Page 13 of Spotted at Lighthouse Bay (Spotted Cottage #4)

She was far too easy to talk to. Rick hadn’t meant to tell her all those things. Maybe one or two events from his past, but everything about himself?

Yikes.

He normally didn’t get this far. People forced him to stop talking when they asked rude questions. “How many people have you shot?” or “What’s the worst thing you saw on the ambulance?”

They said it with a smile, too, like they were waiting to hear an exciting story, not one about the worst day of his life.

There was none of that from Adelaide. It was like talking to someone who’d known him all his life.

On the drive home, she was quiet. He thought she might be waiting for him to spill more secrets. He kept his mouth shut.

When they were almost at the house, she turned to him and said, “Thanks for the pity dinner.”

He pulled into the driveway, shaking his head.

“There was no pity,” he said, stopping at the house. “I was hungry, and I needed to get more use out of that company card.”

“Uh huh.”

“We were two ships passing in the night,” he continued. “Two ships adrift in the same restaurant –”

Her uproarious laughter cut him off. He smiled to himself and shut off the engine. The night fell silent, save for the wind sweeping leaves across the ground.

Adelaide popped her door open. “I appreciate our,” she paused, “relation ship .”

He groaned. “You’re terrible.”

She laughed again, jumping from the car and shutting the door.

Rick didn’t mean it, of course. Her spirit was back, as strong as before. He stepped out of the car, hiding his smile. The house looked different in the moonlight. Softer, somehow, the warm glow from the windows inviting them in.

Adelaide pushed the door open—it was unlocked, as always—and turned to look at him. Light flooded around her, illumining the gentle smile on her face.

His heart leapt. Another glimpse into a different life. Adelaide looking back at him, waiting for him. A place called home. A safe place.

“Everything okay?” she asked.

Snap back to reality. “Yeah, sorry.”

He followed her inside. The kitchen was empty. No sign of Sheila.

He liked Sheila well enough, but he didn’t want her to hear about Adelaide’s night yet. For this moment, it was between her and Rick. A small secret he got to keep.

She went upstairs and retired to her room. He said his goodnights, then went back to his room and opened the window. After a shower, he laid down on the bed, a towel still wrapped around his waist.

The ocean was calm tonight, barely any sound at all. The wind whistled in the window, the cold air a stark contrast to the warmth of the bed.

Rick’s eyes drifted shut, and his arms and legs sank into the bed, anchoring him into place. His breaths grew long and deep.

The shrill pangs of his alarm shocked him awake. Rick sat up, his heart thundering in his chest.

He rarely made it to his alarm, always waking early and restless from whatever broken sleep he’d claimed.

He got dressed quickly and rushed to Addy’s door. Inside, she sang a tune.

“Are you okay in there?” he called out.

“Yes, just getting ready! I have good news.”

He shouldn’t have slept so deeply. What if something had happened? He hadn’t woken all night. Hadn’t heard anything.

Sweat dotted his forehead. He wiped it away with the back of his hand.

He returned to his room to brush his teeth and splash cold water on his face. When Addy’s door opened, he was waiting to walk her down the stairs.

“Mia sent me a message,” Addy said, showing him her phone. “She talked to some people in Lawrence’s neighborhood, and one had doorbell footage of the guys who were going door-to-door.”

“That’s interesting.”

“Do you have access to some sort of database? Maybe we can put their pictures in and identify these guys?”

Rick smiled. “No, I don’t have access to a facial recognition database, and I wish no one did.”

She sighed. “Here I thought you were high tech.” She pulled a pan from the cupboard and set it on the stove. “Egg sandwich?”

It wasn’t her responsibility to feed him. But those sandwiches were so good…

“If it’s not a bother.”

“Not at all,” she said, turning to the fridge. “One of the neighbors gave Mia a business card. It has a different address than the one on the website. Maybe we should check it out?”

It was a terrible idea. This company was shady in some way, and these guys were just the start of it. They should leave it alone and help Marilyn find a new place to live. Maybe talk to a social worker and find her senior assistance.

Adelaide stopped, a carton of eggs in her hand, and peered up at him.

Who was he to squash the hope in her eyes? “Whatever you think is best.”

“I knew I liked you,” she said with a wag of her finger.

She turned, flicking water into the pan. Little beads of liquid jumped into place, bouncing against the edges. Adelaide threw in a glob of butter. She cracked one egg, then a second.

It was rude to stare. Rick picked up the coffee pot and turned away. The smell of the coffee beans helped him focus.

Still – why had his heart jumped when she said that?