by MJ Miller
Copyright © 2020 by MJ Miller
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
For Eric. 4 down, 96 to go.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Epilogue
Also by MJ Miller
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.
Robert Kennedy
Chapter One
She could do this. Of course she could. Luce looked back towards the line of cars parked in the driveway. She’d told her sister no party. Not this year. But Annie didn’t listen. She never does. Just plaster on a big smile and walk right in like she owns the place. That’s all. So what if she’s miserable. So what if that asshole detective with the burning eyes is there. So what if she’s in no mood to celebrate. Suck it up, Luce, she told herself. Suck it up. Do it for Annie.
With a deep breath, she straightened her posture and smoothed out her skirt. She double-checked that she was presentable. And with as big a happy face as she could muster, walked in, feigned surprise at the resounding cheers, and headed straight for the wet bar in the sunken living room.
“Happy Birthday, Sis!” Annie threw her arms around her sister from behind, hugging her fiercely. Shaking her head and chuckling, Luce relaxed and smiled sincerely this time, turning to face her younger sister. Who she noticed with envy still looked like a twenty-something in her mid-thirties. The freckled faced youthful abandon had never left. Annie was the joyful one. Always had been. A dreamer who somehow always knew life had something wonderful in store. Luce envied that joy. Even tried to absorb some of it hoping it might rub off on her.
“Did I not tell you no party?” she asked, eyebrows raised.
“Yeah, but you say that every year. And I needed to do something nice for you. You know, after all the chaos I’ve caused. Please be happy. Please?”
“For you, I’ll be happy, Annie. OK?” Luce sighed, smiled, and looked around. The same familiar faces all headed towards her.
The woman of the hour. Only she didn’t want to be. She wanted to sit outside with a large glass of wine and wallow in self-pity. Last time all of them had been together, it was to witness Chris, her future brother-in-law, profess his undying love for Annie, after 15 years of mistakes and missed opportunities. It was an amazing moment for Annie. But bittersweet for Luce. She wanted that for herself, who wouldn’t? Only that wasn’t her style. Luce’s love life was more serial dating than romance. Swipe left, swipe right, toss the phone across the room. With one tragic exception, her longest relationship was a long-ago summer fling with a lifeguard who took her virginity and gave her chickenpox.
She felt a familiar tingle and closed her eyes briefly. Preparing herself.
“Happy Birthday, Luce.”
That voice. OMG, that voice. Deep. Sexy. And could only belong to one guy.
“Thanks,” she nodded, trying to maintain her cool demeanor. Detective Andy Holman was a walking, talking, breathing sex god. Tall, broad shoulders, light sun-kissed hair, and brilliant dark eyes. If only he wasn’t so smug and arrogant, she might… nope, she thought, not going there.
She tried to maintain eye contact. Tried to steady her gaze. And was failing miserably. He smiled at her as if he knew what she was thinking. They hadn’t seen each other in a few months. She’d carefully avoided him. And intended to do so tonight if she could.
“If you’ll excuse me,” she murmured, nodding once again as she brushed past him and headed for safety. He watched her walk away, a smile playing upon his face. Everything about Luce was always neat. Put together. Her fair skin and green eyes were almost startling against her short and sleek dark hair. She was slender and graceful and yet there was a fire inside of her that he knew only a few lucky souls had ever seen. And he was one of them. Luce Porter was all that and more, he thought. A firecracker waiting to be lit.
His eyes followed her as she made her way around the room. Politely stopping to greet everyone. It wasn’t a large group. There was Jen and Bill, friends of the Porter sisters and masterminds of Annie’s reunion with Chris. Mark, Chris’s editor and his wife Julie, who lived nearby as well as a few of Luce’s friends from work.
Andy watched curiously as Luce headed out the French doors to the patio, with Annie following close behind. When he saw Annie place an arm around Luce’s shoulder, he frowned. Was she upset? Something wrong? He shook it off. Not his business, he thought. Not going there. Not again.
“Come on, Luce, cheer up. What’s got you so down?” Annie’s voice was soothing, but there was concern in it. Luce was always in control, but right now, she didn’t appear to be.
“Other than the fact that I’m thirty-seven, my eggs are drying up, and Matthew87 isn’t actually six foot two with an eight figure bank account?”
“OK, I’ll bite. Who’s Matthew87?”
“Last night’s date.” Luce unlocked her phone and scrolled down, then handed it to Annie.
