A Place with Briar (Harlequin Superromance) Read Online Free PDF Page A

she dried hers. “And Adrian’s going to sneak up when she can.”
    “I’ll head over later to see if you need anything,” Briar said. She’d fit it in between fixing a leaky sink and weeding flower beds. “Call me if y’all need me before then.”
    “You just do what you do best first.” Olivia leaned over and kissed the top of Briar’s head. “Be good.” She sent Cole a sidelong grin as she headed out the screen door. “Don’t give her any trouble now, ya hear?”
    “I wouldn’t dare,” he assured her. “I’ll come by later for that margarita.”
    “You do that. First one’s on me. See you two lovebirds later.”
    When the door rapped shut, Briar turned to him with a grimace. “I’m sorry about that.”
    “She’s a feisty one.”
    “Always has been,” Briar said with a weary sigh. “Trust me. There’s never a dull moment around here.”
    “You grew up here?”
    “Yes. My mother established the inn after she married my father. A short time later, Olivia’s parents bought the bar from a couple of retirees and rebuilt from the ground up. They lived in the apartment upstairs. When they retired, they handed it all over to Olivia. Ever since I took over, it seems I’m either over at the tavern yelling at her to turn the music down or she’s over here making a fool of me in front of my guests.”
    “You’re right. Never a dull moment. Can I have another one of these?”
    Her face lit with a quick smile. “Finish them off, by all means.” She passed the basket of cinnamon rolls across the table and felt the glow spread from her heart to her cheeks when he took two. “I’m glad you like them.”
    “Mmm. This is all wonderful, Briar. I don’t remember the last time I had a fine meal like this.”
    In an instant, his eyes clouded over again. She wanted to reach across the table and touch his hand, squeeze it reassuringly. Anything to erase that haunted look from his face.
    Before she could react or resist, the phone rang. She lifted her napkin to dab the corners of her mouth. “Excuse me.”
    He raised a hand to show that her departure didn’t bother him.
    She sprinted into the entryway. Hopefully, it was another customer calling to reserve a suite. Or an investor. Please, let it be one or the other. “Hanna’s Inn,” she greeted, pulse pumping in her ears.
    “Ms. Browning?”
    “Yes.”
    “My name is Jack Fields. I’m with the Baldwin County tax office. I’d like a few minutes of your time.”

CHAPTER THREE
    A LL THE BLOOD drained from her face down to her toes. She wanted to shrink to the floor. Without a chair, she leaned against the wall as her heart plummeted to the pit of her stomach. “Is there a problem, Mr. Fields?” Her voice trembled. She prayed for control and watched her free hand quiver as it reached for a pen on the podium.
    “I’m afraid there is. Is this a convenient time to talk or should we schedule a meeting sometime this week?”
    She swallowed. “Now’s fine.”
    “You are the proprietor of Hanna’s Inn on South Mobile Street in Fairhope, Alabama?”
    “Yes, that’s me.”
    “And you own the adjacent property, as well?”
    “I do.”
    “I’m sorry to say this, Ms. Browning, but you’re late on your property tax payment. Are you aware of this?”
    Of course she was aware of it. The tax plagued her every thought—along with the inn’s other debts. She took a shaky breath. “Mr. Fields, business was very slow this past autumn and winter season. I had to pay an unexpected remodeling charge for one of the shops next door. Plus, there was another hotel established in the downtown area and it took a chunk out of my profits.”
    “I sympathize, Ms. Browning, but I’m afraid that failure to pay taxes is a serious offense.”
    She took a minute to gather herself. She had to stand up against this. Had to be strong. “I realize that, Mr. Fields, but surely, there can be an extension on the deadline....”
    “We’ve already offered the extension.