What If It's Love: A Small Town Romance (Serendipity Series Book 2) Read online

  What If It’s Love

  Kinsey Corwin

  What If It’s Love

  by Kinsey Corwin

  Published by Clean Reads

  www.cleanreads.com

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and events are fictitious in every regard. Any similarities to actual events and persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used. Except for review purposes, the reproduction of this book in whole or part, electronically or mechanically, constitutes a copyright violation.

  WHAT IF IT’S LOVE

  Copyright © 2018 KINSEY CORWIN

  ISBN 978-1-62135-781-0

  Cover Art Designed by AM DESIGNS STUDIO

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Untitled

  To my family in Las Vegas and in Cedar City for their never-ending love, support, and encouragement.

  A special shout out to Centro Woodfired Pizzeria in Cedar City for being the inspiration behind Southern Charred Woodfired Pizza.

  Chapter 1

  The punch came straight at Justice Morgan, and she ducked, retaliating with a series of body punches and a roundhouse kick. The moment her foot connected with her sparring partner's ribcage, she felt the last bit of tension slip away. He bent over, the wind knocked out of him. The timer buzzed, and she retreated to grab her water and towel.

  “What is with you today?” Merrick Hudson, still doubled over, removed his headgear and mouth guard. He hobbled over to the side of the ring and grabbed his towel, wiping the sweat from his face. When he stretched, she caught the tightness of his face as he grimaced in pain. “You were relentless with your attack. Another bad date for the Justice Morgan files?”

  “You could say that.” She took in the sight of her friend's body and cringed. His ribcage was already starting to show signs of bruising, which meant she'd failed to reign in the power behind her strikes. It had been a long time since she'd unleashed her temper, and she was sorry Merrick caught the brunt of it. “Sorry. You might want to put some ice on that. Maybe have it looked at.”

  “For this? I've endured worse sparring with you.” Merrick rubbed at his ribcage and laughed. He lowered his voice, so she was the only one who'd hear. “Your dad would be proud.”

  “No, he wouldn't.” Justice turned and started throwing her gear into her gym bag. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see her father standing off to the side, watching her with Merrick. Pierce Morgan was known for his success in mixed martial arts—a force to be reckoned with once he was inside the confines of the octagon. The world admired him. Only the man she knew was a drunk. A cold, distant man who’d always put fighting and drinking before being a father.

  “Earth to Justice, come in, Justice.”

  She cast a glance up. Merrick was watching her, his brow creased with concern.

  “I'm good.”

  Merrick's head tilted slightly as he continued to study her. “You sure? Seems like you went to a not so happy place there for a moment.”

  “Not unusual when I’m in the same room with him.” She tossed her towel in to the bag and pulled the tape from her hands and threw it in the trash. “Running off for another adventure, or is your leave over?”

  Merrick walked beside her as they left the gym. His truck was parked beside her Jeep. “Why? Do you miss me when I'm gone?”

  “No.”

  “Right through the heart.” He put his hand to his chest and pretended to be wounded as he threw himself against his truck. “Cupid's aim has nothing on you.”

  “Cute.”

  “Hey, I try.” Merrick righted himself and dug out his car keys. “Off to work or want to grab a cup of coffee first?”

  “No time for coffee. Home, shower, and then off to meet the mayor.”

  Though she’d known Merrick for a couple of years, their friendship developed over the last couple of months. He'd kept her from feeling like a fifth wheel when her married best friends wanted more than a girl's night. They'd shared dating horror stories, which they'd managed to have plenty of even though they lived in a small town. And he had a way of making her feel like she wasn't just some woman to win over.

  “Big flower installation for the Centennial celebration?”

  “Yeah, with prom coming up, I feel like I’m just drowning in flowers.” She tossed her bag in the back of her jeep.

  “I know. But it keeps you in business.” Merrick climbed up in to his truck. “See you later?”

  “It's girls’ night. You'll find me sitting in your restaurant, rehashing last night's date details with the girls.”

  “Ah yes, the infamous after-date report.” He chuckled. “Well, you can fill me in on all the details later. Try and have a good day. It's going to be a busy one.”

  “How would you know? You've been back in town for all of about what?” She glanced at her watch. “Twelve hours?”

  “Try two.” His truck roared to life. “I mean it, Justice, don't punch anyone out, and have a good day.”

  Good day? Based on how her evening ended and her morning was shaping up, she was certain achieving good was an impossibility.

  The weather was already in the low eighties in Serendipity, Texas, and Justice loved every second of it. The weather. Not the current status of her quiet little town. The hotels were filling up, the people with vacation homes were returning for the big celebration, and while Justice knew they were good for business, she longed for the peace and quiet that usually enveloped their small little corner. She wanted to take her paddleboard onto the lake without fighting tourists for a little piece of water. Or go hiking through the hills. Of course, accomplishing either would require she possessed a spare moment in her currently overbooked schedule, and she wasn't willing to give up her sparring time with Merrick. It was such a stress reliever, and right now she couldn't live without it.

