Island Promises by Joy Connell Read Free Book Online Page A

flushing. Damn Joe Logan. He had stolen her boat and had convinced everyone it was his.
    “Maybe everyone is wrong about him. Did you ever think of that?” She couldn’t keep the bratty tone out of her voice. “Maybe he took the Reprieve without asking.”
    Mitchell doubled over in laughter and slapped his knee. Once again, heads turned from the bar and diners glanced over their shoulders. The whole scene made her even madder.
    “If he didn’t steal my boat, then where the hell has he been for the last three days? Sure looks like he’s running from the scene of the crime.”
    “Joe works with the Coast Guard here as a trainer. Donates his time to keep these guys up to date on the latest techniques. And I say ‘Thank God’ because if I ever fall overboard I want people who know what they’re doing.” Mitchell reached over to her plate and speared a juicy piece of fish before she could slap his hand away. “I don’t want to know about this,” he said. “I want to enjoy the view, the food, and, hopefully, the company. You and Joe can battle this out. Seems like an even match.”
    Fuming, Riley decided to let the subject alone. They finished eating, a marvelous meal with seafood, island fruits, and spicy rum drinks when the sound of a woman crying caught their attention.
    “This is soap opera city. Settle in and watch the show,” Mitchell whispered.
    The young woman, tall and slim with beautiful black hair, threw a tray full of glasses at Henri’s feet. To his credit, he didn’t flinch. But Riley did. She would have wound up in Mitchell’s lap if he weren’t twisted around watching. The tearful woman ran past them out the French doors and disappeared around the side of the hotel. Riley was about to comment when Mitchell shushed her and inclined his head toward the bar. Big Rosa, Henri, and Stanley were huddled near one end, talking quietly.
    “Her boyfriend is leaving for the mainland and says if she doesn’t come with him, they’re so over,” Mitchell relayed, still whispering.
    “How can you tell that?” Riley was amazed. From this distance she could only make out a word every once in a while.
    “Years of practice.” Mitchell never took his eyes off the group. “I happen to love prying into other people’s lives. When I was in college I used to be addicted to soaps, but I decided real life was much more interesting.”
    “So why’d she break the glasses?”
    Mitchell shrugged. “You tell me. Drama Queen. Hormones gone wild. Violent streak. Who knows with women?” Mitchell paused, reached behind him, and fumbled for his drink. “They have to hire someone fast. A cruise ship is due in tomorrow.”
    Riley was on her feet before she thought about it. Mitchell threw out a hand to stop her but she veered out of his reach. Behind the bar she found a stack of clean aprons, a broom, and a dustpan. She began sweeping up the broken glass until Henri stopped her by placing his hand over hers just as she noisily dumped a dustpan full of shards in the trash.
    “I need a job.” Pushing humid curls from her forehead with the back of her hand, she propped the broom against her hip. “Looks like I’m stranded here for a while. My luggage is lost, I have no passport, and my credit cards are out in the sea somewhere. Even my cell phone is dead.” Henri hadn’t said anything so she took that as a promising sign and continued. “I waited tables in college. It’s been awhile, but it will come back to me.”
    Rosa came up and put a large arm around her son’s shoulders. The eyes were the same but otherwise there was little resemblance between mother and son.
    “Seems like you need someone right away. I can start right away.”
    Henri looked at his mother, who nodded slightly.
    “All right,” he said after pausing to look her up and down. “We’re casual. But not that casual.” He was staring at the salt-stained shirt and the baggy shorts.
    “I’ll need to borrow some clothes. Just to get started.”