“Wow, he’s smokin’ hot, Luce…”
“No, he’s not. This photo is. Only that’s not him. Do you have any idea how mortifying it is to go to Alvino’s on 64th, and spot this absolutely amazing guy waiting for you, waving and smiling, and when you approach his table, you discover it’s all for the woman behind you? And you realize your date is the guy with the hoodie and the man-bun drinking Pabst Blue Ribbon?”
Annie pursed her lips, but it was no use. The laughter just burst right out of her, so hard she started coughing, and now it was Luce patting her on the back and offering comfort.
“Look, Luce, come inside. We’ve got a huge surprise, and you are gonna love it, and it will make everything better, I promise! And if it doesn’t, we’ll have Chris invite some of his friends to the wedding, and you can have your pick.”
“Promise?” Luce grinned as she turned to head back inside. “Just not you know who, Annie. What’s he doing here, anyway?” Luce lowered her voice, not sure where Andy
was at but somehow knowing he’d eavesdrop if he could.
“Come on, Luce, the guy practically saved my life. And he and Chris are inseparable now. Plus, you and he have some pretty hot sparks flying, you know.” Annie chuckled and elbowed her sister. “Come on, I mean he’s seriously hot and you know if he were anyone else…” her voice trailed off as the very subject of their conversation approached.
Luce eyed him suspiciously. The smile on his face wasn’t a friendly one at all. She knew that look. She just didn’t know what it meant. He was up to something, though. He always was. And while it’s true, she did owe him for saving Annie from a psychopathic stalker, she hadn’t yet forgiven him for busting her at a crime scene during her days as a cub reporter for the New York News. It wasn’t her fault she accidentally stepped around the crime scene tape and tripped on a wire and contaminated the evidence. Not totally, anyway.
But after that? The only assignments she was given were local social events and celebrity funerals. Though truth be told, it did lead her into TV news production and her current career. It wasn’t all bad. She refused to let him in on that revelation. No way she was going to give him the satisfaction.
“Hey, everyone, can I have your attention!” Chris stood in the center of the room with an envelope in his hand. “What I have here, ladies and gents, is going to make Luce the happiest birthday girl in the world!”
Luce eyed him suspiciously, especially with Annie, standing next to him, looking up at her fiancé as if he hung the moon. For her, he did. Perhaps for any woman. Chris Gregory was good looking, a bestselling author, and a genuinely nice guy. And he was devoted to Annie. She sighed. Unless Chris was going to magically produce the perfect guy for her from that envelope, he might be disappointed in her reaction to whatever he had in his hands. She glanced over at Andy, standing off to the side, still wearing that silly smirk. He knew what was in the envelope. She narrowed her eyes at him, but he wasn’t having any of it. Just shook his head slightly.
“What I have here, in my hot little hands, is the one thing Luce Porter will not be able to turn down.”
Now Luce was really curious. She started ticking off ideas in her head. Maybe tickets to Hamilton? John Legend? Celine Dion? She searched Annie’s face for clues, as she was just beaming. As if she’d waited her whole life for this. Wait. No. It couldn’t be. Could it?
Chapter Two
“Shhh… ready? Here we go!” Chris smiled as he handed Luce the envelope. Still wary, she took the envelope and shook it. Nothing. Carefully running her finger along the inner seam, she popped the flap open and reached in to pull out a single embossed card.
Mrs. Adeline Bowers cordially requests
the pleasure of your company
At the Annual Ghost Ship Mystery Dinner
Friday, June 10th
Please RSVP 516-555-1212
“No way. It’s the Ghost Ship dinner? The mystery dinner? I get to be there?”
“You, Luce, are the investigative reporter this year!” Annie practically shouted with glee. “Is that not awesome?”
Luce was for once, speechless. This was indeed the ultimate birthday gift. One she never even thought possible. It was on her bucket list. Like everyone else, she had one, a short one, but a list nevertheless.
Take a tour of the castles of Scotland
See Celine Dion live
Solve the mystery of The Cow Neck Ghost Ship
The last one really should have been number one, but Luce really had no hope of ever accomplishing it. When she and Annie were small, their dad had loved to tell them the story of the ghost ship that disappeared off the coast of Long Island. Fifty two lost their lives, but one survived. And was haunted for the rest of her days. But for Luce, it was more than just an old tale. Much more.
She’d heard rumors that Old Lady Bowers had started inviting a group to dinner every year and handed out clues, allowing guests to mill about and try to solve the mystery. Figure out where and how the ship went down. And now Luce was actually going to get to participate.
She threw her arms around her sister, then around Chris, and before she could stop herself, almost around Andy. Realizing her error, she stepped back, stumbling, eyes wide.
