Murders & Romance: A Psychic Detective Romantic Mystery (Isaac Taylor Mysteries Book 5) by Lashell Collins (ready player one ebook .TXT) 📗

“Then you have to see it through. I’ll help you however I can, short of breaking the law.”

Sidney reached for his hand.

“Thank you.”

Isaac brought her hand up to his lips and kissed the back of it. Then he turned toward the water.

“You want to take a walk along the water’s edge?”

Sidney smiled at him.

“Sure. If you do.”

He stood and reached out to help her up.

They were quiet on their walk, and Isaac looked down, focusing on the water hitting their ankles, and the imprints his feet were making in the wet sand. But the whole time, his mind raced.

He couldn’t stop himself from obsessing over the things Sidney had said. Part of him was proud as hell and endlessly impressed with her determination to see this thing through. But the bigger part of him worried. How the hell was he supposed to keep her safe if she was going to run around willfully courting danger?

“I can’t get over that rose garden at the beach entrance.”

“Hmm?”

Isaac glanced down only to see her gaze fixed in the direction of the rose garden. He smiled.

“I didn’t know you liked roses so much. I guess I’ve never really sent you flowers before, have I?”

“No, I don’t think you have.”

“Are roses your favorite flower?”

“Actually, my favorite flowers are orchids. But I do like roses very much.”

“What color rose is your favorite?”

“Mmm. I think the pale pink ones. Or the ones that are super pale pink, like almost white, but the center petals are much darker pink. I don’t know what they’re called, but they’re so pretty. So innocent looking.”

“So, why are orchids your favorite?”

“I don’t know. I guess because they look so delicate and fragile. But they’re not delicate at all, they’re very strong, resilient flowers.”

“Sounds like you just described yourself, darlin’.”

Sidney smiled up at him, and he pulled her close, wrapping his arm around her as they made their way down the beach back to where they left their gear.

They hung out on the beach for hours, chilling and relaxing into the late afternoon. Slowly, Isaac’s semi-secluded corner of the beach began to fill with other people, some of whom set up their beach towels a little too close for his comfort.

“You ready for lunch?”

He glanced over at Sidney, hoping she wouldn’t mind calling it a day, or at the very least, moving to a different spot.

“I could eat. Should we pack it in and head home for lunch?”

“Actually, I thought we could have lunch here.”

“Here?”

“There’s a café inside the bathhouse there.” He chucked a thumb over his shoulder toward the building where the concession stand stood. “They have a pretty good menu of sandwiches and salads. Fresh lake perch.”

“Really?”

“Yep. You game?”

“Sure.”

Sidney put her shorts and sweatshirt back on, and Isaac pulled on his long-sleeved t-shirt. They gathered up their beach gear and carried it back to the car and put it away. Then they walked hand-in-hand back toward the building across the parking lot from the rose garden.

Inside they were seated by the windows with a spectacular view of the lake and the beach down below.

“What looks good to you?”

Isaac studied his menu already knowing that he was going to order the fried perch wrap.

“Sid?”

He looked up when she still didn’t respond. Her gaze darted around the room, taking in all the details, and Isaac could see her mind working as she studied the place. He had no clue what she was seeing that he didn’t.

“Sidney?”

“Hmm?” She finally turned back to him. “I’m sorry, what did you say, baby?”

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing. I was just looking at the place. This is beautiful.”

“Yeah, the view is great.”

“Not just the view, the whole place is nice.”

Isaac looked around and nodded.

“Do you need a few more minutes to look at the menu?”

A smiling waiter appeared at their table.

Isaac motioned for Sidney to go first.

“Oh. Um…” She looked at Isaac. “You said something about fresh perch?”

Isaac grinned and looked at the waiter. “We’ll both have the fried perch wrap.”

“Awesome. What can I get you to drink with those wraps?”

“Ginger ale for me. Water for the lady.”

“Sure thing.”

“Excuse me.” Sidney stopped him before he could get away. “Can you tell me if you ever rent this place out for events?”

“All the time. I’ll get you the information and number to call.”

“Great. Thank you!”

The waiter walked away.

Sidney looked at Isaac with a triumphant smile, and he playfully narrowed his eyes.

“What just happened here? What’s that smile for?”

“This is the place, Ike.”

“The place?”

“Yes.”

He stared at her sexy smile until her meaning dawned on him.

“Oh! This is the place? Really?”

She nodded, her smile getting bigger.

“This is the place. The beautiful beach, the views from this terrace restaurant with the lighthouse in the distance. That rose garden! This is definitely the place.”

“Okay. So are we talking inside this building? Or maybe in the rose garden?”

“I haven’t worked out all the details yet.”

“Here you go.” The waiter brought over their drinks and handed Sidney a brochure. “All the information is in there, along with a number to call to reserve a date for your event.”

“Thank you so much.”

He walked away, and Isaac lost Sidney again for a few moments as she devoured the information inside the brochure.

“According to this, they have lots of weddings here.”

“Great.”

“Ooooh! They allow park permits to rent a section of the beach.”

She looked up at him with pure unadulterated excitement in her beautiful eyes, and Isaac couldn’t help but smile. He had no clue what had sparked that fire, but he loved it.

“Rent a section of the beach, huh?”

“Yes. That’s it!”

“That’s what? I need you to spell it out for me, darlin’.”

“We’ll rent a section of the beach for the ceremony, Ike. We can get married right out there on the beach, take photos in the rose garden, and have the reception here in the Sunset Terrace venue. It’s perfect!”

She sounded so happy that all Isaac could do was smile at her.

“If it’s perfect for you, then it’s perfect for me.”

“Let’s find out if someone’s