  With the Centennial celebration and the upcoming prom, her shop, the Twisted Magnolia, was bursting at the seams with flowers from suppliers. The orders were already through the roof and the dance was still a week away. She hired some temp help—a high school student who was only available weekends and afternoons, clubs and cheerleading practices permitting.

  Justice pulled another strand of garland from the truck and approached the wishing well. The well had seen better days, but the town had rallied together to do what they could to preserve their little piece of history. Unconventional as it might be, they'd built a gazebo around it to protect the earth and stone at the well's base. It added to the charm, in her opinion.

  She worked feverishly to finish getting the garland up. Kaitlyn DeLuca, her mother's best friend and current Mayor of Serendipity, stood nearby on her phone, having a very loud and pointed discussion regarding the upcoming festival. Justice fastened the last bit of greenery and stepped back to look at her handiwork.

  “It looks fantastic, Justice. I think you outdid yourself.” Kaitlyn slid her phone into her purse and moved up beside her. She wrapped her arm around Justice's shoulders and
tilted her head, so it rested against hers. “Now if I could get everything else to come together.”

  “Anything I can help with?” She mentally ran through her tight schedule and knew her availability was non-existent. Truth was, if Kaitlyn needed her help, there was no way she would turn her away.

  Kaitlyn sighed. “You've already done so much. I mean this—” The woman waived her arms around. “With every event you continue to exceed my expectations. And I know you’ve already put a lot of hours into the festival. I'd hate to burden you with anything else. I know you're busy this time of year.”

  “Seriously, if I can help, I would be honored.”

  “Really?”

  Justice studied the woman who'd sat by her side and held her as she got the news a car accident stole her mother from this world. She took in the sight of her. Kaitlyn DeLuca was usually a very well-put-together lady who was always at the top of her game. This was how she'd managed to reign supreme as Serendipity's Mayor for the last five years. At this moment though, her hair was falling out of the up do, her shirt was splattered with coffee, and her eye makeup was smudged. This was a woman who'd been unshakeable...a rock when Justice needed it most. Seeing her like this was difficult.

  “Whatever you need me to do, I am at your service.”

  Kaitlyn laid her hand and Justice's arm. “You’re an angel. Avery Jensen was supposed to run the kissing booth at the fair and the bachelor auction on Saturday. Unfortunately, her mother just went into the hospital in Houston, and she is not sure when she’ll be back. I will send over all the information for what she'd organized and the contractors she was working with.”

  Crap. The fair and auction were only three days away. Not a lot of time.

  “Sounds great.” She faked her excitement, internally though, Justice was screaming. Why did she jump in before knowing all the details? She liked being behind the scenes. It was where she was comfortable. Flowers she could install and then disappear before anyone knew she was even there.

  “You're such a lifesaver.” Kaitlyn gave her a quick hug and then waved as she rushed off toward the black sedan that had just pulled up to the curb.

  As the car pulled away, Justice sank down onto the steps leading up into the gazebo of the wishing well. She was beginning to hate this time of year.

  Her phone buzzed. She grabbed it. The face of her best friend, Kelsea Dixon, popped up in the corner. “Hey, Kels.”

  “Are you finished yet? We're starving. And we need an update on last night's blind date.”

  “The blind date was a disaster. I promise you’ll have all the details when I get there. Give me about fifteen minutes.” She disconnected the call and hung her head. Out of the trio of best friends, she was the only one who was still single. Often, she felt like she was tagging along…the perpetually pathetic single girl and would try to back out of things they'd planned, even though she adored both of their husbands. Merrick started joining her on many of them, so she wouldn't feel like she was there out of pity. The nights when it was just the three of them though, those were the nights she looked forward to.

  She stood and took one last look at the wishing well. She'd spent a lot of time here over the years. Tossing in coins. Wishing for a different life. A regular childhood. Success in one form or another. Love. She reached into her pocket and fished out a quarter. As she stared down at the piece of silver in her hand, she remembered her date the previous evening, and quickly returned the coin to her jeans. Luck and love were not in the cards for her.

  No amount of wishing would change her reality.

  “Sorry I'm late.” Justice slid into the booth across from Kelsea Dixon and Dakota Bryant. These two women were her lifelines. The sanity keepers in her world of chaos.

  “Tell us how it went?”

  Justice studied the drink menu, trying to decide if she would join her friends in a glass of wine or stick to a beer. Since she had a strict one and done policy, she debated the wine.

  “A drink first. It's been a rough day.” Justice tried to signal the waiter, but Quinn Hudson, Merrick’s sister and business partner, came to the table, beer in hand.

  One decision she didn’t have to worry about.

