Providence Island Book 5
Mystery Romance
Date Published: 02 November 2021
Publisher: RedBird Books
A man denies his emotions to save the lives of other. A woman closes her heart to hide the pain. A child yearns for someone to trust.
Former hitman Ben Hampshire gave up everything to keep his honorary mother Dana Canfield safe. Settled into a peaceful life on Providence Island, he’s found the woman of his dreams but can't make himself say "I love you".
Stacy Andrews shunned long-term relationships until she met a man with a brain as sexy as his body. She's head over stiletto heels in love with him, but those words aren't in her vocabulary either. The secret she’s hiding might make Ben change his mind about their life together. If that’s not enough, her troubled eight-year old nephew coming to live with them could be the tipping point.
Ben finds himself in the spotlight after two murders occur. The first to find both bodies, he’s holding back evidence that points toward Dana’s husband as the perpetrator. If he can't stop the killer, Ben's future may turn into a happy never after.
Excerpt:
Car keys jingling in
his hand, Ben stopped in the doorway to the dining room. His landlady, Maisie
Porter, sat at the table, waiting for him to drive her to her friend Yolanda’s
house. The early evening sunlight cast the elderly woman in a golden glow. With
her white hair and cornflower-blue eyes, she looked like a modern-day Mrs.
Claus.
Chauffeur duties
weren’t the usual arrangement for a tenant, but the two of them had moved into
a more personal relationship during the year he’d lived at Porter’s
bed-and-breakfast. The privacy of the third-floor suite and the incredible
meals Maisie cooked were two of the reasons he’d remained in residence.
Maisie had opened both her
home and her heart to him. She was the grandmother he’d never had and his
strongest supporter when suspicion fell on him for the murders that had
occurred on Providence Island last year.
He was guilty of
shooting those four individuals, but in his defense, each one of them deserved
it. Law enforcement would disagree, but Ben’s oath to protect Dana Canfield and
her family took higher priority.
He tapped on the
doorframe. “Ready for your girls’ night, Maisie?”
The Fab Five—Maisie and
four other women from her church—planned an overnight baking and crafting
party. Based on the two bottles of wine protruding from the tote bag next to
her chair, the meeting appeared to be leaning more toward the party side.
Maisie gestured toward
the chair next to her. “We need to talk.”
Her smile lacked its
usual warmth, and the sparkle in her blue eyes was missing. A quiver ran
through his stomach.
“What’s wrong? Are you
sick?”
Maisie lowered her
brows. “Ben Hampshire, do I look like I’m sick?”
That flash of spirit
spurred Ben to sit down. “No, ma’am.”
“I’ve put off having
this talk with you, and it’s long past due.” She pushed a rectangular piece of
paper in front of him.
His confusion cleared
when he realized it was his payment for next month’s rent. No reason for Maisie
to be nervous about asking for an increase. “I’m fine with whatever you charge.
Give me the amount, and I’ll write a new check.”
She placed her palm
over his hand. “Ben, it’s time for you to move out.”
For one of the few
times in his life, Ben was speechless. When she pulled her hand away, she took
a piece of his security with her.
Maisie’s gaze traveled
to a point somewhere over his shoulder, and she sighed. “I’d planned on
shutting this place down last year. Then you came.” Her gaze shifted back to
him. “With all the murders occurring, I felt safer with you living here.”
He edged the check back
in front of her. “If it’s money—”
She shook her head.
“When Clyde and I moved into this house, we added a back porch with a swing. We
wanted a place where our children could play. After they’d grown and gone their
ways, we’d sit there and watch the sun rise in the morning and set in the
evening. But we never had children, and Clyde passed away a few days before our
thirtieth anniversary. I’ve lived alone all these years since, except for
guests who came and went. I never thought you’d stay as long as you have, but
I’m happy you did.”
His throat swelled with
the unexpected U-turn in the conversation. He didn’t do emotions, and Maisie
was bringing out feelings he’d locked away ages ago. He managed a small nod.
