Page 89 of Booked for Summer

‘Yep, and six weeks have gone already.’ Her heart lurched. How was time racing away so quickly?

‘Ever thought of staying longer?’ Jeremy’s question earned another groan from Leroy but Jeremy just grinned. ‘Hey, you don’t ask, you don’t get to find out. And Jade’s perfectly capable of telling me to mind my own business.’

‘I am, but you’ve got the kind of adorable puppy expression that it’s impossible to say no to, so to answer the question, yes, I have. Liam told me I could stay on and run the bookstore after the contract finishes, if I want.’

‘He did?’ Jeremy’s face lit up. ‘Well I’ll be damned, sounds like the man is finally softening up a bit. So does that mean he’s decided to keep the bookstore on?’ He gave her a sly smile. ‘Or does it mean he wants to keepyouon?’

The squirmy feeling she’d had in her stomach ever since Liam had mentioned it, returned with a vengeance. ‘I don’t know.’ She’d tried to talk to him again about what he meant, but he’d just repeated what he’d said that morning to Lauren, that if she wanted to stay and run the place, she could.

A warm hand settled on her shoulder. ‘What don’t you know?’

A few beats of silence met his question, and Jade’s stomach fell. She didn’t want to lie, but she did not want to discuss this now.

‘She was telling me you said she could stay on at the bookstore after the contract is up,’ Jeremy answered for her, correctly interpreting her bunny-in-the-headlights expression. ‘I asked her if she wanted to.’

A muscle jumped in Liam’s jaw. ‘I thought we were here to discuss your wedding.’

‘We are, but you disappeared and we knew you’d be upset if we made any plans without you.’ Jeremy smiled sweetly and Jade smothered a laugh. But just when she thought they’d successfully navigated the subject that had never been far from her mind, Jeremy spoke again. ‘Out of interest, have you made a decision to keep the bookstore, then?’ Liam stared back at him, face impassive, and Jeremy winced. ‘Ah, I can see it’s not a subject up for discussion. It’s just, as a founding member of the SOB group and also your deputy, I have a vested interest.’

‘No decision has been made.’ Liam exhaled heavily. ‘I never thought I’d say this, but can we please now discuss your goddamn wedding?’

‘No more talk about the bookstore, got it.’ Jeremy reached into the bag by his feet and plonked a folder onto the table. ‘Now, what do we think about a flamingo theme?’

Jade stifled her laughter.

‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’ Liam stared across at Leroy. ‘Tell me you’re more sensible.’

Leroy smiled and looked adoringly at his fiancé. ‘Whatever Jeremy wants is fine by me.’

Jade felt a squeeze on her heart as Jeremy reached across the table and planted a smacker of a kiss on his husband-to-be’s mouth. ‘And that’s one of the reasons why I love you. I’d go into all of the other reasons, but Liam might get even tetchier than he is now, so let’s save it for later.’ He glanced across at Jade. ‘So, flamingo?’

‘Of course. A perfect theme for a beach wedding.’

‘Whales.’ Liam levelled them both a look. ‘Nantucket is all about whales.’

‘But flamingos are pink.’ She grinned back at Jeremy. ‘Three votes for flamingos, motion carried. What’s next?’

Beside her, Liam sighed. ‘Fuck, this is going to be a long evening.’

‘But you’re here with your besties, and your…’ She faltered, regretting opening her big mouth. They’d not given each other labels. ‘With me.’

‘My girlfriend.’ His expression softened and he reached for her hand, raising it to his lips. The gentle kiss on her knuckles sent all the butterflies in her stomach into a spin.

Sex was easy between them– incredible, without doubt the best she’d ever had, but it didn’t require anything more than acting on a primal, basic attraction. Affection, though, that was earned and very new. A simple look, a brush of fingers across her skin, the press of his palm on her back, holding her hand… the public gestures were every bit as heady as the passion that took place behind closed doors.

‘Notice he didn’t deny we’re his besties.’

Jeremy’s delighted voice cut through the moment, yet as Liam turned to reply, his hand curled around hers, resting them both on his thigh.

She tried not to read too much into his gestures, to live in the moment and not think into the future. As the days ticked down, though, as the time she had left on the island became less than the time she’d already spent, it became harder and harder not to panic.

Harder and harder not to think about postponing her flight home. Or even cancelling it altogether.

* * *

Liam sipped at his beer– he’d handed over to the night manager an hour ago– and gazed around the crowded bar as Jade continued to argue with Jeremy and Leroy about the way to make a cup of tea.

As if when the milk was added made the insipid drink any more appealing.

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