Killer Beach Reads

by Gemma Halliday Publishing

  The Swiss army knife, a gift from his father when he turned ten, was his other constant companion. Opening the blade, he carefully sharpened the pencil to a fine tip. He would sketch her form first. Once that was complete, the pencil would be dull enough for the shading. The picture would be far from his best work, but his creative soul would never rest if he didn't at least try to capture Evelyn and her beauty.

  He stopped and started several times, but finally found his rhythm. The strokes on the paper mirrored her soft curves, strong jaw, and seductive manner. Satisfied he'd done the best he could with the time, space, and equipment he had at his disposal, he blew gently across the picture to remove any remaining lead. He folded the picture carefully and slipped it into his wallet. Maybe it would bring him comfort and a smile on a lonely night.

  "Cody?" Her voice, thick with sleep, called to him.

  He slid onto the bed and pulled her body close to his. They should sleep, but rest was the farthest thing from his mind, especially when her hand slid down his body. When it caressed the damaged area of his thigh, her eyes fluttered open. "Tell me what happened. I noticed earlier, but my manners were absent at the time."

  He rolled them until her body was pinned under his once again. "That's classified, ma'am."

  "Really?"

  "If I told you, I'd have to kill you." He'd almost been able to say it with a straight face.

  Her hands pushed on his chest and rolled them until she assumed the dominant position. Something in the way she acted told him she was used to being the top dog, no matter what the scenario. Her kiss, gentle and probing, worked better than any interrogation techniques he'd learned. "Tell me."

  He sighed and rolled to his side, his fingers dancing across her body in an effort to distract and keep him grounded in the present while he relived the most terrifying minutes of his life to date. His eyes closed. "We were tasked with securing an area for a transport vehicle to come through at oh-six-hundred hours. Who or what was being transported was classified, above my pay grade anyway. Buildings had to be checked for rebels and then monitored as well as checking the route for IEDs, improvised explosive devices."

  A gentle kiss on his forehead, nose, and then lips prompted him to continue. "To this day, I'm not sure what we missed or if we even really did miss anything. Dawn had just started to break over the horizon, and the next thing I knew, bullets started flying. We all ducked for cover. My sergeant barked orders and had stopped long enough to make sure we were all safe when he got hit. I couldn't just sit there and do nothing. A couple of the other guys laid down some cover fire in the general direction the bullets were coming from, and I went out to get him. I'd always wondered if I'd have the courage to be brave when called upon. You want to believe that about yourself, but until the moment is there, you can't be sure."

  He opened his eyes and saw a solitary tear gliding down her face. He wiped it from her rosy cheek. "Hey now, I'm supposed to be putting smiles on your face, not tears in your eyes."

  "You were shot while pulling him away from enemy fire."

  Cody shrugged. "He, or any of my buddies, would've done the same for me. It's how we roll in the hundred and first."

  The way her eyes lit up dragged him from the depths of sadness and reflection. "As in the Screaming Eagles from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, one hundred and first airborne division?"

  She squealed with delight as he pulled her legs over to straddle his thighs, arching her body to bring them even closer. "The one and only. How do you know about us?" This woman was full of surprises…and sexy moves.

  "Everyone knows about your division. You'd have to live under a rock not to have heard of them. My father served in Vietnam and loves to share stories with me about the brave men of the hundred and first." One hand caressed his chest as the other finger-combed her hair to smooth the tangles from their earlier fun.

  He didn't want to think about her father as her creamy breasts were within temptation's range. Sliding his hands up her thighs and ribcage until he could capture the delectable feminine flesh, he teased. "Now that I've told you, I have to kill you."

  Her hands covered his as her lower body began to move against him. "Then I'll die having had the privilege to spend quality time with the bravest and most handsome man I know." She leaned forward and branded him with a searing kiss. "Make love to me." Her smile lit up the room, "before you have to kill me, that is."

