Exploring Jenns Cove: A Jenns Cove Romance, #2

By Marc Sanderson

A tough-minded scientist, a hard-headed ex-Army Ranger. What could possibly go wrong?

What the hell had she done! Jess Everston passed on a prestigious professorship at Princeton University to become the second-in-command at the Ecosystem Services Institute in the little Northern California town of Jenns Cove. She has committed herself to an experimental project in a location far from family and friends for the foreseeable future. The last thing she needs is a man complicating her life. Especially a grumpy, taciturn ex-Army Ranger turned tour guide who just happens to be her boss's brother-in-law.

When Rand Gallagher returned to Jenns Cove after his last tour of duty in Afghanistan, he struggled with injuries and PTSD. With therapy and support from his family, he's settled into a quiet life back in Jenns Cove, but dark moods and nightmares still haunt him. He guides tourists on backcountry fishing excursions, but since his wildlife photography began winning awards, guiding tourists is only a sideline.  Living a solitary life, he's learning to be happy again, but when his brother-in-law brings gorgeous, head-strong and annoying Jess Everston to Jenns Cove, Rand does everything in his power to ignore her. Unfortunately, fate has other ideas.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paper Gold Publishing OLD
• Release date: Mar 18, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393381297

Marc Sanderson

Marc Sanderson lives on the coast of California with his wife and their three cats. He has at one time or another studied biology, history, education, English, and law. Because being a perpetual student doesn’t pay well, he has worked from time to time as a dishwasher, waiter, tortilla chip maker, newspaper ad-layout artist, marine biologist, high school and college teacher, paralegal, book-reviewer, writer and editor (to name a few). For more information, visit the author’s website at www.marcsanderson.com 

Book preview

Chapter One

"Y

ou’re not in West Virginia anymore," Jess sighed, leaning back against the grill of her old Jeep and pouring a cup of strong tea from her favorite shiny thermos. Jessica Everston, Jess to her friends, Jessi to her mother and brothers, took a deep breath of the salty air and felt nerves dance in her stomach as she surveyed the scene before her.

She had pulled off California’s Highway 1 on a rise just south of her destination. To her left, the Pacific Ocean peeked out behind a shroud of early morning fog, but Jess could hear waves crashing against the tall cliffs. The force of the collision of sea and shore created a soft mist carrying a fresh, invigorating briny scent.

To the north, just emerging from the fog, the small seaside town of Jenns Cove appeared, her home for the next... however long. The thought sent the nerves tumbling again.

Jess sipped, glanced at her watch: 6:28 a.m. She’d made good time from San Francisco, having left well before dawn. She’d wanted plenty of time to adjust and acclimate to her new environment. Right on schedule, so why were her guts twisting with anxiety?

Annoyed with herself, she took another sip while trying to pull details of the town out of the mists as she considered her nervousness. Jess dissected and analyzed it. That’s what she did, who she was: a scientist.

She always tried her best to examine life, with all its myriad processes, as rationally as possible. Some of her friends had pointed out that her analytical nature made her come off as stiff and unapproachable. Jess wasn’t concerned, it just made her thorough. If people didn’t understand, it was their problem, not hers.

So why the nerves? It wasn’t moving to a small town. She’d grown up in a small coal-mining town in West Virginia, so she understood small-town life, even enjoyed it—mostly.

At twenty-eight, she’d spent most of her adult life in Boston and Cambridge where she’d moved right after high school to attend MIT. She’d gotten her undergraduate degree there and gone on to get an M.S. and a Ph.D. as well. She loved living in the city but had missed home. Missed knowing everyone in town, knowing every inch of the local terrain like the back of her hand. She missed being able to walk out her back door and into woods which seemed to go on forever.

So, if it wasn’t small town life that made her anxious, what was it? Could it be the work she would be doing? Not likely. She loved her work and was very good at it. She would be heading up the Survey and Analysis team for ESSI, the Eco-System Services Institute. True, she would have a lot of responsibility, and there would be a good deal of pressure to succeed, but she didn’t mind. MIT had been one giant pressure cooker, and she loved it.

