A Heartbreaker On His Horizon

By Rita Sawyer

Cavorting with the enemy wasn’t something Rachel Heartbreaker ever thought she’d do. But if spending time with Real Estate developer Riley O’Leary will help her stop him from buying her grandmother’s property she’d do it. But would she be able to keep herself from falling for him at the same time?

Riley wanted Breaker’s Landing. The problem was he found himself wanting the owner’s granddaughter too. He never mixed business with pleasure but Rachel had him breaking lots of rules.

Can Rachel and Riley find a way to get what they both want? Or will they both lose in the end?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rita Sawyer
• Release date: Jul 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005196745

Rita Sawyer

Rita Sawyer writes contemporary romances. Her stories vary in heat level from sweet to sizzling, but hopefully they all have a hint of humor. She grew up in Massachusetts and lives there now with her husband and kids. More about Rita and her books can be found at www.RitaSawyer.com. Readers can contact her at [e-mail].

Book preview

A

Heartbreaker

On His

Horizon

By

Rita Sawyer

Title: Heartbreaker On His Horizon

Series: Breaker’s Landing

Original Copyright © Rita Sawyer, 2021

Copyright © Rita Sawyer, 2021

Edited by Rebecca Sawyer

Cover Design by Rebecca Sawyer year

Image Copyright: www.123rf.com/profile_20er

Electronic Publication Date: 07/2021

Print Publication Date: 07/2021

Smashwords Version

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be used or reproduced without permission, except for use in reviews. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the internet or via any other measures without permission is illegal and punishable by law.

Please purchase only authorized editions and do not participate in electronic piracy. Your support in the author’s rights is appreciated.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, places, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Author’s Note

I hope you enjoy Rachel’s story. This book may seem like the end of the Heartbreaker’s journey, but is it? I have plans for Delia and maybe a few surprises. So stick around.

Prologue

Lillian Heartbreaker leaned back in her seat and let the swing sway. She stilled her hands holding the yarn and crochet needle to keep her stitch from going slack. Her friend Teresa’s growl had her tearing her gaze off her granddaughter Rachel and looking over at her. Her laughter was impossible to hold back. What have you done to yourself over there?

Teresa held up the tangled mess of yarn and shook her fingers free. Tell me again why I agreed to learn how to crochet.

Because someday we’d like to make our great grand babies booties or something cute.

Right. Teresa agreed but shook her head. I still think we can wait for the babies to at least be conceived before we start worrying about booties. Shouldn’t your attention be focused on matching up your two remaining granddaughters?

Her comment sent Lillian’s gaze across the yard to where Rachel was dozing in a hammock. The girl deserved to relax a bit. Along with her sisters, she’d been working hard to get the Landing ready for the season. Of course, that didn’t mean she couldn’t have taken the time to find herself a young man. It was true that Lillian wanted to see all four of her granddaughters settled. But it wasn’t as if she was ready to start throwing men in Rachel and Delia’s paths yet.

After all, Cassie had managed to get herself a husband. And Veronica had found herself a fiancé without her doing anything too drastic. She’d known from the start that Rachel and Delia would be more of a challenge. With Delia living a few towns away Lillian found it hard to give the girl the required push, but she was working on it. As for Rachel, the girl was pig-headed and full of sass, which didn’t make the prospect of finding her a man easy. And she was smart. Lillian knew what would happen if Rachel figured out Lilian’s plan. Once she knew that she wanted her to find a man, settle down, and make her some great grand babies. She would turn into a childless spinster to spite her. So, Lillian had decided to try a little subterfuge when it came to her.

Delia is finishing up an assignment. But she promised to come over for a few weeks next month and shoot the gazebo and some set-ups for Veronica.

And that one? Teresa pointed the now balled-up yarn in Rachel’s direction. Have you seen any desire in her since the other girls found happiness?

No. Lillian wasn’t surprised by that. Not an ounce of jealousy or envy either. But I’m not giving up though. I just need to find a way to make her see what she’s missing without me pointing it out.

Does that mean you’re going to end this charade with Mr. O’Leary?

Lillian thought about that for a moment. Was she at the point where she no longer needed the ridiculous plan that had fallen into her lap?

Not yet. She’d let him off the hook soon, but he may still come in handy.

Woman you are my best friend and I’d follow you around the world but leading that man on is wrong. You’re wasting his time, and a man like that values his time. It’s not like you can make him a pie and call it even.

Lillian knew Teresa was right. And she didn’t like leading Mr. O’Leary on. She knew that she wasn’t planning on ever selling Breaker’s Landing. If she had her way, it was going to stay in the family forever. However, the threat of selling had banded her granddaughters together. She wasn’t sure if the threat of losing the Landing had anything to do with Cassie and Byron’s reconciliation. Or with Veronica and Telsen falling in love, but it made her wonder. Enough that she could see the benefits of playing along a bit longer. Also, there was something else about his arrival in town that made her curious about the man.

True, but I get the feeling that if I called him right now and gave him a firm no he wouldn’t just pack up and leave.

