Reclaiming Her Heart (Serenity Bay Series Book 1) Page 4

  “Nah. You’re no one special. Everyone gets to see Eloise’s art work.” Jasmine grinned, exposing the small dimple in her cheek.

  “Even Frank the farmer?”

  “Even Frank. I take it all these backward questions are a way of asking me to make an introduction?”

  “You got me.” Elijah held up his hands and chuckled. “But that would be great. You don’t have to vouch for me. After all, I’m the distrusted businessman.” He quirked an eyebrow, secretly hoping she would refute his self-deprecating talk. But she wasn’t one to swoon underneath his teasing. Nor did she appear to have a snarky side. She could give as much as he did. And he liked that in a woman.

  Jasmine inhaled, her chest rose and fell as her lips twisted into a smirk.

  “You drive a hard bargain, Mr Rineholt. But that’s a deal. I have to go and see Frank anyway. He gave me some tomatoes yesterday, and I have some pasta sauce to take to him.”

  “That sounds like a great deal in itself. Has that always been the case? Bartering with each other?”

  Jasmine clasped her hands together on the table and gazed out the window. Elijah leaned back in the chair, running his fingers over the smooth glass of juice as he surreptitiously eyed her profile. A light dusting of freckles covered her cheeks and nose. Her lips, coated in pale pink gloss, were full, and not from the ridiculous fillers that many of the women back home were addicted to. Again, she wore no makeup. His heart pitter-pattered in his chest before her words cut through his silent appraisal.

  “Long before I opened Vista on the Bay,” she replied. “Frank and this farm are practically the backbone of Serenity Bay.”

  “What about the places along the esplanade and marina? Do you know who runs things down there?”

  Jasmine’s gaze flicked back to him. Elijah didn’t miss the flash of annoyance crossing her face, and he silently berated himself for pushing too far. “I do. It’s a public beach run by the local council. If you need me to take you to their offices, I can.”

  “I’m sorry. You have work to do. I don’t want to interrupt.” He needed to ease up. To stop being the hard-headed businessman who was merely focused on signing a contract. He’d been asking enough questions, and he didn’t want to get her offside.

  “I do.” With a sigh, Jasmine picked up the coffee carafe and stood. “Truth be told, and I shouldn’t be saying it to a guest, but I don’t feel like it today. Ever have days like that?”

  “For sure.” And lately, those days were becoming more and more frequent. He’d love nothing better than to spend the day with the intriguing B&B owner, exploring the town and forgetting about his reason for being there.

  “Shall I meet you in the foyer in ten minutes and I’ll take you to Frank’s?”

  “Sure. But only if you have time?”

  Jasmine nodded and stacked some dirty dishes on a tray on the side table. “I’m interested in hearing what you’ve got to say for yourself.”

  Chapter 6

  After brushing his teeth and running a comb through his hair, Elijah was standing in the foyer with two minutes to spare. Jasmine had neatened her hair, and he tucked a hand into his pocket to prevent himself from reaching out to smooth the few flyaway strands behind her ear.

  “This way.” He followed her along the cobblestoned path winding through glorious blooms and through a gate that opened into a wide paddock. The sun was warm on his skin, and he inhaled the fresh ocean air.

  As they walked, Jasmine chatted about the history of the town, the families that had lived there for generations, the yearly fair that everyone looked forward to, and the loyalty that ran deep. For the first time in months, Elijah felt light and carefree. The headache which had lingered for months had gone. His feet felt as though they were barely touching the ground. If he knew Jasmine better, he would probably start skipping. Best not to, though. She was already wary of his intentions.

  His light-hearted mood soon changed when they walked through the knee high grass towards the front fence where an older man was hunched over a wheelbarrow.

  “Hi, Frank.” Jasmine’s voice lilted on the breeze.

  The old man straightened, his weathered face breaking into a grin as Jasmine stepped over and kissed his cheek.

  “I’d like you to meet Elijah. He’s staying at the B&B for a little while. And he wants to talk to you about some things.”