The work itself would be challenging, of course, but she thrived on challenging herself. It would be equal parts field work and computer modeling. In the beginning, half of her time would be spent tromping over the hills and through the woods surveying the plant and animal life, experimenting with methods of measuring life’s processes. The rest of her time, she’d be in the lab analyzing data and working to create computer models to handle the complexity of natural ecosystems. Later, she’d attempt to integrate her ecosystem data with the latest sociological, legal, and economic theories.

The end goal was to find a practical way to bring the real world of natural limits into modern economic decision making. A forest shouldn’t be viewed simply as a product, a bunch of pre-lumber. It was a living, breathing organism providing valuable services to the people near it as well as to others on the far side of the globe. Quantifying those values and integrating them into society’s worldview was the challenge.

So nope, the work wasn’t making her belly tighten. In fact, thinking about it soothed her. So, what was it? The nerves were still there, sliding and twisting in her gut.

As more of Jenns Cove became visible through the clearing fog, it struck her. This was the first time she’d truly been on her own as an adult outside of academia. This was real. This was her life, the life she’d chosen. What if she’d gotten it wrong?

Growing up in small-town West Virginia, her father had controlled everything with an iron fist. She’d hated it—hated him sometimes—but the certainty of his firm control provided an anchor, even if she’d spent most of her time fighting against it. As she got older, her love of science had determined her path in high school and afterward, sending her straight to MIT where she’d spent years coming into adulthood.

Academia had been a haven. Save in the ivory tower, she had been accepted and valued. She’d won awards for her work and accolades for her intelligence and determination. Her path had seemed predestined, and predestination offered safety.

Moving to Jenns Cove, on the other hand, and accepting the job with ESSI was anything but safe. She had turned down an assistant professorship at Princeton to take the job. Something inside her, a restlessness she didn’t recognize, or feel comfortable with, had egged her on to do something different, something—daring. To take a risk on a road less traveled. After all, she was still young. She could afford a few missteps—couldn’t she?

When she’d met Jake Weston, the project’s director, last spring at a conference in Boston, he’d made the ESSI project seem so innovative and important. And it was—but it certainly wasn’t safe or conventional. What if the project failed to produce a workable computer model? What if the task proved too complex to be worthwhile? There were so many what ifs.

Yep, there was it. Tying her career to this project was a huge risk. Her gut twisted at the thought.

Added to the professional risk was the uncertain time frame. She was moving to a town with no real sense of how long she would be there. She didn’t even know where she would live. Jake had simply said to come, and he would arrange a place for her to stay until she got the lay of the land. Then she could figure out where she wanted to live.

Jess simply wasn’t used to flying by the seat of her pants. She liked certainty. She liked having a plan. Obviously, her new situation would take some getting used to.

Okay, the risk and uncertainty made her anxious. She could deal with it.

Jess nodded, satisfied. She felt better. Professional risk and uncertain living situations were perfectly understandable and predictable stressors. She should be worried if she weren’t anxious. Her nerves simply confirmed everything was as it should be.

She dumped the dregs of tea out of her cup, wiped it with a paper towel, and screwed it carefully back on her thermos, wiping away a stray drip. Jenns Cove was nearly fog free now and beginning to sparkle as the morning sun rose above the coastal hills. Jess thought it looked quaint and pretty, and the sparkle was a good sign. Not that she believed in signs, but this once, she’d take it.

Jake Weston grinned as he watched his fiancée, Maggie, bustle around the kitchen alternately sipping her coffee, gathering her things for an early meeting, and making sure Megan, her three-and-half-year-old daughter ate her breakfast.

In that moment, life was perfect. He could hardly believe it had been a month since he’d asked Maggie Gallagher to marry him, and she’d said yes. She and Megan, whom he’d come to love, had moved in with him a week later. Not much of a move, geographically, since Maggie’s family home, where she’d lived with her father, was only a hundred yards farther up the slope from the sea cliffs.

