Reckless Refuge by Catherine Cowles

Author:Catherine Cowles [Cowles, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub

My foot tapped an incessant beat as I glanced around the table. All the faces were friendly, but their smiles and welcoming chatter did nothing to calm my nerves. Everything in me screamed to run fast and far.

Brody’s hand came to my knee and squeezed as he leaned in. “You’re going to be great.”

I scowled at him. “I’m probably going to throw up on stage.”

“I’m so excited that I’m finally going to get to hear you play,” Caelyn said from across the table where she was burrowed into her husband, Griffin’s, side. He was the least smiley and the quietest of the group, but he wasn’t rude. And the way he stared at his wife with adoration told me that he might have an ooey-gooey center under that gruff exterior.

“It’s been a really long time. I’m probably rusty—”

“Rusty, my ass,” Hunter said, picking up his beer. “I heard some music when I was heading up to the house to make a call. Thought it was a professional recording of some famous musician, but Brody told me it was you.”

I sent another dirty look in Brody’s direction. “Stop spilling all my secrets.”

He grinned. “I’m just here to give you a nudge in the right direction.”

“You owe me a dozen paintings for this,” I mumbled.

“So, Hunter. What’s next for you after you finish the studio?” Griffin asked. It was the first effort at conversation he’d made all night.

Hunter set his beer down and picked up a French fry, twirling it between his fingers. “We’ve got a few more weeks on the studio, but I’m thinking about taking a look at the old resort on the north end of the island. I wanted someone else to buy it so I could just work on it, but so far, no one’s biting.”

Griffin’s brows rose. “That would be a hell of an undertaking.”

“You’re not wrong there.”

Caelyn straightened in her seat. “You want to buy a resort that’s haunted?”

I almost spit out the sip of wine I’d taken. “Haunted?”

Hunter rolled his eyes. “It’s just old island lore. Really, the place has just been ignored for almost a decade. Half the cabins look as if they’re falling apart. Hopefully, it’s not worse than that. I’ll go check it out in a few weeks to see what’s what.”

A beautiful woman I recognized as the owner of Second Chances appeared at our table, resting a hand on Hunter’s shoulder. “Not creating trouble, are you?”

Hunter gave her a wink. “I wouldn’t dare.”

She snorted and turned her attention to Brody and me. “I don’t think we’ve ever officially met. I’m Bell. My fiancé, Ford, runs The Catch.”

“Shay,” I greeted.

“I’m Brody. Thanks for having us.”

Bell smiled. “I’m just excited to hear you play, Shay. Hunter says you’re amazing.”

I turned my scowl at him, and he held up both hands. “Hey, what did I do?”

Brody chuckled as he ran a hand up and down my thigh. “Just get used to it. She’s not a fan of praise.”

“It’s not the praise I’m worried about. It’s the unrealistic expectations,” I groused.

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