Hawthorne Harbor Box Set

by Elana Johnson

  The road held six houses, all on the same side of the street, all facing inland with the lush forests of Washington in front of them.

  He pulled into his driveway and let Uno out. The dog sniffed around the front yard, took care of his business, and trotted after Bennett as he went next door to collect Gemma.

  A booming bark sounded from the back yard, and Bennett changed his course to go through the gate instead of to the front door.

  Splashing and the sweet scent of sugar filled the air as he unlatched the gate and called, “Nelly? It’s Bennett.”

  In the next three seconds, the little girl appeared, soaked from head to toe with a huge smile on her face. “Bennett! Come see Gemma swim.”

  “Gemma can’t—” But Nelly had run off before Bennett could finish. He grinned and chuckled, not overly enthused about his dog being wet the way Nelly was. Uno hovered at Bennett’s side, somehow sensing that if he let Nelly too close, he could end up in the pool too.

  Because the Yardley’s had a huge swimming pool in their backyard—the above ground kind that required Nelly to navigate a ladder to get in and out—and Gemma was currently paddling her way around it, a huge Labrador smile on her face.

  “Oh, wow,” Bennett said, stepping up to the pool. “Look at you, Gemma. Look at you swimming.”

  So maybe his voice strayed into a higher octave. So he loved his dog. Big deal.

  Gemma swam over to him and lunged at him to lick his face. Bennett laughed but fell back, not needing sixty pounds of muscly dog splashing him with water.

  “Do you have to take him?” Nelly asked.

  “It’s a her,” Bennett said for at least the hundredth time. “And yes, you’ve had her for two whole days.” He bent down to look right into Nelly’s blue eyes. “I brought Uno. You can come play with them in the fields, if you want.”

  Her whole face lit up. “Can I? I’ll ask my mom right now!” She turned to race into the house, but Montana Yardley said, “Not today, Nelly. Remember we’re going to Nana’s?” before she’d taken more than two steps.

  Bennett straightened and waved to Montana. “Hey, there,” he said. “Thanks for having Gemma.”

  “Oh, we love her.” Montana wore a big smile to go with the statement, but her clothes said she would not be coming down off the deck. She wore a ribbed black sweater with pearls around her neck, and a pair of black slacks. With heels. Apparently visiting Nana was a very serious occasion.

  Montana extended her hand to Nelly. “Come on, Nels. You need a bath. We have to leave in an hour.”

  “I’ll get—” Before Bennett could finish, Gemma heaved herself out of the pool, bringing at least twenty gallons of water with her—most of it splashing and soaking Bennett’s shoes and pants.

  He did not want to shower and change for the second time that day, but his only choice was to laugh and say, “Well, that’s one way to get out of the pool.”

  * * *

  The following morning—not too early—Bennett loaded up the dogs and drove toward the beach and Magleby Mansion. Uno whined, but if Bennett had wanted to run along the sand with the dalmatian, he should’ve come a lot earlier. The breeze coming off the water probably would’ve kept him cool enough, but Bennett liked to run before the sun made it’s full appearance for the day, craving that feeling of being the only person in Hawthorne Harbor that was awake.

  “We’ll go tomorrow,” he told Uno. He had to be to work for the afternoon shift, so he’d be able to get in his pre-dawn run then.

  Uno gave one last whine and put his front paws on the dashboard as Gemma was hogging the passenger window, her whole body almost hanging outside of the truck.

  He pulled into the long driveway that led up to the Mansion, his mind automatically flowing back to the time he’d driven this way, his bride-to-be at his side.

  He really thought he’d be with Cynthia forever. They got along great, and she laughed at all his corny jokes, and the first couple of years of their marriage had been fantastic.

  He pushed the memories away and pulled right up to the front door, which several ancient hawthorn trees shaded.

  The stones looked centuries old, with vines climbing them. Every flower and bush grew exactly right, and Bennett wondered how many gardeners Mabel employed.

