Page 49 of Booked for Summer

‘You think I’m an arrogant rich prick?’

‘I think you’re rich. And may have tunnel vision.’

The parallels between what she was saying, and what he’d said about “his” beach were too close to be comfortable. But it wasn’t the only part that stung. Jade had been on the island for less than two weeks, yet she’d been taken into these people’s confidence.Accepted. Something he’d never achieved.

But at least he could make them take notice.

‘You say there are no sides, yet you’ve clearly picked yours.’ He stalked past her to the stairs, almost falling down them in his desire to get away from those baby blue eyes, the soft lips that could deliver such a cutting appraisal.

This was why he didn’t let people get close. Because it fucking hurt when they rejected him.

‘Liam, wait.’ He heard her footsteps chasing down the stairs after him. ‘What about the shop?’

‘I want it closed by this time next week.’

She blinked, looking first confused, then shaken. Finally, she nodded and went to unlock the door. ‘Whatever you say. Boss.’

Avoiding Mary and Emma who were waiting outside, he marched off towards the resort. It was Sunday, but the only way he knew to quieten his mind was with work.

He’d built his business from nothing, but all that everyone around here saw was a man who’d wrecked their island. Didn’t matter that his wasn’t the only resort on Nantucket, or that many of the locals relied on the income from the very tourists who stayed in his resort. He didn’t have the right name, the right connections. The right sort of money.

By the time he yanked open the door to his office, he’d worked up a full head of steam. The last person he wanted to see was the man who waltzed in behind him wearing a disgustingly cheerful sunshine-yellow shirt. ‘I’m busy,’ Liam barked.

‘Oh dear.’ Jeremy floated to a stop. ‘Did the spreadsheet lesson not go well?’

‘What part of I’m busy did you not hear?’

Ignoring him, Jeremy slid breezily onto the chair. ‘You are aware that a problem shared is a problem halved.’

‘I don’t have any problems.’

Jade was no longer an issue. He would avoid her for the next week, after which the shop would be closed down and she’d no doubt scurry off home, leaving him to get back to being himself again. Not a guy who looked up at fucking stars with a woman he barely knew and talked about things he’d spent a lifetime locking up tight.

‘I get it,’ Jeremy replied, interrupting his sulk. ‘Life is all hunky dory in your world. Except if it was, you wouldn’t be sitting there with a face like thunder. Of course your usual expression is hardly sweetness and light, but this one.’ He flapped a hand towards Liam. ‘This would frighten small children.’

‘It’s intended to,’ Liam muttered, irritated. ‘Also to frighten employees into leaving me alone. Why isn’t it possible to upset you?’

Jeremy smiled. ‘When you grow up hearing every insult under the sun being directed at you, it soon just becomes noise that no longer holds any power.’

Liam paused, taking a moment to study the man opposite him. ‘Maybe we do have something in common.’

‘You mean aside from our fabulous good looks?’

He huffed out a laugh, surprising himself. ‘Aside from that, yes.’

‘Well, you’re dark, not ginger, and much to the disappointment of a couple of staff who will remain nameless, you’re not gay, so what insults were you forced to endure?’

Was he really going to do this? ‘It doesn’t matter.’

‘Clearly it does, or you wouldn’t be sitting there like a grouchy bear.’

Jesus. ‘I was poor in a school of rich kids.’

‘So they weren’t won over by your sunny personality alone? I am surprised. Which school of monstrous children did you go to?’

‘Phillips Academy. It’s a?—’

‘Boarding school.’ Jeremy whistled. ‘A very prestigious boarding school attended by most of the Massachusetts elite.’ He eyed Liam. ‘If you were poor, how did you get there?’

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