The Black Sheep's Redemption by Lynette Eason Read Free Book Online Page B

believe it, but didn’t feel it was her place to push him. The hair on the back of her neck lifted and she shifted. Uneasiness shivered through her and she looked toward the cliffs again. That feeling of being watched just wouldn’t leave her.
    Keira was still there, now perched on the hood of her cruiser, talking on the phone. Her presence offered comfort. So where was Demi’s edginess coming from? Someone after her? Or were these incidents all related to Charles, and she was just caught in the middle?
    The latter, more likely. That’s what everyone seemed to think with the incident at his house or the one on the road just now. But what about the break-in at her apartment?
    Something just wasn’t right, but Demi couldn’t figure out exactly what it was that was making her so uneasy.
    If someone was watching Charles right now, he didn’t seem to notice.
    He handed her a sandwich, breaking her train of thought. “Do you like ham and cheese?”
    “Love it. Thanks.” She unwrapped it and took a bite as she watched the kids. Even though she had her eyes on the children, she was extremely aware of the man beside her—and the fact that her back was exposed to a number of hiding places in the rocks behind her.
    “This is the first time we’ve been down here this year,” he said suddenly.
    His quiet words surprised her. She heard the strain behind them. “Really? Why?”
    He turned his gaze to her. “Because of what happened to Olivia, of course.”
    “Oh.” She looked around again. “Is this where it happened?”
    “Not exactly, but pretty close. She fell—or was pushed—over the cliffs. She was found down there on the rocks below our house and the lighthouse. They found a rock with blood on it and are running tests to see if they can find any DNA on it. We’re waiting for those tests to come back.”
    “I’m sorry you’re having such a rough time.”
    His eyes softened and he lifted a hand as though to reach out to her. Then must have decided against it as he snagged a bottle of water. “Thanks.”
    Demi wondered if now would be good time to say something about the note in her coffee can. Opening her mouth to do that, she was interrupted by Charles’s phone ringing. “Just a sec.” He found the device and said, “Hello?” She watched him listen. Then he said, “That’s fine, we’re not staying much longer anyway.”
    He hung up and told her, “Keira needs to leave in a few minutes.” His lips quirked in a small smile. “She said she’d feel better if we’d leave when she did.”
    “We can if you like.”
    “Not yet. The children are loving this.” His gaze met hers. “And so am I.”
    Demi flushed as she caught his unspoken message. She decided to change the subject. “So what’s your family like?”
    His smile widened. She hadn’t fooled him one bit. “You’ve already met a few of them. Fiona, your landlady, is my sister, and Victoria, who owns the Sugar Plum Café, is my sister-in-law-to-be. Probably one day soon. She’s engaged to Owen, a detective. The rest of the crew are also with the Fitzgerald Bay Police Department as you found out last night. My mother died a few years ago and Dad’s the chief of police and running for mayor against the oh-so-subtle Burke Hennessy. My granddad, Ian Fitzgerald, is the current mayor, and is stepping down. I have three brothers and two sisters.”
    Demi sighed. “I’m envious. I have no idea if I have any family anywhere.” She looked at the cliffs where Olivia died. Clouds moved in and hovered, obscuring the sun. Demi shivered.
    “Are you cold?”
    “A bit.”
    “Daddy! Come play!” Brianne insisted.
    Charles quirked another smile at her. “I guess we can warm up while we help them dig that hole to China.” He looked up as Keira’s cruiser pulled away. “Then I guess we’d better head home and let two little ones get some shut-eye.”
    Demi grabbed a shovel and sank beside Aaron. He grinned up at her and said, “Dig.”
    “Say