On the Rocks (A Turtle Island Novel) by Kim Law Read Free Book Online Page B

something going on Friday,” he finally replied. He returned his gaze to hers. “Saturday? Seven?”
    The smile on her face became real, and she nodded, grateful. “Yes. Seven.”
    Patrick left then—no kiss—and she hurried inside, leaning against the closed door and kicking herself for nearly blowing it. She needed classes on how to date a man, apparently.
    In actuality, she hated dating. She just needed a man.
    Which reminded her . . . she had one!
    Her friend Cookie Phillips had called earlier in the day, letting her know that the latest Jules Bradley novel had come in to the bookstore, and Ginger had made a run to pick it up. Jules Bradley wrote the most god-awful horror stories, and she couldn’t get enough. She’d actually started it before getting ready for tonight’s dinner, which was why she hadn’t put more time into her appearance.
    Before taking another step into the house, she kicked off her heels and wiggled out of her jeans. Her shirt was long enough to cover her hips, and the night was still warm. She fluffed the tails of the silk from where they’d been tucked into her jeans, and grabbed the book. Then she headed to the back deck.
    After lighting the tiki torches, she settled into her favorite Adirondack chair and opened to the last page she’d read. Any decent optometrist would chastise her for reading with such little light, but she loved getting lost in creepy stories in the dark of the night.
    The only thing that would make it better was if she could hear the waves while reading, but that would be rectified as soon as she finished her house. She had a deck built there that not only overlooked the ocean, with nothing but grass and sand between, but she’d also planned muted underrailing lights for just this purpose.
    The thought made her excited to get the house finished. She’d call the contractor first thing in the morning and see how soon she could get them back out there. The house probably still had a good month’s worth of work to do to complete it, maybe more, and that left a little time before the wedding. Enough to pack her bags and move in.
    She’d worry about making the call tomorrow, though. First things first. She leaned back, her legs stretched out in front of her, and disappeared in the words.
    A few chapters later, she looked up from the book, her heart pounding. This one was his best one yet. She glanced toward the Ridley house, remembering that she’d seen the book on Julie’s shelf when she’d been over a few weeks ago. She’d checked it out again that afternoon. How had Julie gotten a copy before it was released?
    Whatever the source, Ginger wanted to be hooked up.
    A funny thought hit her, and she rested her head against the back of the chair and smiled up at the dark sky. Maybe the father of Julie’s baby was the author?
    Laughter bubbled out of her, and at the sound of it in the quiet, still night, she let herself laugh more. The sound was freeing, and though others might think her somewhat nutty, she didn’t care. Life didn’t always go her way, but it could definitely be fun. At least people like Jules Bradley were around to entertain her on dark, lonely nights.
    A movement caught her eye, and she shifted her gaze. It landed on Carter’s window. The curtains were moving.
    Had Carter been watching her?

C HAPTER F IVE

    H e hated wallpaper with the kind of passion that should be reserved for the bedroom.
    Carter sprayed another patch of the wall with a mixture of water and fabric softener—a trick he’d learned years ago when working con struction for summer jobs—and scraped at the stubborn spot. He’d been going at the walls most of the day, and still had two feet untouched.
    The door in the other room opened, and he looked over, unable to see into the living room from where he was, but he knew it would be Julie. It was time for her to get off work. He’d spent the previous day at the art gallery with her, doing everything he could to help. Lifting