Page 48 of Liar's Point

“No. He says the beach was empty.”

“Hmm.”

“I swear.” She pulled off her baseball cap and tossed it in the back. “I can’t catch a break with anyone. No one saw anything. I mean, how is that possible? This is one of the most popular spots on the island.”

“Yes, but it’s winter.”

“Tell me about it. I’ve been out here for half an hour freezing my ass off.” She put her fingers in front of the vent and felt nothing but cold air.

“Let’s get something to eat.”

She glanced at him. “What, now?”

“Yeah, I’m starving.”

Her stomach fluttered as she watched him sitting there in her passenger seat, all slick and energized from his run. She hadn’t seen him in shorts in a while, and now she was reminded of his muscular legs and how he’d played football in high school. He smelled like sweat, which should have been off-putting, but she didn’t mind, really.

“Aren’t you hungry?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“So let’s have dinner. You can catch me up on what you got today.”

She bit her lip.

“Unless you have plans,” he said.

“No. But I need to shower first.”

He rolled his eyes.

“You do, too.”

He pushed the door open. “Go home and change, don’t shower. I’ll meet you at the Shrimp Hut in twenty minutes.”

“There’s no way I can—”

“Twenty minutes, Nicole.”

CHAPTER

NINE

Emmet watched her walk in. He’d known she’d shower, but she’d done something to her hair, too, and it fell in loose auburn waves around her shoulders. His pulse kicked up as she cut through the crowd. Nicole was beautiful, but she really didn’t know it, and it was one of the things that had always amazed him about her. She had no idea the effect all that cool self-confidence had on men. Him in particular.

She stepped outside and spotted him at a picnic table.

“Hey,” she said, taking the bench across from him.

He pointed his beer bottle at her. “You’re late.”

“Oh, whatever.” She grabbed the menu tucked behind the condiment bottles. “You showered, too.”

“Can I get you something to drink?”

She glanced up at the server. “I’ll have a glass of red wine, please. Whatever you have.” She looked at Emmet. “Did you order yet?”

“No.”

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