Beach Town Trouble (A Port Grace Cozy Mystery Book 2) by Emily Page Read Free Book Online

Ryan. “It’s a great day for it.”
    Georgia couldn’t disagree. The sun was bright and warm, but a calm breeze eased some of the heat. The sky was nearly cloudless, and the waves were a gorgeous royal blue.
    “How do we get down there?” said Georgia, eyeing the guardrail and the hill leading down to the beach.
    “We hop the railing.”
    “I’m wearing heels, Ryan.”
    “Take them off. Don’t you always keep a pair of comfy shoes in your trunk?”
    Georgia smiled. “How do you know that?”
    “I’m a natural observer, especially when it comes to people I care about.”
    He said it casually, but Georgia didn’t miss the sideways glance he shot her way as he undid his seat belt.
    “All right, I’m game,” she said.
    Georgia retrieved her pair of flip flops from the trunk, and Ryan helped her over the guardrail. The walk down to the beach was steep, and her flip flops wanted to slide out from under her, but Ryan kept a steady grip around her waist.
    “So I take it you don’t trust Tim Jr.,” said Ryan once they had both removed their shoes and had sand between their toes.
    “I don’t know,” said Georgia. “I just got a feeling he was hiding something. I think maybe it was just that he’s a little more spoiled than he lets on. He comes across as this refined man of wealth, but it seemed like there was a petty little boy underneath it.
    “I mean, did you hear him snivel about the money his father left him not being much? Thousands of dollars every month over eighteen years really adds up, especially in a trust. Then, when he was talking about how his dad let Cupcake do anything he wanted, implying that he couldn’t do anything he wanted, it just sounded really whiny. And why so much animosity toward poor Cupcake? He basically sentenced him to death.”
    “Yeah. He’s definitely got more severe daddy issues than he tried to let on,” said Ryan. “He’s probably just jealous of Cupcake getting all the attention when he only gets a visit once a year and some phone calls. Still, if he craved his dad’s attention and had money of his own, killing Tim Sr. doesn’t seem logical.”
    “You’re right. Camila is still our best bet.”
    They walked in silence for a few minutes, taking in the day. Then Ryan slowed his pace.
    “How are things with you and Chief Harris?” he said, his eyes fixed on the sand.
    “Cooper? He’s great. He’s a gentleman, and he is always genuinely interested in what I have to say. He makes me feel…respected.”
    “So, things are serious between you?”
    “I wouldn’t say that. We go out every now and then and have a good time, but there isn’t any sort of commitment yet.”
    “Oh,” said Ryan. “So, do you think there’s somebody who’s a better match for you? Someone you could commit to?”
    Georgia stopped, and Ryan peeled his eyes up from the sand to look at her sheepishly.
    “Ryan,” said Georgia, “I know things have been hard since you and Sam split. I think maybe you’ve latched onto this idea of the two of us being together because of what she said when she broke it off about you putting other things…me…first. But she was wrong. You don’t put me first. You just came when I really needed you. That’s friendship. I don’t want to mess up that friendship, Ryan. I care about you. I really do, but you have to let go of this idea of me running back to New York to start a relationship with you. That’s not what I want right now. Okay?”
    Ryan looked stunned and hurt, as if she’d slapped him, but only for a moment. He cleared his throat and then gave her a lopsided smile and a shrug.
    “Yeah, sure. You’re right. We’re too good of friends to be anything else.”

Chapter 6
    “ H ey , Chief. I just stopped by because I thought you all might want some relief from watching Cupcake,” said Georgia, leaning into Crimbleton’s office wearing a black and pink workout ensemble. “I’m going for a run on the beach, and I thought I’d take him