  She used to take care of the grounds herself, he knew that. He’d visited the Hawthorne Harbor town museum more times than he wanted to admit.

  He let the dogs out and said, “Stay,” as he indicated the huge gardens and grassy areas surrounding them. Gemma ran off with Uno, and Bennett turned to face the Mansion. A bicycle leaned against the wall behind the stairs, but it almost looked like it belonged there, sort of a vintage piece.

  He climbed the steps and tried the door, finding it open. “Hello?” he called, his voice echoing against the stones inside too.

  The Mansion stood three stories tall, and Bennett could see all the way up to the top floor from the magnificent stairwell in the middle of the room.

  “Mabel,” he tried next, and somewhere within the Mansion a door closed.

  “Back here.” Her voice reached him, and Bennett moved across the stone floor to find her hurrying from an office.

  She smiled at him—an actual smile—and Bennett returned it. “I hope it’s not too early.”

  “Oh, pish posh. I’ve been up for hours.”

  Of course she had. Bennett simply kept his smile in place and tucked his hands in his pockets while he waited for her to tell him what to do.

  “So I’m doing a major renovation on the west wing on the second and third floors.” Mabel moved toward the staircase, getting a very firm hold on the banister before she lifted her foot to climb.

  Bennett wanted to grab onto her to keep her steady, but he wasn’t sure she’d appreciate it. He’d heard her say “I’m old, not dead,” to more than one person who’d offered their help during festivals and around town.

  So he simply positioned himself behind her so he could catch her should she fall.

  Painstaking step by painstaking step, they finally reached the second floor.

  Mabel wheezed a bit and said, “So my artist is here, taking some measurements, but she’ll be out of the way in no time.”

  Bennett had enough time to think Artist? before Mabel moved through a doorway and into a section of the Mansion that had certainly seen better days.

  “This is Jennifer Zimmerman. I’m sure you guys know each other. Her family lives just down the beach a bit.” Mabel looked at Bennett expectantly, but he had no idea what she wanted him to do.

  Jennie indeed stood in the room, across from the large windows, a measuring tape in her hand. She wore a pair of cutoff shorts that showed her long, tan legs, and Bennett forgot his own name for a moment.

  “Of course I know Bennett,” Jennie said, a slip of disdain in her voice. None of it showed on her face, which also didn’t hold even a hint of makeup. He loved this natural look of hers, as he’d always thought he’d seen the real her when she didn’t cover up her imperfections.

  “We dated a bit in high school,” she said, her gaze skimming past him again. He really didn’t like that she hadn’t fully looked at him once since she’d been reintroduced into his life.

  “You did?” Mabel’s acting skills could certainly use some work as well.

  Jennie smiled and shook her head, her long hair wisping a bit out of the topknot she’d tied at the back of her skull. Her shirt was the color of bright lemon rinds, and had little lemons all over it, making her seem like the sun illuminated her face.

  “I’m almost done,” she said, shaking out the tape measure. “I just can’t seem to get the length. I’m not sure my tape measure is long enough.”

  “Bennett can help you,” Mabel said, and Bennett sprang into action. He wondered how long he’d been standing there staring, wondering if he could somehow get Jennie to stay while he worked, talk to him the way she used to, and then take her to dinner.

  Not going to happen, he told himself
. After all, she wouldn’t even look at him. She wouldn’t hang around and chat him up. And going out?

  Not going to happen.

  But he did hold the end of her tape measure, and move it where she wanted him to, watched her make notes on a clipboard, and let her direct him through a couple more rooms as she took measurements.

  “Thanks, Bennett.” She bent over a backpack as she slid the clipboard into it. “You really helped speed the process up.” She straightened and pushed out her breath, bracing her hands against her back and stretching. Her gaze flicked to his, and he nodded his acknowledgement that she’d thanked him.

  “So, what are you doing here?” she asked.

  Bennett once again felt like he’d lost an unknown amount of time as he stared at this beautiful woman he thought he’d never see again.

  “Oh, Mabel’s hired me to do the construction here.”

