Page 31 of The Romance Library

‘Nonsense!’ Edwin waved his hand in the air dismissively. ‘There’s no such thing as competition in this town. We’re a community. We all work together to create a positive and happy environment. If you two are snarling or avoiding each other, it will make a hostile environment, and that won’t be pleasant for Glenda, her guests or the residents of Sunshine Bay. No, no.’ He shook his head. ‘I must insist that you join Jessica for lunch.’

The blood drained from Theo’s face. He wasn’t happy with the idea, and the feeling was mutual.

When I’d told him Glenda was making a sandwich, I hadn’t meant I wanted him to sit and eat with us. I thought he’d just take it and leave.

It was bad enough that we had to stay in the same building. I didn’t need to stare at him across a table again too.

And by the sound of that little positive happy environment speech Edwin had just given, he wanted me and Theo to become… friends.

Ugh.

No way.

Hell would freeze over before I spent time with Theo voluntarily.

Once this lunch was over, I’d go straight back to my room and stay as far away from Theo as possible.

10

Theo

For fuck’s sake.

This Edwin guy was really starting to get on my nerves. His incessant happiness was annoying. It was unnatural for someone to be so upbeat all the time.

His constant speeches about community were so repetitive I wondered if he woke up in the morning and practised them.

And now he was insisting that I get pally with the enemy? What planet was this man from and who did I have to call to get him sent back?

Jessica was my competitor, pure and simple. That was precisely why we had to keep our distance. I couldn’t risk bumping into her in the hallway. Especially not after what happened earlier.

When I saw her walking up the stairs, swinging those hips, it was like my feet lost the ability to move. They may as well have been buried under concrete. I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

Then when she accidentally crashed into my chest, my brain short-circuited. My heart raced in a way I hadn’t felt since… I couldn’t even remember. And that wasn’t the only reaction.

The sensation of her breasts pressed against me sent a jolt of desire straight to my dick. I was glad she moved away quickly and raced to her room. Otherwise, it would’ve been embarrassing.

I had to get a grip.

But the fact remained that I was here to get in Edwin’s good books. It didn’t matter that I found him annoying—the man had insisted that I eat with Jessica, so, regrettably, that was exactly what I had to do.

I didn’t buy all this butter wouldn’t melt image that Edwin presented. I was certain that he liked having this power over us. I hated that Edwin said jump and we had no choice but to ask how high or we’d forfeit our chance to pitch. It was blackmail dressed in pretty small-town sugar-coated packaging.

‘So?’ Edwin smiled. ‘Will you be joining us?’ I loved how he made it sound like I had a choice.

‘Of course.’ I plastered on a saccharine-sweet grin to mirror his. ‘You’re absolutely right. Community spirit is important. Forgive me. I’m so used to London life. It will take some time for me to adjust to how you do things here, so please be patient with me.’

I gave myself an internal high five. That sounded so good I actually believed it.

‘I understand.’ Edwin patted me gently on the back. ‘Don’t worry. We’ll do everything we can to make you feel at home here. We want you to be one of us.’

Not a chance, but I was happy that Edwin had bought my bullshit response.

‘Thank you. I’ll just put my things in my room and I’ll be right down to join you.’ I smiled again. Two smiles in two minutes and my cheeks were already aching. I had no idea how Edwin kept this cheery thing up all day.

Minutes later, I was sat outside at a table, next to Jessica. This table was clearly designed for two, but here we were, all four of us, crammed around it.

Jessica was so close that her sweet perfume flooded my nostrils. It smelt like pineapples and coconut and mixed with the fresh sea air; it was intoxicating. Every time she moved, her scent wafted around me and my concentration faltered.

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