Tides of Deception (Lantern Beach Romantic Suspense Book 1)

by Christy Barritt

  The question wouldn’t leave his mind.

  She shrugged and began to place the apples. “Nothing too exciting. We just caught up with each other. There are a lot of years between us.”

  “I never took you as the type to run with the rich crowd.” That was subtle, Austin.

  “I’m not that type.” She picked up one of the apples she’d just placed and shined it with the hem of her skirt. “Ian . . . he was another lifetime ago.”

  “I see.” Austin could barely take his eyes off the woman with her soft curves and natural beauty. But he had to before he looked like a creep. “Business busy today?”

  She let out a little snort. “No. Not at all. I mean, I remember from last year that things slow way, way down during the off-season. I thought I’d prepared for it, but maybe I haven’t.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Skye shrugged again and straightened some bundles of kale leaves. “I mean, it’s really hard to make a living here on the island. This produce stand isn’t a year-round business, and I’m not sure if I make enough money in just the summer to sustain myself. You’re not looking for any extra help on the construction site, are you?”

  Austin let out a chuckle, trying to picture Skye being content in his line of work. But, now that she brought it up, there was something he’d been thinking about. “I don’t really need help on the construction side of things, but I have been playing with an idea lately.”

  Skye raised her chin in curiosity. “What’s that?”

  “I’ll take you and show you sometime.”

  “Oh, now you’re keeping me in suspense.”

  He grinned. “I know.”

  “That’s mean.”

  He wanted to tell her his idea. But the timing needed to be right. Because what he had in mind could only be temporary . . . but what he really wanted was a future with Skye—a future that included her by his side doing the things they loved.

  Now he just needed to think of a way to convince her of the same.

  “Well, don’t keep me in suspense too long.” Skye raised an eyebrow playfully.

  “How about tonight?” Austin couldn’t pass up the opening.

  Skye was silent a moment before nodding. “Okay, tonight.”

  Pleasure stretched through him. Tonight. Maybe tonight would be a changing point in their relationship. Maybe this was the right time to risk everything.

  He picked up an apple, tossed it in the air, and pulled out some money to pay for it. His hand brushed Skye’s as he placed the change in her outstretched palm.

  Something close to electricity zipped through him. Did Skye feel it too?

  Based on the way Skye’s cheeks reddened, she had.

  She cleared her throat, absently beginning to polish some apples with her skirt again. “By the way, the new haircut makes you look awfully respectable.”

  Austin raked his hand through his hair again. He’d just gotten his ponytail cut off two weeks ago. It was becoming too high-maintenance. “I thought it was time for a change.”

  Skye smiled, almost shyly. “I like it. And I can’t wait to hear about this idea of yours.”

  “Tonight, then.

  “I’ll see you then.”

  And Austin would count down the minutes until it was time.

  Chapter Six

  Before lunchtime, Skye put out her donation box at the produce stand. She was trying a new honor system on slow days. And today was a slow day. Besides Austin, she’d only had two other customers. That equaled four hours of work for ten dollars in profit.

  The facts were disheartening.

  Since Lisa had decided to close the Crazy Chefette on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the off-season, the two of them were going to meet at a local picnic area on the sound. Lisa was bringing lunch with her.

  It would be good to catch up with her friend. But Skye couldn’t tell her friend the whole truth about everything going on in her life right now. No way.

  Skye pedaled up to the park, left her bike on the sidewalk, and found Lisa at a picnic table facing the water, a basket beside her. Skye paused for just a minute to absorb everything around her. The maritime birds sang their songs. The reeds rustled in the wind. Kiteboarders skimmed over the water as their colorful sails decorated the sky.

  All in all, the day seemed pretty perfect outside. Not to mention that it was sixty-eight degrees and sunny in October.

  “Hey there,” Skye called.

  Lisa turned and smiled. “It’s the perfect day to be outside enjoying this weather. And I brought your favorite—a shrimp salad wrap with fruit salad.”

