Free Tangerine Morning: Jezzica's Story (Serenity Cove Series) by Rita Garcia Page A

1949.”
    “Tell me more.” The lilt of her voice was intoxicating like a fine wine.
    She did that thing with her hair again—flipped it over her shoulder, exposing her shirt pulled tightly against her chest. It took a moment before his concentration returned to her words. “At one time, it was the only lighthouse in the area. Shall we take a tour of it?”
    He followed her lead. They paid the fare and entered the building, which according to the plaque had been built in 1856. It stood seventy-two feet tall, with an attached keeper’s quarters. According to the brochure, the lighthouse had been restored in 1973. With the help of the lighthouse society and the citizens of Serenity Cove, funds were raised for the restoration of Serenity Cove’s historic landmark.
    He followed her up the circular stairs to the top of the lighthouse tower. It wasn’t for the squeamish or those with a fear of heights. “Think how many sailors this old lighthouse lit the way for. And how many lives has it has saved.”
    She hadn’t commented and he noticed her face turned pale, tinged with green. “I need to go down.” Her voice scarcely a whisper.
    She breathed a sigh of relief when their feet left the final step, once again at ground level.
    The brochure had offered special full moon tours during the summer months. “Not too sure I’d want to climb those stairs at night—even by the light of a full moon.” He looked up at the tower they’d just climbed down from. She threw him a look that said not in her lifetime as the color returned to her cheeks.
    “Let’s go take a look at the gift shop.” This from a guy with a policy of, if it couldn’t be bought online, he didn’t need it.
    “Or, we could grab an ice cream cone and follow the walkway.” With that smile, she could have suggested a cup of worms and he might’ve agreed.
    The path wound its way through the shrubs and natural terrain and along the breathtaking Serenity Cove shore. They stopped where rocks and boulders filled the shallow water and sat on a boulder to finish their cones.
    “Serenity Cove takes the ordinary and makes it spectacular.” She nodded toward the endless sea.
    She leaned back against him and he wrapped his arms around her as though they had always been together. Can two ordinary individuals make a spectacular couple? He would sure like the chance to find out.
    She suddenly leaped up. “I need to go home.” She climbed across the rocks back to the path.
    “Jezz, what’s wrong?” He caught up to her. “What happened?”
    She stopped. “This isn’t working.” Moisture glistened in her eyes. “I can’t handle the emotional torment being around you creates.”
    Pain visually mixed with her tears and left him without an argument. How could he push her to do something that caused her this kind of distress? “It’s okay. I’ll take you home.” He placed his hand on her back and guided her down the path and back to the truck. He had loved Susan, but this was his first experience with falling in love with someone. The realization shoved a blade into his heart. It would be impossible to avoid seeing her. I have to find Geoff’s killers—it’s the only way she’ll ever have peace. Maybe even give her the freedom to live again.
     
     

Chapter Sixteen

 
     
    A cool morning run brought the solace that had eluded her during the night. How many times had the same scenes replayed? How many times had Geoff fallen as the killer’s foot slammed into him? How many times had the bullets torn through his flesh? I have to stay focused. Focused on opening the bookshop. Focused on putting my life back together. Focused on finding a way to live without Geoff.
    She finished her run, fed Rusty and headed to her shop. Pride washed over her as she unlocked the door and clicked on the lights, illuminating the progress. The upstairs was just the way she had imagined it would be. A soft knock sounded and the door slowly opened.
    “Julia. This is a