In every other way, the move was monumental. Life had changed completely. Jake had gone from bachelor to family man literally overnight. Every so often, he checked himself for any signs of panic or regret but found none. He was happier than he’d ever been.

Hey, mister scientist! Maggie teased. Instead of standing there with a silly grin on your face, could you make sure Megan’s got everything for today in her backpack. She’ll be with my dad this morning, then she has a play date with Suzy at one. I’ll pick her up after my meetings this afternoon and... what?

Jake’s grin grew wider. Have I told you today how much I love you? How much I love us, this? He gestured around the room, pointed and winked at Megan, who looked up from her cereal at the word love.

Maggie stopped bustling and went over to her fiancé, her own silly grin matching his. She wrapped her arms around his neck and melted against him as she drew him into a soft, warm kiss. Her eyes went fuzzy and sexy.

"God, I wish like crazy you didn’t have an early meeting, and I didn’t have my new employee arriving. Then we could go back to bed and replay scenes from last night.

When he started to tighten his arms around her waist, she groaned but shifted away. Mmm...Jake, I can’t. I’ve got to get going, or I’ll be late. Besides, you’re wrinkling me. What will my clients think if I show up to the office rumpled?

Jake laughed. Since your clients this morning are Suzy’s grandparents, I’m guessing they would know exactly what you’ve been up to, and I’m pretty sure Carmen would approve. She and Nancy cornered me at The Gull’s Egg, marched me to Carson’s Jewelers and gave me a thousand suggestions about the ring you’re wearing.

Maggie’s grin widened as she held out her hand and admired her engagement ring, an intricately cut, two-carat, light blue sapphire. I was wondering how you knew I didn’t like diamonds. I’ll have to thank Nancy and Carmen.

Nancy Delgado Jamison was one of Maggie’s best friends, and her mother, Carmen Delgado, had been like a mother to Maggie growing up after her own mother had died young. Despite the tragedy of her mother’s death when Maggie was thirteen, she’d been lucky. Several of the women in town had stepped in to help her and her family cope.

It was no wonder Maggie decided to come home to Jenns Cove when she’d discovered she was pregnant, and the father had no interest in a relationship which might cause him any inconvenience. It was the best decision of her life. This was home. Megan and Jake were home.

She shook herself out of her reverie. Now, I’ve got to go. Make sure to get Megan to Dad’s before nine. She gave Jake another kiss, nipped his lower lip. Mmm...I’ve got to go. She twisted out of his arms, dashed to the table and gave Megan a kiss and a big hug. Be good for Grandpa, sweetie. I’ll pick you up at Nancy’s this afternoon.

Megan’s smile turned to frown. I want to stay with Jake today! she demanded, crossing her arms, a perfect little replica of Maggie’s irritation pose.

Oh, baby, you can’t today. Jake has his new worker coming and he needs to show her our town. And you don’t want to hurt Grandpa’s feelings, do you? He hasn’t seen you in two days, and he misses you. He’s still not used to having us live here with Jake. He’ll be sad if he doesn’t get to play with you today.

Megan went from childish stubbornness to teary remorse in a flash. But I don’t want Gampa to be sad, she cried, her lower lip jutting out and quivering.

Maggie straightened, rolled her eyes at Jake and mouthed over Megan’s head, Can you deal with this.

When he nodded and smiled, Maggie’s blew him a kiss, then dropped one last kiss on the top of Megan’s head before scooping up her briefcase and hurrying out the front door just as an old, battered Jeep came to a stop in the graveled driveway.

An exceedingly pretty slip of a woman with short brown hair and dazzling blue eyes leapt out and smiled tentatively at Maggie. Hi, I’m Jess Everston, she said, a question in her voice.

