Murder Comes Ashore

by Julie Anne Lindsey

  My heart kicked in my chest. Sebastian kissed me like he was a kissing addict and I was the only other person on earth who knew how. He tortured me with his personal blend of passionate and protective touches. Slow and voracious kisses. I sucked in a breath as he released my hands and grabbed my ribs, arching my tummy to his mouth. He worked the pajama top up inch by inch.

  “We’re due at my parents’ house in half an hour.” My protest was halfhearted. If he didn’t hear it in my voice, he probably picked up on the clues. Like how I had my shirt off and his on the floor beside it. I grabbed his waistband and he growled.

  “We’re going to be late.”

  * * *

  After thirty minutes in bed with Sebastian, I needed another shower. The serotonin flooding my system made me want to drink tea and crochet something. I didn’t mind leaving the house. Sebastian would protect me. I limited my hair and makeup for time’s sake and chose black leggings and a cream cashmere tunic for the outing. Fall evenings near the water made for cool winds. I zipped sleek black boots over the leggings and fluffed my hair one last time.

  Claire had promised she’d meet us for drinks after dinner and I didn’t want to stop at home and change.

  Sebastian led me down the outside steps after locking up and checking the knob twice.

  “The Range Rover’s still safe?” I asked, taunting Sebastian as I buckled up. After assuring I’d made a full recovery, he lectured about the damage eggs baked in the sun could do to paint. He thought I owed him a call when I found it that way. If he had visited me more last week he’d have known.

  “My team sent a picture of my Range Rover to half the FBI. A man loses intimidation points when his car gets egged and feathered.”

  “Well, you still intimidate me.” I stroked the sleeve of his black jacket.

  “You fear the wrong things.”

  “Don’t analyze me.” I frowned.

  He slid black Ray-Bans over deep brown eyes and turned onto my parent’s street. “Too late.”

  People streamed down sidewalks in both directions, dressed for a party and carrying gifts.

  “Sebastian,” I whispered, realizing I had been tricked.

  He angled the Range Rover into my parent’s yard and shut down the engine. A pack of partygoers rushed past the windows, shielding their faces. Mason jars with tea lights illuminated a path to the backyard. Music, laughter and the harbor’s lapping waves filled the background.

  He twisted in his seat to face me. “Your parents made me promise. My orders were to use any means necessary to get you here.” The corners of his eyes crinkled at the sides of his glasses.

  “I see. Would you like me to tell them about your means?”

  His mouth fell open and he removed his glasses. “No.” An odd shade of red rose beneath his sun-bronzed skin.

  “Thank you.” I leaned across the armrest and kissed his cheek. No matter how many times I said it, it’d never be enough.

  We walked hand-in-hand by the mason jars, taking our time. From the outskirts of the backyard, knots and clusters of islanders drinking and laughing came into view. A giant sign hung over the deck’s railing. Happy 30th Birthday.

  “My birthday.” Until that moment it all seemed like a bunch of locals getting a look at the girls who survived death, or maybe supporting my parents, or some other thing I hadn’t thought of. Until then, my heart didn’t understand. This get-together was for me—not to stare at the girl with the strange parents, or for gossip’s sake. All these people came to wish me happy birthday.

  My eyes filled and my nose and throat stung with emotion. I loved my ridiculous life so much I could have exploded with satisfaction.

  “If this is too much, I can take you home,” Sebastian said. “They’ll understand.”

  I shook my head. A tugboat couldn’t drag me away. I’d never wanted to be anywhere so much.

  “Hope those fit in my hatchback.” He motioned to an area filled with gifts. The table overflowed to the ground around it. Two balloon bouquets stood on either end.

  “Holy cannoli. What do you think’s in all those?” I covered my mouth, afraid I’d yelled the words.

  “Hopefully a side arm and Kevlar. I got you self-defense lessons.”

  I ignored his comments, unsure how serious he was and unwilling to ask. “Are those birders?” A circle of party guests with binoculars stood on the fringe, eating veggies off little plates and staring at trees.

  “Seems you made quite the impression on a group from Chicago.”

  “I questioned them. Birders see everything. I thought maybe they saw something useful.”

  “Smart.”

  “Finally.” Claire handed me a plastic flute of champagne. “What took you guys so long?”