  Between her words and the almost constant seduction, he didn't stand a chance. This woman might actually kill him instead.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Evelyn lost count of the number of times they'd made love throughout the night. She grinned as her stomach rumbled. They'd never made it out of the room to dinner. Cody's ability to recover gave an entirely new meaning to the slogan "Army Strong." Allowing herself another luxury, her fingers combed through his dark hair, so soft and silky. She wondered what would become of him…of them. Quickly, she wiped an errant tear from the corner of her eye. No weakness. There could be no "them." Life back home was complicated, and, as much fun as this night had been, she couldn't promise him that she'd be waiting and available when he returned home. Her heart seized in a momentary panic. Dear God, please let him and his friends remain safe to return home to their families soon.

  Slipping back into the warmth of his arms, she plied him with gentle kisses until those devastatingly dark eyes glinted with humor. "Woman, even I need some rest."

  "Let's go to the beach and watch the sun rise together." She loved both sunrise and sunsets, but the demands of the job and her unrelenting dedication to perfection meant she rarely saw either except through her office window.

  He pulled her even closer and her eyes closed, wanting to memorize the feel of his body against hers. "Then one final swim? No races this time, just you, me, and the water. You could go topless if you wanted."

  Not wanting him to miss her reaction, she opened them long enough to let him see them roll at his comment. At least men were consistent. "You mean you'd prefer me to go topless."

  A calloused hand palmed her breast while his thumb circled the tip, leveraging his advantage over her all-too-eager body. She considered it…for a moment. "Nice try, lover boy. My bikini top is as minimal as I'm willing to go in public."

  He sighed dramatically. "Okay, but when I have to leave you, I want my final visual to be you in your bikini, the sun glistening off your wet body."

  He lowered his head to lavish attention on the area they were debating. Somehow, she managed to whisper, "I wish I'd met you a few days earlier."

  "I wish I'd met you years earlier." His voice muffled against her skin, but she'd been able to understand his words.

  Her eyes closed tighter, wondering how different her life might have turned out if Cody and his carefree influence had been introduced to her before…before things went perfectly according to her plan. Too bad my plan didn't account for all the latest developments in my life.

  Tilting his chin up, her mouth teased and tasted the fullness of his lips. Their tongues danced as her body shook off the remaining dregs of slumber and came alive and aware of his touch. This man could be addicting.

  "One more time before we head out for the sunrise?" His thumb caressed over her well-kissed lips, his face eager and hopeful.

  Her lungs exhaled a deep, cleansing breath as his body moved over hers. Yes, one more time.

  "Hurry up, let's go." She picked up his shirt from the floor as he stuffed his belongings in the green duffel bag.

  His index finger pointed in her direction, but the huge grin on his face negated the serious tone he was trying to take with her. "You're the one who agreed to one more time, woman."

  "And you didn't?"

  He laughed. "Hell yeah, I did." Tossing a T-shirt in her direction, she reached out and grabbed it before it fell to the floor. Lifting the garment to her nose, his now familiar scent filled her senses. "Keep it."

  "Thanks." Something besides her memory of this night to remember him by woul
d be nice.

  He rummaged through her suitcase and pulled out a pair of black, lacy panties she'd planned on wearing had they made it to dinner. "And, I'll be keeping these."

  "Cody!"

  "Fair is fair."

  The man had a point. "Fine, now let's go."

  He'd held her hand and not said anything more as they walked onto the beach. The residual heat from the sand allowed the pleasant warmth in her limbs to remain as they spread the blanket and prepared to watch the sun take its place high in the sky. As a woman who made her living finding exactly the right thing to say to those around her, she found words couldn't adequately define this moment. The world transforming out of darkness into new light: bright, vibrant, orange-bathed light. She could almost hear the earth yawning and stretching as it came to life.

  Cody's hand slipped into hers, squeezing gently. "Stunning."

  The whispered comment brought both a smile and moisture to her eyes. Damn if this man didn't bring out her softer side. She returned the gesture, pulling his hand onto her lap. "Yes, stunning."

