Page 101 of The Romance Library

‘Sounds good.’

That’d give us enough time to go for a walk first after work.

‘Hope to see you both later.’

‘Enjoy your day.’ I smiled and waved.

Who the hell was I? All this smiling and waving made me feel like I’d had a personality transplant.

When I arrived back at the B&B I knocked on Jess’s door.

‘Hey!’ She smiled and my chest swelled. Jess was dressed in a bright yellow tracksuit and as always she looked amazing.

All the women I’d dated spent hours primping and preening themselves in the salon and wouldn’t be seen dead without their make-up and hair perfectly styled. Which was absolutely fine. If that’s what they liked and it made them happy, that was great.

But there was something so refreshing about the way Jess didn’t worry about those things. She was unapologetically herself, and you either accepted that or you didn’t.

I thought she looked incredible just the way she was and I wouldn’t change her for all the tea in China.

‘I brought you breakfast.’ Maddie had kindly split the order into two bags, so I handed one to Jess. ‘Thought you might like to try a crumpet. There’s butter and jam and a wooden knife, and in the other bag there’s some treats for this afternoon, in case you get a slump after lunch.’

‘Wow!’ Jess grinned as she peered into the bag. ‘So let me get this straight, you bring me books, give me multiple orgasms’—she lowered her voice—‘then deliver breakfast and cakes?’

‘Yes.’ I shrugged, thinking it wasn’t a big deal.

‘You’re lucky that we’re supposed to be rivals—otherwise I’d marry you!’ She laughed and I smiled. ‘Don’t worry! I’m only joking!’

That was the strange thing. If any other woman had joked about that, I would’ve recoiled in horror. But for some reason, the idea didn’t disgust me.

Obviously we were still getting to know each other and hadn’t even defined what this was. As far as I knew we weren’t even dating properly, so anything serious like that was a million miles away from where we were, but even so, the reaction I had to her comment took me by surprise.

‘I know. By the way, I bumped into Candace and she asked if we wanted to have dinner there around seven thirty. What do you think?’

‘Sounds good to me!’

‘Excellent. Anyway, I’d better get to work. Let me know when you finish and maybe we can go for a walk on the beach before dinner?’

‘Love to! Have a productive day.’

‘Likewise.’

As I walked to my door and stepped inside my room, I was overcome with an emotion I hadn’t felt for a long time: pure joy.

Sunshine Bay and Jess had put a big smile on my face. Even with the pressure of the presentation and my father’s high expectations, I was happier than I’d been in years.

And that feeling was priceless.

33

Jess

It’d been a stressful day. The architect I’d been liaising with for the library renovations was messing me around. He’d changed his original quote, which would take everything way over budget.

I wanted to scream. I really didn’t need this shit so close to the pitch.

The only good thing about this afternoon was devouring the sweet treats Theo had bought this morning which were delicious. I tried saving the angel cake for after dinner, but I was stressed and told myself I deserved to eat it sooner. I was so glad Theo had got it for me.

When he’d turned up with breakfast, I could’ve hugged him. By the time I’d left his room and showered, I knew it was too late to go downstairs for breakfast. And with all the work I knew I had to do today, I didn’t have time to go out to get something, so those delicious crumpets were a lifesaver.

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