The Westport Mysteries Boxed Set
Page 54
“Sorry, but I think you’re mistaken. Earl is the name on the grave next to the one you’ve been attending.”
I looked to where he was pointing and sure enough on the headstone next to Eliza’s was the inscription:
Earl Winston
Beloved fiancée of Eliza
They will travel through Eternity together.
Chapter Seven
I was shell-shocked the entire way home. I didn’t believe in ghosts. True, that was mostly because if I admitted to myself that ghosts were real, there was a big possibility I could be visited by one. Obviously there was a flaw in my theory.
I’d stood at the cemetery for about an hour after I had spoken to the groundskeeper. I’m not sure why. Partly I hoped Earl would return and tell me he wasn’t the man in the grave, and partly because I didn’t feel ready to leave. It was only when the clouds moved and the sun shone once again that I felt both Earl and Eliza were at peace. Wherever they were, they could both look down at the beautiful display and smile. I also made a note to ask Riley to come back with me with a different hook system so that no one could ever take the glass orb again.
On the drive home, Riley rang to see if I was okay. I pulled the car to the side of the road and answered the call.
“I wanted to make sure you were alright,” I heard his deep, sexy voice say through the speaker. “You’ve been gone for hours.”
“Oh sorry. I won’t be long. I’m nearly home,” I said, emotion causing my throat to constrict. Earl and Eliza kept playing in my mind.
“Alright. Well, we need to be at your mum’s soon, but drive carefully.”
“I will. Love you.”
“I love you too.”
Pressing end, I looked at the screen saver on my phone. It was a photo of Riley I had taken a few months ago. It wasn’t a spectacular setting. He had just gotten into his truck but the happiness in his beautiful eyes took my breath away. As I sat on the side of the road staring at the photo and his beautiful eyes staring back at me, I smiled at his humor and sensuality mixed together. I felt my heart squeeze. I was only away from him for a few hours but I missed him. More than I cared to admit, even to myself.
Okay, maybe I should admit a few things to myself. I knew I loved him, but how much did I love him? The answer to that sat in my throat as I swallowed the emotion he stirred.
I put my car in gear, indicated and pulled into traffic, driving as fast as the speed limit allowed to get back to him as quickly as I could.
Walking into the kitchen, I placed my bag on the chair and kissed Riley liked I hadn’t seen him for weeks. We were now standing only meters apart and I was drinking a cup of coffee he’d had waiting for me, as he patiently listened to me recount my day. I’m not sure if he believed my story of Earl and Eliza, but whatever it was, something stirred emotion in him too.
“I like to think that my Grandpop is watching over my Gran, waiting for her to finish her journey,” he said quietly. “I believe that kind of love lasts for eternity, even in death.”
“Yeah. Me too. Even though I never knew him, I feel like I knew him.”
Riley moved towards me and took the cup out of my hand. Placing it on the table, he gently pushed my hair away from my face and looked deep into my soul. “It must be hell for her to be without him,” he said, referring to his Gran. “I don’t ever want to experience that.” I could see the vulnerability and sheer nakedness of his emotions as he pulled me in close.
He loved me, more than anything else in his world. And if possible, I loved him a whole lot more. There was nothing I wouldn’t sacrifice for him. And as clichéd as it sounds, I would die for him because life without him would be unbearable. He made every day worth living, just to see his smile. I felt his fingers reach out and touch mine. I entwined mine with his and held on tight, for fear that if I let go, I may never have this connection again.
No, that’s just stupid. This connection would be there for eternity. And even though I knew I would be with this man, even in death, I was damn well going to make the living part as long as possible. I reached up on my tippy toes and kissed Riley hard on the mouth. I felt his hand come around the back of my neck and he pulled me against him, his lips softening into a delicate kiss.
* * * *
Dinner at Mum’s was fun. Everyone was in a festive mood, all dressed in their very best Christmas outfits. I had chosen a pair of cheery red shorts and white singlet with Merry Xmas written in gold, glittery scroll across the chest. Riley had decided on jeans and the red t-shirt Danny had bought him as an early gift. I’m not sure who the gift was actually for because it fitted Riley exceptionally well and molded his perfectly toned torso and flat stomach to perfection. Danny and Andrew were in jeans and matching green shirts with pictures on Santa wearing shorts lying on a tropical beach, and Harper had got into the festive spirit wearing his reindeer antlers with pride. Molly had chosen short shorts and a white t-shirt with Rudolph’s nose very inappropriately placed over her right nipple.