  After several more minutes he stood, pulling her with him. "Let's finish watching from the water."

  They discarded their outer garments, revealing skin and suits. The clothing left in piles on the blanket. No racing this time, just a leisurely stroll into the gentle lapping of the waves. They waded deeper to chest level. Lifting her feet and slowly moving her arms, she allowed the buoyancy of the water to lift and lower her with the natural ebb and flow of the tide.

  "I want you to know I'm not in the habit of picking a woman up for just one night. That's more Daniel's style."

  She turned toward him. His eyes were closed as the water gently rocked his body. "I never thought you were. No more than I am in the habit of allowing a man to pick me up for just one night."

  "I don't suppose I can call or write you?"

  The small glimmer of hope edging his voice tore at her heart. She couldn't lie to him. "I don't think that's a good idea."

  He didn't respond, simply moved closer and pulled her into his arms, her back to his front. She melded into his larger frame, her head lolling back onto his shoulder. Her arms covered his and held him tightly. I should say something, anything. Last night was fun, maybe the best night I've had in a long time, if not ever.

  She inhaled and exhaled deeply. There was nothing more to say, at least not now. Instead, she tightened their embrace and twisted her head enough to place a tender kiss on his lips and smile. When she pulled away, the smile on his face and subtle nod he gave said everything necessary.

  The next time she opened her eyes, the beach was slowly filling with early-morning risers ready to start a fun-filled day in the sun. His embrace loosened, and her throat tightened. "Time to go?" She hated to ask, but he had a duty to return to, and she had a life to get back to as well.

  "Just about." He tugged at her hand and led them in slow, steady strokes toward the shore. This time, she let him win.

  Cody grabbed a towel from her bag and started drying off. Remembering his wish from earlier, she ignored the towel he offered and laid down on the blanket. "I want you to have what you wanted to remember me by."

  The intensity from the first time he'd captured her attention with his gaze returned ten-fold. He's drawing me with his eyes again. "How is the sketch coming?"

  "I would need far more time than we have together to do the picture justice, but I have enough to keep me warm for many cold nights."

  Two men laughing and joking around broke into their moment. Daniel and Sam. They bumped into Cody, moving his body, but his eyes remained fixed on her. "You two are up early. Already had a swim? I went for one last run on the beach last night. There was a full moon."

  Cody's smile widened as he winked. "You should try a sunrise sometime, Sam."

  Sam shook his head. "I'm more of a sunset kind of guy."

  Daniel interjected, "I'm more of a let's not be AWOL kind of guy. We need to get going."

  Cody lowered his body to the blanket, and her eyes closed as he moved in for a kiss. She didn't even care that the other men were getting a show. Finally, his head lifted. "I'll never forget you."

  She lifted her body enough to kiss him one last time. "Nor I, you."

  He stood and gave her one last smile and a wink before grabbing his duffel, one that now included a pair of her lacy undergarments. As they walked away, she could hear their parting words.

  "So what did you two do last night?"

  The grin she maintained since their final kiss expanded into a wide smile as she heard Cody answer. "We were heating up the night, man. Heating up the night."

  * * * * *

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Nicole is a debut author with her contemporary romance series, Heroes of the Night. She has been an avid reader and lover of books from a very young age. Starting with Encyclopedia Brown, Nancy Drew, and Black Beauty, her love for mysteries grew and expanded to include romance and suspense. A Midwest girl, born and raised, her stories capture the love and laughter in her real world heroes and heroines.

  To learn more about Nicole, visit her online at:

  http://www.nicoleleiren.com/

  BOOKS BY NICOLE LEIRN

  Heroes of the Night

  More Than One Night

  KILLER CONCH SHELL

  (Health Nut Mysteries)

  by

  Patrice Lyle

  * * * * *

  "I can't see the killer conch shell." Aunt Alfa rose onto the square toes of her burgundy, patent-leather platform pumps and stared longingly at the glass display case in the center of the lobby. "There're too many people in the way, Pipe."

