Page 17 of Booked for Summer

‘Me, too.’

He pushed off his sunglasses and took a step towards her so he was just on the edge of her personal space, eyes raking her face before dipping down to her mouth. ‘Are you free tonight?’

Her body responded to the smouldering grey gaze with a wave of heated arousal. ‘Well, I don’t charge, if that’s what you mean.’ He raised an eyebrow and she cringed, embarrassment flooding her. ‘Crap, that was an awful joke. I was trying to play it cool, like pretend I’m not totally overwhelmed by bumping into the seriously hot guy I almost had sex with only a few hours after meeting him.’

His gaze was level, calm, but totally inscrutable. He could be thinkingsteer clear of the crazy woman, orshe’s nuts but I still fancy shagging her…no, fucking her. That’s what he’d said he wanted. And oh God, why did her lower belly perform giddy somersaults at the thought?

‘So, tonight?’

She swallowed to ease the dryness in her throat. ‘Honestly, I’m not sure it’s a good idea.’

‘You’re here with someone?’

‘Oh, no, nothing like that. I’m single. Very, very single.’

He angled his head. ‘Then can I ask what’s stopping you?’

She wished they were back on the top deck of his boat where real life had seemed a million miles away. ‘I have a habit of sleeping with men who are bad for me. Not that we’d be sleeping together, but… well, you know what I mean.’

He glanced away, as if trying to work something out. ‘I used to have a similar habit, where women were concerned,’ he said eventually, gaze returning to hers. ‘It’s why I don’t date.’

You think tall people can’t feel small?Despite his outward confidence, he understood about being hurt. He was also sending her a very clear message. ‘So if tonight isn’t a date, what are you suggesting?’

He raised his free hand to cup her face, his thumb rubbing gently across her bottom lip. ‘A drink, Jade.’ His voice was a low rumble, his breath warm against her skin. ‘A drink and we’ll take it from there.’

Her belly tumbled, his pull impossible to ignore. ‘Okay, a drink. On your boat?’

He seemed to study her for a moment, eyes flicking across her face before he dropped his hand and slid it into his pocket. ‘Are you staying at the resort?’

‘Um, nearby, yes.’

‘Okay, meet me at the wharf. We’ll go from there.’

‘Go where?’

His lips curved. ‘The best place to have a cocktail in Nantucket.’ His eyes focused once more on her mouth before he took a step back. ‘See you later.’

As she watched his retreating broad back, the assured way he strolled down the cobbled street, she felt a hard flip in her belly. She would give herself tonight, and then she would focus on work, on the bookstore. On the reasons she came to Nantucket.

* * *

Liam gave himself a severe talking to as he strode back along the harbourfront to the resort. He didn’t date, he’d just told Jade that, yet instead of agreeing to meet her on the boat, something she’d even suggested, he’d lost his fucking mind and offered to take her for a cocktail.

Not only that, he’d just turned a mutually agreed one-night stand, into a two-night stand.

Christ, though, the sight of her, all blonde and curvy in a sundress that skimmed her thighs, pink bikini straps peeking from the low-cut top, had been enough to stop him in his tracks. He’d literally been unable to nod in her direction and keep on walking. Not when he’d thought of how gorgeous she’d look, sitting on Galley beach with a cocktail in her hand, a delighted expression on her face, because he could tell how excited she was to be in Nantucket. Yeah, a drink on his boat had seemed too cheap, too easy when she’d deserved more.

Temporary insanity, that’s what it was, brought on by intense sexual frustration after the best night of non-sex, ever. Sure, he’d come, and come hard, but not where he’d wanted to. Not between those sexy legs.

‘A woman is waiting in your office.’ May, who ran the front desk and also organised him with a ruthless efficiency he appreciated, interrupted his X-rated thoughts. ‘She said you’d be happy to see her.’

His first thought was his grandma– she was the only woman, the only person, he was ever happy to see– but she currently lived on Martha’s Vineyard and hadn’t left it by herself in over a year. ‘Thanks.’

Warily he walked towards the office, then let out a grim smile when he saw the woman sitting with her back to him. ‘Brought me the signed contract?’

Flo turned and stood, holding out a large brown envelope. ‘It’s here, but before I hand it over I want your assurance you will do right by the girl who’s just started her three-month stint in the bookstore.’

‘She’ll be compensated and given accommodation on the resort.’

---