Read The Lake House Secret, A Romantic Suspense Novel (A Jenessa Jones Mystery) for Free Online Page A

this scrumptious cinnamon roll, I’ll head over there.”
    “Well, I’d better get back to work,” Ramey said. “I probably shouldn’t have come in today, maybe stayed with Sara and Aunt Renee, but I needed to keep busy. Besides, somebody had to do the baking this morning and help Rosie with the morning rush.” Ramey smiled wistfully, then stood. “I’ll leave you to your breakfast.”
    ~*~
    The bright summer sunlight bounced off the sidewalk as Jenessa stood outside of the newspaper office, smoothing her fitted skirt and running her hand lightly over her hair. She pulled in a quick breath and plastered a big smile on her face before pushing the glass door open. Wanting to dazzle Mr. McAllister with her experience and her wit, she hoped he couldn’t smell the scent of desperation on her. She needed this job, badly.
    She waltzed into the building and up to the receptionist’s desk. “I’d like to see Mr. Charles McAllister, please.”
    “Do you have an appointment?” The gray-haired woman peered over the top of her glasses.
    “No, sorry. I’m here about the reporter job.”
    “I see.” The woman raised a wrinkled finger, signaling for her to wait a moment. She picked up the phone receiver and punched a few buttons on the console. “What is your name, dear?”
    “Jenessa Jones.”
    The elderly receptionist turned her attention back to the phone. “There’s a young lady here to see you about the reporter job. Says her name is Jenessa Jones.” The receptionist paused, listening to the response on the other end of the line. “All right.”
    She slowly hung up the receiver and brought her gaze back to Jenessa. “Please, have a seat and Mr. McAllister will be out in a few minutes.” The woman pointed toward a small cluster of chairs against the opposite wall.
    Jenessa did her best to smile sweetly at the woman, wondering how long she had been with the newspaper—from its opening, perhaps. “Thank you.”
    She took a seat, and a few minutes turned into thirty before Charles McAllister emerged from his office and strolled up the hallway to the reception area. He was a tall, average-looking man, late thirties maybe, with thick, medium-brown hair and hazel eyes. “Ms. Jones?” he asked.
    Jenessa stood and took his extended hand.
    “Charles McAllister,” he said, smiling and giving her hand a light shake. “I heard you’re here about the reporter job?”
    “Yes. Do you have a few minutes?” She offered him her resume.
    Taking it, he did a cursory review of it. “Sure, why don’t you come back to my office?” He turned and began to walk away. “Alice, hold my calls, please.”
    Jenessa followed him, close behind, down a hall lined with small offices. There was a large door at the end of the hall, which she assumed led to the printing area. Mr. McAllister stopped at the doorway to his office and ushered her in.
    “Have a seat,” he said, following her in, leaving the door ajar. He took his place behind a large desk that was covered with piles of paperwork, files, and stacking wire trays. He looked down at her resume again. “I thought I might hear from you today.”
    “You did?” That was odd. “How did you—”
    “Your aunt. She phoned me first thing this morning, said you’d be coming in and I’d be a fool not to hire you.”
    “You know my aunt?”
    “Everybody who’s anybody in this town knows your aunt.”
    “Oh, I’m so sorry. I have to apologize for her—” Jenessa’s cheeks flushed hot. She was more than a little embarrassed that her aunt had stuck her nose in the middle of things, but at this point, any extra help should be appreciated.
    “No, don’t be silly,” he said with a slight wave of his hand. “We need someone, and, according to Mrs. Giraldy, you’re a hard worker with lots of in-depth experience at a large newspaper.”
    “Yes, that’s true, but don’t forget I was once the assistant editor of the Hidden Valley High School paper.”
    He looked at her