The Girl on the Yacht Read Online Free

wrapped her arms around Marin and gave her a crushing, affectionate embrace. “Trust me, Johnny is, too.”
    The name Johnny caught her ear and triggered a memory. Marin stared at the woman, and the baby blue eyes gave the beautiful woman away. “Sister Beth––from Wisconsin?” Marin held her away. “Last time I saw you,” Marin desperately tried to recall, “you were like––fifteen.”
    “She’s a lawyer in San Francisco now,” John said. “She’s in Orange County for a meeting and is staying at my house for the week.”
    Marin was the one leading the latest embrace. “We’ll have to catch up before you go back.”
    Laura looked over at her husband. “Dan, maybe we should go. Let these three get reacquainted.”
    John put his hand out to her. “You’re staying. I invited you for breakfast, and I want you to get to know Marin.”
    Laura grinned and picked up a few bright red strawberries. She handed one to Marin and one to Beth. “You have to try these.” She paused. “By the way, our boat’s in slip E-30.” She pointed to the slip between Marin’s and John’s.
    Dan picked up a croissant and looked over at Marin. “The way you brought your boat in was impressive.”
    “I couldn’t do that,” Laura confessed.
    “Marin’s been around boats her whole life. Her father was a Navy Captain.” John indicated that she should slide into the horseshoe-shaped seat across from the married couple. “She also has a Ph.D. in criminology.”
    Marin glanced over at him. She took a bite of the ripe strawberry and felt the sweet juice float across her lips, while she digested what he said. “I teach over at the University.”
    John stared at her. “What university?”
    “Newport Coast. Up on the hill.” She glanced across the bay at the sprawling campus overlooking the Pacific on the far bluff.
    “How long?” John had a puzzled expression.
    “Two years.”
    His radiant smile turned to a frown. “Two years? You knew I was in Newport, and you never tried to get ahold of me?”
    “I read about all of the beautiful women you were dating.”
    He looked hurt.
    Dan seemed to sense the awkwardness of the moment and changed the subject. “My Laura’s a psychiatrist.”
    John scanned away from Marin toward Dan. “Are you two staying on your boat tonight?” His voice seemed shallow. When Marin turned back to him, he chugged the Bloody Mary to the bottom of the glass.
    “We’re here till Monday,” Dan said.
    “It’s our first long weekend this year,” Laura said. “I’ve been swamped with patients, and I’m trying to finish some research.” Laura picked up on the uneasy moment between the reunited couple and speared another strawberry. “Aren’t these the best?”
    Marin nodded her agreement, but her thoughts were on John. Maybe I should have tried after I moved here. To redirect the conversation, she asked, “Laura, what’s your research about?”
    “It’s just behavioral stuff.”
    “Tuesday, she’s heading to Maryland for a conference at Walter Reed Medical Center.” Dan filled the dead air.
    “Are you going along?” Marin asked Dan.
    “Been there before. I just sit around all day in the hotel room waiting for her to come back from meetings. She goes from morning till night. No, thanks. I’ll use the time to get caught up at my office.”
    “What kind of work do you do?”
    “Investments.” Dan’s tone suddenly changed. He stared out at the bay. “Or, maybe I’ll just come down to the boat and read a good mystery.” He turned back to Marin. “What about you two?”
    John shrugged. “You know me––whatever.”
    This is getting a little awkward , Marin thought. The criminologist shifted in her seat and nudged John to let her out. “I should get back to my boat and crank out a few pages in my book. My publisher’s been hounding me to get him some chapters.”
    John stood and moved aside, while Beth gave him a look that he shouldn’t let her go. “Maybe we can get