“Hey Molly, when you’re finished with the shirt, can I borrow it?” asked Grandma Mabel. “I think the men at bingo will get a kick out of me in that.” She smiled. We all stopped, looked at Molly’s shirt and wondered where exactly Rudolph’s’ nose would be if Grandma were wearing it. Dad choked on his peanuts.
“What’s wrong with you?” asked Grandma, turning to Dad.
“I’ll give you $50 not to give it to her,” said Dad to Molly.
“I might chip in on that too,” said Danny.
Grandma huffed.
I laughed. After the emotional day I’d had, this was exactly what I needed.
The storm from earlier had moved in and the lights flickered as the lightning struck. The thunder was still a few seconds behind it, so the storm wasn’t here yet. Mum liked to be prepared though and gave both Molly and myself a lighter, and asked us to light all her candles so that in the event of a power cut, we’d be ready. When the power did go out, it just made the night magical.
By the time we had kissed everyone goodnight and promised to be at the river nice and early for the big family get together, I was exhausted but very, very happy.
The power was out at Riley’s as well, so we used a torch to shower and clean our teeth and we were in bed before the clock struck twelve.
I felt Riley’s body mould into mine as he pulled me close and tightened his grip around my waist. Spooning at its best. In this place I felt safe. I felt like the world was a great place and I never wanted to leave here. I was comfortable, secure and loved by the most wonderful, sexiest man on earth. I’ve said it before - if I could crawl under his skin and stay there forever, I would. I never want to be apart from him.
“Merry Christmas, Lizzie,” he whispered, kissing my neck. I rolled over to face him.
“Merry Christmas, Riley.” I smiled then snuggled into the crook under his arm and listened to his heartbeat.
Closing my eyes, I drifted into a dream filled with Earl and Eliza, and laughter.
My world at least, was at peace.
If you enjoyed Lizzie and would like to know more residents of Westport, I’m offering a free e-book to everyone who signs up to my mailing list. I promise not to spam you and only send out a handful of newsletters a year!
www.bethprentice.com
What are cupcakes made of? Sugar, spice and All Things Nice.
Meet Tilly. She owns a cupcake shop in Price Lane, Westport. All she wants to do is to make the residents love her cakes as much as she does. But on Valentine’s Day her worst nightmare comes true—a deformed toe nail is found in one of her cakes.
Is this a new flavour for her menu? Has she dropped her standards of workplace health and safety? Or is someone out to sabotage her?
Luckily for Tilly, the Westport Police Department has a very helpful constable who will help her get to the bottom of it all.
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Acknowledgement
Thanking my readers. Without you this would not be possible.
About the Author
Beth Prentice is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the Westport Mysteries. Killer Unleashed, her GHP debut novel, received a bronze medal in the 2016 Readers Favorite International Book Awards. Her main wish is to write books you can sit back, relax with, and escape from your everyday life...and ones that you walk away from with a smile! When she’s not writing you will usually find her at the beach with a coffee in hand, pursuing her favorite pastime—people watching!
Coming Soon…
Deathly Desire
Deathly Desire
When the past comes back to haunt you.
Lizzie is ready for a new adventure in her life, and it doesn’t take long for her to find it. After
hitting the For Sale sign in to the ground of her house of mysteries, she is quickly charmed by
another old house that is in desperate need of some love and attention. Only the house has a
secret of its own. Who is its owner? Why is he so hard to find? And why does he own nine
other deserted homes in Westport?
Keen to start this new chapter in her life, and with the help of her crazy family, her drop dead
gorgeous boyfriend Riley, and the super sexy policeman that has just declared his undying
love for her, Lizzie stumbles from one clue to the next. But when her past reappears and
mixes with her future everything she has ever loved is at stake.
Can Lizzie solve the thirty-year-old mystery so that she and Riley can begin their next
chapter together? Is her past really back to get her, or is there a copycat in Westport? Or will
the star of her nightmares destroy everything before it even begins?
Lizzie’s next adventure may not be as much fun as she had hoped
Deathly Desire
When the past comes back to haunt you.
Lizzie is ready for a new adventure in her life, and it doesn’t take long for her to find it. After
hitting the For Sale sign in to the ground of her house of mysteries, she is quickly charmed by
another old house that is in desperate need of some love and attention. Only the house has a
secret of its own. Who is its owner? Why is he so hard to find? And why does he own nine
other deserted homes in Westport?