You think he has another reason for sticking around?

Lillian had been wondering that about him since he arrived in town. She had no idea why the man originally came to Kismet Falls. However, she did know that he didn’t need to stay in town just because he was interested in her property.

I’m not sure. Since she prided herself on knowing what was going on around her it bothered Lillian that she didn’t know. I’ve been concentrating on the girls, so I may have missed a few things.

Ha. Teresa jeered as she shook her head. You don’t miss a thing. And your girls don’t either, so you better be ready to deal with them when they figure out what you’ve been up to.

Chapter One

Rachel Heartbreaker looked out the window that took up most of the front of the bookstore and let out a soft groan. Her sisters were standing on the sidewalk acting like lovesick fools. Either they were oblivious or uncaring about the fodder they were supplying for the rest of the town.

Damn it. She shook her head and sighed. Maxi they’ve gone crazy.

Yeah, Maxi said as she pulled a stack of wedding planning books out from under the counter. Isn’t love great?

Not in Rachel’s opinion it wasn’t. To give anyone that much control over any part of you, especially your heart, could lead to disaster. From her limited experience, it usually did. She hoped her sisters wouldn’t face that fate. The Heartbreaker clan didn’t have the best track record when it came to relationships. She looked at the stack of wedding planning books Maxi thumped down on the counter. She wondered how many more Veronica was going to order.

Rachel couldn’t see wasting so much time and money planning one day of your life. She agreed that Veronica could make a pretty profit hosting weddings at the Landing. Rachel wasn’t even going to try and help with that side venture. Hell no. It wasn’t like any of them had any experience with that kind of thing. Cassie had taken the easy way out and eloped with Byron. Veronica didn’t seem to be rushing her fiancée Telsen to the altar. She claimed that she wanted to wait and see if their grandmother decided to sell Breaker’s Landing to that interloper Riley O’Leary first.

The thought brought her gaze back to her sisters. Cassie was snuggled up against her husband Byron. Veronica was holding Telsen’s hand and staring up at him admiringly. They were both great guys and Rachel could see why her sisters had fallen for them. She was happy for them. They deserved to be happy. Still, it was a bit of sappy overload, and they didn’t have time for that. They still needed to figure out what Riley was up to.

Even with their positions in town as a sheriff’s deputy and the mayor Byron and Telsen hadn’t been any help. They hadn’t found out anything about why Riley wanted to buy the Landing. They both had tried. But Riley wasn’t giving them any more information than he’d given her grandmother. That was nothing more than he was interested in buying the place. It seemed like the three men had become, if not friends, then at least pleasant acquaintances. Rachel wasn’t sure if it was a good thing or not. Her sisters didn’t seem concerned about it.

Her sisters had struck out with their searches too. Now it was up to Rachel to get to the bottom of Riley’s plan. Hopefully, she’d find something out soon. Or even better her grandmother would come to her senses and turn his offer down flat. She’d told Rachel and her sisters that she wanted them to commit to taking over the day-to-day operations at Breaker’s Landing. They’d all agreed. They had even broached the subject of making some major changes. Their grandmother had seemed to like them. So why hadn’t she spoken with O’Leary yet?

Lillian Heartbreaker wasn’t the type to play games. She was to the point blunt often coming off as a bit blunt. But in this case, Rachel couldn’t help but wonder if her grandmother was using Riley’s offer to test them somehow. Rachel decided that at breakfast tomorrow morning she was going to broach the subject. Of course, making her grandmother’s favorite meal would help Rachel put her in a good mood.

What are you scheming over there? Maxi asked.

Nothing. I was thinking that I need to hit the grocery store after tonight’s meeting.

You sure you weren’t wondering where your Mr. Right is?

I don’t have time to waste on looking for love.

If I were you, I’d make the time. Maxi sighed. Love seems to be circling your family right now. And babe good things come in threes.

Rachel was happy for her sisters. They’d taken a leap and had fallen in love with two really special guys. That didn’t mean Rachel wanted to jump into the ocean with them. She was all too well aware of the risks when swimming with sharks.

I’m not willing to push that luck. I’d probably end up with the dud.

What if it’s not luck? It could be fate.

Well, if anyone closely resembling Mr. Right shows up I’ll be to send him your way.

How do you know he isn’t already here? Maxi waggled her eyebrows. From what I hear Riley O’Leary is still hanging around and he’s gotten some female attention. Is he as hot as they’re all saying?

Yeah, Rachel admitted since lying wasn’t an option. Who wouldn’t think a six-foot-tall guy with broad shoulders, dark hair, and whiskey-colored eyes isn’t nice to look at?

So, it’s not his looks. I take there’s something else about him you don’t like.

Other than the fact that he’s trying to ruin my family.

Well, there is that, but word around town is that you and O’Leary have had some interesting encounters.

Interesting is putting it mildly.

So far all of Rachel’s interactions with Riley O’Leary hadn’t gone so well. In fact, they had turned into utter disasters. So bad that it had gotten to the point that her sisters had forbidden her to go see him alone. Actually, they had told her to stay away from him completely. Rachel knew that wasn’t going to get them the information they needed.

