Love in a Small Town (Pine Harbour Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

going to. 
    “So who was the hot chick?” 
    “You know what, Jake? Instead of giving me a hard time after the fact, how about you go out with your brother. Natalie would have been happy to sit in your lap most of the night instead of mine.”
    Jake made a face and Rafe snorted. “See? It’s not me. Maybe we should all stop measuring ourselves against Matt’s oversexed libido. Hooking up isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
    Matt cackled. “Trust me, it really is. Both of you would be much happier if you’d had a roll in the hay the other night. And you actually have to go through with the hook up before you get to pass judgement on its value. When was the last time either of you got laid?”
    “No comment,“ Rafe and Jake said at the same time.
    “That means an embarrassingly long time. I’m guessing…not since Olivia for Rafe, and not since college for Jake.” Matt let out a high-pitched yelp as his older brother dove for him. Rafe chuckled to himself as the deck thumped over and over again with flailing Foster limbs. Some things never changed. And never stopped being funny.
    Dean plopped into the chair Jake just vacated. “We’re getting too old for this shit, man.”
    Rafe grunted. Matt and Jake rolling around like idiots at least served as distraction from the bigger problems in their lives. “How about you? Still seeing that lady doctor from Port Elgin?”
    “Yeah, I guess.”
    “A ringing endorsement for monogamy.”
    Dean sighed. “We’re not exactly…I’m pretty sure I’m her piece on the side. Her ex-husband lives in Toronto, and she’s been making a lot of weekend trips away.”
    Rafe knew his first reaction should be disappointment for his friend, but all he heard was the phrase piece on the side over and over again in his head. It made him see red. “You think she wants him back?”
    Another sigh. “Who knows? Probably telling that I’m most annoyed about having to go back to condoms, right?”
    “When did you…”
    “At the start of the summer. We both got tested, ya know? And then a few weeks ago she pulls out a rubber and says, ‘maybe we should use this…less messy.’ Except the clean up had always been my job. No skin off her nose. So…” He made a clicking noise with his tongue. “There ya go. I don’t know, maybe I’ll end it.”
    Rafe didn’t bother to point out that obviously Dean was better off without that drama. Not his problem. But jeez…if Liv had slept with someone else,  he’d lose his ever-loving-mind.
    Cold, clammy fear punched him in the throat. He’d know if she’d slept with someone, wouldn’t he? 
    If she had dated, he’d need to make his peace with that. Wasn’t sure how he would, because the thought of someone else’s hands on her hips, another man’s mouth on her neck…that enraged him. No. Enraged was an understatement.
    But he sure as shit wouldn’t shrug over it.
    He definitely needed a plan. Taking Natalie to the diner for breakfast had been a bonehead move, but it had crystallized the fact that Liv still loved him. And if that was the case, they’d made a monumental mistake.
    No, he had made the mistake. He’d chosen his town and his jobs over the woman who meant more to him than all of those put together. He couldn’t quit and moving would be tricky, so declaring his love at this point would be an exercise in stupidity, particularly considering he’d tried once and had to back off because of work. But he wasn’t going to be content just circling in her orbit anymore. Somehow, he was going to find a way to be the man she deserved. 

 
    — THREE —
     
    H E brought wine and a winning smile. She was in trouble.
    “Nope. We’re not opening that.” She shook her head as he grinned and stepped inside. The temperature outside was dropping and he was wearing a leather jacket she hadn’t seen before over jeans and a white t-shirt. He looked good. They didn’t need to add alcohol to the mix for her to feel unsteady about