Tides of Deception (Lantern Beach Romantic Suspense Book 1) by Christy Barritt

Author:Christy Barritt [Barritt, Christy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: River Heights
Published: 2018-08-13T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Skye sat cross-legged on Austin’s couch and sipped some coffee he’d fixed. She’d pulled her wet hair up into a sloppy bun and had changed into an old flannel shirt and sweats belonging to Austin while her clothes dried.

Cassidy was coming in two hours. She had to wrap up a dispute between two neighbors, and she wanted to come herself instead of sending Officer Quinton.

It was just as well.

She and Austin had a lot to talk about.

Austin sat beside her, his wavy hair falling into his face. He was gorgeous. Handsome. Honorable.

Everything she could ever want.

Did she dare hope . . . ?

She sucked on her bottom lip. That kiss had been amazing. Beyond amazing. And her heart felt like it might burst right now. But before she could relish the moment, she had to tell him the truth.

Austin’s arm stretched along the back of the couch, and he focused his full attention on her. “I’m glad you want to talk because I have something I want to tell you also.”

“You go first.” Was this about his secret project?

He glanced down at his hands and drew in a long, deep breath before looking at her again. “There’s a part of my past that I don’t open up about very often, Skye. Honestly, it’s too painful.”

“I know what that’s like.” Despite her casual words, Skye braced herself for what he had to say.

Austin took her hand and rubbed the top of her knuckles, not saying anything for a moment. “The truth is that my mom abandoned me when I was six.”

Skye’s stomach dropped at his news. “What?”

He nodded, looking somber and almost stoic. This was hard for him. She could tell it was.

“Before you feel too sorry for me, I should add that I had a wonderful family adopt me when I was eight.”

“Well, that’s good. But . . . what . . . what happened? What do you mean, your mom abandoned you?”

He squeezed her hand again and leaned back, his eyes looking distant, like he’d gone back in time to another world—and a painful one, at that. “My mom was a single mom, trying hard to make ends meet on her own. We had some really great memories together when I was little. When she was having a good day, she’d make pillow forts with me and we’d race paper airplanes and see who could walk the longest with books piled on top of our heads. But the truth is that my childhood was a struggle. My dad . . . well, I’m not even sure my mom knows who my dad is, if you know what I mean.”

Skye nodded, hardly able to breathe. This conversation had shifted things inside her. The truth began to squeeze out her happy feelings. And . . .

She just needed to listen to what else he had to say. Don’t jump to conclusions, Skye. Just give the gift of listening.

“She worked hard but only earned minimum wage,” Austin continued. “We lived in a small, dumpy apartment because that’s all we could afford.

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