Maggie returned a wide, welcoming smile and chuckled. You’d better be, or my fiancé would have a lot of explaining to do. I’m Maggie. And, unfortunately, I’m late or I’d give you a real welcome. Jake’s inside, so go on in. She swept down the steps, gave the surprised young woman a quick hug, before striding down the driveway and disappearing around the tall bushes lining the road beyond the drive.

Jess stood in place for a moment, speechless, eyebrows arched in surprise. Then she shook her head and laughed. She felt like she’d just encountered a whirling dervish for the first time.

Still chuckling, she followed Maggie’s instructions, climbed the steps and crossed the wide porch to the front door. She knocked lightly, opened it a crack and stuck her head in. Hello? she said, but got no reply, so she went in.

Jake’s house was a beautiful two-story craftsman bungalow, with restored wood floors reflecting the light streaming in through generously spaced windows. Jess followed the light, wandering into a spacious living room with a gorgeous view of the ocean. Instinctively, she moved to the windows and gazed out at the sea. Though it was still early, the sun had cut through the fog and turned the ocean a sparkling blue.

Quite a view, huh.

Jess whipped around to see Jake standing a few feet away, holding a beautiful little girl on one arm, a broad grin lighting his face.

Yes, it is, she replied. Um... Maggie told me to just come in. I hope it’s okay.

It’s great. We don’t stand on ceremony much in Jenns Cove, which is one of the things I like best about it. And this one here, he gave Megan, who’d become shy at the appearance of a stranger, a little tickle making her giggle, is Megan. She’s another reason I love Jenns Cove.

And mama, Megan said, instinctively defending her mother’s territory.

And your mama, best of all!

Megan leaned back and glared at Jake. Mama, best? she demanded, scowling at him.

And you best too, pumpkin.

Jess had to stifle a laugh, admiring Jake’s deft deflection. You would think he’d been a parent for a long time, instead of a few weeks.

It’s very nice to meet you, Megan. I just met your mother as she was leaving, and I think I’m going to like her very much too.

Her comment seemed to win Megan over. She insisted on being set down and walked over to take Jess’s hand. Do you want to see my room? It’s new. And I have blue walls, and Jake made stars on the ceiling, and they’re really the real stars. Do you want to see? She began to drag Jess toward the front of the house where Jess had noticed a set of stairs to the second floor.

Jess glanced at Jake, who nodded, so she walked hand in hand with Jake’s new stepdaughter as the little girl took control, chattering non-stop as they went. Jess took it in stride when an exuberant golden retriever came racing from a hallway beyond the stairs and joined them.

If Jess thought she’d have time to adjust to living back in a small town, she’d been mistaken. She’d barely had time to get her feet under her before being swept up into Jake’s family. It was more than a warm welcome to an outsider. It felt like inclusion. Instantly, she was one of the family.

She’d sensed that about Jake when she’d met him. He had felt like the sort of person who accepted people for who they were and drew them easily into his orbit. She wondered if he’d be the same kind of boss, if the ESSI staff would come to feel like family. With Jake setting the tone, she guessed they would. That put Jess more at ease. Coming here and taking the ESSI job had been a risk, but risk was always less daunting with family around to lend support.

A body of water Description automatically generated

Chapter Two

M

egan gave an expert tour of the house, along with running commentary on everything from the dog, whose name turned out to be Sophie; to Megan’s dolls, though having dolls didn’t mean she was a princess, because she liked to hammer nails with her Uncle Rand; to Suzy, Megan’s best friend, who didn’t like to hammer, because she probably was a princess; to her grandpa, who was a doctor and liked eggs and sausage from The Gull, which was a café and not a bird.

By the time they were back to the foyer, if nothing else, Jess was completely charmed by Jake’s fireball of a stepdaughter. Well, she said, squatting down so she would be on Megan’s eye level, thank you for showing me your lovely house. You are a very smart young lady.

Megan beamed. I like you too, Auntie Jess. You can come play with me later if you want. But I have to go play with Gampa now. As she said it, her face lit up.

