Page 36 of Mine to Save

“You heard correctly.” Melinda pointed to the big white house on the water. “It was all over that place and what to do with it. My grandfather wanted to preserve it, and my father wanted to sell it. He was tired of dealing with it. My mom loved the idea of turning it into a bed and breakfast and sharing it with everyone. My grandfather owned it, and to piss off my father, he cut him out of the will and left it to me, knowing I’d side with my mom.”

“How did he know that?”

“I went to school for hotel management and hospitality. This is my jam. I love it.”

“You’re really good at it, too,” Trinity said.

“Thank you.” Melinda’s gaze wandered toward the inlet. “To make a very long story a little shorter, my father, the crazy bastard, decided to kill his father-in-law and make it look like I did it so I wouldn’t get the Landon Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast. It was Emmett who proved I didn’t do it. Even though he was the one who found enough evidence to arrest me.” Melinda rubbed her wrists. “Ruined being tied up as a sexy thing forever.”

Trinity laughed. “No way in hell would I ever let someone tie me up. However, I might be inclined to do the tying.”

“I hear you on that, sister.” Melinda raised her coffee and took a sip. “I’m going to give you an unsolicited piece of advice for dealing with some people from this town.”

“Okay.”

“For the most part, everyone is super cool, but some will point their fingers, walk on the other side of the road, and call you names. I still have some who won’t stay here because of what happened, and then others who come just because of what my father did. Thing is, I hold my head up and pretend I don’t give a shit. I act like the same spoiled girl who complained about the stuff that didn’t go my way or wasn’t like I thought it should be.” She leaned a little closer. “The people of this town don’t know you, but don’t give them a reason to dislike you.”

“Are you implying I’m behaving like a bitch or something?” Trinity’s mouth went dry. Heat filled her veins. All those old anger triggers flashed in her mind.

“No. But you are elusive and a bit unapproachable. People here don’t know what to make of you, and that gives them something to talk and wonder about. Made even more so by the fact that you’re hanging out with Emmett and the portion of his family who are cops and lawyers. That’s the last thing you want when you’re trying to keep your association to someone hidden.”

Trinity had to admit that Melinda had a valid point. In trying to blend into the scenery, Trinity had managed to make herself even more noticeable. But she didn’t want to make friends, either.

Melinda gently placed her hand on Trinity’s knee. “I would hate for people to treat you badly because of your dad. You did nothing wrong regardless of what he did or didn’t do. It has nothing to do with you.”

“You have no idea what that means to me.”

Melinda smiled. “I kind of do.”

“Yeah. I guess you do.” Trinity laughed.

“On to topic number two.” Melinda held up two of her fingers. “What’s going on between you and my ex—and don’t try to tell me nothing, because I know him, and I know when he’s got the hots for someone.”

Heat filled Trinity’s cheeks like a marshmallow catching fire when shoved into the flames. “We just met.”

“Emmett hasn’t had a relationship since we broke up. Not one that’s worth mentioning anyway. Sure, he’s dated, but nothing serious. And when he fell for me, it was about the time he slapped on the second handcuff—which was funny because we’d known each other for our entire lives, and he’d never paid me any attention until I became a murder suspect.”

“I’m no psychology major, but if your assessment is true, then Emmett has issues.” Trinity tucked her hair behind her ears and lowered her gaze, hoping her face hadn’t turned bright red.

“I don’t know about that. Still, when he falls in love, he falls fast and hard,” Melinda said. “Before me, it was with his high school sweetheart of nearly five years. Everyone thought they would get married, but he never asked. After that, he was with a woman who wasn’t from around here for a couple of years, but that relationship was destined to fail because she wanted nothing to do with Lighthouse Cove, and there’s no getting Emmett to leave. No one in that family is leaving, and I can’t blame them.”

“This is an amazing little town. I feel like I’m in my own little safe harbor.”

“Ah. So, you’d stay if the circumstances were right?” Melinda winked.

Trinity touched her lips. That kiss had been all she’d thought about since it’d happened. She wouldn’t mind getting to know Emmett better, but not while all this stuff with her father was going on. That would only complicate things. And after everything that’d happened with Alex, complicated wasn’t something she was willing to do again.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be giving you shit about Emmett,” Melinda said. “Only, I can tell he has a crush on you.”

“He is incredibly sexy and has such kind eyes. I don’t think I’ve ever met a man where I could see right into their soul before.”

“That’s Emmett.” Melinda turned, dropping her feet into the water. “But don’t ever mistake that kindness for weakness. He might have a heart of gold, but if you cross him or hurt any of his family, he’ll come at you like a bull seeing red.”

“I can tell that about him. And his mother.”

“Oh. Rebecca. She’s an interesting character.” Melinda kicked her feet, making a swirling motion. “But all of them are good people.”

“Do you mind if I ask why you and Emmett didn’t work out?” Trinity’s heart jumped around in her chest like a jackhammer. She shouldn’t be prying into other people’s business.

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