Mystery in the Moonlight Read Free Page A

turned Caitlin into a tongue-tied idiot.
    Damn! Why couldn’t she have courage when she needed it? It wasn’t as if she’d had no experience with men, but her innate shyness always surfaced at the worst times. If Babs was here, she’d be batting her eyelashes a mile a minute at the stranger with the green eyes.
    Carefully, making sure he was looking away, Caitlin managed to stare at the good-looking man. Was he really as gruff as he appeared? Somehow she thought…she intuitively felt there was warmth beneath his cool exterior. He was probably like the hero in swashbuckling Errol Flynn movies—the rakish but ultimately ethical buccaneer. Smiling to herself, Caitlin visualized him dressed in a leather doublet, breeches, and knee-high boots.
    “See something you like?” the object of her imagination asked, his lips twitching as if he were holding back a grin.
    “Uh, I thought I saw a spider on your shoulder,” she choked out. “But I was wrong.”
    Good grief! The man had caught her staring at him like a kid in a candy store. Feeling herself color, Caitlin pretended to inspect her feet, then drank from her empty soda glass. What would she do if he approached the table? Unable to stand the tension, she rose, attempting to look both graceful and casual as she left the bar. Walking briskly through the doorway, however, she plunged awkwardly into the solid form of Jean Moreau. The island’s landlord put his arm around her shoulders to steady her.
    “My petite dove!” Jean exclaimed with a slight French accent. “You are so excited. Is something wrong?”
    “Uh, no, I’m fine.” Relieved that she’d found someone safe to buffer her against further contact with the gorgeous stranger, Caitlin added, “And I’m so happy to see you!”
    Lifting one of her hands to kiss it, the Frenchman murmured appreciatively, “How flattering.”
    “Can we take a walk, do you suppose?” Caitlin asked, hoping to lead Jean away from the Beach Bar.
    “But of course. Whatever my pretty dove wishes.”
    Smiling self-consciously as Jean kept his arm around her, Caitlin led him several paces down the path in the direction of her bungalow. She felt a pair of sea-green eyes follow her.
    “I have been looking for you today, my petite ,” he told her.
    “Oh, really? Babs and I hoped we’d see you too. My friend was extremely impressed by your house the other night. She said it reminded her of the great old houses of the South.”
    The corners of Jean’s dark, nearly black eyes crinkled with his smile. “So. And what did you think of it?”
    “I thought it was beautiful too.”
    Stopping on the path, he leaned closer to her. “Then why don’t you come and visit me again tonight?”
    Distracted by the knowledge that the man in the bar was probably watching the encounter, Caitlin forced herself to smile pleasantly. “After dinner? Fine. Babs and I—”
    “No, no.” Jean shook a finger close to her nose. “You misunderstand, chérie . Don’t bring your friend. I want you to come and see me alone. I will teach you to appreciate your own shy loveliness, the beauty you seem to hold so lightly.”
    “But I can’t leave Babs behind,” Caitlin objected, flattered, yet a little annoyed, because she had no intention of being alone with the man.
    It was one thing for Jean to flirt and compliment with every breath; it was another to suggest that she abandon her friend. Did he ever drop the great lover routine?
    “You are a modern young lady. You don’t need a chaperone.”
    “No, I don’t. I can take care of myself.” Glancing over Jean’s shoulder, Caitlin noticed the stranger staring at them. Why on earth was she suddenly getting all this male attention? She cleared her throat and told Jean, “Babs was nice enough to invite me to vacation with her. I wouldn’t want to leave her alone. It wouldn’t be polite.”
    “Perhaps not, but it would be romantic. Let me see if I can change your mind,” Jean murmured