Joining them by the front door, Jake explained, To Megan, all friendly adult women become aunties.

He looked at his watch. We’d better get going or your grandpa is going to be grumpy with me. Why don’t you run and get your backpack, then we’ll go.

Okay, Jake! She dashed back up the stairs, squealing as she went.

Jess laughed. What a little pistol! I love her.

She’s pretty wonderful. Just like her mom.

So, you and Maggie are engaged. Congrats. I hadn’t heard.

Yeah. Sometimes I don’t believe it myself. From grumpy bachelor to happy family man in under six months. I’m the luckiest guy I know.

Don’t forget, you’re about to get ESSI up and running, too. Jess gave him a playful punch on the shoulder. Speaking of which, if you tell me where you’ve got me booked, I can go check in while you take Megan to her grandfather. Then maybe we can meet somewhere for a late breakfast? I’m starving. I got on the road at 3:30 this morning with only a power bar.

Actually, for now, I’ve got you booked at Megan’s grandfather’s place.

Jess frowned. I didn’t realize he ran a hotel too. Didn’t Megan say her Grampa’s a doctor?

He is a doctor, a great one. And no, his place isn’t a hotel. Just a big house. He’s got tons of room since Maggie and Megan moved in with me, so when he offered to put you up for as long as you need, I jumped at it. I hope that’s okay.

Jess’s anxiety level spiked instantly. She hadn’t lived in anyone else’s home, a family home, since she’d left her parents’ house in West Virginia for college. She’d had a very difficult relationship with her own father. He’d been emotionally abusive to her and her mother, so living with someone else’s father brought up all kinds of issues she’d buried long ago and never dealt with. Issues she certainly didn’t want to deal with in front of her new boss.

Um... I wouldn’t want to put him out, Jake. I can stay in a motel until I find a more permanent rental. Really, it’s no problem. I don’t mind.

"Yeah, about that—Jenns Cove only has two motels and one B&B, and they’re all booked solid for the upcoming Spring Crafts Festival and Loggers’ Jamboree. The town has been pushing its tourism trade but unfortunately hasn’t built up its lodging capacity to match. I’m sure Sam won’t mind having you stay. He looked so pleased when he offered. I think he misses having someone else in that big old house.

Jess groaned a little, then frowned. Maybe I could find a room back in Fort Bragg? It’s only, what, a twenty-five-minute drive. I had worse commutes living in Boston and commuting to MIT.

I thought of that, too. They’re pretty much booked as well, Thursdays through Sundays. As long as you only want to sleep Monday through Wednesday it might work. Jess didn’t laugh, her frown only deepened.

Tell you what, he went on, obviously sensing her uneasiness. I have to take Megan up to the house now. Why don’t you meet Sam. See what you think, and if you’re still uncomfortable staying there, you can stay here with us until I can find you something else.

Jess fought down her churning anxiety. She was a grown woman, after all. She knew, on a purely intellectual level, Jake wouldn’t put her into a dangerous situation. She was an adult. She could deal with an uncomfortable situation for a few days. And she sure as hell didn’t want to crash at Jake’s place, invading his new family.

She took a deep breath and told herself she could do this. I guess I can make do for a couple days, if you’re sure I won’t be putting him out.

I think you’ll really like Sam and the house. He’s about as easy going as they come, and, as a doctor, he’s gone a lot of the time. I think it’ll work out okay.

Jess only nodded, trying to hide the grimace on her face.

She might have made one more attempt to find a different solution, but Megan rejoined them at that moment, a beaming smile on her face and a pink, flowered backpack on her back.

With a smile, she took Jess’s hand as if they had known each other forever. You’ll like my Gampa. He’s funny. And he says I can have a dog but keep it at his house, so Mama won’t know it’s really mine. Realizing she’d spilled the beans in enemy territory, Megan leveled a piercing gaze at Jake. Don’t tell Mama! She’s not posed to know. Auntie Jess won’t tell, cuz she’s my friend. She gave Jess a tentative, hopeful look.

