Love at First Bite: Outer Banks Novella, #3

By P. Sawyer

Chance 

I wasn't planning on love. I didn't have time for much in my life, running Sutter's was time consuming enough. Late nights and no social life outside the bar, I was beginning to think I'd never fall in love, not that I was looking. But with everyone around me falling in love and eating whatever voodoo taffy that was being passed around, I was feeling lonely. Until I met her. A chance encounter one night has me re-evaluating everything I thought I wanted. 

 

Clarissa 

Moving to Kill Devil Hills, NC was my chance at a fresh start, a chance to leave behind a life that no longer suited me. Opening the vet clinic had been my dream since I was a child. Everything was finally falling into place, until he showed up at my doorstep one night with a stray dog. I was not looking to fall in love again, not at all. But that fateful night has me questioning what my heart truly wants.  

 

Welcome back to Kill Devil Hills where Love at first sight exists, or is it just the voodoo taffy? 

• Language: English
• Publisher: P. Sawyer
• Release date: May 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393122647

Book preview

Chapter 1

~

Chance

What’s going on? my brother Landon asks, as he strolls into the small office I’m currently sitting in.

I shake my head. Nothing. It’s Monday. I’m doing paperwork and orders and all the lovely bullshit that comes with owning a bar.

Landon throws his hands up. Dude, no need to be a dick.

I let out an exasperated sigh. I’m not being a dick. You’re the one walking in here asking. What did you think I would be doing? It was about two in the afternoon and I was wondering what he was doing here. So why are you here?

Landon takes a seat across the desk from me. No reason. I was driving by and saw your Jeep here.

Well, where else would I be? I ask running my hand through my hair.

That is true. You don’t seem to have much of a life.

I shake my head. Seriously? What the fuck was that comment for? I know I’m rearing for a fight. I’ve been in a bad mood for days, and I haven’t been able to figure out why.

Nothing, Chance. It’s just that you’ve been really throwing yourself into the bar and haven’t been around much lately. Everything okay?

I turn to look at him again. Everything’s fine. I own the bar. I have to be here. And it’s not like you and Mitch are around much anymore either.

We’re around, he offers back. I shoot him a look. He knows what I mean. Before they found Kensley and Amber, they were pretty much at the bar every night hanging out. Fuck, they’d even come behind it and serve drinks and just hang out. I don’t have much time to go do anything else when I’m the one that has to be here.

Why don’t you hire a manager? Landon asks as I shake my head.

We’ve tried that before. Remember? She stole over six thousand dollars from us? Landon and I co-own the bar together. Landon is two years older than I am and when he opened his construction business, I opened the bar. He was some of the financial backing behind it.

We did and it was a failure, but listen to what I have to propose.

I nod and take a deep breath. Okay, what is it?

Jackson.

Jackson? Our cousin Jackson? I ask back.

Landon nods. Yeah. He called...

And? I hold my hands up.

Nothing. He’s looking to relocate here with us and needs a place to stay and a job.

What happened? I thought he was engaged to what’s her name? I question.

Landon shrugs his shoulders. Don’t know the details, but I do know she cheated, he’s left and should be arriving anytime now. Landon looks at his phone. Oh, he’s here.

So, you’re going to just drop this on me, like, as he’s walking into the bar?

Landon smiles.

You’re an asshole, I reply as Landon stands and walks out of the office towards the back door that we all come in from.

I watch as Landon opens the back door and greets Jackson. Hey, man, he says to me as he steps inside the bar and brings me in for a hug.

Good to see you even if I didn’t know you were coming till about two minutes ago. I chuckle as we pull apart.

I’m blaming that on your brother, Jackson chuckles back.

I agree. Come on in, have a seat. What can I get you to drink? I ask as I round the bar and motion for him to sit on a stool.

Just a beer. Thanks, he replies as I nod. Landon joins him and I slide an IPA over to each of them.

The bar is not set to open until five on Mondays, even though it’s the dead of February and tourist season is well over. I toyed with the idea of shutting down on Mondays, but some of the locals still show up, so why not? It’s not like I had anything else to do. With Landon and Mitch doing whatever engaged people do, I was left to feel like the third wheel.

So... I begin as I turn to Jackson. What brings you to Kill Devil?

He takes a swig of the beer and places it in front of him. I need a new start.

I nod. Seems like the general thought process around here.

Jackson takes another sip of his beer and Landon sits quietly. Well, there was nothing left where I was, and I figured why not?

Well, glad you’re here. It’s been what five, maybe six years? I offer back.

Jackson nods. Something like that.

Landon clears his throat, and we turn to look at him. Well, you can stay with Chance until you find something. Landon glances at me and I try to hide my frustrations. I knew that’s where this was going, but still, he should have asked prior and not put me on the spot. In all honesty, it’s not a big deal. I lived above the bar, in a three-bedroom apartment that we redid when we bought the building. I had plenty of room.

Yeah, that’s fine. I have the extra room upstairs. Jackson nods and I turn my attention back to Landon who nods in Jackson’s direction. There was something somber about him. Something off. He wasn’t his normal laugh out loud, fun self. Then again, it had been about six years since I’d seen him.

And I have a job here if you want one, I offer.

Doing? Jackson asks.

Bartending, managing. I shrug. Landon’s been nagging me to hire a manager to get me the fuck out of the bar. Not that I have anything else to do.

That sounds good. I’m appreciative of anything you have, he answers back, taking another swig from the bottle.

Great. If you want, we can get you settled upstairs and then I can show you a few things down here. Mondays are sort of slow during the off-season, I share as I wipe the bar with a rag more out of nervousness than need.

Sounds good. He slides his empty bottle towards me. I really appreciate you guys coming through for me.

Landon and