  My face burned. I looked to Sebastian, whose flat expression was that of a special agent. Hands folded behind his back. Feet wide. My date had switched to security mode. Super weird behavior, which I found amazingly sexy.

  “Ah.” She tipped a flute against her bright coral lips. “You guys know Wyatt.”

  I smiled. Wyatt was the SWAT guy. Sebastian called him a marshmallow and so did she. Hmm. He dressed in a black-on-black suit. She wore an elegant black mini dress, tights and Mary Jane heels. Hot.

  I shook Wyatt’s hand. The guys nodded at one another.

  “Happy Birthday, Patience.” Sheriff Fargas approached our group. His eyes lingered on Claire.

  “Thanks.” I smiled, sincerely thankful for him. “I hear you cracked my case.”

  He nodded and laughed. “Yep. I hope I didn’t step on your toes much.”

  I shrugged. “It’s okay.”

  He patted my shoulder. “I’m real glad you’re okay. If I’d thought you had Mrs. Flick in your scope, I’d have intervened. Last I heard you were tailing the pathologist. We thought that’d keep you busy. And safe.”

  I gave Sebastian the stink eye. “Does he mean to include you when he says ‘we’?”

  Claire shifted her stance. “Uh-oh.”

  My champagne glowed in the setting sun. Shades of pink, orange and blazing red covered the water. The tree line between my parents’ yard and the neighbors’ had burst into color overnight. The world seemed backlit in new ways. Through the sun’s magical display, a silhouette emerged. Claire reached for Sebastian’s arm and everything in my little world halted.

  “Happy birthday.” Adrian stood before me, ignoring my friends. I hadn’t seen him in three days. I’d missed him constantly, but we’d been recuperating at our respective houses. When I left him he was weak and covered in starchy white hospital blankets. Now, he looked like an overdressed angel in black Armani. His tousled hair lay over one eyebrow, curled at his nape. He ran a hand through his hair and smiled. “I need a haircut.”

  Seeming to realize I wasn’t standing there alone, he looked at Claire and whistled. Wyatt stiffened. “Nice to see you, Claire.” He kissed her cheek and she shamelessly blushed while fanning her face with a napkin. Fargas lifted his hand in “goodbye” and slipped away.

  “Sebastian.” Adrian looked long and hard at my date.

  “Adrian.” The tension zinged around us.

  Claire inched away. She released Sebastian’s arm the moment he didn’t move with her.

  Adrian spoke to Sebastian. “Could I have a minute with the birthday girl? Maybe you could keep Becky company for me.”

  Over his shoulder the paramedic, Becky, watched from the punch table. My tummy rocked with too many emotions. Jealousy because, no matter what, Adrian was a part of me. Second to that, genuine relief hugged tight to the jealousy, relieving a measure of ache. Adrian deserved happiness. He deserved more than I had to give. Becky was fresh and new. Filled with possibilities.

  Sebastian looked at me.

  I nodded and he followed Claire a
nd Wyatt across the lawn to an enormous buffet where Melinda and Missy served everything from pasta to pastries. They wore matching black skirts and white shirts with purple letters proclaiming them Sugar & Spice Island Catering. I smiled widely and waved until they took notice and waved back.

  “He’s loads of fun.” Adrian nodded at Sebastian’s retreating frame and smiled my favorite lopsided smile, the one where he showed a dimple and looked like the kid I played house with in grade school. The one that made me question why I worked so hard to let him go.

  “You should see him at charades,” I said.

  Adrian snorted. He toed the ground with three-hundred-dollar loafers and I refrained from scolding him.

  “You look sexy tonight. Did Seb tell you about the party?”

  I looked down at my outfit. I’d dressed with cuddly in mind, but I’d accept sexy over cuddly anytime. “No.”

  “Does he know you call him Seb?” I asked.

  “Nope.”

  “Becky, huh? She seems nice. Medical training is a bonus.” I tapped the toe of my boot against his shoe.

  “I brought you a gift. I didn’t want it lost in that mountain of presents over there or carried off by a gull.” He reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and retrieved a small box. “I didn’t wrap it.”

  “I love it.” A tear slid over one cheek.

  “Jeez, Patience. You’re looking at the box. Open it before you cry.” He stroked my cheek and I sniffled. So many emotions.

