Harbour Falls (A Harbour Falls Mystery #1)(12)

Adam leaned back in the chair. Gone was the playful, naughty man who had made me feel so frustrated and angry. But, in all honesty, he’d also reminded me I could be desirable to someone. Maybe even desirable to him.

“We should probably get you back to the cottage,” he said, waylaying my train of thought. “It’s getting late.”

“Yeah, probably,” I agreed.

Adam drove me back to my cottage in his Porsche. And what a ride it was. Between the short distance and his lead foot, we reached the driveway in what had to be a new time for the record books.

Once I recovered from the impromptu Indy 500 experience, I said, “Well, thank you for driving me back, and I truly am sorry for trespassing on—”

“Maddy, don’t be foolish. I’m the one who should be apologizing. I knew you were moving onto the island today. I shouldn’t have been so suspicious when you wandered onto my property.” He paused, smiled knowingly, and then added, “After all, you were probably just taking a little stroll to get started on clearing that writer’s block, yes?”



His eyes met mine in the eerie glow of the instrument panel, and it was impossible to discern if he was joking. Or not. “Um, yeah, exactly,” I said shakily, while nodding profusely.

He didn’t seem to be buying the writer’s block story. I only hoped he hadn’t caught on to the real reason I was on the island. “Yeah…right,” he said in a dubious tone of voice.

I prayed he wouldn’t question me further, because I had the distinct impression Adam could be very persuasive, if need be. Thankfully he flashed me a smile. Though brief, I thought it genuine.

Relief flooded over me. I grabbed the door handle, my palm sweaty. “OK, thanks again.” Adam said nothing, so I continued, “I’m sure I’ll see you around. Take care.” Knowing I was blabbering on like, well, like a high school girl with an unrequited crush, I opened the door and clambered out.

“Wait, I’ll walk you to your door,” I heard him say.

Before I could decline, Adam was out of the car. I nearly ran into him on the walkway, and he moved aside, motioning for me to go ahead of him. As we walked the short distance from his car to my front door, I felt his eyes on me. It was lunacy, but instead of being uncomfortable, I was kind of hoping he was checking me out.

The intoxicating feeling of possibly being desired by someone I felt so attracted to was making me feel flirtatious, and consequently, impetuous. At the door I turned to him and asked, “Do you want to come in?”

“Madeleine…” He breathed out. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Oh God, I didn’t mean that!” Or did I? I was sure my face was turning shades of red to rival the changing leaves on the trees. My only saving grace was that it was dark out.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured, feeling foolish for sticking my foot in my mouth.

Adam reached out and ghosted his fingertips along my jaw. “There’s nothing to apologize for.” I closed my eyes and relaxed into his warm touch, allowing his fingers to make a slow, silky path down the side of my neck to my shoulder. Toying with the flimsy strap of my top, he whispered, “Exquisite.”



“Adam,” I began.

Our eyes met, and even in the darkness, I saw conflict in his. “I better just…go,” he said, dropping his hand and turning away.

Not sure what had just happened, I mumbled, “Good night,” and went into the cottage. In the dark I leaned back against the inside of the door. After several minutes I turned on a lamp and pulled myself together.

One thing for sure, my first time seeing Adam Ward after all these years had not gone the way I’d ever expected. Now that I was away from him, I was able to think a bit more clearly. I sat down on the sofa and pulled my knees up to my chest.

Viewing Adam with an objective eye was going to be a challenge. I couldn’t allow this attraction to him to get in the way of my reason for being here. It was going to be tough, because being around him had made me feel awake and alive. Like giddy, skin-tingling, pulse-racing alive. And now that I’d experienced it, I really craved that feeling.

But it was imperative to keep reminding myself that Adam Ward was more than just some heartbreakingly handsome guy. Hell, he was the primary suspect in this case. He could end up being downright dangerous. And not the sexy kind of dangerous that had excited me tonight.

No, Adam was not to be underestimated. Someone had already enlightened him to my “writer’s block” story. And it was clear he wasn’t buying it—at all. What would he do if he knew I planned to investigate his one-time fiancée’s disappearance and, in turn, investigate him?

Logic dictated that the wisest course of action in this situation would be to stay away from him. Investigate from afar. I whispered to myself, “Stay away from Adam Ward, stay away from Adam Ward.”

But, like whispering affirmations, some things are easier said than done.





Chapter 4



The following day, I was back on task. I had the case files to review, and I planned to drop by the café. Not only did I have to place an order for some real groceries—energy bars and water were just not cutting it—it was also time to start digging around to find out exactly why Nate and Helena had chosen to live on this island. Did it have anything at all to do with the Harbour Falls Mystery?