Read Online The Sapphire Affair (A Jewel Novel Book 1) by Lauren Blakely - Free Book Online Page B

was like that. Delight seemed to be his native language. Now it made Steph’s chest twinge to think it was all part of his routine—cover up his straying ways with his sunshine smile.
    In the next stingray lip-lock photo, his hair was a touch thinner and a bit darker, but his light blue eyes had that same confident spark. Steph had inched close enough to blow a kiss to the stingray in that one. “You’ll kiss him next time,” Eli had said to her.
    The final picture was taken during a family vacation—she’d joined Eli and her mom here after her junior year of college. On that visit, Steph had gone all in and puckered up to the stingray for the first time. But she’d missed right when her lips would have landed on its skin.
    The ray had slipped away. Taking her luck with it, too.
    She moved closer to the photo and quirked up the corner of her lips as she peered at the image she hadn’t seen in years, flashing back to all their trips here. Eli had taken them here nearly every year. This island became a second home for her new family growing up, and her stepdad had glad-handed with all the locals. He’d been the man about town. Like an ambassador who everyone loved and was delighted to see when he descended on the island. He’d brought good fortune to them, they said.
    Always tipping well, always partaking of all the local customs, always embracing the legends.
    Maybe her stepdad was right to believe in this legend. Perhaps she should have kissed a stingray sooner or held on longer for the last one. She should have insisted on her luck, the way Eli seemed predestined to claim his.
    Breezing through life, flashing a grin, taking what he wanted because he could. Because he had that thing known as charm.
    Duke had that, too. She’d fallen for him because he had an easy way about him. The second things didn’t go his way he’d turned into a complete asshole.
    She winced, hoping, praying, that Eli wasn’t all bad. Not like Duke. That’s why she was here in the Islands early. To find out which side of her stepfather was the true one.
    She drummed her fingers against the counter, waiting for Devon to finish up with his customer. She’d known Devon since she was that towheaded seven-year-old, and he’d been running this snorkel shop next to Stingray City Sandbar for even longer. His rough, dark skin told the tale of his years as a sun worshipper, and the steady stream of traffic in his store showed that he’d made a damn good living renting gear and operating boat tours for visitors to mingle in the crystal-blue waters with the world’s friendliest stingrays.
    “But don’t they, you know, sting you?” a woman with big sunglasses and gold hoop earrings asked him in a Jersey accent.
    He waved a hand to reassure her, then mimed petting a dog. “Nah. They’re like little puppies. They know you have food, so they get all excited and cuddle up next to you.”
    “I do like puppies,” the woman said, standing taller.
    “’Course you do. Now, go enjoy the puppies of the water,” he said in his cheery voice.
    The customer thanked him, then headed out to join the rest of the tour group.
    Devon held his arms out wide and flashed a huge grin at Steph, his white teeth gleaming. “Give me a hug. It has been far too long,” he said as she embraced him. He stepped away as if taking her in, like a family friend who hadn’t seen her in a long time. Of course, in many ways, that’s what he was. But he was also her friend and had been since she’d started up her business. He’d stood by her even when times had been tough. He’d always put in a good word for her when he could, and she’d done the same for him.
    Guys like him almost erased the memory of guys like Duke.
    “I know. I miss you all,” she said softly, since losing her traction here had hurt her heart the most.
    “Then get your butt down here more often,” he said, pointing wildly to the floor, the ceiling, the window that offered the most gorgeous view of