  “It sounds perfect. Thank you.”

  They pulled out the food and began eating, making small talk.

  “So, if you don’t mind me asking—who was that guy you were with last night?” Lisa asked, eating the last of her wrap.

  “An old boyfriend.”

  Her eyebrows shot up. “He was cute.”

  “Oh, he’s cute alright. And he’s trouble.”

  “Did he come here to see you?”

  “No, I don’t think he had any idea I was here.” Skye frowned as she remembered Briar. How could she not have known about him for all these years? Why hadn’t she looked up information on the family earlier? She’d been beating herself up about it all day.

  Easy. Because never in a million years would Skye have guessed that they might have gotten rid of her and adopted her son themselves.

  Her stomach still clenched at the thought.

  “Everything okay?” Lisa asked. “You look like you’re thinking deep thoughts.”

  “That’s one way to say it. I think I just need someone to talk to so I can make sure I’m not going crazy.”

  “Then I’m your girl.” Lisa shoved a Tupperware container toward her. “Have a bacon and chocolate chip cookie and talk to me.”

  Skye stared at the cookies a moment before finally picking one up. She’d had them before and knew they were surprisingly tasty. But the thought of what they were made of always turned her stomach.

  She picked at the cookie, unable to eat it, and finally dove into the conversation before she lost her courage. “I think someone has been lying to me for almost a decade.”

  Lisa’s eyes widened, and she frowned. “I’m so sorry. What can I do?”

  Skye’s gaze flickered up to her friend’s. “How would you find out the truth if you were in my shoes?”

  Lisa twisted her lips in thought. “Well, can you ask this person? I realize he or she may not be truthful. But maybe they would be.”

  “I suppose I could.” She imagined how that would play out. Probably not well.

  “Then why not start there? Sometimes the easiest solution is the best one. My mom used to always say that.”

  “Sounds like good advice. Maybe I’ll do that.” Skye shook her head. “Now that I’m talking to you, the answers seem simple.”

  “Sometimes it helps just to say things aloud.”

  Skye nodded. “You’re right.”

  Lisa shifted. “So, does this have something to do with your ex-boyfriend?”

  Skye shrugged. “It’s . . . messy.”

  “What does Austin think about all of this?”

  She stole a glance at her cookie and put it down. “I’m not sure. Why does it matter?”

  Lisa’s head fell to the side. “Really?”

  “Really what?”

  “You’ve got to know that Austin looks like he won the lottery every time you come close.”

  “We’re just friends. I’m not really sure he likes me in that way.”

  Lisa planted her elbows on the table and leaned closer. “Skye, please tell me you’re not that naïve.”

  She wasn’t naïve, but she and Austin had never really talked about taking their relationship any further. Sometimes she thought it was because Austin could see through her—that he could see the messes from her past—and he held her at arm’s length. She had so much baggage that she wasn’t sure anyone in his right
mind could handle it all.

  “We’re just good friends,” Skye finally said.

  “You want to know a secret? Austin doesn’t even like fruits and vegetables.”

  “That’s ridiculous. He comes to my stand every day and buys something—” Skye stopped herself.

  “Exactly. He goes there every day and buys something. Not because he’s a health food fanatic, but because it’s a great excuse to see you.”

  Skye’s cheeks burned. Was her friend telling the truth? Lisa had no reason to lie to her.

  And deep inside, maybe Skye knew that Austin liked her. She’d just been trying to deny it.

  She had a lot to think about.

  “I should go,” she finally muttered. “Thanks for listening, Lisa.”

  “Any time, Skye.”

  As Skye walked back out to her bike, she paused. The hair on her arms rose. She turned around. Absorbed the sight of two cars in the lot. One car driving past.

  Maybe she was losing her mind.

  Because she almost felt like someone was watching her.

  But that was impossible since no one else was around.

