Murder Checks Inn - Tim Myers [9]
Alex said softly, “Don’t give up on them. I think Steven might come around. You just may have to give them all some time. I’m sure it was quite a shock for them.”
Julie pulled back, wiping the tears from her face. As she leaned up to kiss him on the cheek, Alex heard a footfall on the stairwell and looked up in time to find Elise there.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she said.
Julie blushed, adding to whatever Elise imagined she saw. Then Alex suddenly realized he had nothing to explain, nothing to feel guilty about. After all, Elise was the one who was engaged to somebody else. Though they’d shared many meals together, they’d never even been on a real date.
So why did he feel so guilty?
Julie said, “I was just leaving. Thanks for the talk, Alex, it did me a world of good.”
“You’re more than welcome.”
Elise didn’t follow Julie down but instead lingered at the top of the observation platform, as if waiting for him.
He was surprised to find himself explaining, “She was crying, so I offered her what comfort I could.”
Elise shook her head. “That’s not why I came looking for you. Alex, there’s something I need to tell you. I’m sorry about the timing, but I can’t do anything about it.”
“You’re leaving, aren’t you,” he said woodenly. The thought had been constantly in the back of his mind since Elise had first come to Hatteras West. She was more qualified than he was to run the inn, with her degree in hotel management from a major university. It was just a matter of time before she got bored with the drudge work at Hatteras West.
She looked genuinely surprised by the notion. “No, I’ll stay here as long as you want me. I thought you knew that. I love this place.”
Alex couldn’t hide the relief that swept through him. “So what’s on your mind?”
Elise bit her lip, then said, “It’s Peter Asheford. He’s coming to Elkton Falls.”
Alex felt a wrenching in his gut. He’d always hoped that as long as Elise and Peter stayed apart, there might be a chance for him someday. It looked like that chance was gone.
“How can he do that? I thought he ran some great company he owned and couldn’t afford to leave it.”
Elise said, “It was just a toy for him, and he got bored with it, so he sold the business. Peter’s family has serious money, Alex.”
An unpleasant thought struck him. “Is he staying with us at the inn when he comes?”
She shook her head. “You don’t understand. Alex, he’s not visiting. Peter is moving to Elkton Falls to be closer to me.” She held his gaze a moment, then added, “I just thought it was something you should know.”
Before Alex could say another word, Elise left him alone on the observation deck with nothing but his thoughts. Just when he thought life couldn’t get any more complicated, it had managed to throw him another curve, and this one was a real dinger.
Elise had originally moved to Elkton Falls to get away from her job and her fiancé, to find time to decide what she really wanted out of life. A part of him had been hoping the new plan would include him.
But with Peter Asheford on the scene again, Alex realized that was probably never going to happen. Most likely, Peter would persuade her to leave, and that would be the end of that.
It was time to move on with his life. Alex knew he couldn’t wait around for Elise forever. He’d have to accept the fact that they’d most likely be nothing more than friends. Besides, romance should be the last thing on his mind at the moment. He had a murderer to catch, and Alex had a sneaking suspicion that the killer was lurking somewhere near Hatteras West.
Chapter 4
“The place looks great,” Tony said as he walked into the lobby of the Dual Keepers’ Quarters the next day, the only part of the inn fit for guests at the moment. “I can’t believe you’re rebuilding the main quarters. It must be costing you a fortune.”
Alex looked at his brother and smiled. “There are more things in life than money, Tony. It’s really important to me to restore the place to all its glory.”
“And you actually got someone