Andy just smiled, shaking his head. Seeing Luce this happy for some inexplicable reason made him happy too. Though it shouldn’t. She truly could shoot him down with her sharp tongue and buttoned-up demeanor. But then again, sweet and demure wasn’t his style anyway. He knew there was more coming and couldn’t wait to see the expression on her face.
“How did you get this? Who else is invited? Are you all going?” Luce was almost breathless as the questions poured out.
“We’re all going, you, me, Chris, Mark and Julie, Jen and Bill, and of course…” Annie laughed and looked over at Andy.
Luce frowned.
“Sorry, Sis, but Andy’s the one that scored the invite.”
Luce looked over at him in surprise, a blush creeping up her face. “You did? How did you know? Annie, did you tell him?” Nobody but Annie knew about her obsession.
Andy smirked. “I’m not sure what it is I know or don’t know, Luce, but I happened to notice your bookshelf had a number of books on ghost ships. I heard about this dinner and thought of you.”
Luce was literally speechless. Embarrassed too. She tried to recall when or how he was in her apartment. Must have been during that terrifying episode when Annie’s apartment was broken into. Lucky for Luce, Andy was the detective who handled it. Lucky for them all actually, he was good at his job. Too bad, his personal skills were sorely lacking most of the time.
She sighed. This was quite possibly the best gift ever, and the one guy she couldn’t seem to handle or control was the one guy who’d thought of it.
Andy watched her expression and laughed. “Do I get a hug now too?”
Luce found herself stammering. “Um, no, well, I mean, thank you?”
He laughed again, a deep, genuine laugh. “It’s OK Luce, you can thank me later,” he winked as he turned and headed over to the bar. Leaving Luce stunned. And everyone else wondering just what lay ahead.
“Annie, why didn’t you warn me?” Luce grumbled.
“Because Luce, you need to loosen up. Go with the flow. We’re all going to have a fabulous time. You know it.”
“Fine. But don’t think you’re getting off that easy.” Luce really wanted a refill, but since Andy was still pouring a drink, she’d have to wait. Nervously tapping her empty glass, she looked around. Wondered where Jen had gone off to, seeing Bill talking with Mark. You couldn’t miss Bill. He was like a huge red-headed lumberjack. Southern style. He and Jen had a fairytale romance. Mark and Julie? High School sweethearts who reconnected after college. Annie and Chris? Star-crossed lovers. And then there was Luce. She sighed and shook her head.
Glancing over at the bar, seeing nobody there, she headed that way, almost walking straight into Andy.
“Looking for this?” He grinned and held out a glass to her.
Luce took the glass, holding it up, sniffed, took a sip. “Pinot Noir. How’d you know?”
Andy just raised one eyebrow. “A gentleman never tells,” he said.
“Well, thank you. Again.” Luce shook her head softly and smiled as she laid her empty glass on a nearby tray. “I seem to be saying that a lot lately.”
“Well, I don’t mind.” Andy smiled back. “But, I do need to warn you, Luce.”
Luce rolled her eyes. “Here it comes, I knew this was too good to be true.”
“Mrs. Bowers’ invite cost me dearly. So I might have to call in a favor.”
“Favor? You need a favor from me?”
“I do.” Andy swirled his drink, pursed his lips. He almost looked nervous, Luce thought.
“OK, spill it. What’s the favor?” Luce couldn’t even imagine. Whatever it was, though, it was awfully hard for him to ask. “I won’t bite, you know unless, of course, that’s the favor?” She laughed at her own joke, but it didn’t see
m to relax him.
Her mind once again started ticking off possibilities.
He wants tickets to a studio recording.
Daytime talk shows aren’t his thing.
His cousin needs a place to stay in the city.
Does he have any cousins?
He needs a ride back to the city.
No, his car’s out front.
Clearly, she had no idea. She held her breath and waited, watching his expression.
“It’s not for me, you know. I mean, I would never ever…” Andy hesitated. Hopefully, she really was who he thought she was. Guess no better time than the present to find out.
“My niece. Her internship fell through for the fall semester. She’s a comm major at NYU. I was wondering if maybe you might check and see if you had any openings at the station. If you know, you don’t mind? If not, I totally get it.” He paused, trying to gauge her reaction.
Luce felt herself relax. This was a favor she could deal with. And truthfully, she did need an intern. And having Andy in her debt could be quite useful. She might also get to learn a little bit more about him.
“This niece of yours. Tell me about her.” She was fishing, of course.
“Oh, well, she’s a senior. Just turned 21.”
“I see. Does this 21-year-old have a name?”