My lips are sealed, Jess said, locking her lips and throwing the key away, which made Megan giggle. And suddenly, Jess felt better. Maybe living with Maggie’s father would be okay.

IT WAS NICE TO MEET you, Sam. Jess said, shaking his hand. She meant it, too. Sam had turned out to be as easygoing and welcoming as advertised. From the moment she’d tentatively stepped over the threshold into the house, which was huge and beautiful, Sam had done everything in his power to put her at ease. Effortlessly, he’d made her feel as if this had always been her home.

He’d given her a light, airy room on the second floor with two large windows facing out to the sea. Jake’s place, only a couple hundred feet away and to the left, gave the view the feel of a turn-of-the-century tableau. All it needed was a tall-masted ship out on the sea to complete the scene. The room, Sam told her, had been his son Rand’s room before he’d moved out. Since then, it had been purged of its teenage-boy’s rock-god posters, dark drapes, masculine wallpaper and linens. In their place, the room had been repainted a pale yellow and given new, white lace curtains that let in the light. Jess had instantly fallen in love. It was exactly the room she’d dreamed about as a girl.

She and Jake said their goodbyes to Sam and Megan, but Jake surprised her when he didn’t jump in the Jeep to go for breakfast.

No need to drive, he answered her questioning look. The Gull’s Egg—the locals just call it The Gull—is a short walk. You’ll get a better sense of the town on foot. With that he set off with his long strides. Jess had to hurry to catch up.

The walk from the Gallagher house to Main Street took them five minutes, tops. They walked out of the driveway, down a short, graveled lane bordered with old cypress trees on one side and a tall hedge on the other. The lane ended where it intersected the paved road. To the left, the road wound down to Jake’s house and to the right it hugged the clifftop overlooking a park before descending to sea level where the town surrounded the cove that gave it its name.

Jenns Cove, as far as Jess could see on their walk to the café, seemed like a typical, charming small seaside California town. Main Street ran the length of town one block up from the cove which sat protected behind northern and southern jetties. Steel Creek, which would be the central focus of their study area, entered the cove at the northern edge of town, a bluff, perhaps sixty feet tall towered above the creek to the north.

The town itself was quaint—friendly looking. The buildings were predominantly turn-of-the-century wooden structures interspersed with a few more modern ones. The bank near the café boasted a very modern-looking architecture of stone, wood and large tinted windows.

The Gull’s Egg Café—The Gull, Jess reminded herself; it would be important to blend into the local population as soon as possible—was a long, twenties-style dinner, with booths lining windows facing the street and a long counter with what Jess liked to call twirly-stools spaced along its length.

Though it was Monday morning, the place was packed. Every stool at the counter was occupied, as were the booths. Two waitresses bustled around taking orders, filling coffees while chatting with customers. Obviously, a locals’ place.

Jake was smart, Jess realized, to bring the new girl to this locals’ spot. Though he was new in town himself, being engaged into a prominent local family, he had an in. She would also be accepted, at least tentatively, because she was associated with him. The locals would give her the benefit of the doubt. Being young and pretty—as conceited as that sounded—would give her a pass with the male population. Unfortunately, it would likely have the exact opposite effect on the young female population who would see her as competition horning in on their dating pool. She would have to find a way to assure them she was here to work. Nothing else.

That uneasy thought settled in her gut, which growled loudly, adding an exclamation point. It also reminded her she was starving. Though she was skinny in many people’s opinion—too skinny in her mother’s—she could eat like a horse. Nothing seemed to stick to her. She wondered if she had a metabolic problem. Low blood sugar made her cranky.

Maybe we should try another place, she suggested, when it didn’t look as if anyone was planning to leave any time soon.

But Jake waved at a couple of guys sitting in a booth at the far end of the diner. The guy facing them waved back and motioned for Jake and Jess to join them.

