Page 75 of Booked for Summer

A wide grin stretched Jeremy’s face. ‘Then I know just the way to get you back into her good books.’ He chuckled. ‘Books being the key word, eh?’

What the hell was he doing in this cramped flat, talking not just about a woman, but one he wanted todate? Yet as scared as he was about the thought of his life changing course, and of the dangers he could see all too vividly ahead, Liam wasn’t prepared to turn back.

ChapterTwenty-Six

Jade could taste the salt in the breeze as she wandered through the resort towards the garden where she’d been told her pop-up book clinic had been set up. The fresh smell of the ocean still gave her a kick of pleasure every time she stepped outside, even though she’d been on Nantucket for a month now. Time was flying by so fast.

What a month it had been, though. That first week had been tough, the themed book week that had turned out to be a lot of hard work for little reward. Not to mention the whole finding out she’d slept with her boss fiasco.

Since then she’d started to get to grip with the shop, even knew how to fill in spreadsheets, thanks tothe man she wasn’t going to think about. She’d also made some good friends, used her creative writing skills for the first time since school and penned a couple of blogs, plus had the idea for and overseen a very successful book evening at the library. Mary had already pencilled it in the diary to repeat in the second half of the year. Of course, she’d be back in Twickenham then. Back to her old job, her old stomping ground. Her old life.

‘Hey, where’s that sunny smile we’re used to?’

She shook off the sad thoughts and turned to give Leroy a wide grin. ‘Better?’

‘A bit scary, if I’m honest, but beats the scowl.’ His dark brown eyes slid over her face. ‘You okay?’

This time her smile was more genuine. ‘I’m good. Ready to rock this pop-up book surgery Jeremy somehow persuaded Liam to agree to. Oh, shit.’ A thought occurred. ‘He definitely did get his agreement this time, yes? Because I know we skated over it at the library but that was before…’

‘Before you two had a fight,’ Leroy supplied, giving her a gruff chuckle. ‘Boss man definitely gave the all clear. Heard it with my own ears. Seems the Ginger Wonder has managed to tame the Big Bad Wolf. At the least he’s some sort of wolf whisperer.’

‘Um, I heard he asked Liam to be his best man.’

‘Did you also hear the boss accepted?’

She blinked. ‘Oh, wow. No.’ It felt like a seismic shift in attitude. ‘I’m glad, for Jeremy’s sake. I hope Liam proves up to the task.’

‘Looks like the substitute isn’t needed.’ He winked. ‘How about being my best man?’

‘God, what is it with you two? You must have friends you’ve known longer than me and besides, much as I’d be honoured, it would probably mean me having to do some dance or something with the other best man and that is definitely not happening.’

Leroy smirked. ‘I’ll leave it as a maybe for now.’ Before she could say anything, he took her by the shoulders and pointed her towards the garden courtyard where a white gazebo decorated with multi-coloured balloons stood in the centre. Outside it were rattan sofas, grouped around low coffee tables furnished with stacks of hardback books. Inside, more chic seating was surrounded by colourful pots of flowers and display shelves that overflowed with paperbacks. There was even a flamingo with a book between its beak.

Hung across the gazebo was a big silver sign proclaimingWelcome to the Book Surgery.

‘Wow, that’s fabulous.’ She had to blink to stop the tears escaping. ‘I don’t care what you say about your fiancé, in my eyes he’s an absolute superstar.’

Leroy let out a huff of laughter. ‘Wasn’t all his doing.’ Then he gave her a gentle push. ‘Go get ’em.’

She almost skipped to the gazebo, but then came to an abrupt halt, her heart faltering when she saw not one, not two, but it must have been a dozen green furry caterpillars, haphazardly shoved onto the shelves and tables, each with its head angled so it was looking at a book.

There was only one person on this island who knew about Sparks.

Behind her, someone cleared their throat. Immediately her pulse began to race, and butterflies burst into her belly… Yep, her body recognised the deep, rumbly noise before her head turned to confirm. ‘Turns out caterpillars are easier to find than bookworms.’

Her eyes gobbled him up even as her mind tried to draw a big steel cage around her heart. White open-collared shirt, shades that hid his eyes and gave him an air of film star mystery. Suddenly the gazebo felt cramped, like Liam was crowding her, even though he stood a respectful distance away.

Why did he have to be so tall? And so frigging drop-dead handsome?

As she struggled to find her words, silence stretched between them.

He slipped the shades off, revealing a pair of turbulent grey eyes. ‘Say something. Please.’

Breaking away from the magnetic pull of his gaze she glanced around her. ‘Did you organise this or Jeremy?’

‘That depends. Do you like it?’

Do not get dragged back into his orbit. ‘Yes.’

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