Read Online Summer at Seaside Cove by Jacquie D'Alessandro - Free Book Online

the same thing. He’d actually wanted to smell her neck, but based on the “eat shit and die” expression shooting from her eyes, that wouldn’t have gone over well. But really, if she didn’t want guys smelling her, she damn well shouldn’t make herself smell like cookies!
    His stomach rumbled again, and with a grunt of irritation, he turned his attention back to his phone. He tapped the New Rentals tab, and after some quick scrolling, saw the ad for Paradise Lost. A red banner proclaiming the property No Longer Available! bisected the ad, but it was still easy to see that the same photos Jamie had on her printout were featured on the web page. The bad feeling that had tugged his gut ballooned into a full-fledged oh, shit as he read the entire ad.
    â€œUnbelievable,” he muttered. As she’d claimed, there wasn’t one mention of “as is” or ongoing repairs. And the only photos were those showing Paradise Lost looking like . . . well, paradise.
    Crap. It was way too early in the morning for this. And without a cup of coffee in sight. He dragged a weary hand through his hair and met her gaze. “It appears you’re right.”
    She raised her brows. “It appears I’m right?”
    Great—he now knew what it felt like to have his blood pressure jump twenty points. “If you’d quit being sarcastic, you’d realize I’m attempting to apologize.” He had to clamp his lips shut for several seconds to keep himself from adding you pesky smartass to the end of his sentence. “I sent Jack recent photos—where he found those other ones, I have no idea. I can’t explain why the wording in the ad didn’t state the house’s condition. It should have, and I can only say I’m sorry it didn’t. Clearly there was a miscommunication somewhere along the way between me and Jack. I’ll call him later this morning to find out what happened.”
    He blew out a quick breath, then continued, “But at this point, I can’t see that it really matters. Paradise Lost is the way it is. Given that it wasn’t properly presented on the website, I can understand you being upset. If you want to leave, I’ll fully refund your money.”
    He watched the expressions flicker across her face—surprise and confusion (obviously she hadn’t expected an apology. Ha! Take that Miss Door Pounder), annoyance (no big surprise there), and finally distress.
    â€œI can’t leave,” she said. “Where would I go?”
    â€œUh, back where you came from?” he said, unable to keep the note of hope out of his voice.
    A look of pure horror came over her face and he suddenly wondered what had motivated her last-minute plan to spend the summer here.
    â€œI can’t. I sublet my apartment.”
    â€œMaybe you could stay with family?”
    He actually saw a shudder shake her. And oh, Christ, were those tears filling her eyes? No, please, God, not tears. Jesus, he couldn’t possibly deal with girl tears before he’d had coffee.
    She blinked several times and he damn near swayed with relief when no tears fell. “Ah, staying with family isn’t an option.”
    Hmmmm. Clearly a story there, but he sure as hell wouldn’t be asking about it. Oh, no. He wasn’t about to be sucked into her drama. He’d come to Seaside Cove to escape drama—not find it. “Friends? Hotel?”
    â€œI can’t impose on anyone for two months,” she said, “and I can’t afford a hotel for that length of time.”
    â€œWell, you could always suck it up, princess, and stay here.” The instant the words left his mouth, he wanted to smack himself upside his own head. What the hell are you saying, dude? his inner voice yelled. Let her go! Who needs this prissy princess living next door? Not you. She’ll make your life a living hell if she stays.
    â€œIn the cottage of horrors with the