Free Lie to Me by Julie Ortolon

do.” Suggestion gleamed in her eyes.
    Ho, boy. He took another deep breath, let it out. “Lunch?”
    “Can’t.” Her shoulders sagged. “I have to work in the gift shop in the morning. Then Alli wants me to photograph some new inventory for the website.”
    “Oh.” Disappointment cooled him down a fraction.
    “But I’ll be free after that,” she said. “We could go back into Galveston, or hit the beach. Whatever you want.”
    He rejected both ideas, since neither setting lent itself to what he needed to do, and that was tell her everything. “How about you give me a tour of the island.”
    “You want a tour of Pearl Island?” Confusion drew her brows together.
    “Sure. Why not?”
    “It’s just not the type of thing single guys are usually interested in. Unless they’re coming to scuba dive around the shipwreck.”
    “Except, I don’t swim.” He shrugged.
    “Exactly.” Her puzzled expression turned wary, as if she were searching for some hidden reason behind his request for a tour.  
    He realized he needed to come up with something. Something honest. He looked around at the dark trees. Night breezes carried the sounds of crickets, the scent of the cove. Through the moving branches, the inn winked at him with yellowish light glowing from its windows. The majestic mansion with its hidden passages and ghosts gave him the answer. “I think this place might be perfect for a Vortal tournament.”
    “You have tournaments?”
    “Once a year,” he told her.  
    “That sounds fascinating.”
    “It is.” His passion for gaming sprang back to life. “You see—”
    Her hand slipped over his lips before he could launch into a full monologue, explaining all about how challenges and tournaments work.  
    “Tomorrow,” she said, her eyes sparkling.  
    “Ah.” He nodded, remembering they were standing on her front porch saying good night. “I’d like that.”
    “Me too.” She gave him a smile so bright, he stood in stupefied silence as she opened the screen, then pulled a key from her purse and unlocked the door. Turning back, she gave him one last, dazzling smile. “I’ll see you then.”
      He just nodded as she went inside, closing the door behind her.
    For the second time that day, he stood in dazed wonder, staring at a closed door. Had all of that really happened? That kiss? The entire evening? He’d had a date with Chloe? Had another one tomorrow?
    Maybe he’d dreamed the whole thing, he thought as he walked back to his car. Getting in, he took hold of the steering wheel and stared into the darkness. His earlier dilemma about when to tell her why he’d come to Galveston came roaring back.
    Except the question no longer seemed to be when, but if.
      Maybe, he thought. Maybe not. Because right then, he wasn’t sure he wanted this dream to end.  

Chapter 6

    Chloe danced about the gift shop the following day, dust cloth in hand. An apron the color of tropical water protected her white capri pants and peach shirt. Thanks to the phone she’d dropped in the apron’s pocket and a set of ear buds, a song about hot candy kisses entertained her with nonsensical lyrics. Kisses should be hot and sweet, she decided.
    Like the kiss Luc had given her last night.
    With her cheeks warming at the memory, she stepped back to admire the display of bath and beauty products she’d needed to rearrange after a flurry of sales that morning. The three women staying in one of the bungalows for a girlfriend weekend had gone wild for the locally made soaps and lotions. Making a mental note to order more product, she moved on to a display of coffee table books filled with photographs of Galveston.  
    Idly, she flipped through one of the books, hoping to glean inspiration for her own photography. She’d first started taking pictures as a way to help Aurora, who managed the inn’s website. Aurora had wanted atmospheric shots of the inn and island, so Chloe had volunteered to give it a try. Discovering she had a