SNEAK PEEK
There it is! On the corner, just off the square, the old inn - my inn!
I parked beneath a beautiful magnolia tree in the side yard and practically scampered out front, eager to finally meet her in person.
It’s everything I imagined—and more.
I step onto the sidewalk and take in her full view, my heart pounding with anticipation, joy—and fear, each battling for dominance.
I inhale deeply, but the unease starts to win, coiling around me with a python’s grip.
I take another breath—longer this time—before I finally push it down, letting joy take the lead, if only for now.
On the porch, the sign that reads “Riverbend Inn” hangs precariously at an angle, one chain visibly straining against gravity.
But even as her weathered fa?ade cries out with years of neglect, she aches to tell of lifetimes lived—and whisper promises of a future.
Some might see her as an eyesore, but I see her as a blank canvas begging for transformation—for both of us.
Restoring this inn isn’t just another project.
It’s my only chance to escape and live beyond the long shadow of my father’s real estate empire.
But even now, I fear I can’t outrun the past—it’s tracking my scent, hunting me down, threatening to drag me back.
No one walks away from Harper & Co. - ever.
But this isn’t just another deal to close—this is personal.
And failure? Not an option. There’s too much on the line.
I suddenly realize a small crowd is gathering.
My eyes dart over the faces—residents, shopkeepers, onlookers—each one staring curiously.
The quiet is unsettling. I flash a dazzling smile and give a wave.
I make a quick turn towards the front door and briskly enter.
It’s much easier to feel like I already belong in Riverbend hiding behind these walls that beg for my attention, for now…
The air inside is thick with the scent of aged wood and dust, a tangible reminder of the years this place has stood waiting for someone to care for it again.
My footsteps echo through the foyer and halls as I step further in, letting my fingertips trail along the banister of the grand staircase.
It’s sturdy despite its years, as if it, too, is waiting for its second chance.
A sharp knock at the door pulls me back into the moment. I gather my thoughts and look at my watch—right on time. It’s time to get this renovation started!
The man standing at the door is glancing down at a folder, flipping through a few pages, completely unaware of me for the moment. His expression is neutral, focused—until he lifts his head.
No.
His easygoing smile drops instantly, replaced by something between exasperation and disbelief. He lets out a sharp breath and mutters, "You've got to be kidding me."
He turns slightly, beginning to leave. "Wait!" I say, stepping forward and gently grabbing his arm. "You’re the safety inspector?"
He looks at his paperwork and then up at me, his voice edged with something between defiance and exasperation. "Yes."
"Is there—anyone else I can work with on the renovations?"
He exhales sharply, shaking his head. "No."
I cross my arms, straightening my spine. "Then I guess we better get this over with. The quicker, the better."
"Jack Carter," he says, his deep voice slicing through the tension like a blade as he extends his hand to shake mine. In his firm but gentle grip, I feel the rough skin made callous from years of labor.
Jack Carter, of course, he has a name as rugged as his appearance.
He’s tall, broad-shouldered, with a jawline that could sharpen steel.
He looks as if he’s stepped off the cover of a magazine titled Rugged Masculinity.
Dog tags draped over a navy-blue T-shirt, emblazoned with the Riverbend Fire Department logo, stretched across his broad chest in a way that makes me forget, briefly, why I’m here.
I redirect my focus to the task at hand. It’s obvious this isn’t the first time he’s dealt with “outsiders”. The quiet judgment in his eyes says it all—he thinks I’m just another rich girl with a project. That’s fine. I didn’t come here to make friends—or let a grumpy firefighter get in my way.
Squaring my shoulders, I regain my composure. "Olivia Harper. I’m sorry about the accommodations at the moment. Care to have a seat on the steps?"
Leaning against the porch railing, his arms are crossed with deliberate restraint, his stance telegraphing a quiet assertion that he is in control. "I’m fine standing," he says, his unwavering gaze taking me in, assessing. Threat or spectacle? It’s unclear.
"I’ve already filed the paperwork to purchase the inn. With a few upgrades and a little TLC, this place could be a destination hotspot. I’m here to put Riverbend on the map."
"Not without safety upgrades," Jack interjects, his low voice cutting cleanly through the quiet. "This inn hasn’t been up to code in years."
I meet his steady gaze with another perfected smile. "Which is why I’ll need your department’s help."
"We’ll see," he replies, his tone unreadable as he pushes off the railing. He strides towards me, his presence even more imposing up close. Calm authority radiates from him—the kind that makes you instinctively straighten your posture.
Before I can respond, chaos ripples through the square - shouts and screams, the crowd scattering from what looks like Grady's BBQ Pit. The front window now engulfed in orange flames licking up the facade, already reaching the wooden awning above.
"Stay here!" Jack’s commanding voice cuts through the commotion like a whip as he sprints towards the diner.
The heat intensifies across the square as smoke curls into the air, filled with the acrid scent of burning insulation.
Firefighters rush in, hoses in hand, meeting Jack who is already at the door, assessing the flames with an unsettling calm.
He signals his team and skillfully directs them where to begin, while he runs into the diner. My heart pounds as I watch the scene unfold. Soon he appears from the back of the building with two coughing men, who appear to be part of the staff.
It is not a huge fire, but it still takes the team awhile to put it out completely and declare the area safe again. With the danger neutralized, Jack stands and brushes soot off his hands, calm as if he’d just finished his morning coffee. The murmuring crowd erupts into scattered applause.
I should be relieved. Instead, I feel… irked. Maybe it’s the way he’s looking at me now as he strides back over to rejoin me, like I’m a complication he could do without.
"Everything alright?" I say trying to keep my voice steady.
"Fine," he says in a neutral tone, offset by sharp eyes that don’t miss a thing. The corners of his mouth twitch, nearly forming a smile. Nearly. "Welcome to Riverbend."
"Charming," I mutter under my breath.
"If you’re planning to renovate, there are fire codes and safety regulations you’ll need to meet." he says, all business again. "We’ll need to inspect the inn. Let me take care of a few things and I'll be in touch."
"Of course," I reply, lifting my chin. "Safety first, right?"
His gaze lingers a moment too long, leaving me with an unexpected flutter in my chest. Before I can figure out what to make of it, he’s turning away, barking orders to his team.
As the crowd disperses, I turn back to the inn. The peeling paint, sagging roof, and waist-high weeds seem to mock me now.
Determined, I head inside the inn. I've got a plan for this place Mr. Carter, and it doesn't stop at safety codes. This town may not know it yet, but Olivia Harper is here to stay.
***
Jack
I walk back to the station, rolling my shoulders, trying to shake off the tension of the fire, and Miss Olivia Harper.
She’s watching me. I can feel it.
Damn it.
Of all the people I could be stuck working with, it had to be her—another outsider who has just waltzed into town with big plans, a sharp tongue, and emerald eyes that see too much.
The fire had been a distraction, but now, with the adrenaline fading, everything about Olivia Harper pushes right back to the front of my mind. She’s trouble. Too polished, too confident - too beautiful.
I shove the thought aside before it can take root. She’s an outsider. A temporary storm rolling through Riverbend, one that I’ll have to deal with until she gives up and leaves like the rest of them.
And the sooner she does, the better.
***