Read Online Finding Haven by T.A. Foster - Free Book Online Page A

they would take the clam rakes out to the cove and load up the boat
     with a fresh haul. Days at the store and on the docks were a part of her life—a part
     of being Haven Owen. However, three months ago, everything changed.
    Haven heard it. She heard every scream and rhythmic thump. She heard a woman call
     out her father’s name. Then she saw Betra Meeks leave her father’s office—hair in
     a rat’s nest, blouse half-buttoned, and her cheeks redder than Hester Prynne’s scarlet
     letter.
    Haven panicked, ran, and threw up in the women’s bathroom. She clung to the toilet
     until the heaving stopped. No one knew she was there, and Betra hadn’t spotted Haven
     on her way out of the office. When she was certain she could stand without shaking
     so much, she washed her face and sprinted out of the ladies’ room and right into Travis.
    “Haven? Did you hear me?” Her father hadn’t moved from his spot.
    “Yes, I heard you. I’m trying to count the register.” The quicker she started working,
     the quicker he might actually leave her alone.
    “All right.” He sighed. “I’m headed to my office for the morning. I’ve got reports
     to run.”
    Haven rolled her eyes as she counted out a stack of ones. She had forgotten it was
     Monday, and that meant her father would be in the store for the first part of the
     day. It was really the only time during the week when she had to interact with him.
    “Have a nice day, sir,” Travis called from the corner of the store.
    Once her father turned the corner, she couldn’t hold back. “Seriously, Trav. Have
     a nice day? What is wrong with you?”
    “He’s my boss, Haven. Or do you still think the world revolves around you? Just because
     you hate him, doesn’t mean I have to.” He reached down with the dustpan and scooped
     up a pile of yesterday’s dirt.
    Haven rushed from the register to face Travis. “What did you say?” This morning was
     progressively getting worse.
    He straightened his stance, brushing the hair off his forehead. “Just leave it alone.
     We’ve got work to do.”
    “Work? You think I can work with you glaring at me every chance you get? Now you’re
     teaming up with my dad like you two are best buddies? You know what he did—what he’s doing . You are the only person I’ve ever told.” She sucked in a big breath of air. “This
     isn’t work. This is torture.”
    She walked back to the register as she heard the jingle of the door. The early customers
     had arrived for their morning coffee and donuts. Quickly, she tallied the money in
     the drawer and returned it to its slot. Travis had disappeared. Good, she thought.
     They constantly needed more distance between them.
    It was almost impossible to be in the same room with him since their falling out almost
     two weeks ago. No more smiles, jokes, or flirty banter. It was like the history they
     had never existed. She knew she destroyed it the minute she let him kiss her. Regret
     was an awful roommate who had moved in the night she kicked Travis out, and like terrible
     roommates, it made everything messy and awkward.

H E STARED at the phone. It didn’t ring as much as it did when he first arrived, but that was
     because he had talked to everyone but her. They all knew he was hiding out, and except
     for a few extra calls from Allan, his team seemed to respect his decision to take
     some time off. What they didn’t realize was that the time off wasn’t temporary.
    He watched the steam swirl from the coffee cup, and then glanced back at the phone.
     When he woke up this morning, he hadn’t even thought about her, but once he settled
     into the camper’s red vinyl booth, she was all he could think about it. He knew it
     was time. He opened the missed calls on his screen and tapped her name. It was at
     the top.
    “Evan? Oh my God, Evan.” Her voice was frantic.
    “Hey.” He picked up his coffee and sipped. He felt steady and calm, something he wasn’t
     expecting when he