Winter Reunion Read Online Free Page A

thought you deserved a break.”
    Why hadn’t Vivian said something about this?
    Dev’s abrupt decision to file for divorce had hurt his mother deeply—Beth had seen it in her eyes. Her former mother-in-law had remained distant but cordial whenever she stopped at the bookstore or joined the crowd lingering outside church on Sunday mornings. She’d even sent Beth a Christmas card, and included her in the dozens of townsfolk she invited for a Christmas brunch last year, though the divorce had long since been finalized.
    But Vivian never made a single comment about the divorce, and there certainly had never been any hint at the contents of her will.
    Beth frowned. “This must be a mistake—a forgotten clause in the will, or something.”
    Nora cleared her throat. “It’s all legal and proper. She revised her will last February, actually, five months after your divorce was final. She went over every paragraph of it with me.”
    â€œStill, the boardinghouse would be far better managed by someone experienced in the field.” Dev made an impatient motion with his hand. “Maybe a social worker. Or a nurse.”
    â€œLike I said, these were your mother’s wishes. She didn’t want to leave her charges to flounder without her,” Nora said with a firm smile. “I’m sure she figured you would follow through.”
    He studied Beth for a moment, his eyes narrowed. “Maybe she had other motives.”
    Horror and embarrassment washed through Bethat the obvious implication. “You think she wanted us thrown together over this?”
    He didn’t respond, but she could see his answer from the hard glint in his eyes. He probably even thought Beth had been in on the “plan,” and there was no way to prove him wrong. Did he really think she was so needy and pathetic?
    She could feel her cheeks burning. “Your mother might’ve had fond dreams of happily-ever-afters, but if so, she was sadly mistaken. That could never happen. You made that more than clear when you demanded a divorce. And believe me, I have absolutely no desire to turn back the clock.”
    At the force behind her words, he looked taken aback. “No insult intended.”
    No insult intended? He was even more obtuse than she’d thought. She took a steadying breath. “None taken. I’m just stating facts.”
    Nora glanced between them. “I’m guessing this is going to be an uneasy peace between you two. Maybe even impossible.”
    Silence stretched uncomfortably between them.
    â€œI’ll request extension of my leave,” he finally said through clenched teeth. “We can make this work. Right, Beth?”
    Beth swallowed hard. “If we want to save your inheritance and my bookstore, we don’t have a choice.”
    She reached out and tried to ignore the sudden, familiar warmth that sped through her when his large, strong hand briefly enveloped hers. Warmth that triggered a rush of memories, both good and bad.
    He dropped her hand as if he’d touched fire, and she knew he’d felt it, too.
    They had six long months ahead.
    Six. Long. Months.
    The thought made her shudder, yet there was too much at stake to risk failure. And not just for herself.
    Tourism had revitalized the town, but the tourists wouldn’t come back if Stan pursued his business interests and destroyed the historic district in the process. If that happened, too many good friends and neighbors would suffer. The owners of the gift shops, the coffeehouses, the antique stores. Even the little marina owned by old Mr. Gerber, who’d added a fresh coat of paint to the main building just this summer.
    They were all starting to prosper after far too many years of struggle, and it could all be wiped out if the quaint and inviting atmosphere of the town changed.
    All she and Dev needed to do was get along and work together, and in six months everyone would have a more