  Elijah held out his hand and startled as Frank grasped it with deceptive strength. He ran a hand over his knuckles once the farmer had released his grip.

  “What things?” Frank’s gruff voice alerted Elijah to tread carefully.

  “Just hear him out, Frank. That’s all I ask.” Jasmine turned to Elijah and offered him a small smile as she stepped away.

  And then he realized he was on his own. Of course he was. Why he expected Jasmine to side with him when he’d only just met her was nonsensical. Besides, he was used to making business pitches all the time. Make a statement. Sign a contract. Seal the deal. Move on. That’s how it always worked. Except this time, he didn’t quite feel so sure of himself. He felt like a small boy in the school principal’s office under the intense glare from the old farmer.

  “Serenity Bay has been on our radar for some time. We like the seaside location. The small town feel.” He glanced at Jasmine to see if he was on the right track. She was too busy gazing around the farm, running her hand over the stalks of grass brushing against her knees.

  “So, you gonna come in and knock down all the buildings just to replace them with hideous monstrosities? No, thank you. I ain’t leavin’ this farm.” Frank grabbed the rake resting against the wheelbarrow and turned to walk away.

  “What if we could improve business for you?” Elijah scurried after him. He used to be shrewd. He used to be able to smooth talk clients into signing a contract. Now, he felt like a weasel. After years of relentlessly pursuing dollar signs, the realization of what he’d become punched him hard in the gut. And he didn’t like it.

  Frank turned and clutched the rake in one hand. “Is someone going to farm for me?”

  Elijah ran a hand through his hair and glanced around, trying to see the land through the old man’s eyes. “Not if you don’t want them to. But I bet there used to be more people in those orchards over there, and that old petting zoo. Am I right?”

  “Petting zoo?” Confusion marred Jasmine’s face as she walked over to the men.

  “How long has that been there?” Elijah pointed to a worn, hand-painted sign partly obscured by a thatch of shrubs.

  “I vaguely remember an animal farm when I was a kid!” Jasmine turned to Elijah, her eyes alight with the memory. “I only came once when I was really little. And then I never knew what happened to the animals.”

  Frank cleared his throat. “My father ran it. It was good in the summer holidays for business. But he got too sick to look after them, so he gave them away. I never bothered to replace them when I took over the farm.”

  “We could do that again.” Elijah held Frank’s gaze, his heart pounding with excitement at the possibilities filling his mind. This was more than consigning some condos to be built. He could inject some money into the struggling businesses and help enhance the natural attractions for Serenity Bay. Whoa. Did he actually have a heart underneath his business acumen?

  Frank narrowed his eyes at Elijah and grunted before turning to Jasmine. “You want the strawberries or not?”

  “Yes, of course. Thank you.”

  “Come on then.” He gestured with his head and Jasmine followed him through the grass. When Elijah fell into step beside them, Frank held out his hand.

  “Not you, city slicker. You stay here and take a good look around. Not everyone can say they have the ocean on the doorstep of their farm. I was born here, and I will die here. That’s all there is to it.”

  “I understand.” Elijah nodded and was soon left standing alone in the field while Jasmine followed Frank through the overgrown grass towards his ramshackle house. Running a hand over hi
s chin, Elijah gazed around the property. The old man was right. How many people could farm with an ocean view? No wonder the old man wanted to die here. Waking up to the sparkling waters of the ocean every morning would be absolute heaven.

  Conflicting thoughts warred through his mind. There was so much untapped potential in Frank’s rundown property. So much he could offer. Inject some cash. Restore the farm, and open it up as a must-see tourist attraction. But he could also see the flip side. The history. The memories. And the loyalty that ran deep through the veins of the town and its inhabitants. He didn’t want to ruin that.

  Chapter 7

  “I heard a rumor about you.” Jackson leaned an elbow on the reception desk and glanced around the office. Still in his khakis, he’d stopped by the B&B after his shift to give Eloise a doll he purchased at the gift store in town. He was always scouring the local stores for things to spoil Eloise with. Jasmine scolded him for spoiling her daughter. But as his only niece, she knew he enjoyed doing it.

