Page 3 of Return to Lovett Cove
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.”
