Page 40 of Stars Shine In Your Eyes

She shook her head, her color going slightly pink. As if their kiss hadn’t been enough of a reminder. “No, of course I’m not regretting any of it. It’s just that I want to make sure that nobody finds out about… this.”

It shouldn’t have grated so much to have their lovemaking reduced to this. After all, that was the way he’d looked at it his entire life. As something fun, something pleasurable. But not particularly world-changing, when all was said and done.

“Okay,” he said, the word coming out grumpier than he intended.

Of course she picked up on it. “You don’t want anyone to know, do you?” She looked confused. “I mean, wouldn’t it just get more complicated if your family and friends though that we were an actual couple?”

“Right.” But it didn’t feel at all right. “It’s fine.” But it didn’t feel fine at all.

What felt fine was having Josie in his arms. What felt fine was laughing with her. What felt fine was working together to clean up the manor house cottages so she could run her reading retreat. Hiding the fact that they were together, even if just for a little while, felt anything but fine.

Obviously sensing that he was better left to himself at the moment, she said, “I’ll just finish getting my things together while you hop in the shower and get dressed.”

He was ready fifteen minutes later, and they headed off on foot to the bookshop. He kept wanting to grab her hand. Kept wanting to hold it. Kept wanting to stop and kiss her on the path, the way he had yesterday. They hadn’t been worried about anyone seeing them then, had they?

He was being a grumpy git again. And she was right. It would just get messy if his family found out. Messes were bad, he knew that. He was all about efficiency. About right action. It was just that he’d always been the one wanting to keep things on the down-low. Josie had surprised him by being the first to say what was obvious, that was all. What they’d agreed on already.

He actively worked to shake off his mood.

They were soon walking through the door of the bookshop. Mari smiled and greeted them, but she definitely looked less calm than usual.

“I take it you’ve had a very busy couple of days,” he said after they hugged their hellos.

She nodded. “It’s been a madhouse in here. It’s fantastic, of course, because I can always use more business. But I had no idea a bookstore could ever be this busy.”

Malcolm could feel the stress she was trying to hide. He had so much experience with business owners who expanded. Had she taken on more than she could handle? He loved and admired Mari for her go-getter attitude and entrepreneurial zeal, but he knew better than anyone how taking on too much too soon could cause stress.

“I’m really pleased for you,” Josie said. “If I get a chance while I’m here to break away from the cottages, I can always come help out in the store.”

But Mari shook her head. “Thank you, but you’re already going above and beyond by cleaning them up. If you get any spare time, it should definitely be working on the retreat master plan. That’s what you came here to do, after all.”

Malcolm watched as Josie flushed at Mari’s words. He knew what she was thinking. That she had come here to work on the reading retreat, not to sleep with him. But she had nothing to feel bad about. They’d put in a full day’s work. And they were going to get the cottages ready in time. A little downtime in the sack wouldn’t hurt anyone.

“I could work on the master plan here in the shop so you’d have help if you needed it. I think I’d do a better job anyway, surrounded by books and readers.”

Instead of surrounded by him?

“We have our schedule to go over, if you have a few minutes,” he said, hoping to pull Josie out of her guilty conscience.

“That’d be great,” Mari said. “Can I get either of you a cup of tea?”

“No, thanks, I just had coffee,” Josie said.

“Me too. I’m fine,” he said.

They went to sit down, and Josie picked the absolute farthest seat from him. Which didn’t make any sense, given that they’d made the plan together, and they should present it together. He got up and moved beside her, making her flush even more. It was one thing to keep their affair on the down-low. It was another to act as though they didn’t even like each other.

She took the schedule they’d put together out of her bag and laid it on the table. For the next several minutes, they walked Mari through the plans.

Painters and cleaners. Plus, an electrician and a plumber he’d insisted on hiring to ensure the old wiring and plumbing could handle the demands of the retreat. He was not going to put Josie or the guests at risk of a fire. “Josie and I are going to take the morning to clear out some of the junk that’s accumulated in the buildings over the years.”

“But don’t worry,” Josie added. “We’re not going to get rid of anything that’s potentially valuable.”

Mari looked at them, her eyes shiny. “I don’t know how to thank both of you enough. I honestly couldn’t have done any of this without you. Even now, I feel terribly guilty that I can’t lend a hand, but I’ve got the book launch party this evening.” She put a hand to her stomach. “I’m as nervous as if I’d written the book myself.”

“Your father would be very proud of you,” Malcolm assured her, knowing it was true.

“Is there anything we can do to help get ready for tonight?” Josie asked.

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