The Inn at Wild Harbor (Wild Harbor Beach Book 4) by Grace Worthington

Author:Grace Worthington [Worthington, Grace]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Poets & Saints Publishing
Published: 2022-04-28T22:00:00+00:00

The next morning, the sound of ripping wallpaper filled the inn. Apparently, this was how Aspen took out her stress. As Matt stirred creamer into his coffee, the clinking of his spoon against the cup was punctuated by her fervent efforts.

Scrape, scrape, tear, scrape, scrape, scrape, tear.

Jessica slinked down the stairs in a black satin robe and a sleepy yawn. Matt’s eyes flicked up to catch the sun glinting off the silky tie around her waist.

“You up, too?” She rubbed a tired eye and searched the cupboards for a mug.

“Mugs are here.” He handed her a spotless white coffee cup, avoiding the urge to stare at her robe. “You know you can’t dress like that around here.”

Her eyes dropped to the space where the robe folded over, covering her chest. “I’m fully dressed underneath, if that’s what you mean.”

Her bare legs stuck out from the bottom.

“You don’t appear fully dressed. This is a bed-and-breakfast with a mostly retired clientele.”

“Then they’ll appreciate my morning attire even more.” She blew on the coffee and gave him a look that dared him to challenge her. “Besides, there’s no one here. I already checked.”

“I’m here, and I’m not related to you. That’s reason enough to come downstairs fully dressed.”

“You haven’t changed much, Matthew Woods.” She sipped her coffee and looked him over. “Still playing the hero.”

He wished people would stop calling him that. He wasn’t a hero, especially after last year’s accident when his simple mistake had threatened the lives of his crew. The event had shaken him badly. Now, he’d become even more determined not to make another error. He needed to be in control. On top of his game. He couldn’t mess up again.

“If only you knew,” he mumbled.

“You mean life hasn’t been perfect?” She leaned against the counter, her robe gently shifting against the curves of her body. Jessica was the type of girl who demanded attention. To her frustration, Matt had never given her any. Not that she wanted him, specifically. It was just a game for her.

“Hardly.” He gave a sarcastic huff and looked away. “I love my work as a fireman. But it’s not glamorous like they make it on those unrealistic TV shows. Houses burn to the ground. People get hurt, even die. Heroes don’t always come home.”

How could he respond to the fact that life could wreck people pretty badly? Worst of all, he didn’t have any explanation when people asked him how God could allow it. How could God let it happen? In the last year, he’d fallen into a deep hole of questions without answers.

“You’re sounding cynical,” Jessica claimed before sipping her coffee. “Aspen’s Pollyanna attitude apparently hasn’t rubbed off on you.”

“It’s starting to. But Aspen has endured her fair share of discouragement this year.” He parked his coffee and newspaper at the small breakfast table. “She bounces back like no one else. The most hopeful person I know. That’s not Pollyanna; that’s resilience.”

Jessica shrugged like optimism was old news. “I don’t know why she was stupid enough to quit her job.

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