Free Heart of the Ocean by Heather B. Moore Page A

visiting. Who are you?”
    He took a step forward. “I’m the lighthouse keeper. I never
see’d thee before.”
    A dank stench coming from the man reached Eliza. She tried
not to breathe in too deeply. “I’m Maeve O’Brien’s niece. My uncle used to own
this lighthouse.”
    He shifted his stance awkwardly. “I liked ole Mr. O’Brien,
tho’ his wife was too nosey.”
    Eliza hid a smile. “I didn’t know there was a lighthouse
keeper. I’ve never seen you here before either.”
    “Don’t need to come much since they closed it. But I reckon I
should keep an eye on the place, all the same,” he said.
    Something about his movements weren’t quite right. He licked
his lips a couple of times, and his arms hung heavily at his sides. “What’s
your name?” she asked.
    His eyes narrowed. “Thou asks a lot of questions.”
    “You know my name.”
    He studied her for a moment then replied, “Gus. My dad was
the lighthouse keeper, and his dad before ’im. We’re all Gus.” He grinned,
revealing gapped teeth. His gaze seemed to swallow her, and he inched closer.
    Eliza felt an urgent need to get out of the building. “Are
these your books, Gus?”
    He nodded. “I read ’em over and over.”
    “Perhaps I could bring you more books sometime.”
    Gus’s eyes lit up. “Sure.”
    “But I’d better hurry home now.” She took a step forward and
was relieved when he stepped aside and let her pass.
    She escaped down the stairs without trying to make her hurry
obvious, but Gus followed her.
    Reaching the bottom, she pushed open the door and stepped
out in time to run into someone standing outside the entrance. Arms encircled
her, steadying her feet.
    “Sorry,” Eliza sputtered, fervently hoping the person
holding her wasn’t Gus Senior.
    “What’s the hurry?” came a deep voice.
    Eliza looked up at the man. She knew those dark eyes .
Jonathan Porter. She tried to hide her surprise. “What are you doing
here?”
    Gus barreled out the door, panting. “Why didst thou go so
fast?”
    She turned. “I’m expected back home soon. I can bring by a
book another day and leave it here for you.”
    Gus’s face broke into a wide grin, and then he looked at
Jon. “Hallo, sir.” 
    “Keeping the lighthouse in good condition?”
    Gus’s chest puffed out. “That I am, sir.”
    Eliza watched the interchange with surprise. Jon seemed
almost  . . . friendly. Not the imposing, irritable man she’d known so far. She
took a quick glance in his direction. She hadn’t realized how tall he was—he
practically towered over her.
    Jon asked Gus about his family, whom he proudly offered up
information about.
    “Thanks for watching out for Ruth,” Jon said.
    Gus grinned. “She gave me sweets.”
    “That’s because you helped her out so much.”
    Gus nodded vigorously. When he left a few moments later,
Eliza felt strangely relieved.
    Except now, Jon’s full attention was on her. “Enjoying your
freedom?” His dark eyes seemed to penetrate into her.
    Was he teasing? Upset? The eyes that Eliza could have sworn
were black were actually a dark brown. “I thought you’d left Maybrook.”
    “I did,” he said in a stiff tone. “But now I’m back.”
    There was his aloof manner. She folded her arms, tired of
being made to feel guilty when she was around him. After all, her aunt had been
killed, and everything else that followed was minor in importance. “Even though
you have a foul temper, and can’t seem to manage a civil word to a lady, thank
you for helping me out the night of the storm.”
    Jon’s mouth lifted at the corners. Was he laughing at her?
Heat spread through her neck at the insult.
    “What do you mean I have a foul temper?” he said,
looking down at her. “Can you blame me? I went to jail because I helped
you.”
    “I—I know. But I apologized earlier.” Eliza’s face reddened
as he continued to stare at her. What was going through his mind? Did she have
to apologize every time she saw him?