Beachcomber Santa by Stephanie Queen

Author:Stephanie Queen [Queen, Stephanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance
Published: 2015-12-12T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

“You’re full of surprises—you’re going to dress up as Santa?” The question burst from her as soon as they were in the clear from the church.

“Of course. You don’t think Rusty is going to return for the party do you?”

She examined him closely as they stopped at the end of the walk. He watched speculation and curiosity and something like wistfulness flit across her face. He admired her bravery at allowing herself to be so readable, so vulnerable. Finally, she shrugged.

“You’re thinking Rusty is in hiding?” she said. “Someone is after him from a poker game gone bad maybe?”

“Maybe.” He didn’t share his theory about Mrs. Real Estate Lady. He knew Shana would think him cynical. He was cynical. But he was right. He had a gut feeling on this. But he didn’t want to let it spoil the Christmas-inspired warmth growing between them.

“I suppose we ought to go back and talk to Mrs. Real Estate Lady again—she definitely knows something,” Shana said. “She was too reluctant to talk to us.”

“Now you’re talking.”

They hopped back in the Jeep and Dane drove them back to Rita Lane’s house about a mile away, but there was no one home. She was still out at her unlikely appointment. They prowled around and looked in windows to make sure.

“Looks like she lives here alone,” Shana observed.

“Looks like Mrs. Rita Lane is a single woman—no jealous Mr. Lane chasing Rusty out of town.” He figured his implication would raise her hackles. She scowled, but said nothing.

They stood in front of the realtor’s house outside the Jeep, not getting in. The air had warmed some from the day before.

“Any ideas where we look for a realtor and a waitress on a summer vacation island in the winter?” Shana stood in front of him with her hands on her hips. It was one of his favorite of her poses. He contemplated her while he ran through the possible answers to her question.

“Where’s the one place you would go on the island if you live in Vineyard Haven and you had no money?” Dane asked.

“I give up. I’m not a local—I’m an outsider, remember?”

How could he forget? She hadn’t tried to be anything but an outsider until now when she knew she couldn’t go back home to Sydney for the holidays. It wasn’t like him, but he refrained from calling her on it. She continued her scowl and waited a few beats for him to answer. He was far more patient than she.

“So what’s the answer, or was that a rhetorical question and you’re waiting for divine inspiration?”

“I have the answer.”

“And you want me to pry it from your stingy mind?”

“Something like that.” He took a breath and made the leap. “I can be persuaded.” He wagged his brows. She laughed. It was the low sexy flirty laugh—the one he’d heard only in his dreams of late. His pulse gave a blip at the appearance of her smile.

“You’re one of the easiest men I know.” Her words held knowing confidence, even for her.

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