Murder Checks Inn (Book 3 in the Lighthouse Inn Mysteries) Read Online Free Page A

wished he’d locked the lighthouse doors on his way in.
    When Alex turned to the door leading out to
the platform, he was surprised to find Julie Hart standing
there.
    She tried to back out. “I’m sorry, I didn’t
know anyone was up here.”
    Alex said, “You’re welcome to stay, Julie.
The lighthouse is open to everyone. You don’t have to be a guest at
the inn to enjoy it.”
    She looked down at her feet. “I don’t want
to intrude. You just lost your uncle. I imagine you probably want
to be alone, Mr. Winston.”
    He shook his head. “Call me Alex. I thought
solitude was what I wanted, but to be honest with you, I wouldn’t
mind a little company right now.” Alex surprised himself as he said
it, realizing it was true. There was something about this young
woman, a steel band behind the calm exterior that appealed to
him.
    “ Are you sure?” she asked
gently.
    “ I’m positive. You are
welcome here,” Alex said as he moved back to the rail and leaned
against it, looking again toward the Blue Ridge Mountains, taking
in the majesty of it all. It was a view he could never grow tired
of.
    Julie joined him and gasped as she glimpsed
the vista for the first time. “This place is awesome. I can’t
believe I never heard of it before.”
    “ You can thank my wonderful
public relations efforts for that,” Alex said. “We’re North
Carolina’s best kept secret,” he added with a smile.
    “ Sorry, I didn’t
mean—.”
    Alex cut her off. “I was just teasing. As
long as we have enough guests to break even, I’m a happy man.” Alex
paused, then added, “This can’t be an easy time for you, either,
having the Trasks turn on you like that.”
    Julie stared at the mountains a few moments
before speaking. “You know, it was always just my mom when I was
growing up, and when I lost her last year, I felt cut off from the
rest of the world, like I wasn’t really connected to anybody else.
It sounds crazy, doesn’t it?”
    Alex shook his head as he said, “When I lost
my folks, I felt like I’d been cut adrift. I’ve got a brother I
don’t really know, so Jase was all that was left of what I
considered my real family. For the first time in my life, I feel
like there’s just me.”
    Julie moved closer, though still not
touching him, and
    Alex felt warmed by her presence. “So you do
know how I feel. When your uncle’s letter came, the first thing I
thought of was that I wasn’t alone anymore. I wanted to introduce
myself to the Trasks right away, but Sandra said I should wait.” A
tear crept down her cheek as she added, “It wasn’t the family
reunion I’d been hoping for. Alex, I don’t care about the money or
anything else my father might have left me. I wanted him, something
I never had growing up. But the Trasks just think I’m trying to
steal something that I’m not entitled to.” Alex watched as she
battled her emotions.
    It was an easy motion to put his arm around
Julie, and she buried her head in his chest and cried.
    Alex said softly, “Don’t give up on them. I
think Steven might come around. You just may have to give them all
some time. I’m sure it was quite a shock for them.”
    Julie pulled back, wiping the tears from her
face. As she leaned up to kiss him on the cheek, Alex heard a
footfall on the stairwell and looked up in time to find Elise
there.
    “ Sorry, I didn’t mean to
interrupt,” she said.
    Julie blushed, adding to whatever Elise
imagined she saw. Then Alex suddenly realized he had nothing to
explain, nothing to feel guilty about. After all, Elise was the one
who was engaged to somebody else. Though they’d shared many meals
together, they’d never even been on a real date.
    So why did he feel so guilty?
    Julie said, “I was just leaving. Thanks for
the talk, Alex, it did me a world of good.”
    “ You’re more than
welcome.”
    Elise didn’t follow Julie down but instead
lingered at the top of the observation platform, as if waiting for
him.
    He was