Deep Waters

make a special trip down to the pier to announce that to you?"
    Elias took two glasses out of the cupboard. "He seems to think that things are going to get hot here in Whispering Waters Cove."
    She shrugged. "That's certainly what the town council hopes will happen."
    "Pitt implied that he knows something specific. He says an off-shore developer intends to put in a golf resort and spa."
    "A resort? That's specific, all right." Charity watched him fill the glasses with the cool sauvignon blanc. Her eyes were thoughtful and just a little wary. "Do you think Leighton knows what he's talking about?"
    "Can't say." He handed her a glass. "But I'll lay odds that whatever he thinks is going on is tied to his ex-wife's spaceship cult."
    She met his eyes. "Not to you?"
    "Not to me."
    "Interesting. That brings up the question of what's going to happen on Monday."
    "I called a friend of mine in Seattle, a lawyer named Thorgood. Specializes in corporate law. His firm employs a whole fleet of researchers and investigators. I asked him to see if he can find out what Gwendolyn Pitt has been up to during the past few months."
    "Things are getting more and more mysterious, aren't they?"
    "They may be a lot simpler than they seem." Elias leaned back against the counter and took a sip of the wine. It was spicy and tantalizing on his tongue. Just like Charity. "Sounds like it may come down to money, after all."
    "Guess we'll just have to wait until Monday night to see what happens." Charity's eyes gleamed over the rim of her wine glass. "Whoever said small town life wasn't exciting?"
    "Not me." He looked at her and suddenly could not look away.
    The air became more dense between them. The in visible currents moving through it were charged with a spectrum of possibilities. There was no rush, he re minded himself. No rush at all. He would not allow himself to be swept away by the tide.
    Charity blinked first. "What's for dinner?"
    "Artichoke dip with toasted pita bread. Gorgonzola and spinach ravioli, hearts of romaine salad, and some hazelnut gelati with biscotti for dessert."
    Her eyes widened. "I'm impressed."
    He savored her astonished wonder. "I'll admit that I was surprised to find the biscotti in the Whispering Waters Cove Grocery."
    "You reaped the results of my months of negotiations with the grocery store manager. Mr. Gedding and I have a deal. He stocks the items I request, and I pay rip-off prices for them."
    "Fair enough."
    Laughter lit her eyes. She batted her lashes. "Have I ever told you how much I admire a man who can cook?"
    "I don't believe you've mentioned it." He put his glass down on the counter and turned to the stove. "But feel free to hold forth on the subject."

    "Okay. I deeply, deeply admire a man who can cook."
    She was flirting again. A good sign, Elias thought. This was right where he wanted to be. The trick was to stay here in the shallows where they could both have some fun without any danger of getting in too deep.
    "I'll try not to take advantage of your vulnerability to good cooks," he said as he set a large pan of water on the old stove. "How's Newlin doing?"
    The mischief faded from her eyes. "I'm a little worried about him. He's afraid of what Arlene will do when the spaceships fail to show. I wish I could reassure him that everything will be all right, but the truth is, I don't know how she'll handle reality when it strikes."
    "We'll keep an eye on Newlin," Elias promised. He realized as he spoke the words that he was starting to identify himself as a member of the Crazy Otis Landing gang. It was a strange sensation, but not unpleasant.

    He took Charity home shortly after eleven. It was all very proper, very old-fashioned.
    It was not, however, very easy.
    The waves of sensual tension had grown stronger as the evening progressed. All throughout dinner she had watched him with an intriguing combination of shy anticipation and womanly knowledge in her eyes. Elias knew that she had been waiting for him to make the first move, the one that would lead to the bedroom.
    It took a valiant effort to suggest that it was getting late and that it was time to return her to her own cottage. The surprise that flashed briefly across her face was almost enough to comfort the regret he knew he would feel later. Almost, but not quite.
    Elias covered Otis's cage and stepped into his shoes. He paused to pick up the flashlight, but they did not need it. A partial moon and a sky full of stars provided enough illumination