Restless Harmony: A Feel Good Small Town Romance (Clover Park, Book 5)

Jazz singer Zoe Davis is facing eviction due to a teensy, ill-advised fling with her landlord, so when Gabe Reynolds offers the apartment over his garage, Zoe knows better than to get involved with her landlord again. No matter how smoking hot he is.

Former shark lawyer Gabe returns to Clover Park for the stress-free lifestyle only to corner the market on ridiculous “legal” cases. When Zoe comes to him asking for legal advice, Gabe’s solution is a shock even to him.

Gabe’s got good reason to avoid anything permanent, so when Zoe tells him she’ll only be staying a month, he figures it’s the perfect situation. But when passion flares this hot, someone is bound to get burned.

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EXCERPT

Gabe heard the door open and then Mrs. Peters exclaimed, “How are you, Zoe, dear?”
He stood abruptly, then sat again, not wanting to appear too eager. The two women chatted, then Mrs. Peters left, and Zoe was in his office.
“Hey,” he said. Brilliant opening line.
She beamed. God, he loved that sunny smile. “Hey there,” she said. “Got the key?”
He fished it out of his pocket and handed it to her.
She stared down at it for a long moment and then tucked it into her tiny pink purse with a purple flower on it. He loved that she was so girly. He grew up in a house filled with testosterone.
“So, Gabe,” she said hesitantly, “I thought maybe we should talk about the rent. I don’t feel right not paying anything. Just tell me what you think is fair so I’m not caught by surprise. I mean, maybe we should sign a rental agreement.” She warmed to her topic. “A legal contract that spells out exactly what’s expected. I dunno, you’re the lawyer. What do you think?”
“No need,” he said. “It’s still free, and you can stay as long as you need to. At least someone can get some use out of the space.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Is this one of those deals where I think I’m getting it for free, but you really want—” she lowered her voice and leaned forward “—services rendered?”
He chuckled. “What kind of services?”
She straightened and raised her brows. “You know.”
He folded his fingers together on top of the desk. She stared at his fingers. “What would your trumpet player say about that?”
She tore her gaze from his fingers and stared at him with wide eyes. “Jordan? He’d be mad as hell.”
He leaned forward, really needing a straight answer on this guy. “Why is that, Zoe?”
She shifted in her seat. “We go way back,” she said, neatly avoiding the question again. “So you don’t want…” She looked side to side in case anyone was listening in, which made him smile, given that it was his private office, and they were very much alone. “You know what.”
He chuckled.
She flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Um, you have to actually answer the question.”
“Do I, Counselor?” he asked in his best intimidating lawyer voice.
She shook her finger at him. “I’ve been warned about you and your lawyerly ways. You’re like a shark.”
His lips twitched. “Daisy told you that.”
“Yeah.”
He smiled. “That’s mighty nice of her to say.”
“Oh, so you don’t deny it? Proud of our sharkiness, are we?”
“It helped me win cases, so yes. That was courtroom Gabe.”
“And who are you now?”
“Just a guy helping out in the community.” She just sat there, studying him across the table, so he added, “Who do you want me to be?”
“Never mind.” She pushed up from the chair, and he snagged her hand.
“Sit.” When she just stood there, looking pissed off, he added, “Please.”
She sat.
“I was just joking around,” he said. “I want you to feel comfortable. I really and truly want to help. That’s all.” He raised a brow, curious if his innocent act worked. Because there was no question that while he did want to help her, he also wanted her. Badly.