Page 7 of Return to Lovett Cove
River stared at the ceiling, feigning deep in thought. “Nope. I was your mother’s attorney, and I handle real estate here in Lovett Cove. It’s a small town. Many of us wear multiple hats.”
Jasmine crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re the town’s handyman also, right? If my mom needed something fixed, she called you?”
River chuckled. “Just doing her a favor. She mentioned the kitchen sink sounded clogged before…” He trailed off, sensitive to Jasmine’s grief. “I’m so sorry for your loss, Jasmine. Your mom was a wonderful woman.”
“Really?” she asked sarcastically. “I guess people can surprise you.”
She picked at the uneaten half of her biscuit, the papers forgotten. He knew a little about Jasmine’s relationship with her mother.
Or the lack thereof.
Lily had mentioned they were estranged, but she was working on repairing their relationship. Step One: Open an inn.
“Seriously, tell me what you’re thinking,” River asked. “We can at least talk it out.” Jasmine looked at him with suspicion. “I promise to give you objective advice. Free of charge, of course.”
Jasmine snickered at that, her half-smile genuine. “Okay, River, I want to sell the inn.”
“Okay…”
“Keeping it is out of the question.”
“How so?”
“This was my mother’s dream. Not mine. I’m not even sure why she moved to this…” Jasmine stared out the window.
People milled about on their daily rounds. River knew most of the people after living here a few years. Some faces came and went, but most stayed and created a wonderful community of good, neighborly people. “You were saying?” River encouraged.
“This is areallysmall town,” Jasmine remarked.
“It is. But that’s part of the charm and beauty of Lovett Cove. Your mother settled here easily enough. People are nice and accepting of one another. I’d be surprised if you haven’t felt that already.”
Jasmine nodded and looked toward Petunia and Candace, who were arguing about something. Usually, which decorations went with their “brand.”
“You’re right,” Jasmine agreed. “I have felt…wanted. Not by you.”
He grinned at the dig she snuck in there at the end. Jasmine popped a piece of biscuit in her mouth and chewed with her nose lifted. She looked cute. He could almost hate bringing her down a peg or two. Almost. “I don’t recommend selling the house as-is.”
“Of course you don’t.”
“It’s not that I’m trying my best to annoy you.”
“This is your best?”
“It’s because you’re likely not going to get back what your mother paid to purchase it. There are repairs people will expect to be made before they’ll put in an offer to purchase.”
Jasmine frowned and looked at her phone’s clock. “Repairs? Like the kitchen faucet? How long will that take?”
River caught the time. “Longer than the day you were planning on spending here, I’m guessing.” He stood, and she looked panicked. “I’ve got another appointment to get to and another one after that. But I can show you what I mean tomorrow, if you can stick around another day.”
“I…My job. I’m very busy. I can’t stay?—”
“Lily stayed on the second floor, in the largest guest room. It needed the least amount of work, so she started there. She might’ve left you a few things, too. The key is under the yellow flowerpot with the jasmine flowers. Just don’t use the kitchen sink, but there’s a small one in the guest room.” River spotted the unsigned papers. “Read over the paperwork. If you have any questions, we can go over them tomorrow.” River smiled at Jasmine, whose skin had paled slightly. “Welcome to Lovett Cove. Sleep well. Call me if you need anything.”
He last saw her staring out of the cafe window at him, hands on the glass, like she was trapped.
CHAPTERFIVE
“Ican’t believe you’re staying at your mother’s inn,” Kennedy said over the car’s speakers. Jasmine’s phone was connected to the vehicle’s technology system.
