Murder Checks Inn - Tim Myers [71]
“Good-bye, Tony. You know you’re always welcome here.”
Tony looked around one last time. “It’s not home for me anymore, Alex.”
And then he drove away, without a single look back.
Chapter 21
The inn was nearly empty again, at least for the moment. Ashley left to find her mother with Mathias by her side. There was an uneasy truce between Mathias and Cynthia, and Alex wondered how it would all work out. He’d heard the older man trying to talk Ashley into visiting Julie at the hospital, but he wasn’t having much success. Tony’s room was empty, and they didn’t have any more guests scheduled until the weekend.
Alex had just finished paying the last of a stack of bills when Mor walked in.
“Got a second?” his friend asked.
“I’ve been meaning to return your call, but things were a little tense around here.”
“So I heard,” Mor said.
“You said you’ve made up your mind. I’m going to miss you, Mor. You’ve been like a brother to me.”
Mor continued his frown, but he couldn’t hold back any longer, and a smile exploded. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily. I’ve decided to hang around Elkton Falls. Who else is going to keep you out of trouble?”
Alex couldn’t believe the good news. “What made you change your mind?”
“Les and his lady friend had a parting of the ways. He never wanted to retire; she was pushing him into it so she could help him spend his money. You know how tight he is! Can you imagine him forking over his money for cruises and minks? He had a fit. No, it’s back to business as usual for Mor or Les.”
Alex hugged his friend. “I’m really glad you’re staying.”
Mor hugged him back, then pulled away. “Hey, don’t get mushy on me here. Well, I’d better get back to work. I’ve been slacking off lately, and I’ve got a backlog of calls you wouldn’t believe. I want to get caught up before Emma gets into town. See you around, Alex.”
“Bye, Mor. And welcome back.”
“Hey buddy, I was never gone,” he said as he walked out, smiling.
Alex missed Jase, but the rest of his world was back the way he liked it. Tony had been right; Hatteras West was his home, and his complete world.
Elise knocked on the door soon after Mor left and said, “Alex, we need to talk.”
Oh, well. Things had been great for a few minutes, anyway.
“Peter’s not buying the cottage after all. He’s moving back to West Virginia.”
Alex steeled himself for the rest of the news. “And you’re going back with him, aren’t you?”
Elise looked startled by the comment. “Is that what you want, Alex?”
“I want you to stay,” he blurted out. “I thought you knew that.”
“Of course I’m staying. Seeing you dangling off the edge of the lighthouse made me realize I belong here with you. The engagement is off.” She paused a moment, then added, “Alex, would you like to take me out to dinner?”
“What, you mean like a date?”
Elise smiled. “Don’t you think it’s high time we had one?”
Alex returned her grin. “I’d say so. So, where are you taking me?”
“I thought we could go to Mamma Ravolini’s. Irma’s been bragging about a new dish I want to try.”
“Were you asking me out for tonight? That’s awfully short notice,” Alex said with a grin.
“We don’t have any guests, so why not? Tomorrow we’ll have a nearly full house again. I can’t wait until we open the rebuilt Dual Keepers’ Quarters again.”
Alex said, “For one night, let’s not talk about Hatteras West.”
“It’s a deal,” Elise said as she moved toward him.
And now a peek at Room for Murder, book 4 in the Lighthouse Inn mysteries by Tim Myers.
Room for Murder
By Tim Myers
Chapter 1
“I can’t believe you’re actually letting these blowhards take over the Grand Unveiling like this,” Mor Pendleton said as he and Alex Winston watched the activities on the temporary outdoor stage from the wings of the newly rebuilt Dual Keepers’ Quarters of the Hatteras West Inn. A long shadow fell from the nearby lighthouse, hiding them from the view of most of the crowd. Mor was not only the town handyman