A Secret in Salem Read Online Free

villas, and the magnificent hotels that dotted the coastline. Others lived on the hundreds of boats, from thirty-footers to the block-long yachts with live-on crews numbering in the dozens, most of which bobbed quietly and empty during the low season.
    “Welcome to paradise, Tink,” Shawn said as he helped Belleto the deck. There was a chilled bottle of Veuve Clicquot, Belle’s favorite champagne, and fresh strawberries.
    “Got this idea from your mom and dad.”
    Belle’s eyes clouded.
    “It’s gonna be okay,” Shawn said in a comforting tone.
    “Mom says he’s better, but I’m not sure,” Belle answered, and then added, “You know my mother. Always keeping a stiff upper lip for us kids, whatever she’s going through.”
    “We’ve got a week until we see them,” he said as he popped open the champagne. “For now, let’s just think about us.”
    Shawn kissed her, his tongue darting inside her mouth. She smiled warmly and then kissed him with more passion.
    “I love you, Shawn,” she said with conviction.
    “Same back.”
    They sipped the Veuve Clicquot.
    “What should we do until then? There are so many places to see. Any thoughts?”
    “You already know,” Belle answered.
    “The aquarium, the museum, of course—oh, and Club 55 is supposed to be amazing. It’s a two-hour trip by sea, but Princess Stéphanie’s there whenever she’s home. Or La Colombe d’Or. Great food and real Matisses, Renoirs—all those guys—bolted to the walls, and it’s less than an hour to get there by boat.”
    Belle laughed. “As if you care.”
    “You do.”
    “It’s really not our scene, but thanks.” She brushed the brown floppy hair from his forehead, then added knowingly, “Tell me where I really want to go.”
    “Princess Grace’s grave.”
    She nodded. “How she influenced fashion is still phenomenal. Like Katharine Hepburn or Coco Chanel.”
    “To die so young…such a tragedy,” she added.
    Shawn clinked his Riedel champagne flute to hers, the only two nonplastic glasses on the boat. “But a great love story.”
    Belle looked into his eyes. As impetuous as Shawn had been when they were teenagers, he could be incredibly romantic.
    He slid his hand under the back of her polo shirt and pulled her close. Then he unfastened her bra with a flick of his fingers.
    Belle knew where this was going and bristled slightly, which he felt. They’d only had sex once in the last few weeks.
    Just then, brilliant fireworks exploded in the Monte Carlo sky.
    Through the shower of silver and gold, a bright yellow streak caught Shawn’s attention.
    It was Olivia’s Aston Martin convertible winding its way up the hillside.
    Looking closely, he could see Charley’s hair flowing freely in the wind.

I T WAS NEARLY MIDNIGHT WHEN M ARLENA LOOKED AT THE clock. She’d been tossing and turning in her bed for over an hour, but her head was spinning, and she couldn’t sleep.
    The Pratesi linens and down comforter covering her DUX bed were luxurious and comforting. John had insisted on the best for her, of course. For Marlena, however, his arms around her was all she wanted.
    Restless, Marlena crawled out of bed and went to sit at the Biedermeier desk that looked out to the lake. It was a beautiful moonlit night.
    “Why does this make me feel even more alone?” she pondered, then shook off the thought as she noticed there was a new text on her BlackBerry. It was from Belle, texting that she and Shawn were safely in the south of France.
    Marlena kissed the phone, then flipped through the photos Belle had recently sent her from her round-the-world journey. It had been much too long since she’d seen her youngest daughter in person, and she hadn’t held Claire since the precious thing was a toddler.
    Of all her children, Belle had a special place in Marlena’s heart. She could never voice that to anyone and would deny it if asked, but because she was Marlena’s only biological child with John, it was true.
    Her twins,