Page 58 of Smuggler's Cove

“That’s so nice. Ooh, we should probably get a hotel for the night,” Olivia suggested. “For the weekend? You might want to hang around town a little.” She gave her friend a mischievous look. “Don’t think I don’t know what that smile was really about.”

Madison laughed. “You know me too well. But staying over the weekend is not a bad idea. What about renting a house?”

“Even better. I will get on it right now. I am sure many are already booked.”

“Good point.” Madison gazed out the window that overlooked more buildings and a blotch of blue sky. “You know something, Liv, I think I was a little too quick on the draw about my opinion.”

“Which one? You have many,” Olivia teased.

“Smuggler’s Cove.”

“Oh, really?” Olivia gave her a sideways look. “Could it be the handsome Coast Guard captain?”

“Yes, but that’s not all of it. Everyone has been genuinely kind, and the scenery is absolutely beautiful.”

“Do you mean thescenery-scenery? Or the Coast Guard scenery?”

“Can’t I mean both?” Madison chuckled. “Listen, I am not a fan of the bait and tackle part of it, but the area and the people, it is quite charming.”

“That’s a good word for it.” Olivia nodded. “And handsome mariners help, too.”

“Will you please stop?” Madison was blushing.

“Nope,” Olivia said emphatically.

“Okay, but promise you will not tease me in front of Lincoln. He would never let me hear the end of it.”

“Lincoln and I share many things.Oursecrets?”—she pointed to Madison and then to herself—“they belong to us, and us alone.”

“Thank you.”

“Hey, I love my husband, but we’re best friends forever.” Olivia winked. “Now, I have some house hunting to do.”

“And I better call Linc and let him know about the festival and our plans.”

Olivia went back to her desk, and Madison dialed her brother’s number.

“Twice in one day?” Lincoln answered without saying hello.

“Hello to you, too,” Madison snarked. “So, I got a call from Detective Burton this morning.”

“Well, aren’t you the darling of the local constables?”

Madison rolled her eyes. “Yes. Yes, I am. Get this. Smuggler’s Cove has an annual seafood festival over Memorial weekend, and each year, they honor someone. This year they want to honor Uncle Kirby. There’s some sort of fund for families who lost a loved one while working out on the water.”

“That’s pretty cool. Uncle Kirby. Who knew he was so popular?”

“Exactly. We surely didn’t, and now it is time for us to make up for all the years we ignored him.”

“It wasn’t entirely our fault.”

“Yeah, it was. We were grown up enough to stay connected with him.”

“I hate to admit it, but when you’re right, you’re right,” Lincoln said.

“Thank you. Anyway, they want us to go down and be part of the ceremony.”

“Huh. What does that entail?”