Free Fatal Disclosure by Sandra Robbins Page A

island residents hadn’t revealed anything, either.
    Now, hungry and disappointed, he’d come back to the bed-and-breakfast to check on Betsy. He pushed through the back door into the kitchen and came to a stop as Betsy strolled in through the door from the dining room. When she saw him, she stopped and set down the plastic-covered canvas painting she held.
    His heart did flip-flops just as it had done this morning when he watched her photographing the wildlife she loved. It reminded him of how he used to feel when she’d glance at him across the dining room of the Memphis restaurant where they’d both worked. There was no denying the old attraction had overcome him again, but he wasn’t going to give in. He took a deep breath and tried to return her smile.
    “I’m back, just like I said.” He pointed to his watch. “I said in time for lunch, and it’s not even twelve yet.”
    She stepped into the kitchen and grinned at him. “Good timing. I just finished what I’d planned to do this morning.”
    He pointed to the painting she’d leaned against a kitchen chair. “Is that what you worked on?”
    A chuckle rumbled in her throat. “Oh, no. The painting I worked on this morning is drying. This is one I finished a few weeks ago. I need to drop it off at Will Cardwell’s studio. He’s a potter, and we transport our work to a mainland gallery together. We have a shipment going out in a few days.” She glanced his way. “Do you mind giving me a ride over there since my family has seen fit to make sure I can’t leave here on my own?”
    A coy smile pulled at her lips and the sight of her almost took his breath. His gaze raked her from her long, chestnut hair pulled back in a ponytail past the dimples that winked at him and on to the smile that lit her dark eyes. It ended at the paint-splattered, loose-fitting smock covering the jeans and T-shirt she wore. Even with the smudge on her forehead, she was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
    He let out a long breath. “I’ll be glad to take you anywhere you need to go. Then we’ll get some lunch.”
    She reached back and tightened the rubber band holding her hair in place. “I felt safe this morning because I didn’t think anybody would know we were out on the Sound. But what about in the middle of the day? Do you think we should go out now?”
    “We’ll stay where there are lots of people. The more people around, the safer it’ll be.”
    She looked down at the clothes she was wearing. “I can’t go looking like this. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” She started to leave but turned back. “Treasury needs some things from the Island General Store. It’ll save her a trip if we stop by and pick them up before we come back. Do you mind?”
    He nodded. “Sure. We can do that. I’ll wait out back for you.”
    She beamed. “Good. Be back as soon as I change.”
    Fifteen minutes later Betsy walked out the back door of the house and headed toward Mark. He pushed up from leaning against the car’s fender and studied her as she approached. Most women relied on makeup to enhance their beauty, but Betsy didn’t need it. The touch of light-colored lipstick she’d applied looked just right for her. A square-shaped amethyst stone encircled with small diamonds dangled on a silver chain at the base of her throat. He remembered seeing her wear it every day when they worked at the restaurant in Memphis.
    Betsy stopped next to him and wrinkled her forehead. “What’s the matter?”
    He pointed to her necklace. “I remember seeing you wear that in Memphis.”
    She nodded. “My mother gave it to me for my birthday not long before she died. It’s my favorite piece of jewelry. I don’t wear it as much as I used to, but I put it on today.”
    His gaze drifted over her, and a grin tugged at his mouth as he reached for the painting she held. “I notice you got rid of the smudge on your forehead. You clean up real nice.”
    “I’ll take that as a