Page 102 of Kiss Marry Kill

Dr. Johnson frowned. “You did? I… I didn’t know that.”

“You’ve just forgotten. I mentioned it to you at the time. He wasn’t interested in this property. He flatly turned this place down. Heonlywanted the land where Dr. Thornton was rebuilding.”

“Oh, yes. Now I do recall that.” Dr. Johnson nodded.

“Don’t you find it odd he’s suddenly so eager to buy this place?” She shook her head.

“I think he wants me to go back to LA as a failure,” I muttered. “I don’t know what else his endgame could be.”

Dr. Johnson wrinkled his brow. “Are you saying that he offered to buy this property simply to thwart Dr. Thornton?”

“I’m saying I find his sudden interest in this place very,veryodd.” Mrs. Numi sniffed.

I nodded, feeling dejected. “He seems awfully interested in what I do. The whole reason I started looking for another location was because I didn’t want to be under River’s thumb. I didn’t want him as my landlord.”

“Are you serious?” Dr. Johnson looked shocked.

“Yes. I don’t trust him. I won’t go into all the details, but enough things have happened that it’s impossible to trust him. Now he’s trying to buy this spot. What possible reason could he have for trying to interfere with my purchase of this property other than to hurt me? I can’t help but feel he’s intentionally trying to destroy my business.”

“I had no idea any of that was happening.” Dr. Johnson studied me.

“No. How could you know?” I sighed. “None of this is your problem. I understand why you’re tempted to take his offer instead of mine. There’s really nothing I can do about it. Logic says his offer is better. It doesn’t matter if I made my offer first.”

Dr. Johnson scowled. “I can’t say I like the idea he wants to buy my property out of spite.”

“It’s too coincidental.” Mrs. Numi’s gaze was hard. “He could have bought this property but didn’t want it. Not until Dr. Thornton wanted it.”

“What an odd situation I find myself in,” murmured Dr. Johnson.

My heart was heavy as I looked around the waiting area. “I guess that’s just life.”

Dr. Johnson watched me without speaking.

I gave a humorless laugh. “The odd thing is I could really see myself here.” I frowned. “I haven’t felt at home much since moving to Rainy Dale. I’ve had trouble fitting in. No surprise, I suppose, since I have trouble fitting in anywhere. But when I walked into this building, I had the oddest sensation of coming home.”

Dr. Johnson grunted. “I’m sorry.”

I had no illusions his guilt would make him accept my offer. His response was motivated by pity. He was sorry for rejecting my offer. He was sorry for giving the place that would suit me so well to another person. He was sorry for putting money before anything else.

I suddenly found it impossible to hide my intense disappointment. I didn’t want to show my weakness in front of the other two. “I suppose I’ve heard enough. Mrs. Numi, I think I’ll wait for you in the car.”

She nodded. “All right.”

I forced myself to meet Dr. Johnson’s shame-filled gaze. “Even though it didn’t work out, I appreciate your time, sir. Good luck to you in Florida.”

“Thank you,” Dr. Johnson said quietly.

I left the building, chest aching. I felt foolish allowing myself to become emotional over material things. I told myself it was a pile of brick and mortar, and I’d find something else that suited me. But even as I tried to soothe myself with logic, my hatred of River grew. Why that little asshole wanted to ruin my life, I couldn’t understand. It baffled me. Enraged me. I had no idea how to protect myself from him. If I stayed in Rainy Dale, was this how it was always going to be? Was he forever going to do his best to spoil my happiness?

I didn’t get in the car. Instead, I walked to stand beneath one of the large oak trees in the front yard. I sucked in the crisp fresh air, trying to calm down. The branches were devoid of leaves, and the winter sun warmed my shoulders. Life felt depressing at the moment. It still bothered me that Royce had seemed upset with me earlier. Now I also had to start all over again, looking for a new location.

Turning, I faced the redbrick building. Even though I knew it wasn’t going to be mine now, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was supposed to be mine. I gave a shaky laugh, feeling foolish. I wasn’t someone who was sentimental. Why was I acting like this? A building was nothing to get worked up about. If I let things get to me too much, then River would win. He wanted to chase me away. I needed to stay strong.

Mrs. Numi came out of the front door, and she shook a very solemn-looking Dr. Johnson’s hand. She moved down the steps, her face grim. I met her at the car, and we both got in. She gripped the steering wheel so tight her knuckles were white. “I’m really sorry, Maxwell. I feel awful for getting your hopes up.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“No. But I did tell you that with me as your Realtor, this was basically a done deal.” She started the car. “I’m furious with River. Absolutely furious.”