Is that okay with you? Jake asked her. Otherwise it may be a long wait, and from the grumbling in your belly, I’d say the sooner the better. He smiled to let her know he was teasing. They hadn’t known each other long enough for him to be completely comfortable teasing her.

The man who had waved stepped out of the booth when they arrived. He was tall and handsome, with curly black hair, dark eyes and a friendly smile. He offered his hand to Jake and then to Jess. The man who’d had his back to them as they approached remained seated, glanced briefly in Jess’s direction, then went back to drinking his coffee.

Jake made introductions. Tommy De Grassi, this is my second in command for the ESSI project, Jessica Everston. Jess, Tommy De Grassi. His family owns the property on the southern bank of Steel Creek, so you’ll probably run into one another from time to time.

Tommy took her hand in both of his in a friendly gesture. Nice to meet you Jessica.

It’s just Jess. The only one who ever called me Jessica was my father, and only when he was mad at me.

Jess it is then. Welcome to Jenns Cove. I look forward to bumping into you here and there.

And this glum-looking guy here, Jake indicated the man sitting across from Tommy, is my soon to be brother-in-law, Rand Gallagher.

Rand glanced at Jess just long enough to make eye contact, raised an eyebrow and gave a perfunctory nod before returning to his breakfast.

Jake chuckled. Don’t worry about Rand. He warms up after he gets to know you.

Jess wasn’t sure what to think about Rand Gallagher. His tall, lean frame seemed uncomfortable in the narrow booth. Dressed in a flannel shirt, well-worn jeans and beat-up hiking boots, he looked like a lumberjack. Two day’s growth of beard and mussed dark hair added to the impression and gave him a handsome, rugged look. But the eyes! When he’d glanced at her, brief though the eye contact had been, his piercing, moss-green gaze had burned straight into her with such intensity she had to catch her breath. And damn it all, his look had sparked something else inside her. She knew that spark, knew what it meant, and it was nothing good.

Jess couldn’t guess what Rand’s fierce gaze meant. It wasn’t exactly unfriendly, but it sure as heck wasn’t welcoming. It was intense, as if he were trying to drill into her mind. Did Maggie’s brother dislike outsiders invading Jenns Cove? Did he have a problem with women in the sciences, or in general? Or did he just have a problem with her? She resisted the urge to sniff herself to check if she smelled bad. It had been a long car ride getting to Jenns Cove.

Tommy chuckled. Yeah, he’s a grouch this morning. Don’t mind him. Join us.

Jake slid in next to Tommy, but before Jess could slide into the booth next to grumpy, taciturn Rand Gallagher, he scooted out and unfolded his six-three frame. He scowled down at Jess, then turned to his friend. I’ve got to get going. Thanks for breakfast, Tommy. He sidled around Jess, careful not to touch her. He gave her a brief nod and grunted something that might have been Good to meet you as he passed her and headed for the door.

Tommy shook his head. Don’t mind him. He was never one for social graces. Plus, he had a rough night last night, and he’s heading out this morning with a group of city-slicker businessmen. He said the guy who booked the trip seemed like a real prick on the phone. But the money was too good to turn down. Realizing he was in mixed company, Tommy added, Pardon my language.

Jess laughed lightly. No problem. I grew up in a little coal-mining town, with a father and two older brothers. Prick is mild compared to some of their dinner table conversation.

Tommy looked relieved. He favored her with a warm, sexy smile as she slid into the booth, which Jess accepted with a friendly smile of her own. He was handsome—very handsome—but the smile did nothing but make her like him. No spark, not even a fizzle.

Jake laughed and gave Tommy a playful elbow in the ribs. Take it down a notch, Romeo. She’s here to work with the four-legged fauna. And aren’t you still going out with Dana the hygienist?

Without taking his warm brown eyes off Jess, he said, Nah, we broke up last week. She got too serious.

Jess quirked a smile. Tommy was probably too good looking for his own good, and he obviously knew it. Giving