Page 102 of Tightrope

“Irene Ward did a good job with the piece,” he said, sounding satisfied.

“Mr. Hyde will be pleased because he got the final quote.” Amalie folded her copy of the paper. “And Irene very kindly slipped in a note about the new addition to the tours here at the Hidden Beach. I expect the phone will start ringing soon.”

“You know, at the rate you’re going, you won’t have any rooms left to rent to actual guests,” Matthias said. “They’re all going to be featured attractions on the tour.”

Amalie shuddered. “Don’t say that. Funny you should mention marketing, though. I’ve decided that there is something to that old saying about any publicity being good publicity. We’ve had several reservations this morning. Some were for the tours, of course, but people are starting to book rooms. Two bookings specified Madam Zolanda’s suite. The others wanted Vincent Hyde’s. I had to explain that Hyde was still in residence. That just made people all the more eager to reserve his room as soon as it became available. I had to start a waiting list.”

“Please don’t tell me you’re going to advertise my room to people who want to sleep where a notorious mobster once slept.”

“I hadn’t thought about it, but now that you mention it...”

She had been teasing but Matthias did not look amused. His jaw hardened and he got the icy look that, back at the beginning of their relationship, had sent unnerving little frissons across her senses. She was somewhat surprised to discover that the chill factor still had the power to put her nerves on edge.

She folded her arms on top of the desk.

“What?”

“The rumors of my mob connections are not going to go away,” he warned, “probably because they are true. I really do have mob connections, remember?”

“Luther Pell?”

“There will always be talk, speculation, and gossip about us, Amalie. Neither Luther nor I can wave a magic wand and make it go away.The cover Luther developed for himself and his consultants has worked too well. It’s become real.”

She considered that for a beat, and then a great sense of certainty swept through her.

“So what?” she said. “You’re not the only one who has to live in the shadows of speculation and gossip. There are rumors that I once murdered a lover. These days I am said to be the girlfriend of a mob guy. And, last but not least, I own and operate a mysterious inn that caters to psychics, gangsters, and Hollywood stars. I’ll put my reputation up against yours any day of the week.”

Some of the cold tension that had whispered in the atmosphere around Matthias evaporated. His eyes heated.

“What are you trying to tell me?” he asked.

She came out from behind the desk, stopped directly in front of him, and gripped the lapels of his jacket.

“What I’m telling you,” she said, “is that this is Burning Cove. Everything here is larger than life. Everyone here has secrets. Nothing is quite what it seems. I think that people like you and me fit right in here.”

He put his hands on her waist. “Are you inviting me to stay for a while?”

“Yes.”

“How long do you think you might want me around?”

She took a deep breath. “As long as you want to be here.”

He tightened his hands around her waist. “That’s good, because I’d like to stay here for a very long time.”

A thrill of joy whispered through Amalie.

“Do you have a plan to do that?” she asked.

“As a matter of fact, I do. It all depends on you, though.”

He pulled her toward him.

The phone rang. Amalie sighed and reluctantly freed herself. She picked up the phone.

“Is Matthias there?” Luther asked, his tone low and urgent. “I need to talk to him.”

“He’s right here.” Amalie handed the phone to Matthias without another word.

---