  “Yeah? What’s that?” Jasmine offered him a cookie fresh from the afternoon’s batch. “And I swear if you say anything about …”

  “No, not an old rumor. We’re not back in high school.” Jackson grinned. “This is a new one.”

  “A new one? I can’t imagine what I’ve done to cause any rumors. My life is just not that exciting. All I’ve been doing is working.”

  “And running around town with a rich property developer who’s feeding you lines about saving Serenity Bay.”

  “Oh my goodness.” Jasmine gazed up at the ceiling before narrowing her eyes at her brother. “Don’t be so dramatic.”

  Jackson folded his arms. His eyebrows disappeared beneath the dark hair flopping over his forehead. “Am I being dramatic? Or is it true?”

  “Yes, it’s true I took Elijah around town today,” Jasmine replied. “But I was running errands. I didn’t make any special trips, and I didn’t vouch for him and his ideas. I let him talk to the business owners while I did my thing.”

  “Jaz, you’ve got to be careful about that sort of thing.”

  “What sort of thing?” Ire raced through her veins. He would always be her big brother. Always looking out for her. Always being over-protective. “Running errands?”

  “Rich city clickers waving luxury in your face,” Jackson scoffed. “After the douchebag Eloise has for a father …”

  “Hey,” Jasmine snapped, glaring sternly across the desk. “First of all, keep your voice down. I have guests staying here. Secondly, nothing is happening with the city slicker. I’m showing around the town I love. I’m not marrying him and running off into the sunset.”

  “This time,” Jackson mumbled through a mouthful of cookie.

  Shaking her head, she clicked open a new tab on the computer screen and stared at the spreadsheet of upcoming bookings. She didn’t have time for her big brother’s antics. “You know, I can take care of myself.”

  “I know you can. But ever since Mom and Dad died, it’s kind of my job to look out for you and give you a hard time.”

  Jasmine glanced up and found her irritation slipping away. It never lasted long with Jackson. He appeared fierce and over-protective, but he really was a gentle giant. Leaning back in the office chair, she exhaled. “I appreciate it. And really, I’m fine. You have nothing to worry about.”

  “That’s what you said about the last one.”

  “Eat your cookie,” she demanded and waved him away.

  A deep chuckle filled the foyer as Jackson opened the front door and left her to finish the day’s business.

  Chapter 8

  “How’s it going up there in Hicksville?” John’s sardonic chuckle grated on Elijah’s nerves. It had been just over a week since he arrived in Serenity Bay, but already something had shifted inside him.

  It was crazy, but the quaint seaside town was drawing him in, making him forget about his fast-paced city life and his desire to make a quick buck. The way the townsfolk would wave and greet him a ‘good morning’ as he walked along the esplanade before breakfast each day. The way the business owners looked out for one another. Waking up to the sight and sound of the ocean. He could easily get used to the slower pace of life.

  “You’ve made the billion dollar transaction, right? Must be almost time for you to come home.”

  “Uh.” Elijah glanced up from his laptop from his seat on the front porch. The sun had begun its descent over the ocean, and the water shimmered in shades of orange and gold. A light breeze rustled through the leaves of nearby palm fronds. He inhaled deeply as an unfamiliar feeling settled over him. Peace. Yes, that’s what it was. Something he hadn’t felt in years. “Not quite.”

  “What’s holding you up? You said you’d be quick.” The tapping of a keyboard sounded down the phone.

  “I know.” Elijah rubbed the back of his neck. How could he explain feelings to his brother that he didn’t even fully understand? John was more driven than he was. Hard-lined. Tough. Relentless. “This place is different than previous ones. I need a little more time with the locals. I think I’m making progress.”

  “What progress?” John enquired. “You’re still at the B&B, right? Surely they want to sell if you’ve made the right offer. Are you talking the numbers that I discussed in my email?”

  Elijah held in a sigh. He didn’t care for numbers any more. In fact, he’d be more than happy to sell his share of the company to John and move to Serenity Bay permanently. Whoa, what? Where did that idea come from?

