Page 40 of Her Rugged Guardian

“Uh, yeah, Ms. Dayne. This is Garrett Thompson. I’m a local contractor here in Depoe Bay. I was calling because I know you own the place now and you need some work done.”

I certainly wasn’t spiteful and wouldn’t allow what I’d seen to get in the way of business. I planned on remaining an adult even if my contractor had two-timed his girlfriend. “I’m sorry, Mr. Thompson, but I’m already working with a wonderful contractor. I appreciate your call though.”

“Jake Spencer?”

“Yes, that’s the man. If you’d like to text me your information, I’ll certainly keep it on file.”

“I think there’s been some kind of mistake. Jake called and mentioned he couldn’t finish the job. We’re old friends. I told him I’d be happy to step in.”

The sledgehammer effect was only matched by the gut-wrenching jab from an invisible and very dull knife. “I see.”

“Anyway, I have some free time tomorrow if you don’t mind me stopping by so I can see the scope of work.”

“That would be fine.” The ache only continued to grow.

“How about two-thirty? Will that work?”

“Sure, Mr. Thompson. That will work just fine. I’ll see you then.” As I ended the call, I took a deep breath, holding the phone to my forehead. After placing the phone on the counter, I grabbed the Santa plate, heading to the trash. It was funny how much better I felt as I grabbed one burnt cookie after another. By the time I’d filled the plate, I was feeling much better.

After wrapping plastic wrap around the treats, I stood back. I was even able to allow a wry smirk before glancing at the drawers, opening one after another until I found what I was looking for.

The meat tenderizer would be perfect. Humming softly, I returned to the plate, grateful it was made of melamine. Then I took out my aggressions on the cookies, smashing them to smithereens.

Yep, the girl I’d once been ages before was back. No longer would I allow any man to take advantage of me.

Ever.

I’d thought about bringing Moose with me, but I honestly didn’t want him to get any more attached to Jake than absolutely necessary. Fortunately, the asshole wasn’t home. I’d left the plate on his front porch along with the check in an envelope, wishing I’d had a little marijuana or even a laxative that I could have added to the cookies. Yes, that was horrible of me but at this point, I didn’t care.

The fact I’d accepted such bullshit behavior from my ex should have allowed me to see right through the rugged man’s façade. But I’d lost myself in Jake’s sinfully blue eyes and chiseled jaw. To hell with that.

I’d soothe the ache in my heart by stopping by the diner as I’d intended the day before. If I ran into the man and his girlfriend, I’d do nothing but wave. But first, I was headed to the post office my mother had used. I’d almost forgotten that she had very little mail coming to the house. The drive to the other side of the small town had helped me understand why my mother was so in love with the location. Everything was quaint from the houses to the businesses. There were so many tree-lined streets and from several locations, you could catch a glimpse of the ocean.

I wanted this to feel like home but right now, I just felt empty and I hated that more than anything. Maybe Garrett Thompson would allow me to forget all about Jake. One could hope.

After parking the truck I jumped out, surprised when the three people who passed me waved as if they were old friends. There was something about small town vibes that I liked. It was entirely different than being in DC where everyone questioned everything.

I was surprised at the stack of mail in the box and took the time to go through the ads and other basic trash mail, tossing them into the bin inside the post office. There were several bills, which I’d anticipated and another piece that caught my eye. It was from a real estate firm in town, but it didn’t appear to be an advertisement.

As soon as I opened it, another wave of anger skidded into my system. It was a threatening letter addressed to my mother, the threat about suing her for breach of contract. What the hell? My mother hadn’t been attempting to sell the place. She’d prepared her will years before. I stared at the name on the envelope but couldn’t tell when it had been mailed.

The attorney had told me he’d had all her mail redirected to his office until only a week ago. Surely he would have known if she’d entered into a contract. Something didn’t add up. While I wanted nothing more than to find the man’s office and confront him, I figured it was in my best interest to find out who the guy was.

I could contact the attorney, but I had a feeling if all the regulars went to the diner, someone inside could tell me all about Mr. Robinson.

And I’d be able to kill two birds with one stone. I’d even buy my fur baby a beloved cheeseburger in celebration of my newfound independence. See. I was feeling better already.

I dumped the mail into the seat beside me, heading back to the other side of town, enjoying the scenery along the way. When I pulled into the diner, I was eager to grab a burger, maybe a glass of wine and a chat with the locals. It was time I took full control of my life.

As I headed inside, my mouth watered from the smells inside the place. It was adorable in atmosphere, pictures of all kinds of people covering the walls that didn’t have windows. I even noticed a few celebrities as I walked by, heading to the counter. Almost immediately Millie came out from the back, a smile bursting on her face.

“Well, hey there, new neighbor. Grab a seat,” Millie said.

“I think I will.”

“What can I get you?”

“You wouldn’t happen to have a nice glass of wine, would you?”

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