Page 11 of Return to Lovett Cove (Lovett Cove B&B #1)
Three Weeks Later
Jasmine waved to the movers as they drove the truck down the path away from the B she just wanted to be confident in her speech she hadn’t prepared. Now, there was no avoiding him.
“Hello? Is anyone here? This is private property.”
His deep voice reverberated throughout the house. Jasmine closed her eyes, imagining what it would feel like to hear him every day.
“I’m giving you thirty seconds.”
Jasmine came to the top of the stairs overlooking the foyer. When River looked up and they locked eyes, Jasmine’s heart beat against her chest as though it wanted to get out to him. “Hi, River.”
Shock morphed into confusion. “What are you doing here, Jasmine?”
She expected the coolness of his tone, but it still caused her to shiver. Jasmine descended the steps. “I had Zara delist the home.”
His eyes followed her down the staircase, hiding all emotion. “You did?”
Jasmine nodded. She paused at the bottom step, putting her almost at River’s shoulder height. “I changed my mind about selling.”
Hudson’s Adam’s apple bobbed, but he remained silent. He’s not going to make this easy for me. And she couldn’t blame him. Had he forgiven her for how she had left things? Would he give her another chance?
She could only ask.
“I’ve decided to fulfill my mother’s dream, which, ironically, is now my dream. I quit my job and I’m now a resident of Lovett Cove. The plan is to remodel the B&B, keeping its charm but modernizing it. And I’d love your help with it, if the offer still stands.”
River had crossed his arms and assessed her with eyes still shadowed. Jasmine wished she knew what he was thinking. Judging by his body language, it wasn’t good. “I thought you’d made up your mind,” he quoted her words back at her.
“I had. After spending years working for a promotion to please my mom, I didn’t know how to dream about anything else. Until I saw this place. Until I met you.”
She came down the last step and crossed the distance between them.
He visibly stiffened, but didn’t retreat.
His gaze remained latched to hers. For a brief second, she saw something flicker behind the veil in his eyes, and she grabbed on to that hope earnestly.
“You were right about Lovett Cove. About my job not being what I truly wanted—or needed. I was wrong. I didn’t want to consider making a home here in Lovett Cove, but my body was telling me Lovett Cove was exactly what I needed. ”
“I thought you chose your career. What about all your accomplishments?”
Right. He remembered her words. They sounded foolish to her now. “Are you referring to the accomplishments that literally put me in a hospital bed? Those things?” She laughed. “Yeah, they don’t excite me as much as this dump, believe it or not.”
“I’m having a hard time believing it,” River said quietly.
She didn’t blame him. Their last conversation was tense, and Jasmine felt determined then. But now, she reached for his hand, large and warm, drawing it to her. “I’m sorry, River. Will you let me change your mind?”
She held her breath as River watched her. If he said no, she had no one to blame but herself. Although now that she was here, this town was too small to avoid him. But she’d figure out how to nurse her heartache later. She would be plenty busy remodeling and opening the B&B.
“Depends,” he said hoarsely, his gaze dropping to her lips.
“On?”
“Where we go from here.”
Jasmine let her gaze fall to his mouth, and she stepped closer. “Could we start over?” she breathed.
River shook his head and pulled his hand back. “We can’t go back and redo things. Unless you want to redo this…”
His hands cupped her face, and he pressed his body against hers. His warm lips slanted over her mouth, sealing their love. “You’re sure?” he whispered against her mouth. “Because I love you, Jasmine.”
She grinned against his mouth, a mouth she could spend the rest of her days kissing. “More sure than I’ve ever been about anything in my life.” She pressed her lips to his. “My home is here in Lovett Cove. I want you. And I love you, too.”
“Welcome home, Ms. Grove.”
Home.
Coming Soon in Lovett Cove
She came to redesign a B&B…
He’s the carpenter who might just redesign her heart.
After a public divorce leaves her career in shambles, Magnolia Grove escapes the spotlight for a fresh start in Lovett Cove. But when her modern vision clashes with Hero Larson’s old-world craftsmanship, sparks fly between blueprints and banisters.
Can Magnolia risk her heart again—or will the past keep her from building the future she longs for?