Read Online Whisper Cape by Susan Griscom - Free Book Online

“Yeah, I figured as much, since you were behind the bar mixing drinks.”
    Addie started to sway and he wrapped his arms around her waist. “Whoa, are you sure you’re going to be okay?”
    Mesmerized, she gazed into his dark blue eyes; the soft light shining down on them added a warm glow to his beautiful face. He had a slight curve to his lips, almost a smile, which hadn’t been there before. She wasn’t afraid, though her mind told her she should be. Instead, she felt surprisingly safe there in his arms. There was something heartfelt, yet mysterious, so enigmatic and undeniable about him. Blinking, Addie's cheeks burned as she realized she was staring.
    “Yes, I’m sure. I’m fine. Thanks for catching me,” she mumbled.
    He eased his arms from around her, but moved his hands to her shoulders. “My pleasure. Lucky for you I was here—you would have hit that rock on the ground harder than you hit the sign you so gracefully ran into.”
    “Yeah,” she managed. A great comeback to his sarcasm eluded her while she looked into his eyes. Suddenly conscious of how close they stood, she attempted to move toward the women’s room door but was unsuccessful under his firm hold.
    “I think I’ll be okay, you can let go now.”
    “Okay.” He eased back and, slowly lowering his arms, stuck his hands in his pockets, a very nonthreatening gesture. “But you’ll have to use the men’s room; the women’s doesn’t seem to be working.”
    “What?”
    “The sign,” he said, nodding toward the large metal pole with the notice on it.
    “Jeez, just my luck.”
    “I can stand guard if you’d like.” His broad smile had her stomach fluttering and the blood throughout her body tingled.
    She glanced around and didn’t see any other option since she’d drunk an entire bottle of beer and it was determined to find a way out. “Okay, if you don’t mind, thanks.”
    “No problem. It’s really not so bad in there. There are stalls with doors.” He chuckled.
    Feeling a bit uncertain about the idea of using the men’s bathroom, she entered and glanced around. Two stalls just like the women’s room, except in this room, against the wall next to the sink stood a urinal. She wrinkled her nose at the sight of it as she stepped into one of the stalls and closed the door. The small room reeked of antiseptic, but Addie straddled the seat anyway, not wanting her skin to make contact just in case. She was surprised at how well kept the place was and had a new respect for the Parks and Recreation Department.
    What is he doing here at the beach and why does he keep appearing out of nowhere? He seems harmless, but one can never be too certain. Who is he, anyway?
    Addie had a ton of questions she wanted to ask him. She quickly washed her hands in the little sink and emerged from the bathroom. There he stood, as promised, leaning against the wall with his hands still in his pockets, looking gorgeous and rather mysterious. Her stomach fluttered as though it held a million tiny hummingbirds vibrating their wings.
    “All finished, Grace?” he asked. The smug look on his face caught her off guard.
    Gathering her poise and ignoring the barb, she considered asking him about his disappearing act, but thought better of it. Maybe he didn’t realize she was the one in the truck or at the cliff yesterday.
    “What are you doing here, anyway?” Addie asked.
    “I was out here taking a walk—my hotel is just over there.” He pointed toward a large two-story building across the highway. “I was enjoying the sound of the waves until you came huffing up the hill, and proceeded to almost knock your head off.”
    “Oh,” Addie muttered, but then added in defense, “I wasn’t huffing.”
    “Yeah, you were, a little.” His smile suggested he was teasing, but Addie couldn’t be certain about that, or anything else about this man.
    “Well, so sorry to have interrupted your serene moment.”
    “No problem, I rather enjoyed it. The