  Austin was going to open up to Skye. He’d thought about it all night and had prayed over his friends’ advice. And now it was time to stop wondering and pondering and to take action.

  He carefully paced to the other side of the scaffolding so he could continue to replace the damaged shingles on a rental house. The place was located on the sound and stood a massive four stories high with multiple decks, alcoves, and a gable roof and dormers.

  Unfortunately, Austin was on the fourth story. He’d purposefully waited for a day when the wind wasn’t as strong as it had been, just for safety reasons. It definitely wasn’t a job for someone who was afraid of heights.

  He glanced down and saw marsh grasses on one side and sand on the other. This was the downside to these houses. Most of them were up on stilts to begin with, making them even more towering.

  Now that the busiest part of tourist season was over, a lot of homeowners had started to fix problems that had accumulated over the summer season. That meant that Austin had a nice roster of jobs lined up for the next couple of months.

  The nice part about life here on Lantern Beach was that he could take whatever odd jobs he wanted when he wanted. It was quite the change from his days as an engineer back in Pennsylvania. He’d thought that was the life he wanted, but sitting in an office all day had made him feel as if his life was empty, and the future looked even bleaker. He'd given up the stability of steady work and a nice paycheck to follow his dreams instead.

  He hammered another cedar shingle into the side of the house, making sure everything was in place. He wanted to build a reputation around the island as someone people could trust. So far, he had a great stable of clients. He wanted that to continue.

  Austin wanted to make a life here. He wanted to grow old on these shores. He wanted to have children and for their toes to be sandy and their hair salty as they learned to chase seagulls and hunt ghost crabs. Life here, in his opinion, was so much better than life anywhere else.

  Other than a few random crimes, this place was wholesome and safe.

  He was so glad he’d given up everything to come here.

  Now he just needed to convince Skye that her dreams and his dreams aligned.

  He walked to the other side of the scaffolding, ready to replace more shingles when he felt something shift.

  Austin froze and looked down.

  One of the legs on his scaffolding wobbled.

  He glanced around, looking for a way to stop the inevitable.

  But before he could brace himself, the footing beneath him gave away. Air surrounded him as he fell toward the ground.

  Chapter Seven

  Skye rang the doorbell at the bright blue house located on Ritzy Row. Her throat felt like sandpaper. Like someone had poured scalding hot water down it. Right after she swallowed scissors.

  She couldn’t do this. What had she been thinking?

  Directly asking the Winthrop family if they’d lied to her was the worst idea ever.

  She turned around, ready to flee. It wasn’t too late to stop before she dug herself into a hole.

  But before she even reached the second step, the door opened and a small voice said, “Can I help you?”

  Skye’s lungs filled with cement. She didn’t have to turn around to know who’d answered.

  But she turned around anyway. Briar stood there wearing jeans and a surfing T-shirt.

  Her heart pounded so hard she feared it might tear through her chest.

  “Can I help you, ma’am?” the boy asked again, staring at her with a wide, innocent gaze.

  Moisture filled Skye’s eyes as she soaked in his face. The broad space between his eyebrows. The inquisitive gaze. The high cheekbones. Just like Skye—only with Ian’s startling blue eyes.

  “Hi,” she finally said, licking her lips as her voice came out as a squeak. “How are you?”

  He nodded, ever polite. “I’m fine. And you?”

  “Oh, I’m just fine also. Thank you. You’re quite the gentleman, aren’t you?”

  “My mom has very strict ideas on how I should behave.” Was that sadness in his voice when he said the words?

  Skye wasn’t sure. Maybe she imagined it. Maybe she wished it upon him. Wished he was unhappy and uncared for so Skye could snatch him back into her life with good reason.

  She cringed. On second thought, maybe “snatched” was the wrong word . . .

  “I see,” Skye finally said, embarrassed at her thoughts. “Are you feeling okay after your scare yesterday?”

  Briar twisted his head—just like Ian always did. “You know about that?”

