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

for her. Her husband was walking sex dipped in sugar.
    A knock at the door interrupted her horny reflection. When it repeated a minute later, she dragged herself out of bed. Who would want to see her at eight in the morning? She was halfway across their small apartment before she realized there was only one possible answer. A quick glance at her bare legs peeking out from underneath one of Rafe’s green army shirts had her turning around—she needed to be wearing her own pyjamas, buttoned from tip to toe, before she opened the door.
    “Anne, what a pleasure!” she said twenty-five seconds later, quite out of breath as she gestured to their thankfully tidy sitting area. “Come in!”
    In the two months they’d been in Pine Harbour, they’d had dinner at Rafe’s parents’ place every Sunday night he wasn’t working—seven long meals that hadn’t given her any insight into how to win over this woman. The rest of his loud, loving family was a different story. She’d bonded right away with Rafe’s nineteen-year-old baby sister, Dani, and his brothers were all awesome. Even his dad seemed to like her. But Anne Minelli had proved a tough nut to crack.
    “Rafe is at work, I’m afraid.”
    “I know, I came to see you.”
    “Me?”
    “I understand you’ve been circulating your résumé around town.”
    “Yes, I’d like to find a job.”
    “You didn’t apply with me.”
    “I’m sorry?”
    “I own a cafe and a catering company. You’re a waitress. Is there a reason you don’t want to work for me?”
    Olivia could think of at least two primo reasons right off the top of her head, but instead she shook her head. “Of course not, I just didn’t want to put you in an awkward position.”
    “I’m a professional, Olivia. You have nothing to fear in that regard.”
    “Well….” There was no good way to decline the offer. Crap. “Of course, I’d be honoured if you’d consider me for a wait staff position.”
    “This will be a good thing, dear. Give us a chance to get to know each other better, and if you both have jobs, it’s easier to get a mortgage.”
    Olivia’s scalp prickled with new understanding. “We’re not in a hurry to buy a house,” she said tentatively, feeling out the other woman. Watching her carefully for any clue that she was on the right track.
    Anne pulled her lips together tight and glanced around. They’d done their best to make the rental unit a little home. It didn’t look temporary. And until five minutes ago, Olivia had been quite proud of it. “You’re not happy here?”
    “Here?” No way was she offering any new information.
    “In Pine Harbour.” Her mother-in-law’s face settled into a mask. Clue-time was over, but Olivia had more information than she’d had before the day started, so that was something.
    “Of course we’re happy here.” She leaned forward and smiled. “Rafe and I will probably be house-hunting in the spring. We’d love your help.”
     
    — —
     
    “You told her she could help us find a house?”
    “It was a trap, what else could I say?” She buried her face in Rafe’s chest. He’d come to bed naked and instead of sex, he’d gotten an earful about his mother. Really, it was his own fault for moving Olivia to his hometown. 
    “I’m sorry she came over.”
    She rolled away from him, stretching out on her back. “It’s okay. I need to build a better relationship with her. At some point she’ll be my kids’ grandmother. Can’t have her bad mouthing me behind my back.”
    Even in the dark, she caught the feral grin caused by her words. “Kids?”
    “Eventually.”
    He slid his hand over her belly—her still flat, unmarked, youthful belly. That he wanted to fill with babies. A smile twisted at her lips as he teased his fingers around her navel, then dipped lower, under the waistband of her panties. “You’ll be so beautiful pregnant.”
    This was a dangerous game to play, one that made her want to flush her pills down the