Read Online Sunset Point: A Shelter Bay Novel by Joann Ross - Free Book Online

after a heart attack six months ago, Mike Brown wouldn’t hesitate to track down any bad guy who might dare threaten his daughter. Something she refused to risk for fear of causing another attack.
    “Perhaps you’re telling me because of this.” Nate reached into his pocket, pulled out a piece of paper, and handed it to her.
    “It’s a surprisingly good likeness,” she murmured, studying the extremely flattering sketch. “You didn’t mention you’re also an artist.”
    “I’m not. I can’t paint anything but a wall, but I did inherit an amateuristic ability to sketch from my mother, who’s a professional artist. My father paints, too, but only as a hobby.”
    “This is a step up from amateur work,” she said. “But it’s a little presumptuous of you to change my hairstyle.”
    “I didn’t change it.”
    She looked up at him. “Of course you did. You drew me with straight hair. My curls have driven me crazy for years.”
    He waved away her argument. “Your curls are gorgeous. But I couldn’t have known the difference in the hairstyles when I drew that sketch.”
    “When did you draw it?”
    “Eight weeks ago.”
    “That’s ridiculous, we—”
    “Hadn’t met yet.” Nate’s gaze was unnerving as it swept over her face.
    “You could have seen me on TV. My bigamist case has gotten a lot of coverage.”
    “I don’t watch the news, especially when I’m on a deadline, which is almost always. There’s too much bad stuff on it.”
    “Says the man who writes about even worse things.”
    “My books are fiction. I did look you up after I found your wallet. Google kicked up a lot of pages about the money-laundering trials. Obviously I didn’t read deeply enough to get to your past.”
    “It’s encouraging to learn that my work shows up before that old kidnapping story.”
    “It does. And it’s all good. Including an article that suggested you were considering running for congress.”
    “Now that’s definitely fiction.”
    “Too bad. The political system, which has become a horror story of its own, could use someone like you… And I’m betting you really don’t believe in ghosts.”
    Tess took a soothing sip of ice water. What he was suggesting was not only ludicrous, it was impossible. She couldn’t help wondering if all those years of writing about monsters had affected the man’s mind.
    “No, I don’t. And for the record, nor do I believe in vampires, sparkly or otherwise, werewolves, ghouls, or any other spooky things that go bump in the night.” Tess speared a piece of romaine topped with pomegranate seeds. “With such a vivid imagination, it’s no wonder your books sell so well.”
    “That sketch isn’t a figment of my imagination. And believe me, Tess, neither is Captain MacGrath.”
    Tess froze at the all-too-familiar name.
    Busted . Nate had sensed there were hidden depths to Tess Lombardi. Angus MacGrath might be a clever old soul, but he couldn’t have captured Nate’s unwavering interest with just any woman.
    “I suspect most people who’ve visited Shelter Bay have heard the name.” After taking another drink of ice water, she drew in a deep, calming breath. “Given that the wreck of the ship he was captaining is still rusting away on Castaway Cove.”
    Every instinct Nate possessed told him that Tess knew more than she was telling, but before he could dig deeper, they ran out of time.
    She put down her glass and stood up. “I’m due back in court to make my closing statement.”
    Nate tossed some bills on the table. “Don’t worry, Counselor, I’ll get you back before the bailiff calls the court to order.”
    The sun was shining through a break in the slate-gray clouds as they left the restaurant.
    “We didn’t get to finish our conversation,” he said as they walked back to the courthouse. “Have dinner with me tonight.”
    “So I can waste my time listening to you drag out this outrageous bit of fiction concerning the alleged ghost of a man who died a