Doreenâs cheek. âHi, Mom.â
Doreen cupped his jaw. âWould you like some breakfast?â
He shook his head. âJust coffee, please. Iâve already eaten.â
Was she watching a Saturday-morning tradition? The camaraderie among these friends was so natural. They were more like an extended family. In contrast, the people in Los Angeles she considered friends were more like well-acquainted strangers. Was this what small-town living was like? If so, she envied them.
Megan took Eanâs hand as he started past her and nodded toward Audra. âEan Fever, this is Penny Lane.â
Ean shook her hand. âWelcome to Trinity Falls. Iâm glad Jackâs finally renting out his cabins.â
Audra frowned. âJack? Do you mean the desk clerk?â
Doreen laughed. âAnd handyman, janitor, and whatever else. Jack owns Harmony Cabins.â
Audraâs jaw dropped. âI thought he was an employee.â
Quincy shook his head. âWe shouldnât be surprised that Jack didnât introduce himself.â
âHe probably didnât see a reason to.â Megan poured herself a mug of coffee.
âThatâs no excuse.â Ramona turned to Audra. âHe didnât tell you who he is?â
Audra frowned. âHe just said his name was Jack.â
Quincy put his hand on Ramonaâs shoulder. âRamona, Jack probably didnât want to make a big deal about it.â
Ean sat on the other side of Quincy. âItâs not like Jack to call attention to himself.â
âIn what way?â Audraâs curiosity had ballooned.
âYou have to tell her now.â Darius shook his head. âYouâve made it worse by bringing it up.â
Ramona grinned like the cat that swallowed the canary. âJack is Jackson Elijah Sansbury.â She paused, drawing out the suspense. âHeâs the great-great-grandson and sole descendent of Trinity Fallsâ founding family.â
Audra nearly choked on her coffee. The man sheâd thought of as the rental cabinsâ front-desk clerk was actually a member of the townâs founding family?
âWow.â
CHAPTER 3
Who was knocking on his private cabinâs front door? Jack pushed himself from his armchair. He tossed the book heâd been reading onto the coffee table and padded barefoot across his great room.
He eased his frustration by yanking open his front door. Then he froze. His cabin guest stood on his porch. She wore the same green top and orange capris from this morning. He missed the trash bag.
Her presence on his property was putting him through a range of emotions he hadnât allowed himself to feel in almost two years. Amusement when sheâd strutted to his registration counter, wearing nothing but a garbage bag; surprise at finding her standing on his porch; and, judging by the stirring in his shorts, desire at the sight of her.
âYes?â The copper doorknob bore into Jackâs palm.
She offered him a Books & Bakery plastic bag. âMegan McCloud asked me to give these to you. Theyâre the books you ordered.â
âThanks.â Jack took the heavy package from her. He didnât mean to look at her shapely calves, rounded hips, trim waist, and full breasts. It just happened. He swallowed. âAnything else?â
âAm I the only guest here?â She folded her arms under her chest, drawing his attention back to her cleavage.
Jackâs palm slipped on the doorknob. âYes.â
He shouldnât have agreed to let Benitaâs friend stay here. She had to leave. Something about her was having an effect on everything in him.
Audraâs gaze drifted from him to the lawn beyond his porch. âI hadnât realized the cabins would be so isolated.â
He clung to the doorknob. âThey are.â
She returned her attention to him. âYou really arenât much of a talker.â
Why did she keep saying that? What