  “This is our newest draft, courtesy of my brother.” Quinn placed the chilled glass in front of her.

  “Tell him thank you.” Justice appreciated Merrick's taste in drafts and the detail he put into his restaurant. Since it opened, she’d spent plenty of time within its brick walls. She felt at home in the local hotspot. In recent months, as her best friends became more occupied with married life, she would hang out long after they’d locked up for the night. She would talk with the staff and have long conversations with Merrick about their pasts even though he usually didn’t give up a whole lot. During one of their heart to hearts, he’d admitted to having a rough childhood. Fell in with the wrong people and paid for it dearly. Merrick had only been in town four years, and it was nice having a friend who didn't grow up in the small town to talk to. His take on the community usually put things into a more positive light, and she appreciated his insight.

  “I'm sure he will stop by when he gets the chance.” Quinn tucked her bangs behind her ear. “Be sure to let me know if you ladies need anything. We're a little busy, but I know my brother would want to be sure you are taken care of.”

  Quinn walked away, leaving Justice and her friends to dish on her train wreck of a date and the day's events.

  “Okay, Merrick to the rescue. The drink issue is resolved. Now spill it.” Dakota leaned forward, resting her arms on the edge of the charred wooden tabletop. “Details.”

  “Bo was...nice enough I guess.” Justice had endured a lot of bad dates over the years, but they all continued to surprise her. “He was late picking me up. Was still in his work clothes and covered in grease. Then you want to know what his idea of a nice first date was?”

  “A nice dinner and a movie?”

  “I wish. More like fast food take-out and wanting to make out in the fields of his daddy's farm like we were in high school.” Justice recalled climbing out of the truck and walking through the cow pasture, heels in hand, praying she didn't step in cow poop as she made her way to the main road. “Look, y'all know I don't typically dig the whole fancy dinner date kind of deal, but I'd like to think a first date with me warrants more than fast food and a make out sesh.”

  “Oh, honey. Is the dating pool in this town so shallow you would date a man who is not known for providing a girl with a good quality date?” Dakota folded the paper napkin as small as she could. “I mean, it's not like he doesn't have a track record with the ladies around town. You knew what he was like.”

  “I do know what he was like in high school. It doesn't mean people don't grow up. Besides, I felt bad.” Justice felt her blood pressure rise. Mostly because she'd been asking herself why she agreed to a date with Bo from the moment she'd crawled out of the truck all the way through her sparring session with Merrick.

  “Felt bad?”

  “He’s a nice, good-looking guy. And he asked me out.” Justice wiped at the condensation on the glass. “It’s not like I’m some sort of prize.”

  “Please. Any guy would be lucky to have you.” Kelsea leaned back in the booth and crossed her arms, anger creasing her brow. “Seriously, Bo doesn't have a lick of sense in his tiny brain. I don't know why Mr. Anderson keeps him around the shop.”

  “Because he’s a reliable mechanic.” Justice knew, because she'd taken her truck to Anderson's on several occasions. “We can now confirm he is not reliable dating material though.”

  “Did he at least go after you?” Dakota, having lost interest in the napkin, toyed with the stem of her wineglass, swirling the liquid just enough to coat the inside.

  “No.” Justice took a sip of the dark beer in front of her, savoring the notes of chocolate and coffee in the stout.

  Justice sighed. “I have more good news. Kaitlyn liked the garland installation I did at the park.”

 
“She's never been unhappy with anything you've done for the town. Why do you not seem pleased?” Kelsea shifted toward Justice, studying her face. “What happened?”

  “She looked like she'd been through the ringer. I offered to help in any way I could.”

  “Blindly?” Dakota's tone was disbelieving.

  “Yep. Want to know what I unknowingly volunteered for?”

  The women stared at her from across the table. Justice didn't offer anything up right away. She ran through possible ways she could escape this circus she found herself in.

  “Please don't make me guess, I'm on pins and needles here.” Kelsea took a sip of her wine and signaled to the waiter to bring another round for Dakota and herself.

  “Kissing booth for the festival and the bachelor auction.”

  “Oh, that'll be...wait. I thought Avery was handling that.” Worry was evident in Dakota’s expression. “Why did she back out?”

  “Family emergency.” Kelsea offered. “It’s why she cancelled on my appointment to review my folks’ anniversary photos. She didn't offer anything more. She seemed pretty upset though. Distracted.”

  “Yeah. Kaitlyn said the same.” Justice didn't feel like it was her place to share the details of why Avery had to leave and no doubt, small towns being what they were, word would get around soon enough. “I have three days...two if we don't count today...to finalize the details Avery pulled together and prepare myself mentally to kiss half the town. Then steal my nerves to stand on stage before the town.”

  “Can you get out of it?” Kelsea picked up her phone and started scrolling through. “Maybe I can find someone here...”