Read Online Passions in the North Country (Siren Publishing Classic) by Summer Newman - Free Book Online Page B

conflict, and there would be no negative repercussions, outside of him wanting to avoid her company. After what she had been through with Ivan, the constant walking on eggshells and watching absolutely every tiny thing she did, this inspired her with a tremendous sense of freedom and lightness. It was as if she had been liberated from a prison.
    “Mr. North,” Miriam said, “Mr. Taylor called from the bank. He says he’d like to arrange a meeting in the not too distant future.”
    Devon’s expression instantly changed and he looked not only stern, but gravely concerned.
    “Jenny is going to stay and help out for awhile,” Miriam suddenly said with unbreakable conviction. “We can certainly use her help. But right now we have only four rooms open for occupancy and room twelve is one of them. Would it be possible for her to stay in the Captain’s House?”
    Jenny was thrilled at the prospect of living in the same room where she had seen the beautiful and exotic spirit.
    “I don’t know,” he hedged. “I can’t pay her anything.”
    “She said she’s all right with a free room,” Miriam insisted with the look of determination.
    Devon rubbed his hands. “All right,” he surrendered, as if it was almost painful. “She can have Maria’s room. We’ll see how it works out.”
    “It will work out just fine,” Miriam assured her. She turned to Jenny. “Go get your things and I’ll take you up to Maria’s room.”
    “All right,” Jenny said excitedly, pleased on many fronts. Devon had not been unbendable and though he did not seem enthusiastic, he was at least resigned to the idea. This also gave her a steady place to live without having to drain her account, and the room was about as private as could be. It would become her sanctuary. “I’ll be right back, Miriam.” She snubbed her nose at Devon as she walked past him. He smirked, shook his head, and went back to work.
    Jenny quickly gathered her things and returned to find Miriam waiting for her by the step. To her surprise and pleasure, Devon and Danny were standing by a ladder and conversing in a friendly way. She met up with Miriam, exchanged comments on the beautiful day, then proceeded toward the Captain’s House.
    It was set on the back of the property and largely obscured by high pines, flowering crab trees and vines, including a grapevine wrapped around a white trellis, and a blooming clematis interspersed with thick rose bushes. The entire area had a delicious, almost intoxicating aroma, and there was also an air of mystery about the place. There were no established pathways, only a thin trail Devon had made of late by walking back and forth to renovate the Captain’s House.
    “Why did he spend time back here,” Jenny asked, “when there’s so much work to do on the hotel?”
    “He was thinking about living in the Captain’s House. Down at the river house he’s paying rent. Here he could live for free.” Miriam took keys out of her pocket and unlocked the old green door. “There was also a safety issue here.” She pushed the door open to a long, narrow room with nothing in it except two more doors. “But Devon replaced all the wiring and he fixed the plumbing. It’s habitable now.”
    Jenny stepped into the room with Miriam, a look of wide-eyed wonder on her face. “What a strange set-up.”
    In front of them were the two doors, wide apart. On the right door, hanging about three-quarters up, was an oak sign that stated, Maria’s Room. On the left door, at the same height, was an identical oak sign that stated, The Captain’s Room . Jenny was intrigued.
    “No one has lived here for many, many years,” Miriam said. “It was written into the constitution of the Riverview Hotel that these rooms could never be rented. Since you’re living here for free, there is no rent, therefore no violation of the constitution.”
    Jenny inwardly laughed at the seriousness with which Miriam related the details.
    “They lived side by side for