Seaside Secrets by Cindy Bell Page A

narrowed his ey es and glanced down at the sidewalk as if he wasn't sure what to do. Suzie didn't like the way the man was looking at her younger cousin, as if Jason had to answer to him.
    “ Hello, I'm Suzie, Jason's cousin,” Suzie explained quickly as she held out her hand to the man. She noticed a flicker of heat in his eyes before he extended his own hand and accepted hers with a polite handshake.
    “ Pleasure to meet you, Suzie,” he said quietly. “Sorry to keep Jason from you, but a mayor's job never ends,” he chuckled and released her hand. Suzie glanced over at Jason who was standing uncomfortably beside them both.
    “ Mayor?” she asked with surprise when she looked back at the man before her.
    “ I'm sorry, it was rude of me not to introduce myself,” he shook his head and smiled. “I'm Thomas Ralley, mayor of this fine town,” he added and winked at Suzie. Suzie smiled in response to his wink, but her eyes naturally narrowed with suspicion.
    “ I've been looking for an opportunity to introduce myself,” he added with a shy grin. “I just didn't know when would be the right time. You two ladies have been quite busy, I've heard,” he added as he looked over Suzie's shoulder at Mary who still had her arms full of the cleaning supplies they had just purchased.
    “ Quite,” Suzie agreed and felt her smile fade slightly. “I'm glad to have met you, Mr. Ralley,” she added.
    “ Oh please, call me Tom, everyone does,” he chuckled and glanced over at Jason. “Must be nice having family in town, Jason,” he said in a mild tone.
    “ Very,” Jason spoke shortly and then cleared his throat. “I've tried to convince her that the house is a total loss, but she's determined,” he raised an eyebrow as he looked directly at Suzie. Suzie felt the tension rise in the middle of the conversation though she could not place why it was there. Something about Thomas made her very uncomfortable, as if she'd met him before and had a reason not to like him.
    “ Well, we can't give up so easily on things just because they're a little aged,” she chuckled a little. “I suppose it's hard for someone as young as you to understand that Jason.”
    Jason pursed his lips and glanced away dismissively.
    “Jason is one of our finest officers,” Thomas offered to smooth out the feathers that seemed to have been ruffled. “Without him our police force would never run as well. He's pretty good at not giving up,” he added and then lowered his voice with a playful tone. “I like to think he gets that from me.”
    “ Oh?” Suzie asked with surprise as she looked between Jason and Thomas. “Do you know each other well?”
    “ He's a family friend,” Jason said quickly and then laid a hand lightly on Mary's shoulder. “Let me help you with those,” he offered as he took some bags from her.
    “ I would love to have dinner,” Thomas suggested as Jason was steering Mary in the direction of the car. He paused and tossed a glance in the direction of the mayor.
    “ I'm sure they'll be tired...” Jason began to say, but Suzie interrupted him.
    “ I'd really enjoy that,” Suzie said with a shrug, she wanted to know just how much influence this man had on her cousin. “Do you have a place in mind?”
    “ Cheney's has the best pasta in town,” Thomas smiled as he glanced from Suzie to Mary who was getting into the car. Jason was still staring hard at Thomas. “Say about seven?” he suggested. “Jason, you should join us,” he said, his voice gaining a sterner tone.
    “ Well, I...”
    “ Oh, that would be lovely,” Suzie said with a broad smile. “We could use the break, and I feel like I haven't had the chance to learn anything about the town, or my cousin,” she added as she looked over at Jason. Jason lowered his eyes and nodded reluctantly.
    “ See you then,” Thomas smiled and turned to walk away from the car.
    “ Are you okay, Jason?” Suzie asked as she walked towards the driver's side door of the