  "We're going to be here all weekend, so you'll get your chance." I wasn't sure I wanted to get close to the infamous conch shell that had been used as a murder weapon in 1915, before being cursed in an open courtroom and causing the death of the prosecutor and the state's star witness. Legend indicated the freaky shell still contained the deadly curse.

  As well as a few smudges of blood.

  But I'd do anything for my nonagenarian auntie, including driving four hours to Osprey, a small town in the Outer Banks to attend the 100th anniversary of the Conch Shell Murders. Along with a host of psychics, thrill seekers, and people who liked creepy stuff. Oh, and the Osprey Inn, where the murders occurred, was allegedly haunted by the ghosts of the victims.

  Dark chocolate was my only salvation.

  I opened my purse, retrieved a dark-chocolate-covered cashew, and popped it in my mouth. Mmm. Divine.

  Aunt Alfa elbowed a woman wearing a floor-length, black hooded cape. "Could you scoot aside?"

  The fifty-something woman turned and furrowed her red eyebrows at my auntie. Her crimson lipstick and matching long, wavy locks contrasted with her alabaster skin. Add in the ruffle-edged cape, and she was a dead ringer for Elizabeth Marcus.

  The famous actress and Conch Shell Killer.

  I strong-armed Aunt Alfa closer to me, away from the fan dressed like the now-deceased murderess. A shiver of fear shot through me, but I shook it off and faced the woman. "My aunt's a little excited because she's wanted to see the famous shell since she was a little girl."

  "We're all excited to feel the shell's power." Despite her sentiment, the woman's frown didn't budge. "I drove all the way from Rhode Island for this celebration, and they've just removed the ropes around the display case."

  Aunt Alfa adjusted one of her teal foam rollers, looking unimpressed. "We came from the Maryland shore. Plus I've got several decades on you, sweetie, so could you please scoot?"

  "Show some respect, will you? Poor Elizabeth suffered from a cheating husband as well as those undercooked conch fritters that took her life." The woman removed a tissue from her purse and dabbed her eyes.

  "Karma's a mean girl, isn't she?" Aunt Alfa wriggled out of my protective embrace. "The same weapon Elizabeth used to kill others ended up killing her."

  "It's eerie, all right." As was this place and this woman dres
sed as the murdering actress.

  The woman sniffed and slipped the tissue back into her purse. "I want to see the shell up close, so don't ask me to move again."

  "Fine." Aunt Alfa gave me her famous thumbs up. "Pipe, can you give me a boost?"

  Oh, for the love of dark chocolate mousse.

  But what's a dutiful great-niece to do? I set my purse on the floor and formed a squat position (my thighs could use the extra workout to compensate for the huge volume of chocolate this weekend would require anyway) and laced my fingers together, forming a step for Aunt Alfa. "Go on."

  At ninety-one, my auntie's mind was as sharp as an acupuncture needle, but sometimes she was a bit high maintenance. Aunt Alfa removed her shoes and gingerly stepped onto my hands while grasping a stranger's shoulder for support. The good thing for me was she was barely ninety-four pounds. The good thing for her was now she could see the famous shell.

  "Wow. I've wanted to see the killer conch shell for years," she gushed. "You can still see the blood from her cheating ho-bag husband."

  I cringed, hoping her non-PC word choice hadn't offended anyone.

  "Can you hand me your phone, Pipe, so I can get a picture?" Aunt Alfa asked.

  "Um, my hands are kind of tied up right now." Honestly.

  Nearby, a woman with a sea-salt-and-pepper bob wearing a green muumuu, whose body resembled a short barrel, flashed me a grin as she approached. "I can get your phone for you. Is it in your purse?"

  "Sure is." Aunt Alfa pointed to my silver, sequined clutch lying on the floral carpet next to me. "My niece has one of those newfangled smart phones. You know how to use those?"