She tore the check in
quarters. “I’m not going to let you waste your life like I’ve done with mine.”
His mind reeled as he
recalled Maisie had never denied being
sick. If that was the reason for this
change, he'd make sure she had the best doctors and care
available. “You have a great life. Friends, church, your garden—"
“And I have you, a
blessing I never expected.” Her thumb toyed with a scrap of the torn check.
“Before you came here, each one of my days was the same as the next, and the
weeks rolled by faster every year. As much as I love this old house and my
garden, I need excitement and purpose in my life. The girls and I talked, and
we decided to shake things up.”
Half of him wanted to
laugh at the idea of the Fab Five going rogue; the other half cringed at the
thought. “Change up how?”
“Travel. Road trips.
Cruises. Maybe start a business on Main Street.” A hint of pink bloomed in her
cheeks, and the sparkle reignited in her eyes.
Ben mulled over those
options. They sounded good on the surface, but plenty of room existed for
trouble.
Before he could inject
a dose of logic, Maisie raced ahead with her explanation. “I’ve decided to list
the house for sale with Elliott Realty. Yolanda has a ranch house on Cypress. Sandra
Lynn and I are going to move in with her. Tina’s selling her house and moving
in with Deloris. After we get the traveling bug out of our system, we’ll decide
what to do next.”
“Selling the house is a
drastic move. Why not wait to see if these living arrangements work out?”
“We discussed it from
one end to the other, then went with our gut. This isn’t some snap decision.”
She fixed a stern look on him. “Before you suggest buying this house, I’m
telling you it’s a flat no. You need to take the next step with the young woman
you’ve been seeing.”
Ben’s head spun from
the deft switch in topics. It was one thing for Maisie to redesign her life. He
could manage his own just fine. “We’re not—”
“No excuses. You spend
more nights away than you do here.” An affectionate smile touched the corners
of her lips. “I’ve seen how your face lights up when she calls or messages you.
That smile you get doesn’t lie. You’re in love with Stacy Andrews.”
A line of sweat broke
out across his brow. “I’m not—”
“You’re in love whether
you want to admit it or not. I have no doubt she’s in love with you. You both
need to move ahead while you have the chance. Life takes things away when we
least expect it.”
Something he knew too
well. The last time he’d said “I love you” was to his fiancée before she died
in his arms. Maisie had had thirty years with Clyde. He’d promised Betsy twice
that many.
“A woman has her pride
to consider.” Maisie winked. “I can’t go on forever being your culinary
side-piece.”
Ben jerked, knocking
his keys from the table to the floor. “Jeez, Maisie!”
“Would you carry my bag
to the car? Don’t forget I’m getting a ride with one of the girls tomorrow
morning.” She patted his shoulder as she passed. “I’ll bring brownies home for
you.”
Ben stood in stunned
silence as Maisie headed toward the front door. In a matter of minutes, he’d
lost his home, been ordered to move in with Stacy, and watched his kindly
landlady morph into a wanna-be Golden Girl.
While ninety-five
percent of him agreed with her plan, the other five percent sulked over having
his comfortable life disrupted. He eyed the vacant doorway and chuckled.
Culinary side-piece.
Good one, Maisie.
He grabbed his keys and
her tote. As he walked to the car, he practiced what to say to Stacy.
And what to do if she
told him no.
About the Author
Dianna Wilkes is an award winning contemporary romance author.
Reading has always been an important part of her life. "I learned to read when I was four years old. Writing my own stories seemed a natural progression."
Dianna holds a B.A.in Visual Communication and a M.Ed.in Instructional Technology. She worked as an Education Consultant for a medical technology company before leaving the corporate world. Despite all that nerdy stuff, she loves creating stories of romance and mystery with touches of humor.
When she isn’t writing, Dianna is deep in researching various branches and twigs on her family tree or fulfilling entries on her travel bucket list.
Contact Links
Twitter: @dwilkesauthor
Instagram: dianna.wilkes
Purchase Links
nice excerpt
ReplyDeleteThis looks very good
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