Murder Checks Inn (Book 3 in the Lighthouse Inn Mysteries) by Tim Myers Page A

Alex,”
Sandra said as she returned Alex’s smile. “I think she means
everything by it.” She paused as their waiter immediately brought
them two glasses of wine and a bottle of Alex’s favorite, Chateau
Morrisette’s Sweet Mountain Laurel. It was from a vineyard in
nearby Virginia, and Alex kept hoping to get a few days off to take
a tour of the place someday. As the waiter poured, he said,
“Compliments of the management.”
    The waiter added grandly, “Are you ready to
order, or would you like some time with your menus?”
    “ I think we know what we
want,” Alex said as Sandra nodded her agreement. After they’d
placed their orders, Sandra took a sip of wine, then said with a
smile, “I don’t need Irma Bean rubbing my nose in the fact that
you’ve got a crush on Elise.”
    Alex protested, “She’s engaged to someone
else. In fact, I just found out her fiancé is moving to Elkton
Falls to be closer to her.”
    Sandra took another sip of wine, then said,
“Alex, Elise is never going to marry that man.”
    “ Why do you say
that?”
    Sandra put down her glass and looked into
his eyes. “If you ask me, she’s just as interested in you as you
are in her. Honestly, I wish you two would go out on a real date,
just so you can get it out of your systems. This pining away isn’t
doing either of you any good.”
    Alex said awkwardly, “Sandra, you know
Elise’s presence didn’t have anything to do with our breakup. We
just—”
    Sandra allowed herself a slight smile. “You
don’t even have to finish the sentence, Alex.” She patted his hand
as she added, “Our breakup was more my fault than it was yours. It
was just that I saw so much potential in you, I knew you could do
better than spending your life running an inn.”
    Before Alex could interrupt, she said, “Let
me finish. Now I know that Hatteras West is where you belong. It’s
a part of you. I just wish it hadn’t taken me so long to realize
it.” She took another sip of wine, then said, “To be honest with
you, I’m kind of glad we’re not dating anymore. I like you much
better as a friend.”
    Alex lifted his glass, then paused. “I made
my share of mistakes when we were dating, too.” He moved his glass
toward her. “Why don’t we drink a toast, celebrating our
friendship?”
    Sandra nodded, and their glasses clinked
together gently. “To friendship.”
    After a pleasant meal, Sandra drove Alex
back to the inn, refusing a cup of coffee as a nightcap by pleading
an early court date the next day.
    Alex walked into the inn to find Elise
sitting in the lobby by herself. There was a fire in the fireplace,
and it seemed to him that it crackled with more sparks as he joined
her.
    Elise said, “Good, you’re back. I’ve wanted
to talk to you all day, but there never seems to be the chance.”
Her words tumbled out in a rush.
    Alex leaned back in his chair as he placed
the items he’d collected at Jase’s on the table beside him. “How
about now? I’m free if you are.”
    Elise took a deep breath, then said, “Alex,
it’s important for you to know that Peter came to Elkton Falls of
his own accord. I did nothing to encourage him. In fact—”
    “ Elise, you don’t have to
explain anything to me. I know you’ve got a personal life of your
own. That’s allowed, you know,” he said, trying to ease the sudden
tension between them.
    Elise twisted a hair tie in her hands.
“You’re more than just my boss, Alex; you’re my friend. The thing
is—”
    She didn’t get the chance to finish her
sentence. Ashley Trask-Cooper took that moment to come downstairs.
“Mr. Winston, there you are. I simply must have a word with
you.”
    “ In a minute,” Alex said
holding one hand up as he turned to Elise. “You were
saying?”
    “ It can wait,” Elise said
as she stood abruptly.
    “ Elise, it had to be
important, or you wouldn’t have brought it up.”
    “ Alex, we can talk
later.”
    And before Alex could say another word, she
was