  Another woman walked into the room, a tool belt hanging off her hips. Bennett backpedaled quickly. “Well, she’s obviously hired Lauren Michaels to do the construction. Hey, Lauren.” He practically yelled to the brunette, who smiled and veered toward them.

  She was a transplant to Hawthorne Harbor, but she did really fine work, and she’d been the lead general contractor on the new subdivision going in on the northeast edge of town.

  Jennie didn’t seem like she cared, but she shook Lauren’s hand and then finally, finally, looked at Bennett.

  “So if she’s the general contractor, what are you doing here?”

  “Demo,” he said, wondering where Mabel had gotten to. She’d never said anything about a contract or pay, and he’d need to get those things in line before he just started knocking things down.

  “He does a lot more than demo,” Lauren said, glancing between the two of them. “He’s the best master carpenter in the state.”

  Pride swelled within Bennett, but he waved his hand at Lauren. “An exaggeration.”

  Lauren smiled but looked at him evenly. “It’s true. My guess is he’s here to do the fireplace mantles. All the cabinetry. Anything that Mabel wants crafted from wood.” She flipped a few pages on the clipboard she carried. “Yep. She didn’t hire me for any of that.”

  Bennett lifted one shoulder as if to say, Yep, that’s why I’m here.

  Honestly? He hadn’t signed or negotiated anything yet. But his fingers practically itched to get working on this beautiful piece of property, and bring new life to it through wood and craft.

  “I’ve been commissioned for five art pieces,” Jennie said, and Bennett’s smile practically moved into a beam.

  “That’s great,” he said.

  Lauren’s phone rang and she said, “Excuse me,” before moving away and answering it.

  Bennett looked at Jennie, glad to find her watching him back. “Carpentry, huh?”

  “I guess it’s what electrician drop-outs do.”

  Jennie grinned and shook her head. “And a firefighter. Wow.”

  He didn’t mention the almost-pro baseball career. No need to. No one cared about the almosts in professional sports. “One pays all the bills. The other is just something I really enjoy.”

  “You always were good with your hands.” Jennie gave him a sly smile, and Bennett’s heart started jumping around like it had been shocked with electricity.

  Was that flirting? Was she flirting with him?

  “Here’s your contract,” Mabel said, entering the room, her face slightly flushed. “Wow, there are more stairs here than I remember.” She wiped the back of her hand across her forehead and looked at Jennie, who stood there with one hand on her cocked hip.

  “Did you get your measurements, dear?”

  Jennie startled, tearing her eyes from Bennett. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll bring you a sketch of the first piece soon.” She started to move away, but Mabel called her back.

  “I heard your studio is closed,” the older woman said. “Perhaps you’d like to stay and help Bennett with the demolition today. I have a feeling he’s going to need all the help he can get.”

  Bennett may have argued if it was anyone besides Jennie who would be staying. He smiled and looked at Jennie, hoping she’d stay—and thinking he’d somehow gone insane in the past couple of days to even think he had half a chance to try things with her again.

  Chapter Four

  Jennie’s pulse skipped around her system like it was trying to win a jump roping contest. “Stay?” squeaked from her lips. She steadfastly refused to look at Bennett. Just what she could see in her peripheral vision was enough.

  Dark. Dreamy. Dangerous.

  Handsome. Honest. Hardworking.

  She could probably keep going, but Mabel said, “I’ll pay you fifteen dollars an hour,” and moved over to Bennett to go over his contract with him.

  A war started in Jennie’s mind. She’d looked at Bennett’s email about the electricians, but she hadn’t hired anyone yet. Mostly because they couldn’t just drop everything and come take care of her job. But also, because the quote she’d managed to get over the phone from one of them was well outside of her budget.

  So maybe a day working for actual money would be worthwhile. And if “helping” Bennett while he used those muscles to rip apart walls came with it?

  Well, Jennie couldn’t see a downside.

  Mabel finished with Bennett and turned back to her. “Well?”

