Page 3 of Return to Lovett Cove (Lovett Cove B&B #1)

CHAPTER TWO

River Scott took in his evictor’s rigged jaw and stiff, full lips, her narrowed eyes full of irritation and scorn for a person she’d never met before.

Her dark pantsuit gave off a masculine, executive energy, but it couldn’t hide the curve of her hips.

He appreciated the ruby-red heels she wore, even if they were totally inappropriate for a home on the brink of condemnation and in serious need of repair.

He watched her struggle to keep her gaze lifted. Her early once-over had brought a softening of her gaze and a slight parting of her lips, but she had recovered quickly behind an armor he figured was purposefully impenetrable.

He had asked who she was, knowing exactly who she was.

Jasmine Grove.

She looked the spitting image of her mother, Lily, only years younger.

The woman was too busy to travel to Lovett Cove to see her inheritance.

Lily had anticipated as much, and hired him to draw up legal papers making it almost impossible for Jasmine to get out of signing via email.

She probably could’ve fought him if she had taken the time to find an attorney—

But that was her point. She didn’t have the time.

And yet, here she was. The oh-so-busy marketing executive of Philadelphia’s largest marketing firm. Lily had told him all about her. How much work she did and how little time she made for herself.

I’m trying to get her out here, Riv. I feel it in my bones. If she just took a chance to slow down and enjoy life, she could be happy. I want that for her when I’m gone.

It was eerie remembering Lily’s impassioned declaration in his office because a week later, Lily was gone. As a former partner at a law firm, River dealt in facts and not the fantastical. He didn’t believe in coincidences or serendipitous encounters.

Not fate.

And certainly not destiny.

But for someone who appeared young and ready to spend decades in retirement running an inn in Lovett Cove, Lily prepared her will and last wishes. Did she know she’d die?

But looking at this nettled woman before him and recalling their tense email exchanges (which he couldn’t help.

Riling her up was so much fun!), he doubted Jasmine was looking to slow down—or if she even could.

He had been lucky to find Lovett Cove and escape the rat race that had cost him his marriage.

And Lily wanted that for her daughter, Jasmine.

We have to convince her, Riv. Jassy is stubborn, like me. She won’t break down easily.

Well, he was considered the closer at his firm. The one who could convince any potential client to sign with the firm. It was how he became a partner in half the time. He’d brought in millions to the firm.

And it all led him here, divorced in Lovett Cove, serving as both the town’s real estate agent and attorney for hire, with a busted inn to fix.

But with a whole lot of peace.

Jasmine weakened and dropped her gaze before shooting it to the sky and heaving a sigh. “Would you put a shirt on?”

“Please?”

She snorted. “Since you’re the one trespassing, you can hardly expect me to extend you the courtesy of manners.”

River chuckled. He liked her. Against his will and all reason.

She was a workaholic who reminded him of himself a few years back.

When his wife told him, he snapped at everybody and everything and was unbearable to live with.

Jasmine was in desperate need of a shift in perspective and some self-care.

River crossed his arms over his chest—a move that snatched Jasmine’s gaze—and leaned against the wall next to him. “But I’m not trespassing.”

“Oh?” She mirrored his stance, but stalked toward him. “Is your name Jasmine Grove?”

“Nope.”

“Then you don’t own this—” She halted and her eyes scanned the torn wallpaper, the missing bricks in the fireplace in the front room, and the missing ceiling paneling. “Death trap,” she ended.

“What are you talking about? It has potential.”

“To be sold.” She found him again and continued her pursuit. “Look, you clearly don’t have a job to be at, but I do. I need to be in town so I can get rid of this thing.”

The floorboards whined beneath her weight. A few of the tenuous ones required replacing. Her pointy shoes would either puncture through them or the warped ones would throw her off-balance. “Careful,” he warned.

“If you leave now, I won’t file a tresp—ah!”

It was both. Her shoe punctured a board and caused her to lose her balance. Her arms flailed as she toppled forward. He covered the distance between them in one step and caught her. “Told you. Are you okay?”

For a long moment, she stared into his eyes. His stomach flipped. It hadn’t done that since meeting his ex-wife.

Her gaze fell to his chest, and her face scrunched up in disgust. “You’re wet! Why are you wet?” She placed both hands on his chest and pushed away.

“Was fixing a faucet when you came in. You’re welcome, by the way.”

“Ugh.” She swiped at her blazer-clad arms and groaned when she saw the wet mark on her white blouse. “If you don’t mind, get your shirt and whatever junk you carry, and leave now. I’ll even be generous and not file a trespassing charge.”

River changed his mind. Lily, forgive me. He wasn’t interested in closing Jasmine. She was too much drama for him to let into his simple life. The sooner she signed the papers and left his home, the better.

But he wasn’t beneath playing a little cat and mouse before saying goodbye to her forever.

River placed a hand over his heart. “How magnanimous of you. Just let me get my things and I’ll be out of your hair.”

Jasmine had turned her back to him, moving her cellphone around as she searched for a signal.

River whipped on his t-shirt and slung his tool belt over his shoulder.

He had wanted to finish fixing the kitchen plumbing before the faucet sprayed anyone in the face again, but, unfortunately, he couldn’t think of a ruse that would get Jasmine into the kitchen. She was fixated on leaving.

When he passed her, she remembered he was there and said, “Are you a handyman?”

“Something like that.” He bounded down the porch steps.

“Um…wait.”

River skidded to a halt, but didn’t face her.

“I can’t get a signal.”

“Huh.”

“I need directions into town. I—I don’t remember seeing any signs.”

He threw the tool belt into the back seat of his truck and wiped his face with his t-shirt while she meandered forward. “I might be able to help you out.”

Her shoulders dropped, and the briefest of smiles crossed her face. The quick action smoothed the harsh lines of her jagged cheekbones and eliminated five years from her expression. “Great.” She marched to her car.

“If you drop the trespassing charge.”

She about-faced with a smirk that told him he was on dangerous ground.

Good thing he liked to take risks.

“Fine,” she gritted.

“I’m not done.”

She arched a brow. “You want more?”

He hooked his thumbs in his back belt loops and leaned against his truck like he had all the time in the world.

Because it would likely take that long to get what he wanted from her.

“I wanna hear you say please,” he taunted.

Her expression hardened. Laughter bubbled in his throat, but he forced it down. “Over here.” He beckoned her with a hooked finger.

He watched the internal war play out on her beautiful face. But in the end, she trudged over, slapped him with the fakest smile he’d ever seen, and let the word fall from her glorious mouth.

“Follow me.” He hopped in and started his vehicle while she stood there fuming in embarrassment. When she noticed how quickly he was leaving, she sprinted to her car. He laughed as he watched her yelling—cursing—in his rearview mirror.