Suspicion At Sea - Amie Nichols Page 0,35

find my comb and start working on the tangles section by section to get through the mess.

“Everything good?” Justin lightly knocks on the door.

“Yeah, you can come in,” I say, as loud as my croaky voice will let me. He comes in without hesitation and wraps his arms around my waist, splaying his hands on my belly. I love that he is so touchy feely. I love that he just does it. It's like we've been together for years, so natural feeling.

“I guess the birds are going to be homeless.” He chuckles. Seeing that I've gotten through the last of the tangles, he reaches up, brushes my hair to the side and kisses my neck. I lean my head back on his shoulder, and the sensation of his lips sends shivers through me. “How's your back?” He pushes me up and lifts the back of my sweatshirt. There's no, ‘Can I look at your back?’ No, there was no wavering at all. It makes me smile. “What?” he says after scanning my back, seeing that the scrape is not a serious injury.

“Nothing, it's just...I never had this before, you know...” I mutter, not sure how to explain this.

“I've never had this before either, but I like it,” he whispers by my ear, kissing the shell. “Our ice cream is melting.” He turns me to the side and bending down lifts me up in his arms.

“Justin,” I screech and laugh at the same time. “I can walk.” My arm goes around his neck.

“I like you in my arms, so get used to it,” he says with no apology.

Chapter 21

Still Ellie

We watch TV on the couch while we eat our ice cream. The cold feels so good on my scratchy throat. In fact, when I'm done eating it I deem that I feel almost one hundred percent better. Justin takes my empty bowl, setting it off to the side. He pulls me toward him, my back against his front as we relax on the couch.

“Does your dad have any ideas on what happened to your brother-in-law?” I bring up, fishing for information.

“If he does he hasn't shared it with me.”

“Do you think they could have been into something else besides lobster?"

“Like what?” He is resting one hand over my shoulder and I take it in mine, playing with his fingers, rubbing in between each one lightly, admiring how strong his hands are.

“Something illegal?”

“Honestly, with those boys anything is possible,” he says, closing his fingers around my hand. Dropping the remote that is in his other hand, he wraps both of mine in his. I don't know where it comes from, but I get an uneasy feeling that Justin would have the skills to get rid of all of them and get back to the island without anyone knowing. I don't think he did, but I can see others thinking this as well. He definitely had means and motive.

“How would they disappear?” I just want his opinion, but I guess it comes out accusatory.

“Another boat? I don't know, I guess there are a few scenarios.” He grabs my shoulders, turning me enough so he can see my face, sadness on his. “Why are you so curious about this?” Damn it, he can sense my uneasiness. The change in his demeanor tells me that he knows what I'm thinking.

“Hey, I was just asking. Don't get defensive.” I turn it around, telling him I can sense him also.

“I swear there for a minute you were wondering if I did it.” He hits the nail on the head, smack, dead center.

“Oh my God, no,” I screech, a little overdramatic for effect. I will never admit out loud what I just thought.

“It would kill me if you ever thought I could do something like that.” He is not completely buying it. I turn in his arms so we are face to face and I am lying on him.

“I don't think that.” I stare into his brown, telling him that I don't. Honestly, it was a fleeting thought. I really don't think he would be capable of cold-blooded murder. I place my lips on his and one of his hands goes in my hair at the nape of my neck, pulling me against him.

Our kiss is intense, just like in the cave and on the beach. It is like we can't get close enough to each other. His free hand goes down to the small of my back, and I bear the pain because I don't want him