Read Online Whisper Beach by Shelley Noble - Free Book Online

trying to cover with makeup.”
    Dana’s fingers went reflexively toward her cheek, before she realized what she was doing and snatched her hand down. “We just had a little tiff. That’s all.”
    Dana had stopped pretending that her bruises had come from accidents a long time ago. Now she didn’t even bother to deny it.
    The fire had just gone out of her. It started after Van left, but she really spiraled down when she hooked up with Bud.
    Bud Albright was a cop with anger management problems. He’d been censured a couple of times for rough handling of a detainee, but somehow he managed to stay on the force. Probably by taking his anger out on Dana instead of his collars.
    â€œAll right, you were going to tell me who all was at the funeral.”
    â€œNot all, babycakes . . . But one particular person.”
    â€œFine, but you’d better get it out, because Bud is headed this way.”
    â€œI’m not afraid of him.”
    â€œYou should be.”
    Dana smiled. “Your girlfriend, that’s who.”
    â€œDana, I don’t currently have a girlfriend. Can we just cut to the chase? My dinner’s here.”
    Mike put his burger in front of him and reached below the bar for ketchup and mustard. “Let the man eat in peace, Dana.”
    Dana made a face at him. Mike began scrubbing the counter, ignoring her.
    Joe reached for his napkin.
    â€œVan’s back.”
    Joe flinched even though he’d steeled himself not to react. But Dana had waited for his one moment of distraction before going in for the kill. The girl had black widow instincts.
    â€œThought you might be interested.”
    â€œWell, Gigi is her cousin. Stands to reason she might come to the funeral.”
    â€œAfter twelve years? Are you serious?” The seductress and the syrupy singsong voice were gone; the old Dana stood before him, angry, belligerent, and spoiling for a fight.
    Joe would have welcomed the change if it hadn’t come in tandem with Van Moran’s reappearance.
    He didn’t know why Dana was still so angry after all these years. Nothing had happened to her. She’d managed to break him and Van up with her stupid flirtations.
    Van should have known he’d never take Dana seriously. He was a guy. A young guy and he enjoyed the attention, but he loved Van. He’d been pissed at her, but he’d always meant to make up with her. Then Van just up and left without a word, and he’d never heard from her again.
    And life went on.
    He’d gotten over it. He couldn’t figure out why Dana hadn’t. She still had her life, her friends; it was Van’s life that had changed. Van was the one who left, the one no one heard from again. Dana just went back to what she did best, flirting. And then Bud came along; but it still hadn’t stopped her—she reveled in causing trouble.
    She couldn’t seem to help herself.
    Joe had once asked why she kept at it. She’d just looked at him and said, “Guess God just made me cute, sexy, and mean as a snake.”
    She’d missed on all counts.
    At least in Joe’s mind. She was too hard-edged to be pretty, and her in-your-face come-on was anything but sexy—at least to him. And it didn’t get any prettier with age. And though she might not be hiding a heart of gold beneath her bitchy exterior, she wasn’t nearly as badass as she wanted people to believe. And that’s what kept getting her in trouble. She was like a bad kid, acting out for attention.
    He reached for the ketchup and shook some out on his fries. Screwed the cap back on, put it on the counter. Picked up his burger . . .
    Dana’s fingers walked up his thigh. “You’d have hardly recognized her.”
    He put the burger down.
    â€œListen, Dana, I know you enjoy drawing this all out. But I’m hungry and tired; can you just please say what you’re going to say and be done?”
    Dana’s dark eyes