The Private Eye

changed your mind and decided to call off the engagement. They'll understand.”
    “They will not understand. They'll think that what happened between you and me was nothing more than a one-night stand, and they'll be right.”
    “So don't call off the engagement.”
    She stared at him in disbelief. “Are you crazy? What am I supposed to do after you leave? Pretend we're still engaged? How do you expect me to carry that off?”
    “I'd be willing to help,” Josh said quietly. “We can string our engagement out for a few months and then say we've changed our minds,”
    “Oh, sure. And just how are we going to string out our engagement when you're in Seattle and I'm here in Peregrine Point?”
    “I could come out for a while on the weekends. You could come into the city. Let's be honest here, Maggie. We're attracted to each other. Last night was very good. You know that as welt as I do. Why shouldn't we go on seeing each other?”
    Maggie closed her eyes. “I wish you would stop being so damn reasonable about the whole thing. You're missing the point here. Don't you understand what I'm trying to say? I don't want a fake engagement.”
    “Not even for the sake of solving this case?” Josh asked.
    Maggie groaned and turned her attention back to the heavy gray rain that was moving in from the sea. “I feel trapped,” she whispered.
    “Don't worry about it,” Josh said lightly. “You've got me around to rescue you, remember? I’ll figure something out.”
    “You're the one who's always saying that it never pays to play hero.”
    “I'm not playing hero this time. I got you into the engagement. I'll find a way to get you out of it without embarrassing you any more than you already are.”
    “I'm not embarrassed,” Maggie retorted fiercely. “It's just awkward, that's all. The Colonel and the others are all so old-fashioned and protective.”
    “Tell me the truth, Maggie. You were embarrassed as hell when you walked out that door this morning and saw Odessa, weren't you?”
    She sighed. “Yes.”
    “The engagement was the only way to handle the thing,” Josh continued relentlessly.
    “And so convenient,” Maggie shot back under her breath. “You'd worked it into your cover story before I could count to three.”
    Josh was silent for a long moment. “Is that what's really bothering you?” he asked at last. “You're angry because I'm using our phony engagement as part of my cover.”
    “I don't want to talk about it anymore,” Maggie declared. They were in town now and Josh was slowing to turn into the small supermarket parking lot. “The damage is done, so we'll just have to hope some good comes out of it.”
    “Trust me, Maggie. You did last night.”
    “Well, I learned my lesson this morning, didn't I?”

Chapter 9

    MAGGIE WAS LOADING grocery sacks into the back of Josh's car when Clay O'Connor hailed her from across the street.
    “Maggie,” he called out as he emerged from his office. “I thought that was you.”
    Maggie straightened and turned to wave. Downtown Peregrine Point consisted of a mere two blocks of shops. O'Connor Real Estate was located directly across from the grocery store. Clay had obviously spotted her from his office window.
    Maggie watched as Clay checked for oncoming cars and then quickly crossed the street without bothering to go to the corner. He was dressed for the crisp cold day in a handsome, chunky-knit sweater and a pair of wool trousers. His hair was styled in a full, curving line that could only have been achieved with the aid of mousse. The diamond in his heavy gold ring flashed briefly when he moved his hand. He looked as if he had stepped right out of a men's fashion magazine.
    The sight of Clay, with his cheerful, open face and dazzling smile made Maggie vividly aware of the contrast between him and Josh. It was like the contrast between day and night. With Clay, one got what one saw. But instead of the reassurance that fact should have provided, it only made him seem bland and shallow to Maggie. Josh, on the other hand, brought to mind the old adage about still waters running deep. He made her think of hidden depths and disturbing passions. Deep water was frequently dangerous, Maggie reminded herself.
    “I almost didn't see you,” Clay complained lightly as he reached her. “Didn't recognize the car. Who does it belong to? That writer fellow?”
    Maggie felt herself blushing. It dawned on her how monumentally awkward the phony engagement was