Suspicion At Sea Read Free Page A

B&B. I can't help but smile, because I think my night has gotten a whole lot better.
     
    Chapter 4
     
     
    Ellie
     
    I've been sitting in the little local bar for about fifteen minutes when the running man walks in wearing jeans and a tight t-shirt that shows off his great upper body. I notice him, but look away fast when our eyes meet. I don't know if he recognizes me as the woman who was ogling him today.
    “Hey, Jim.” He sits across the bar on a stool that is a few seats away, but on the curve of the bar so I can see him.
    “Justin,” the bartender greets him, setting down a small glass with some golden liquid in it. The running man, I now know as Justin, smiles in thanks showing off perfect white teeth and sexy-as-hell dimples. I can't help but watch him. He is very attractive; rugged with a firm jaw line, and very muscular arms and broad shoulders. His dark hair is stick straight but short, the front spiked up a bit. I think this is probably the best looking man I've ever seen.
    He notices me watching him and shoots me a panty-wetting smile. I smile back and turn my head to look down at my glass of wine. There's that damn heart flutter again.
    After my small nap, I showered then changed into a short jean skirt and a halter top and decided to take a walk. I found this local tavern, and the name and atmosphere drew me in. The Gull is decked out in a nautical theme, but in a cheesy way. Everything that has to do with boating or water is in this bar. Its walls cluttered with fishing nets, oars, stuffed swordfish, and ship steering wheels among other nautical themed decorations. A captain's bell is above the door that alerts everyone when the door is opened.
    I twirl my wine glass in my fingers as I try to look anywhere but at Justin. Like a prairie dog, my head pops up when I hear Jim, the bartender, start talking about aliens.
    “So the newest is that they were abducted by aliens, but were returned as mermen, because even the aliens thought they were assholes.” Jim is leaning on the bar in front of Justin, telling him the new gossip.
    “Fuck. Mermen, really?” Justin laughs a deep throaty laugh that makes something low in my belly twitter. I'm staring again, and I don't realize it until Justin is watching me back.
    “Oh, sorry,” I apologize for my rude eavesdropping. “It's just that the innkeeper where I'm staying was rambling about some abduction and I was convinced she was crazy,” I try to explain.
    “Esther is crazy, but on this she was just repeating what she's heard,” Justin says, and I realize I just ousted myself as the woman who was staring at him.
    “Ah,” I feel my cheeks get hot, feeling embarrassed. Another emotion I'm not used to feeling. He gets up and moves over to the seat next to me. The tugging in my lower belly gets stronger and I sit up straighter as he turns his stool toward me. I get a waft of his cologne, and goddamn does he smell good.
    “So, here's the story,” Justin says, his voice deep. I can't help but watch his lips as he speaks. “Three brothers leave one morning. They go out to check their cages like they do every morning. A small squall of no significance that lasts less than twenty minutes comes upon them. A mayday message is received by the coast guard from The Sweet Suzy, and by the time the coast guard makes it to the fishing boat, all three brothers are gone. Just vanished without a trace,” Justin enlightens me. I watch his face as he tells the story, and it's like he is talking about a fable, not something that has just happened.
    “Well, if there was a storm maybe they went overboard?” I add, completely enthralled in him and the story.
    “No way. These boys have been fishing these waters since they were in diapers. One, maybe, could have gone over, but all three?” He holds up three fingers, wiggling them for emphasis. He cocks his head like he has made his point and I laugh. It's a nervous laugh, because I am extremely in awe right now of this