  “I was on the beach when it happened.”

  He nodded, accepting her answer. “I’m fine. Thank you.”

  Just then, Ginger Winthrop appeared behind him. Her eyes widened with shock when she spotted Skye standing there. Her hands went to Briar’s shoulders, and she pulled him toward her.

  Was that casual? Protective?

  Maybe Skye was reading too much into this.

  “If it isn’t Skye.” Ginger’s voice nearly cracked with tension. “You haven’t aged a bit. Still the exotic beauty you always were.”

  “You haven’t aged a bit either.” Skye nodded, suddenly mirroring Ginger’s stiff politeness.

  Ginger’s hands continued to grip Briar’s shoulders. “What brings you here?”

  Skye licked her lips again. “I was hoping to talk to Ian.”

  “He’s not here right now.”

  “Do you know when he’ll return?” Skye glanced at Briar again, her heart aching. Accusations wanted to fly from her lips. But she knew the best way to handle this was to start with Ian. She should have asked him last night at dinner, even if it made her look like a fool.

  “He’s out sailing with his father. You know how those things go.” She offered another stiff smile.

  Maybe Skye should ask Ginger the question burning in her mind. Why not? She should just get this over with instead of beating around the bush. But not in front of Briar. She wouldn’t put the boy in that position.

  Just then, her phone buzzed. Someone was trying to call her.

  Skye ignored it. She would check her messages later.

  “You’re looking well,” Ginger continued, her eyes still cold and distant but polite. The woman had perfected the mix.

  “Island life agrees with me.”

  “Yes, it does. I never imagined we’d run into you here.”

  Ginger probably thought Skye would end up in a drug rehab somewhere. Or six feet under after an overdose. Or . . . well, anywhere but living a halfway normal—and decent—life.

  Skye’s phone rang again. Who was trying to call her?

  “We have a lazy river in our backyard,” Briar announced, oblivious to the tension in the air.

  Skye forgot about the phone call and bent down to talk with the boy. “Is that right?�
�

  “You should come over and try it out. It’s so much fun.”

  “That sounds like it could be fun. I’ve always wanted to try out a lazy river.”

  “It’s the coolest thing.” His voice climbed with excitement. “I want to get one in my backyard, but my mom said no.”

  “Well, at least you can come here and use this one.” Skye smiled, already feeling a connection with the boy.

  Her phone buzzed with two short vibrations in a row letting her know she had a text message.

  She straightened and frowned. “Would you two excuse me for one minute?”

  One phone call she could ignore. Two? That was pushing it. But a follow-up text? It sealed the deal.

  She looked down at her screen and saw a message from Ty.

  Call me. It’s urgent. About Austin.

  If Ty was telling her something was urgent, then it must be. Skye’s heart raced.

  “I’ve got to go,” Skye rushed. “I’m sorry, but something important came up. Could you tell Ian I stopped by.”

  “Of course.”

  Skye paused before turning away. “And it was great talking to you, Briar.”

  “You too. Come back for the lazy river some time.”

  Oh, wouldn’t the Winthrops love that?

  Skye’s phone was already to her ear, returning Ty’s phone call as she reached the sidewalk. He answered on the first ring.

  “Skye, thanks for calling. There’s been an accident . . .”

  Skye’s heart pounded out of control as she rushed between vehicles on her bike. Why couldn’t she have brought her car today of all days?

  But she hadn’t.

  Instead, she pushed her muscles as hard as they would go. All she could think about was Austin.

  Ty said he was okay, but Skye had been around enough of these kinds of things to know better. What might start as a fall could turn into a blood clot or hemorrhaging later.

  She pictured Austin when he’d stopped by the produce stand earlier, just like he did every day. It was one of her favorite parts of the day.

  He’d bought an apple.

  Were Lisa’s words correct? Did Austin not even like fruits or vegetables? Could it be true that he just stopped by to see her, at the most, or to support her business, at the least?