Tides of Deception (Lantern Beach Romantic Suspense Book 1)

by Christy Barritt

  She flashed a smile. “Well, I hope you enjoy yourself. Your food will be right out.”

  After she walked away, Ian started a lighthearted banter. As he always did. He always could make a good first impression.

  Their food came only ten minutes later. Skye had ordered the meatloaf—mostly out of loyalty. As much as possible, she tried to stick to a plant-based diet. But she felt the need to support her friend. Ian had ordered the steamer basket with shrimp, cabbage, and onions.

  That was when Skye felt like the conversation could really begin.

  Because Skye knew she had important things to talk about.

  And she couldn’t put it off any longer.

  Chapter Four

  “How’s your nephew?” Skye started, picturing the boy again.

  His image had haunted her thoughts since she’d seen him. Skye’s paranoia collided with logic. Just because the boy resembled her, that didn’t mean he was hers. After all, why would Ian’s family keep her baby and tell her the boy had been adopted?

  She picked at her meatloaf.

  It wouldn’t make sense. The Winthrops had made it clear that neither Skye nor Ian were in a good position to take care of a baby. That there were many other families out there who desperately wanted a child. That she was doing the right thing by giving her child to a family in a better position to provide for him.

  Ian put down his lemonade and leaned back in his seat. “Briar? He’s fine. Thankfully.”

  Skye tried a bite of jicama fries, but she’d lost her appetite. “What happened? He was really far out in the ocean. I have to admit that I was a little scared for him.”

  Ian looked across the restaurant a moment before shrugging. “We told Briar not to leave the house, but he did. He thought he could take a swim and be back before we realized it. It was a good thing your friend saw him. In fact, my parents told me to express their thanks.”

  “You told them I was here in Lantern Beach?” For some reason, the thought made Skye’s back muscles—and her lungs—tighten.

  “I did. Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”

  “Your parents were never my biggest fans.” No, the couple had gone out of their way to let Skye know she wasn’t good enough for their precious, privileged son.

  Ian waved her statement off. “You know how they are. No one is good enough for them. Don’t take it personally.”

  “They seem to be doing well.” She took a long sip of her water, knowing there was no need to argue. He’d never agree with her.

  “They’re working hard. Involved in the community. Loving life.”

  “Any thoughts of retiring soon? Your dad has to be close to sixty.” The questions were really inconsequential. As Skye waited for his answer, she glanced across the restaurant. The town’s retired police chief, Mac Macarthur, sat at the bar talking with Doc Clemson. Some fishermen gabbed with each other across the room. A family with young kids occupied the booth behind them.

  Skye’s attention returned to the conversation with Ian.

  “Retiring? Do you remember my dad?” Ian raised his eyebrows comically. “He loves work more than anything else in life. He’d go crazy if he retired.”

  “That’s great that he found something he loves.”

  Atticus Winthrop had started a health and beauty care company that mass-produced lotions and shampoos. Winthrop Cosmetics, a name you can trust. That was their tagline. And they did everything they could to maintain a wholesome family image.

  “It is great. I’m really happy for my dad.”

  “And how about you? What are you doing? Working for the company?” Ian had always been more of a trust-fund boy who lived off his parents’ wealth. But he was twenty-seven now. Certainly he’d grown up some . . . right?

  “My dad is training me to take over for him one day. I’m the vice president of sales and marketing right now.”

  “Impressive.”

  Ian put his drink down, pressed his arms into the table, and leaned toward her. “So, let’s talk about something more interesting. Who was that guy with you at the beach earlier today? Your boyfriend?”

  Skye startled at his directness. “Austin? No. He’s just a friend.”

  Her throat burned as she said the words. She felt like she was lying to herself—especially since she dreamed about what it would be like to date Austin. She only wished that was a possibility.

  “You sure? He got that defensive look when I came close, like a dog protecting his territory.”

  “I think you were reading too much into things.” Although Austin’s protectiveness was one more reason Skye appreciated him. Being single and without any family in the area, it was nice to have someone to watch her back.

  Besides, Austin would never think of her as territory.

  Ian smiled—that same satisfied look that he always seemed to wear. “Man, have I mentioned how good it is to see you? You left without a goodbye, Skye.”

  Skye wanted to tell Ian the truth. To tell him that his parents had paid her to get out of their lives forever. But what good would it do to bring that up now?

  “After the baby . . .” Her voice caught as she tried to finish but couldn’t.

  Ian’s smile disappeared, and he reached across the table to squeeze her hand. “I know it was hard for you.”

  “It was all too painful.” That was the truth. When they’d taken her baby from her, it had been gut-wrenching and heartbreaking. Skye had known right away it was a mistake—an irreversible mistake.

  “I often wish my parents had never pressed us into giving our baby up.” Was that sincerity in Ian’s voice? Skye found it hard to believe.

  “Me too.” Her voice squeaked out.

  Not a day went past that she didn’t wonder about that child. About what he was like. About how life would have been different if she hadn’t signed away her rights.

  Skye wanted to ask Ian if his nephew was their son. But the words sounded too crazy, even in her mind. How would they sound when spoken aloud? She opened her mouth, halfway willing to take the risk.

