Page 24 of Hidden Depths

“Interesting.”

“Not really. It’s not how it looks in the movies.”

“It never is. Do you like it?”

“I do. And what about you? What do you do for a living?”

“I’m a secretary for a local lawyer.”

“Ah, so you know all the dirty little secrets of this town?”

“I wish. But it’s not like in the movies.” She laughed, a stuttering squeal, then sighed. “There’s nothing much to tell around here. Nothing exciting ever happens, which suits me fine.”

His gaze wandered the room as he continued to answer her questions with vague or evasive answers. She didn’t notice.

The young woman who had turned to him when he’d first entered came into view. She stood out here. Maybe a recent convert looking for parental figures in this sea of aging parishioners.

Her wide green eyes found his again, and he nodded his hello. The smile she offered back was tight and unsure.

She held herself well, but her dark hair framed her face in a way that made it appear as if she would hide behind it if she could. This was a woman with secrets. Evelyn may not know the underbelly of this town, but Tom knew it didn’t matter where you lived. Everywhere had mysteries in need of solving.

“That young lady in the blue dress over there,” he said. “What’s her story?”

Evelyn looked across the room, then back at Tom with a twinkle in her eye. “That’s Sara Walker. Would you like to meet her? She’s a lovely young lady, although I don’t know her well. She’s always polite. Helped me get up the stairs this morning with my bad knee. And…I believe she’s single.”

“Thank you for your thoroughness, but I’m not trying to get a date.” Or maybe he was. Armstrong did want him to enjoy himself. “She’s an unusual addition to the church. Does she live around here?”

“She does stand out as quite the spring chicken around us oldies. I know she’s a local, has been for a couple of years, I think. But I’m not sure where on the island she lives. A very agreeable young lady.”

“So you’ve said.”

Evelyn turned toward Sara, waving to get her attention and call her over.

Tom would have preferred to do his own introductions. Or at least had the time to figure out what he was doing at all. Romance had not been on his list for this trip, but he was intrigued by her, and a date wouldn’t be such a bad thing. It had been a while. Not to mention he’d be gone in a few weeks, so there was no threat of attachment to complicate his life.

As Sara headed their way, she tucked her hair behind her ear, stopping to have a quick word as she passed different people until she was standing in front of Tom being introduced by an eager Evelyn.

When she smiled, holding out her hand to shake his, her whole face changed. It made him want to know her even more. Perhaps this vacation would be better than he expected.

Chapter8

Sara had noticedthe stranger when he’d come in the back. The fear had been ready for her, but she’d refused to succumb to it. Whoever he was, even though his strange presence made her anxious, she wasn’t afraid. Nothing about this man gave her any concern that he was connected to Lansky.

His face was open and unassuming. He looked like someone you could feel safe with easily, which made her think of Peter Black, the only other man she’d trusted for a long time. She didn’t know Peter well, but she knew he’d spent time in the special forces. Both he and this newcomer had the same confidence in their eyes and a build that had been constructed by a lot of time training.

But still…a stranger’s a stranger. And this was not the sort of guy you ever bumped into in the Keys.

When Evelyn waved her over, her stomach had boiled with butterflies, and she realized with a start that she was attracted to this man. God must have really changed her because she hadn’t been confident enough to be attracted to a man in a long time.

I won’t be afraid,she told both herself and God as she threaded through the crowd with her purse clutched against her body, saying a word or two to others as she passed them.

As she got close, she shifted her shoulders back to reflect the confidence she wished she felt but was surprised to find an assurance. When she presented herself before the stranger, she was been able to smile with ease.

“Sara,” Evelyn said. “I’d like you to meet Tom. He’s on vacation here from Chicago.”

“Chicago, huh?”

“Yes,” Tom said. A playful smile lifted the edges of his mouth. “It’s nice to meet you, Sara.”

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