Read Online Lowcountry Bombshell (A Liz Talbot Mystery) by Susan M. Boyer - Free Book Online

was thinking we could go out. But if you’ve already started cooking…”
    My stomach flipped so high it bumped my heart and set it to pounding. “Where are you?”
    “I’m just driving off the ferry. Should be there in less than ten minutes.”
    My mouth went dry. I couldn’t form words.
    “Liz?”
    “Well, I guess I’d better finish getting dinner ready.” I grabbed my hair with my free hand.
    “See you in a few.”
    Oh boy. Oh boy oh boy oh boy.
    Call Michael. I had to call Michael. Nate could not find him here.
    I fumbled with the phone. My fingers weren’t working right. I managed to tap Michael’s name. Thank Heavens I didn’t have to press all the numbers.
    What did I look like? Okay. I had been out today. I had makeup on. I just needed to freshen up. The phone was ringing. Pick up. Pick up. Pick up.
    “Hey,” Michael answered. “I was just on my way over. You need me to bring anything?”
    “No, thank you. No. Listen, Michael. I’m really sorry, but we’re going to have to make it another night.”
    “Is everything okay?”
    “Yes. Everything’s fine. It’s just—” What? What was I going to tell him? I would not lie. I sighed. “Michael, Nate’s in town. He’s just gotten in, and I haven’t seen him in a while. There’s just a lot we need to talk about.”
    “I see.” Michael’s voice was tight. “When would you like to reschedule for?”
    “Ahh…can I get back to you on that?”
    “How about Friday? Let’s go out. Maybe someplace in Charleston. There’s something I want to give you.”
    “Give me?” That sounded like trouble.
    “Yes. It’s yours, actually. I need to return it.”
    “What is it?”
    “I’d rather show you. How about Friday?”
    “Listen, Michael, let me call you back on that. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”
    “Liz, I really want to see you.” He sighed, not happy. “Tomorrow then.”
    I employed my sunniest voice. “Talk to you soon. Bye now.”
    I pressed end, took three deep breaths and dashed up the stairs to change. I freshened, fluffed, and slipped into a mid-calf length, pink-and-white-checked sundress. My toes were polished in a complimentary color. I smiled slowly. I felt like being barefoot. I dabbed a little Chanel No. 19 behind my ears and on my wrists.
    As I walked down the stairs, I heard Rhett barking from the yard. I walked out onto the front porch and watched Nate’s grey Explorer roll down the gravel-and-oyster-shell driveway. I drifted to the top of the steps and waited. Oh my sweet Lord, I had dreamt of this moment—seeing him again, working up the courage to say all the things I wanted to say but hadn’t since Nate walked down these same steps in April. He pulled to a stop and climbed out. Rhett greeted him with wagging tail and a sloppy grin.
    “There’s a good boy.” Nate gave Rhett a two-handed head-rub, then reached back into the car and pulled out a bright green Hurley chew toy. He showed Rhett the toy, then threw it towards the forest at the edge of the yard. “Go get it!”
    Rhett raced off.
    For a moment, Nate just looked at me over the hood of the car. Then he closed the door and strolled towards me.
    “What kind of pasta were you making?”
    “Tortellini.”
    He started up the wide steps. I’d never seen a man look that good in jeans and a chambray shirt. “Have you put it on to boil yet?”
    “No. I was just starting the sauce.”
    He stopped one step below me. We were eye-level. He reached out and tucked my hair behind my left ear. “I’ve missed you.”
    “I’ve missed you, too.” I inhaled and savored the scent of evening jasmine mixed with Nate.
    “All of a sudden I’ve lost my appetite…for dinner.”
    I felt my eyes widen, shocked to hear him say what I was thinking. “Nate…” I struggled for words. This was uncharted territory for us.
    “You see, I’ve had ninety days since that afternoon I watched Michael Devlin propose to you on the beach, to think about how I should never have left