  But nothing came out. Her vocal cords seemed to freeze.

  “My parents said you went to prison. Is that true?” The question hung suspended in the air as Ian waited for her response.

  Skye’s heart beat harder in her ears. She glanced around, trying to make sure no one had heard him. This part of her life wasn’t something she talked about. No, Skye didn’t want her friends here to know just how much she’d messed up.

  She wanted to believe they would accept her with all her ugly flaws and past sorrows. But something else inside her nagged at her and told her they wouldn’t. Maybe they’d say nothing had changed, but in their minds, it would have.

  The truth was, Skye couldn’t accept what she’d done. Why would anyone else?

  “Yes, but I shouldn’t have been locked up.” She raised her chin. “It was all a mistake. I didn’t do what I was accused of doing.”

  No one had believed her then. And she didn’t expect Ian to believe her now. But her words were true. And all the money his family had given her? A large portion of it had gone to legal fees. The little bit she’d had left over had been used to move here, buy her produce stand, and start her new life.

  “What happened?” He leaned closer, not bothering to hide his curiosity.

  “I don’t really want to talk about it.” Skye tried to forget about that part of her life. She’d erase it totally if she could.

  Ian raised a hand and leaned back. “Okay, okay. I get that. It’s a sore subject, and I shouldn’t have asked. That makes you a little hard-core, though. Which is totally hot.”

  “There’s nothing hot about going to prison.”

  His raised hand lifted higher. “I get it. Sorry. But it’s always been that wild streak that I found so attractive.”

  “Well, I’m not that person anymore.” No, thank goodness, Skye had turned her life around. But she still had a long way to go.

  Ian’s gaze pierced hers. “Yes, you are. I
can see it in your eyes. Once a rebel, always a rebel.”

  “Could I say the same about you? Once a rich frat boy always a rich frat boy?” She couldn’t resist the quip, but she was careful to keep her tone even.

  He let out a sharp chuckle. “Ouch. Okay, I see how you are. Maybe people do change.”

  “You’re saying you’re different?” Skye had a hard time believing it. Ian still had his swagger, his smug smile, and his expensive toys.

  “Yeah, I’m saying I’m different. I’m not the person I used to be.” He twisted his head. “You don’t look like you believe me.”

  “I’d like to think we’d both changed, Ian.” But on her best days, she doubted herself. And she held almost no hope for Ian.

  “So, her old boyfriend is back in town?”

  Austin’s friend Ty Chambers twisted the top off another water bottle and propped his feet up on the railing of his deck as he waited for Austin to respond.

  Austin, Ty, and their friend Wes O’Neill had all gone to Ty’s place this evening while his wife, Cassidy, was working. Lately, the new pastor in town—Jack Summers—had been hanging out with them also, but tonight he apparently had other plans.

  Ty had thrown on some steaks and fixed some baked potatoes and a salad. They’d eaten until they were full, and now they sat on the screened-in porch, shooting the breeze.

  Waves from the ocean rumbled in the background, but darkness masked the shoreline. The strong scent of sea air still lingered around them, mingling with the aroma of their leftover food.

  Skye always said the salty air was a cure for everything. Austin wasn’t sure about that, but he’d always liked hearing her take on life. She was unlike anyone he’d ever met before—and that was a good thing.

  Austin took a long sip of his sweet tea—also compliments of Ty—and remembered his friend’s question. “That’s right. This guy showed up there on the beach, looking like your typical spoiled rich kid . . . only he’s not a kid.”

  “How did Skye react?” Wes asked.

  “Skye was . . . surprised.” Austin replayed her reaction in his head. “They’re having dinner together now.”

  “You should tell her how you feel,” Ty said. “Why are you waiting? You’ve liked her since you met her. You even tried to get her out of your head by dating those other women. It didn’t work.”

  Austin leaned back into the weathered Adirondack chair and set his glass on his knee. “I’m waiting because Skye keeps remaining at a distance. I can read the signs. She’s not ready.”

  “Maybe she just needs to know for sure,” Wes said. “Women like to be reassured.”

  Wes was a fine one to talk about women. Austin had heard the town scuttlebutt. The single ladies around Lantern Beach liked to fake plumbing problems just so Wes would come over to help them. He seemed clueless about it all, but the sparkle in his eyes told a totally different story.

  Austin supposed that here on Lantern Beach everyone had their secrets, though.

  Even Austin.

  “If I tell Skye how I feel and she doesn’t feel the same way, our friendship will be ruined.” That was the bottom-line.

  “Not necessarily,” Ty said.

  “But it could,” Wes agreed.

  “I guess you have to decide what you want,” Ty said. “Some of the best things in life require taking a risk. Is Skye a risk worth taking?”

  “Of course she is. I’d do anything for her.” Austin thanked God every day that he’d met her when she’d hired him to build the pergola. He’d even taken a loss on the project when he’d realized Skye didn’t have the money to pay what he’d normally charge.

  He’d found every excuse to go back to her produce stand after that. Finally, he’d invited Skye to Bible study. Their friendship had grown from there.