  “I’m talking to people. But John, the B&B owner is more than just a business owner. She’s a single mother and is passionate about giving her daughter a future through the business she’s built from scratch.”

  “Unless you’re ready to marry her, I’m not sure why you’re telling me.” John’s impatience was evident.

  “Don’t be daft. I’ll get things sorted. I just need more time.”

  A large pause hovered between the brothers before John spoke. “You sound a lot more relaxed, so I guess that’s a perk. Stay as long as you need.”

  Elijah tried to focus on his work when the call ended, but found his thoughts were filled with images of Jasmine. The way her face lit up whenever her daughter was around. The way she chewed her bottom lip whenever she was deep in thought. Her driven attitude and strong work ethic. Her friendliness to her guests and everyone in the community. The town, or more to the point, the alluring B&B owner, was working her way into his heart.

  The front door opened and footsteps tapped along the porch.

  “Nice time of day to be out here.”

  Elijah glanced up as Jasmine leaned against the porch railing by the front steps. Wisps of hair floated on the breeze, cocooning her face. Her skin glowed in the afternoon sun. His breath caught in his throat. She truly was an angel.

  “It’s gorgeous.” Clearing his throat, Elijah remembered the bottle of water on the nightstand in his room. He could do with a good swig right about now.

  “I thought I’d let you know there are some markets down at the waterfront this evening if you want to come along. They’re not as up-scale as ones in the city, I’m sure. But it might be a good chance for you to meet some more folk around town. There’s no pressure. I just thought I’d … ”

  “I’d love to go, Jasmine.” Without any thought, he reached out his hand to clasp hers, but quickly dropped it before he made contact. What was he thinking? Other than the thought of spending the evening at the beach with Jasmine sounded perfect.

  Tapping her fingers on the railing, Jasmine pursed her lips. “There’s just one catch. I promised Eloise I would take her.”

  “How is that a catch?” Jasmine’s daughter was a well-mannered little girl with a zest for life he envied. He’d enjoyed playing board games with her in the dining room when Jasmine was busy with other guests and he’d had a few spare moments in between work commitments. She shared some of the same mannerisms as Jasmine, and he loved her enthusiasm for everything she did. Jasmine had done a
wonderful job in raising her as a single parent.

  He hadn’t had much to do with kids, and had always seen them as an intrusion. But now … something tugged at his heart. A longing for something he didn’t know he wanted. He needed. A family and children of his own.

  Jasmine’s eyebrows lifted as she ran her fingers along the hem of her buttoned blouse. “You don’t mind? She can be very … energetic.”

  “Of course I don’t mind. What time do I need to be ready?”

  They arranged to meet at five o’clock in the foyer. Once Jasmine returned inside, Elijah tried to focus on the task at hand, but his efforts were futile. So much for catching up on work. He’d wasted an entire afternoon daydreaming about a certain brunette whose smile he couldn’t erase from his mind.

  Los Angeles was but a distant memory when Elijah returned to his room. Preparing for previous dates had been easy enough. A suit, or smart business attire were the choice of clothing when he ventured out with the latest conquest on his arm. There was always an unspoken agreement with the women who accompanied him, and he never pursued things beyond a couple of dates. Despite their insistence, he kept his dates at arms’ length. He was too busy to commit. Too shallow to be interested in anything more than a good time. Settling down had never entered his mind. Until now.

  What was happening to him? Elijah exhaled as gripped the rim of the vanity and eyed himself in the mirror. Gone were the dinner jacket and tie he was accustomed to. With his jeans and gray t-shirt underneath a blue button-up shirt, he almost didn’t recognize the man staring back at him. With a splash of cologne and a run of his fingers through his hair, he was ready.

  Wiping his palms over his jeans, his heart pounded in his chest as he made his way to the foyer. The smell of freshly baked bread wafted on the air as he passed the dining room, and his stomach growled in anticipation of what was to come.

  Elijah glimpsed the familiar blonde curls of Eloise sitting in the armchair by the front window. Clutching a toy on her lap, her feet kicked back and forth beneath the oversized chair.