  I lifted the lid and blew out a long, shaky breath. Adrian removed a folded square of paper revealing a beautiful sliver chain with a magnifying glass charm on it. The circular crystal sparkled in the waning light. He handed me the paper. In his messy man scratch he’d written, “May you always get everything you want in life.”

  I threw my arms around his neck and buried my face in his warm soap-scented neck. “My very own magnifying glass. I feel just like the Pink Panther.” Tears poured over my cheeks and I wanted to climb into his pocket. After hanging on his neck a few minutes, he hugged me back.

  “Hey! Birthday girl!” Dad boomed from the deck. “Look! Team Patience!” I turned my face to find Mom, Dad and a bevy of their friends lined up in pink Team Patience T-shirts.

  My tears turned to laughter and I released my death grip on Adrian. “Thank you.”

  I pulled the chain from its box and held it out to him. “Help me put it on?”

  Sebastian moved toward us as Adrian worked behind me. He stretched a hand out to Adrian, after Adrian had secured the necklace in place.

  Adrian cleared his throat. “Thank you for sharing her with me.” He kissed my cheek and winked.

  The lump in my throat threatened to stop my air intake.

  Adrian accepted Sebastian’s outstretched hand with a smile.

  “Becky’s a nice girl,” Sebastian said, “but I’m not sharing mine.” His free hand dusted the small of my back.

  Adrian’s smile faded, no longer touching his eyes. He bowed away gracefully, looking over his shoulder only once as he left me with my date and returned to his. His step lacked its usual jauntiness. I hoped Becky didn’t notice, but I doubted anyone but me would.

  “Cake!” Mom and Mrs. Tucker wheeled a giant tiered cake into the center of the yard. Instead of candles, they lit a dozen sparklers on top.

  “Nice.” Sebastian grunted a tiny laugh.

  “If the cake explodes, arrest Karen Holsten.”

  “Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you...” The words dissipated into the night around me.

  A thousand twinkling lights lit the trees and my parent’s deck, casting light over a hundred people who no longer looked like the faces of my past, but visions of my future. New possibilities. New memories. Family.

  At the end of the song, applause broke out, punctuated with whistles and cheers.

  The sparklers sputtered color and tendrils of smoke into the air.

  “Make a wish,” Mom called over the chaos. The crowd quieted. I approached the cake with a million prayers and dreams fighting for position in my head. Sebastian pressed his palm to the small of my back and I knew what I wanted first. My eyelids slid shut and in true childhood style, I wished...

  “Is that the Black-Tailed Godwit?” someone screeched nearby.

  “Shut up!” A yard full of people yelled back.

  Laughter erupted around me.

  I opened my eyes to the scene before me. I couldn’t think of anything to wish. I already had more than I’d ever dared to dream.

  * * * * *

  Deadly secrets hide in quaint island harbors...

  Start from the beginning with Murder by the Seaside, available now!

  Murder by the Seaside

  Armed with a new counseling degree, Patience Price is eager to move back home to Chincoteague Island to help folks with their problems. But she finds the streets awash in more than East Coast charm. There’s been a murder, and Adrian Davis, the town golden boy who once stomped her heart into a zillion pieces, is the main suspect. Now he’s on the run, claiming he’s innocent. Patience finds this...poetic. Not that she holds a grudge.

  Adrian’s mom is sure that with her FBI background Patience can find the truth. Yes, she was at the FBI—in human resources. Still, she looks into it, but not everyone is happy with her snooping. Either that, or the welcome wagon has some bold new policies involving drive-by shootings.

  Things really heat up when a hunky former coworker, an actual FBI agent, arrives to help. But he may be too late; the quaint island harbors deadly secrets—and Patience is running out of time.

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  About the Author

  Julie Anne Lindsey is a mother of three, wife to a sane person and ringmaster at the Lindsey Circus. She lives with her husband and three small children in rural Ohio where she was born and raised. You can find her online day or night, amped up on coffee and wielding a book.

  Find more information about Julie at julieannelindsey.com.

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  ISBN-13: 9781426898013

  MURDER COMES ASHORE

  Copyright © 2014 by Julie Anne Lindsey

  Edited by Elizabeth Bass

  All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.

  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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