Page 31 of Stars Shine In Your Eyes

CHAPTER NINE

Josie was up before Malcolm, the time change still not settled within her system. She was glad for the time alone to sit with a cup of coffee and try to calm herself. She needed to remember why she was here. Not to get tangled up with a handsome Brit, but to set up a reading retreat for Mari. A special place where people from all over the world could come to enjoy some time with wonderful books. She could hear Malcolm moving around in the guest room, when there was a knock on the houseboat door. She opened it to find two women who had to be his sisters standing on the deck.

“Hi, you must be Fiona and Alice,” she said with a smile. “I’m Josie. Come on inside.”

“It’s wonderful to meet you at last,” Fiona said. She was absolutely beautiful and dressed in casual clothes that looked as though they cost a fortune. Her jewelry was what Josie thought of as understated but expensive, and her watch looked very similar to one that Princess Diana had worn. “Mari’s been talking about you a lot. She’s so excited about her first reading retreat.”

As they stepped inside, Alice sniffed the air. “Mmm, coffee. Don’t suppose you’ve got any to spare?” Alice might look a bit like Fiona, but her style was completely different. It was obvious she worked with her hands, and if Josie hadn’t known she was a gardener, she’d have guessed. Her hands were free of jewelry, and she had a pair of gardening gloves stuffed in her pocket.

“Of course.” As Josie poured coffee for them and refilled her own mug while she was at it, Alice presented her with a bag of still-warm croissants.

“I stopped by the Elderflower Café on the way here. I can never resist their fresh croissants.”

Josie suddenly realized she was ravenous. “There’s butter and jam in the fridge,” she said, going to get them and putting them on the table. It was funny how comfortable she already felt with Malcolm’s sisters, and they hadn’t even really spoken with one another yet. It just felt so natural to get settled around the table with them, munch on the croissants, and drink coffee. Well, she and Alice were munching on the croissants, at any rate. Fiona said she wasn’t hungry and just sipped coffee.

“It’s so fantastic to meet you,” Alice said, clearly a bundle of energy. Even dressed in a long-sleeved Kew Gardens T-shirt and baggy jeans and work boots, she was beautiful. “When Mari told us that she was going to turn the cottages into a reading retreat, I thought that sounded like the coolest thing.”

“I agree,” Fiona said, her words far more measured. But she also had a lovely smile, and if she was less effervescent than her sister, she was no less beautiful for it. Although Josie couldn’t help but notice a hint of sadness behind her smile. Or maybe she was just imagining it because of what Malcolm had told her.

“I’m really excited about it,” Josie said. “And once we get these cottages sorted out, I know that Elderflower Island will be the perfect place for people to come and lose themselves in books.”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to do that,” Fiona said in her soft voice. “Honestly, I can’t hardly remember the last book I was able to read all the way through.”

“Fiona entertains a lot,” Alice explained. “She and her husband, Lewis, lead very active social lives.”

There was an edge to Alice’s words, but no malice. Okay, maybe a little when she was talking about Fiona’s husband, but it was obvious that she loved her older sister very much.

“I still think you should come to one of my gatherings sometime,” Fiona said to Alice. “I’d love for you to meet some new people, instead of always talking to your plants.”

Alice laughed. “I love talking to my plants. They’re more interesting than some people. But thanks for the offer.”

“I’m putting together the party for Mari’s book launch in a few days. I hope you’ll be able to attend,” Fiona said to Josie.

“I wouldn’t miss it. I had a chance to see the book when we first met a couple of days ago. It’s a beautiful story that both children and adults are going to love.”

“I can’t believe she showed it to you first!” Alice said. “I’ve been dying to see it live and in the flesh. If I had time today after looking at the garden, I’d go by and see it, but I’m afraid I’m going to have to dash off pretty quickly. In fact, I really need to get over there now.” She turned toward the bedrooms and hollered, “Malcolm? Aren’t you beautiful enough yet?”

He stepped out, looking so good in a T-shirt and jeans that Josie’s breath actually left her. She was beyond glad that his sisters were present when she first had to face him, as she felt all the awkwardness of the kiss between them, as well as the way she’d bolted.

However, Malcolm showed no sign of even remembering their passion last night.

He said, “Good morning,” in a way that took in all three women, then he turned to Alice. “Look what the cat dragged in,” he teased. “And, Fiona, good to see you too.”

The siblings all smiled at one another.

“I just need to mainline a cup of coffee, and then I’m ready to go.” He smelled the air. “Someone brought croissants. Tell me there’s one left.”

Alice shook her head, then laughed. “Of course I made sure there was one for you. Do you think I want to deal with you being Mr. Cranky Pants all morning?” She turned to Josie. “Be warned. When he doesn’t eat, he’s not pleasant to be around.”

Josie enjoyed watching the three of them together. Fiona got up and poured a cup of coffee for Malcolm, then handed him a croissant on a plate. She was obviously very nurturing, and Josie hoped that what Malcolm had said about her husband’s being a jerk was just brotherly overprotectiveness. It didn’t seem fair that someone as nice as Fiona should have anything less than perfect love.

A few minutes later, they headed off to the cottages. Alice walked with her, while Fiona and Malcolm walked some distance behind them.

“Thank you so much for helping with this project,” Josie said to Alice.

“No, thank you. I’ve been dying to get my hands on the manor house gardens for years. I’m hoping that if I do a great job with them, the council might consider letting me get my hands on the walled garden.”

“I hope that happens for you. Malcolm says you work at Kew Gardens nearby. I haven’t had a chance to go yet, but of course I’ve read about it and seen pictures. That must be an amazing place to work.”

---