  “I’m not wearing the right shoes.” She lifted her right foot to show Mabel the flimsy, yellow sandals.

  “Run home and change.”

  Jennie cleared her throat, wishing she were having this conversation with Mabel in private. But Bennett stood right there, not even trying to hide that he was hanging on every word.

  “I, uh, don’t own a car,” she said. In fact, the sale of her very fancy sports coupe in San Francisco had allowed her to move here and live these past few months without many sales.

  “I rode my bike.”

  “Oh, well.” Mabel waved her hand. “Bennett can take you real quick. By then, Lauren will have everything marked, and the demolition can begin.”

  Jennie had no idea how demolition worked, but she nodded anyway. She really didn’t like that her ability to take the job relied on Bennett’s willingness to drive her home real quick to get proper footwear.

  She didn’t like depending on anyone. Not anymore. She didn’t want to bend to what anyone else wanted her to do, or be who they wanted her to be.

  She’d learned that when she’d stood in the bathroom in the church where she and Kyle were supposed to be married. She’d stared into her own face and had no idea who the woman looking back was.

  And she’d vowed she’d be herself. Do her own thing. Figure out who she was and be that person.

  “I can take her,” Bennett said. “She doesn’t live far from here.”

  Mabel nodded. “I’ll go find Lauren. We’ll be ready when you get back.” She hobbled off, leaving Jennie alone with Bennett again.

  He indicated that she should leave the room in front of him, and she did. “I didn’t peg you for a bike-rider,” he said. “Seems like I remember you not liking the outdoors all that much.”

  Jennie scoffed, though he’d hit the nail on the head. “Yes, well, sometimes we do things we don’t want to do.” She started down the steps, keeping one hand on the banister because she’d tripped in these sandals before.

  “Like coming back to Hawthorne Harbor?” he asked. “I never thought I’d see you again.”

  She reached the bottom of the steps and spun to give him a piece of her mind. But he wore a look of pure guile on his face. He wasn’t goading her. Wasn’t teasing.

  The fight went out of her, just like it always had when she came face-to-face with Bennett. “Yes, well, things change.”

  “I’d love to hear about it,” he said.

  Jennie groaned. “I think I’ll pass.”

  His fingers brushed hers as they walked through the cavernous lobby toward the front door. An innocent gesture—or so she thought. But on t
he next step, he took her hand in his.

  “Bennett.”

  He slid his fingers right out of hers. “Sorry.”

  She didn’t like the level of foolishness she heard in the quiet murmur. She increased her pace and reached the door a half-step ahead of him, pausing to face him again.

  “Look, I’ll be honest.” She’d promised herself to be brutally honest moving forward. She hadn’t thought she’d have to do it with Bennett Patterson, just herself.

  “My fiancé left me at the wrong end of the aisle only six months ago,” she said, all the fury, fire, and fight she’d been living with for half a year returning. “So I’m not really ready to be doing…that.” She gestured to his hand.

  He blinked, his eyes turning soft. Compassionate. “Jennie, I’m so sorry.” He stepped right into her and gathered her into his arms.

  Her first instinct was to shove him back, tell him that was exactly the kind of thing she didn’t want. But she took one breath of his shirt and his warmth flowed into her, and her arms came up and wrapped themselves around his back, almost like she hadn’t directed them to do so.

  He held her close, without words, and she simply stole his comfort, which he freely gave.

  “Things happen,” she finally said, stepping back.

  Bennett wore a strange look on his face as he said, “Yes, they do,” and then he opened the door and stepped through it first, his chivalry apparently spent.

  * * *

  Jennie looked at the hideous black sneakers on her feet—the only pair of shoes even remotely suitable for ripping out walls and tearing down cabinets.

  But they did not go with her outfit at all. Her first thought was to change her clothes. After all, she wanted to be sexy and sweaty while working with Bennett today.

  Almost immediately, she recalled the thought. She was who she was, and she didn’t need to color-coordinate her shoes with her shirt so she could rip out walls.