Knowing she wasn’t going to get any information tonight Rachel decided to switch the subject. RayAnne mentioned you’ve had an interesting visitor of your own lately.

Maxi shook her head. RayAnne talks too much.

Come on. Rachel waggled her eyebrows. Tell me about our newest resident. I heard he likes your bookstore enough to stop in a few times a week.

I’m going to kill RayAnne. Maxi nodded to a few women who entered the store. How about I stop asking you about O’Leary and you ignore RayAnne’s comments about Eli Norris.

Deal, Rachel said with a smile.

Maxi let out a soft breath. Even though this month’s book is screaming hot I’m guessing the ladies might go a little off-topic at tonight.

Maxi when have the Lusty Bitches ever stuck to the topic? Their book club started off talking about whatever book they were currently reading, but by the end of the night, anything was game.

They both laughed. Okay, we tend to get a little rowdy. But there has been a lot of gossip floating around. I have a feeling that the girls might have some questions for you and your sisters.

And you too. Rachel smiled as she concocted a plan. How about whenever someone asks you a question I deflect, and you do the same for me.

And your sisters?

Nope. Rachel smiled as she shook her head. Those sappy fools can fend for themselves. I hope Eve brings extra brownies that will distract some of the ladies.

Maxi chuckled. I ordered a double batch and some of her chewy mint cookies too.

Now all Rachel had to do was make sure she had something in her mouth whenever someone asked her a question. Cassie and Veronica were more than welcome to field any inquiries they wanted. Rachel wasn’t discussing Riley O’Leary with anyone because what the hell could she say. The guy was hot, annoying, and he pushed her buttons like no one else ever had. That was saying a lot since her sisters knew exactly how to get on her nerves. Riley did it in a much different way. He made her blood surge and her body go all tingly. If he wasn’t out to ruin her family’s livelihood and she might have enjoyed that a little. But he was the enemy, so it just pissed her off even more. So yeah, she would not be discussing the strange push and pull of her attraction to Riley O’Leary with anyone. Not even her nosy sisters.

Rachel decided at that moment that she wasn’t going to think about Riley anymore, at least for the night. She knew she couldn’t banish thoughts of him for good. She wondered if she’d still think of him when he finally left. He may have bought the cabin, but she didn’t expect him to stay long-term. With Kismet Falls being a tourist town, it was a fact of life that guys came and went. Rachel was careful not to get involved with any of them. When she was younger it was fun to flirt with them. She knew they’d leave, and she would be free to go on with her life. As she got older, she’d learned that flirting was still fun, but she didn’t like leading men on.

Knowing there was no future with them she didn’t bother to flirt. Things felt different with Riley. She wasn’t sure what the hell they were doing, but it wasn’t any kind of flirting she’d ever done before. He teased her, annoyed her. She gave it right back. They poked at each other. The chemistry between them was unmistakable, but Rachel was doing her best to ignore it.

He wasn’t making it easy. Rachel let out a soft growl. Though she had been attempting to banish him from her thoughts he’d managed to take them over completely. She turned and headed to the meeting room intent on thinking about the book they were about to discuss. Not Riley O’Leary.

~ * * * ~

I know you don’t want to hear this. But I’m going to say it anyway. Dude, it doesn’t matter if Breaker’s Landing is the ideal setting for what you want to do. Not if the old lady won’t sell it to you, His cousin Grover’s words made him frown.

Riley O’Leary tried to ignore the hint of exasperation in his cousin’s voice. He continued to stare at the drawings laid out on the table before him. Seeing the ideas, he’d conjured up for the property fleshed out made him want to smile. This stage of the project always excited him. However, this time it made him even more determined to make it a reality.

Lillian Heartbreaker hasn’t said no yet.

She hasn’t said yes. His cousin didn’t fail to point out once again.

Heck, she wouldn’t even agree to let him make an official offer. He’d tried, but Lillian stopped him before he could. She told him he needed to wait until she decided if she was willing o consider one. They hadn’t even discussed how much he was willing to pay. She owned one hundred and fifty acres set along the shore of the upper lake in the touristy town of Kismet Falls.

If she knew how much he was willing to dish out it could push her in the right direction. He picked up an eight by ten photograph off the table. The big old Victorian house sat on a rise, not quite a bluff, which overlooked the lake. A half-acre or so area around the house had been cleared of trees a long time ago. It was now a well-manicured lawn. Missing from the picture was the large fancy gazebo the Heartbreakers had put up a few weeks ago.

He dropped the photo and picked up another. This one was taken from further away showing even more of the property. To the right of the house were nothing but trees. They were so thick and lush you couldn’t even see the lake. They went on that way for over a mile. Then the trees started to grow sparse. A few cabins and cottages could be seen as the road started to reach close to town. Riley brought his gaze back to the house and the long driveway that led to the road.

There was a large swath of trees that ran along the driveway all the way to the