CHAPTER 1
Riley Barlow’s day took a sharp nosedive the moment Lucas Clark, her ex-boyfriend, waltzed through the doors of The Riverside Inn where she worked. He wasn’t just any ex-boyfriend. He was the one she’d been completely, madly, and stupidly in love with. Right up until she realized he’d cheated on her.
Lucas strode across the front room, flaunting his handsomeness as usual. The guy stood 6’3” with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a smile bright enough to give you a tan. He was so handsome that the women in Lark Springs liked to say that it was only fitting there were two copies of him—he had an identical twin brother, Jace. And more than one woman had said it was an oversight on the Lord’s part for not making them triplets.
The man making his way to the desk where she sat was definitely Lucas. Riley could tell because Jace wore glasses and Lucas didn’t and also because of the swagger in his walk. Jace seemed half unaware of how attractive he was. Lucas knew it through and through.
He wasn’t in his police uniform, so he probably wasn’t here on official business. Perhaps he knew one of the guests. Just her luck.
Most ex-boyfriends would avoid the woman they cheated on or at least manage to look abashed when they saw her, but Lucas never did. He still refused to even admit he’d cheated despite the evidence to the contrary. Riley had been the one who’d avoided him for the last six months. No easy feat in a city so small that downtown consisted mostly of two streets.
“Hey, Riley,” he said. “How’s it going?”
“Fine.” She was only half-gritting her teeth when she said it. “What brings you here?”
He shrugged. “I was thinking of going out on the river and came to see about your boat rental rates. What are they?”
Not likely. It was October thirteenth in Montana, too cold to go out on the river. Also, the locals generally went to Jimmy’s, the rental store in town, because it had a bigger variety. The Riverside Inn just stocked a few types for its guests. And besides, Lucas didn’t need a boat.
Riley smiled back pleasantly anyway. “That depends on the type you want. Were you looking to go kayaking, do some fishing, or do you want a motorboat?”
His gaze flicked around the lobby, taking in the empty sitting room to his left and the entryway to the dining room on his right as though looking for a boat selection inside the inn. “I haven’t decided. What do you suggest?”
“Hmmm,” she said, considering the question, “I suggest you think of a better cover story. It’s been a while since we’ve dated, but I still remember that your parents own a boat you can use whenever you want to go out on the river. What really brings you here?”
Instead of being embarrassed that she called him out, Lucas had the nerve to grin. “For all you know, my parents sold it.Unless, that is, you’re keeping up with my family’s doings. Do you still have an interest in what happens in my life?”
She wasn’t going to dignify that with a response. “I’m hoping you’re here for something intriguing like an undercover murder investigation.”
He cocked his head. “Anyone in particular you’re hoping is dead—well, besides an ex-boyfriend or two?”
“That depends. Is my boss within earshot?”
Lucas glanced around the room. “Nope. Mr. Ross is nowhere in sight.”
“In that case, I would say it’s been way too long since he gave me a day off, but if someone actually offed him, I don’t want to become a suspect.”
Lucas smiled, eyes crinkling at the sides. For a moment, the expression reminded her of the old times. Best not to think about those.
“Sorry to disappoint you,” he said. “My last police investigation involved a missing dog. Lark Springs just isn’t that intriguing.”
And that was the way she liked it. “Okay, so why did you really come?”
He hesitated. “I told you, I’m thinking of renting one of your boats.”
She nodded and steepled her hands together. “And you trust me to give you one that won’t sink while you’re in it? Your faith is touching although sadly misplaced.”
His grin was back. “Good point. Maybe you’d better come with me so I can be sure of getting a safe one.”
Was he asking her out? He couldn’t be. He was just teasing her because he knew she wanted nothing to do with him. “Sorry. As I said, I don’t have any days off.”
It was nearly the truth. Mr. Ross, the inn’s owner, knew Riley planned to buy the place when he retired next year, so hedidn’t feel it was unreasonable to make her work long hours, six days a week, through the busy season instead of hiring an extra employee he’d have to let go come winter.
He said working overtime built character, and one had to make sacrifices when one was a business owner. Usually, she didn’t complain about the hours because she needed to earn every dollar she could for the down payment. She’d inherited her grandmother’s home in Bozeman last year and was renting it until Mr. Ross retired. She’d sell it then, but even with that amount, she’d still have to get a huge bank loan.
Lucas shrugged again. “We could go after you get off work.”
“I’ll have to pass on that. I already checked offBoating in the cold, dark of night with my exfrom my bucket list.”