Keen to start this new chapter in her life, and with the help of her crazy family, her drop dead
gorgeous boyfriend Riley, and the super sexy policeman that has just declared his undying
love for her, Lizzie stumbles from one clue to the next. But when her past reappears and
mixes with her future everything she has ever loved is at stake.
Can Lizzie solve the thirty-year-old mystery so that she and Riley can begin their next
chapter together? Is her past really back to get her, or is there a copycat in Westport? Or will
the star of her nightmares destroy everything before it even begins?
Lizzie’s next adventure may not be as much fun as she had hoped
Deathly Desire
When the past comes back to haunt you.
Lizzie is ready for a new adventure in her life, and it doesn’t take long for her to find it. After
hitting the For Sale sign in to the ground of her house of mysteries, she is quickly charmed by
another old house that is in desperate need of some love and attention. Only the house has a
secret of its own. Who is its owner? Why is he so hard to find? And why does he own nine
other deserted homes in Westport?
Keen to start this new chapter in her life, and with the help of her crazy family, her drop dead
gorgeous boyfriend Riley, and the super sexy policeman that has just declared his undying
love for her, Lizzie stumbles from one clue to the next. But when her past reappears and
mixes with her future everything she has ever loved is at stake.
Can Lizzie solve the thirty-year-old mystery so that she and Riley can begin their next
chapter together? Is her past really back to get her, or is there a copycat in Westport? Or will
the star of her nightmares destroy everything before it even begins?
Lizzie’s next adventure may not be as much fun as she had hoped
Deathly Desire
When the past comes back to haunt you.
Lizzie is ready for a new adventure in her life, and it doesn’t take long for her to find it. After
hitting the For Sale sign in to the ground of her house of mysteries, she is quickly charmed by
another old house that is in desperate need of some love and attention. Only the house has a
secret of its own. Who is its owner? Why is he so hard to find? And why does he own nine
other deserted homes in Westport?
Keen to start this new chapter in her life, and with the help of her crazy family, her drop dead
gorgeous boyfriend Riley, and the super sexy policeman that has just declared his undying
love for her, Lizzie stumbles from one clue to the next. But when her past reappears and
mixes with her future everything she has ever loved is at stake.
Can Lizzie solve the thirty-year-old mystery so that she and Riley can begin their next
chapter together? Is her past really back to get her, or is there a copycat in Westport? Or will
the star of her nightmares destroy everything before it even begins?
Lizzie’s next adventure may not be as much fun as she had hoped
Deathly Desire
When the past comes back to haunt you.
Lizzie is ready for a new adventure in her life, and it doesn’t take long for her to find it. After
hitting the For Sale sign in to the ground of her house of mysteries, she is quickly charmed by
another old house that is in desperate need of some love and attention. Only the house has a
secret of its own. Who is its owner? Why is he so hard to find? And why does he own nine
other deserted homes in Westport?
Keen to start this new chapter in her life, and with the help of her crazy family, her drop dead
gorgeous boyfriend Riley, and the super sexy policeman that has just declared his undying
love for her, Lizzie stumbles from one clue to the next. But when her past reappears and
mixes with her future everything she has ever loved is at stake.
Can Lizzie solve the thirty-year-old mystery so that she and Riley can begin their next
chapter together? Is her past really back to get her, or is there a copycat in Westport? Or will
the star of her nightmares destroy everything before it even begins?
Lizzie’s next adventure may not be as much fun as she had hoped.
When the past comes back to haunt you.
Lizzie is ready for a new adventure in her life, and it doesn’t take long for her to find it. After hitting the For Sale sign in to the ground of her house of mysteries, she is quickly charmed by another old house that is in desperate need of some love and attention. Only the house has a secret of its own. Who is its owner? Why is he so hard to find? And why does he own nine other deserted homes in Westport?
Keen to start this new chapter in her life, and with the help of her crazy family, her drop dead gorgeous boyfriend Riley, and the super sexy policeman that has just declared his undying love for her, Lizzie stumbles from one clue to the next. But when her past reappears and mixes with her future everything she has ever loved is at stake.
Can Lizzie solve the thirty-year-old mystery so that she and Riley
can begin their next chapter together? Is her past really back to get her, or is there a copycat in Westport? Or will the star of her nightmares destroy everything before it even begins?
Lizzie’s next adventure may not be as much fun as she had hoped.