauce marred her cheek when she turned and pointed her spoon at him. “You assured me when I first came that I was to treat this house as my own. I could
invite whomever I wanted whenever I wanted. Is that or is it not true?”

“Yes, but this is different.”
Lame, lame
. “I mean, what if . . . ?” He shut up when he saw Raine’s big blue eyes studying him.

His aunt put down the wooden spoon and sighed. “Curtis, you were brought up right. You know what you need to do.”

His face heated. “It’s not that easy.” His gaze slid back to Raine. “Silence isn’t wrong.”

“It is when you’re withholding the truth. A truth that’s important to other people.”

“I don’t see it that way.” The doorbell rang and he grimaced. “I’ll get it.” He saw Josh and Sara through the window in the door, and the tension eased out of his shoulders. He threw open the door. “Did you two come together?”

Sara shook her head and stepped past him into the entry. “No, we just happened to arrive at the same time.”

Josh shrugged and rolled his eyes as he entered behind her. Curtis was beginning to think the guy was never going to ask Sara out. Josh was too skittish about relationships, though Curtis had never gotten to the bottom of why that was.

Sara sniffed. “Smells good. Your aunt makes the best Mexican food on the island.” She headed toward the kitchen.

Curtis fell into step behind them. Sara’s honey-colored hair was on her shoulders, and she wore makeup, not an everyday occurrence.
And
she wore a dress. Maybe she was trying to get Josh to notice, but if so, there was no sign that he was paying attention. Curtis could throttle him.

Edith had taken off the soiled apron and was setting the table when they entered the kitchen. Curtis left them to chat while he rushed to the living room and scooped up the photos on the tables. One was of Gina with Ben and Raine, a telltale picture that showed Ben holding Raine over his head and laughing. With them tucked
safely away in his bedroom, he was headed down the stairs when the doorbell rang again. It could only be Amy, and his gut clenched when he saw her through the window.

It was going to be a tense evening. He inhaled and squared his shoulders before opening the door. “Welcome.” He must have put more feeling in it than he intended because she blinked before returning his smile.

“I wasn’t sure you’d be here.”

The light scent of some flowery perfume trailed behind her as she stepped past him into the entry. She wore a navy dress that made her dark curls shine and brought color to her cheeks. Her legs looked impossibly long and sexy in the heels she wore. Not that he was looking.

He’d gotten the pictures put away in the nick of time. “Everyone is in the kitchen.” He spied a carton in her hand. “Heavy whipping cream?”

“For coffee after dinner. I’m on a quest to inform people that fat is your friend. Once you have this in your coffee, you’ll never go back.” She peeked into the living room just off the foyer. “Darling house. I love the shingles on the outside and the porch. And the colors in here are very beachy.”

The house was something he barely noticed any longer, but he glanced around with fresh eyes. The navy sofa blended with the lighter blue walls. Yellow curtains and pillows accented the blues, and the rug on the polished wood floors echoed the same colors. “Edith and I painted it last month. The white woodwork was her idea, and she had to talk me into the blue. I wanted beige.”

Her lips twitched. “I think Edith has good taste.”

He grinned. “You have something against beige?”

“It ought to be banned along with brown and orange.”

“Orange too? I guess I shouldn’t wear my Harley shirts when I’m around you.” He touched her arm to steer her toward the kitchen.

The smile faded from her face at his touch, and their gazes locked. Did she feel the same jolt that tingled up his arm? “This way.” His pulse beat ridiculously fast, but it was from worry of what she might find out tonight. That was all it was.

The scent of the sea blew through the gauzy yellow curtains in the living room and wafted across Amy’s face where she sat on the plump navy sofa. Curtis was beside her, and she was acutely aware of the brush of his shoulder against hers. The hair on her arm stood at attention every time he moved. Ridiculous.

She sipped her coffee, strong and perfectly laced with the cream she’d brought. Josh and Sara sat in the navy armchairs, as far away from each other as possible. There was something brewing between those two, though she could only sense it.

With a shy smile, Raine brought a stuffed bear to her. “For me?” Amy took it when the toddler nodded. “I have one just like this. My brother bought it for me for my birthday a year ago.”

Edith put a plate of fudge on the table. “A year ago?”

Amy nodded. “I’ve never grown up when it comes to stuffed animals. You should see my collection. Bears are my favorite, and there is nothing like a Steiff. Where did you get it, Raine? Uncle Curtis?”

The little girl looked at her with big eyes, and Edith answered for her. “Her daddy gave it to her. He went to heaven though, just like Mommy. But Jesus is watching over her, isn’t he, honey?”

Edith’s words brought tears to Amy’s eyes. Life shouldn’t be so hard for a little one. She almost asked Curtis who Raine’s daddy was, but her thoughts were derailed when Curtis jumped to his feet.

“More coffee?”

She shook her head. “Not if I want to sleep tonight. One cup is my limit after four.”