Page 69 of Booked for Summer

‘We got you a drink.’ Jeremy waved at the empty seat and it was only then she saw a teapot in front of it, together with a cup and saucer.

‘Where on earth?’

He laughed gleefully. ‘They don’t call me the best guest-services manager on the planet for nothing. Anything a guest wants, I can provide.’

Touched, she sunk into the chair. ‘That’s the second cup of tea I’ve been bought this week, though definitely the best presented.’ Too late, she realised her error.

‘Who bought the first?’ Emma asked, but it was Mary that Jade made the mistake of looking at. And Mary who chuckled.

‘I’ve a feeling it was the enemy. At least I assume that was a takeout cup bulging out of Haven’s pocket when I bumped into him in the shop, and he wasn’t just pleased to see you.’

The table erupted at Mary’s awful joke and Jade groaned, putting her hands over her face to hide her blush. ‘Cancel what I was thinking. You guys aren’t friends. You’re wicked.’

Mary reached to pat her arm. ‘We are totally your friends. That’s why I knew I could make that joke. I wouldn’t dare have made it with someone I didn’t feel comfortable with.’ Her face creased in concern. ‘But I didn’t mean to upset you.’

Jade shook herself. ‘Sorry, I just…’Think I’m halfway in love with the man you just called the enemy. ‘I’m feeling a bit homesick today.’ She pasted on a bright smile and picked up the teapot. ‘But nothing a cup of tea won’t fix.’

Her gaze slid to Jeremy, who gave her such a sweet, understanding smile she felt tears prick her eyelids.

She took a moment to pour the tea, to take a sip and push all thoughts of Liam Haven out of her head. ‘So, after first congratulating you all on an awesome event in the library last week, which I hope we can repeat, I’m going to drink lots of tea, while you guys throw some ideas at me for our next campaign.’

Jeremy narrowed his eyes. ‘Let’s have your ideas first, because I know you’ve got some.’

‘I may have.’ And why was she being so coy about this? The bookstore was her responsibility, the team her idea. She was the leader, so it was about time she stopped cowering in the second row and pushed herself to the front. ‘I was thinking we could do like a pop-up book clinic where we give book recommendations for people in a reading slump.’ She gazed around the table. ‘We’re all here because we have an interest in books, and I reckon we also know people who read, so we should have all the genres covered. I’ll man the clinic, but if it comes to questions on genres I don’t think I’ve got enough knowledge on, I could have a list of people to contact.’

Emma smiled. ‘Phone a friend.’

‘Exactly.’

Jeremy nodded. ‘Sounds good. Why don’t you try it out at the resort? We’ve got hundreds of tourists who spend their days with a nose in a book.’

She flashed him a warning look. ‘I’m not sure Liam would go for that.’ In fact she knew he wouldn’t. Tough enough to sell when they were talking to each other–by the way, can I use your resort to try out my next idea to boost interest in the shop you want to get rid of.After the way they’d parted… any day now she was waiting for the letter to terminate her contract.

Following a bit more discussion it was agreed Jeremy would sound out Liam– yeah, good luck there– and Emma would ask her mum, who happened to be the town manager, about gaining agreement for a pop-up clinic in the town centre.

As everyone said their goodbyes, Jeremy caught her eye. ‘Don’t rush off.’

She grimaced. ‘Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m not sure I’m up to your form of gentle, torture with kindness, interrogation.’

‘How about if I use the Liam Haven version and just ask what the fuck happened between you two on Tuesday?’

She waited a beat, felt annoyance rather than upset, and smiled. ‘That worked. He came into the shop, saw me talking to Mary about trying to get some books together for his grandma, and flipped.’

Jeremy frowned. ‘Had he asked you to help his grandma?’

‘God, no, as if the great Liam Haven would stoop so low.’ It earned her a smile from Jeremy. ‘But he had told me she was finding reading more difficult, so I thought large print books or audiobooks might be worth a shot. I knew the library had a better collection than the shop, so I asked Mary to help. Which was apparently the wrong thing to do because they’re private people and do not want others to talk about them, or, God forbid, receive help from anyone.’

‘The man is more prickly than a cactus cross-bred with a holy bush.’ He sighed. ‘And I asked him to be my best man. I must be a few fries short of a happy meal.’

She gaped at him. ‘I thought you couldn’t stand each other?’

Jeremy chuckled. ‘Maybe you’re right, at least on his side, but from my side.’ He shrugged. ‘Can’t help but see a man wearing an aloof suit that’s not an easy fit. I think he wants to shrug it off, make attachments, but habit and history keep him from doing it.’

‘And pig-headedness,’ Jade added sourly.

‘A good dollop of that, too.’ He smiled. ‘But I’ve got used to his grumpy ways over the last five years and hey, no man who loves his grandma as much as Liam does, can be all bad.’

‘True.’ She let out a frustrated sigh. ‘I’ve seen him without that suit, and he’s kind of adorable. But then he acts like a total arsehole and I wonder which is the real Liam Haven.’

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