Read Online The Siren's Call (Last Chance Motel Book 3) by Abigail Keam - Free Book Online

going out with my family today. It’s the first day Jenny has been on a boat in a few years.”
    “Yes, Jenny told me all about it,” River said, looking past Mike at his boat. He gave a low whistle. “She’s a beaut. Are those twin Evinrudes?”
    “Uh, yeah, yeah, sure. How will I be able to reach you tomorrow morning, Mr. Egan? Do you have a cell phone number? Or should I just phone here?”
    River looked at Mary. “I guess I should get one, shouldn’t I? Well, until your mother gives the okay on the trailer, I guess I’ll be bunking here.”
    “Really?” uttered Mike, turning to look at his mother, who was turning beet red.
    Mary involuntarily touched her fingertips to her cheek. “Mike, you’re keeping Eva and Jenny waiting.”
    Mike looked back at his boat. “I’ll call tomorrow morning and do the test.”
    “That will be super, Mike,” replied River, looking very pleased. “Again, it was a pleasure to meet you.
    “Well, it’s been very interesting to meet you, Mr. Egan.”
    “River, please.”
    Mike gave his mother another glance and turned to leave.
    “Have a good time,” said River cheerfully.
    “I hope you’re not having a good time with my mother,” mumbled Mike.
    “What was that?” asked River.
    Mike forced a fake smile and said, “Nothing. See you two tomorrow morning.”
    Mary bit her lip, but didn’t reply. She knew what Mike was thinking and didn’t appreciate it, suddenly realizing she was a bit defensive about River. It was her life and she didn’t like anyone interfering with it, even if it was her one and only son. Besides, she wasn’t doing anything wrong that she needed to justify.
    On the other hand, the gleam in River’s eye as she turned to look at him made her a little nervous. It both horrified and pleased her. She was gratified that a man might still be interested at her age. It had been a long time since she had seen a twinkle in the eye of the opposite sex, but then it would all be over when River moved into his trailer.
    He would eventually move on–and so would she.

21
    “M ike, what’s wrong? You look flustered,” prompted Eva as Mike jumped back on the boat.
    Mike waved her off. “Nothing. Mom just wanted me to do a mold test.” He untied the boat. “Let’s shove off. We’ve got a picnic to eat and some serious snorkeling to do.”
    Eva shrugged and started the engine.
    “Mom, I know why Daddy’s mad.”
    “Why’s that?” asked Eva.
    “Mr. Egan is sitting in the kitchen with grandma.”
    Eva shielded her eyes and turned around, straining to look through the glass windows at back of Mary’s house. “Well, I’ll be. What’s that old coot doing at Mary’s house at ten in the morning?”
    “What did you say?” asked Mike, taking over the steering wheel.
    “Oh, nothing, dear,” murmured Eva, grinning and winking at Jenny. Eva thought it was great that a man might be interested in Mary, but knew Mike well enough to know that he might resent another man’s intrusion into his mother’s life.
    For a long time it had been just Mike, Mary, and Jenny facing the world. And Eva thought about Jenny’s reaction when she had entered it.
    Eva knew enough about human nature to know people sometimes resisted change, even when it was for the better. Look at Jenny’s difficult adjustment when she married Jenny’s father.
    Mike guided the boat over to Molasses Reef, where other boats had collected. He liked to be with other snorklers and divers in case something went wrong. He tied the boat to one of the floating anchor balls, since it was illegal to put an anchor down in the delicate reef.
    Jenny peered anxiously over the side of the boat.
    Seeing Jenny’s wide-eyed expression, Mike put his arm around her. “You don’t have to go into the water if you don’t want to.”
    “No, Daddy. I want to try.”
    “Okay, then.”
    “You’ll be right next to me? You won’t leave me?”
    “I’ll be by your side until you say you’ve had