  “I can see the hurt in her eyes,” Ty said. “I know she’s carrying some burdens, probably from her past. We all do.”

  “Yes, we all do.” Austin had his own set of problems and hurts. He was trying to find resolution, though. Thus his secret project was underway.

  But the more Austin thought about this conversation, the more he thought about Skye having dinner with Ian, it made him realize that maybe he should just lay everything out there and stop holding back. Skye was a grown woman. She could make her own choices. If she didn’t want to be with him, she’d tell him. Then they could both move on.

  Although Austin couldn’t stand the thought of not having her in his life.

  Just then, his phone buzzed. He looked at the screen and grunted.

  “What is it?” Wes asked.

  “I’m testing out this new security system for one of my clients,” Austin said. “It alerts you whenever a door or window in the house is opened.”

  “And?” Ty said.

  “I installed it at my place to see how it worked. I just got a notice that my door opened.”

  Ty peered at his phone screen. “Is there a camera also?”

  “There is. But when I click on the link, everything is black.” Austin squinted. “Strange. I guess I should head over and check things out, just in case.”

  “Call us if you need us,” Wes said.

  Austin hoped that wouldn’t be necessary.

  Chapter Five

  Skye stared at the computer screen, just as she’d been doing for hours.

  First, last night after she’d gotten home from her dinner with Ian. And now, this morning, after a sleepless night.

  Thankfully, her niece Serena was out of town—she was a bridesmaid in a wedding down in Florida. The inquisitive college student asked too many questions—questions Skye wasn’t ready to answer. Not yet. No, Skye wasn’t ready to share any of this.

  Because the ideas seemed too absurd in her mind.

  She leaned back and mentally reviewed the facts she’d learned.

  Ian’s sister Emma Winthrop Harrington had a baby eight years ago.

  That was approximately the same time Skye had given her baby up for adoption.

  Emma and her husband only had one child. They’d named him Briar.

  And in every picture Skye had seen of them online, they looked like a happy, all-American family.

  There was only one problem. Briar looked just like Skye.

  She leaned back into her chair and rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache coming on. Why hadn’t Skye heard about this before now? She would have jumped to the same conclusions all those years ago that she did today.

  But the news had somehow been concealed from her.

  Skye knew the truth about why.

  It was because she’d been in prison. She hadn’t watched the news while she was there. No, she’d read and drawn pictures and tried to survive.

  When Skye had been released, she’d wanted to start a new life, away from her old life and bad influences. Her older sister—the one family member she kept in touch with—had moved up to Michigan.

  So Skye had moved here to Lantern Beach. She’d changed her last name. She’d tried to forget about the Winthrops.

  And it hadn’t been hard. The only time she ever heard the news was when her friend Wes insisted on sharing that week’s top stories. Otherwise, she didn’t really care about the stock market, or politics, or what the latest fashion trends were.

  All of that might have worked to her detriment, though.

  Had Skye been blind all these years to the fact that the Winthrop family may have kept her baby? Had they paid her off so she’d leave, hoping she wouldn’t ever learn the truth?

  It seemed unbelievable.

  And gut-wrenching.

  But like a real possibility.

  Skye had to figure out how to handle this.

  She glanced at her watch, realizing she’d become absorbed in her quest for information. It was nearly ten o’clock.

  Skye had to get to work.

  But first, she just wanted to search one more thing.

  She typed in Ian’s name, and pages of results came up. The man definitely had a social
media presence. And it was just as Skye had thought.

  Her ex hadn’t changed.

  As recently as three weeks ago, Ian had pictures of himself on his yacht with three different women. He was at popular night clubs and partying in Tel Aviv. Money was no problem for him.

  But for someone trying to establish himself and take over his father’s company, he sure wasn’t showing much maturity.

  Skye sighed and stood, her headache pounding hard now. She needed time to sort all of this out. But right now she would go to work. She only hoped she sold enough today to pay her bills because money was getting tight. Too tight for her comfort.

  Austin ran a hand through his hair as he rode down the street in his truck, headed for another day of work.

  He’d gotten back to his place last night, and everything had checked out fine, despite the notification from his security system. There was no sign anyone had been in his house, and most likely the security equipment had just malfunctioned.

  Yet, despite that, he hadn’t been able to sleep last night. No, he’d been too busy thinking about Skye. About her old boyfriend who’d rolled into town. Wondering how their dinner had gone. Wondering if Ian was her type.

  They were stupid questions. Yet he couldn’t deny the tension he felt tugging furiously inside him.

  He pulled over to the side of the road, into a gravel lot near Skye’s produce stand. He hopped out and sauntered over toward the baskets filled with kale, spinach, apples, and onions.

  Skye stepped from the shaded area under the wooden shelter, and a smile lit her face when she saw him.

  Just like it did every day.

  It was the main reason he stopped here.

  “Hey, Austin,” she called. “I was wondering if you’d forgotten about me this morning.”

  As Skye stepped closer, Austin saw that she was using the bottom of her tank top to transport some apples to one of the baskets.

  “I could never forget about you, Skye.”

  Her cheeks reddened. “I almost think you mean it.”

  I do. He kept the words silent. Instead he asked, “How was your dinner last night?”