Gull Harbor Read Online Free Page A

cheeks cooled. When she had regained her composure, she lifted her eyes to greet him properly.
    He was impossibly handsome. Her throat grew dry as she gaped at him. Say something, she told herself, but nothing came to mind. She continued to stare at him until he asked her if she was feeling okay.
    “I’m fine,” she choked out. “Just not very good at economics.” Pitiful, but at least she had recovered the ability to speak. What was happening to her? She had managed to exhibit more poise when she had met the Governor of Massachusetts last year.
    “We can fix that,” he’d said with an easy grin. And he had; she’d aced the course with his help. But he’d taught her so much more than economics in the two years they were together. Their relationship had changed the course of her life.
    And now here she was, alone at night in a haunted house. She sighed and rolled over. When the ghostly sobbing began, she was tempted to join in.
    “I know you’re in pain,” she murmured into the darkness. “Maybe we can help each other.”

Chapter 4
    “I got a name!” she exclaimed proudly, hopping onto the stool directly in front of Dan. Mornings at the Gull Harbor Diner had become her inadvertent routine; she didn’t always spring for breakfast, but coffee was a necessary expense. Claire had noticed, though, that her tab appeared suspiciously low the last time she had settled up. She was fairly certain Dan was “forgetting” to charge her for things. That discussion could wait, however. Right now, she just wanted to share her success.
    “It’s Maria. Or Marie, or possibly Mary. But I’m pretty sure she said ‘Maria.’”
    “That’s great,” said Dan as he poured her cup of coffee. “I mean, I’m assuming it’s great, based on your enthusiasm.”
    “It’s great,” she confirmed. “It means she might be starting to trust me. And it’s only been a week!”
    He frowned. “I’m glad you’re making progress. But at the same time, I hate to think of you leaving soon.”
    She shook her head, sending her long earrings swaying. “I’m not leaving—I have nowhere to go. I sublet my apartment through August. There are actually crazy people who want to spend their summers in Boston, and I needed the cash.”
    “The Llewellyns are paying you, though, right?”
    “They are. Or they will be. I’m not going to take their money until I complete the job. In the meantime, they’ve given me a house on Cape Cod to live in for the summer.”
    Dan raised his brows skeptically. “It’s not exactly a dream vacation home.”
    The door jingled and Max walked in. He hesitated when he saw her, but then continued on toward the counter.
    “Hey, Max,” said Dan. “You remember Claire, right?”
    Max nodded as he lowered himself onto a stool two seats away from Claire.
    She couldn’t resist. “We met the other night, didn’t we?” she asked innocently.
    Dan filled a coffee mug in front of Max. “You met at the tavern on Friday night. I have to get back to work. You two holler when you decide what you want.”
    When Dan was out of earshot, she turned to Max. “I’m flattered that you remember me.”
    Max pressed his lips together in a grim line. “I was more than a little shocked to see you the other night. And since you were on a date with Dan, I didn’t think our relationship was something you’d want to explain over dinner.”
    She didn’t bother correcting him. “That was very thoughtful of you. But now that we’ve been properly introduced, I don’t think we can pretend to be strangers anymore.”
    “I suppose not,” he said, his voice hard.
    She studied his expression. He seemed truly pained by the idea of having to acknowledge her. Jumping to her feet, she glared at him. “I don’t know what I did to deserve this kind of treatment. But don’t worry, I won’t start hanging around your tavern.” She snatched up her bag and whirled around. “Tell Dan I’ll see him tomorrow,” she called over her