Page 35 of Booked for Summer

His eyes skimmed her face and he gave her a kind smile. ‘Well, if I hadn’t already guessed from the undercurrent between the pair of you that night at the beach bar, those red cheeks have just given it away.’

Crap. She could lie, tell him he had a vivid imagination, but he wouldn’t believe her and besides, there was something about Jeremy that made her want to be honest with him. If she was going to stick out these three months, she badly needed a friend on the island. ‘We hooked up the first night I was here. Before I knew who he was,’ she added hastily.

Jeremy stilled for a moment, then he started to laugh. Real, bend at the waist, belly laughter. ‘Sorry, this probably isn’t the right response to that piece of information,’ he wheezed, clearly trying to rein in his amusement. ‘But holy shit, that’s, er, interesting. And no doubt highly embarrassing, for both of you.’ His expression sobered. ‘Did he know whoyouwere?’

‘Not the first time.’

Jeremy made a choked sound. ‘There was more than one occasion?’

‘Twice.’ More if she counted the orgasms, she added silently. Not that she’d kept a tally. Or was going to think about it ever again. ‘Um, two nights. But that was before I realised he wasn’t nearly as nice as he came across.’

‘Nice isn’t a description I’d ever associate with him.’ He gave her a wry smile. ‘He’s also not as bad as he’s painted, though he makes it hard to see that because he’s not one for joking around. He keeps us all at a distance.’

He let you in.On the boat, staring at the stars, again on the beach, in the glow of the sunset; both times he’d allowed her to see another, more vulnerable side. But then he’d gone on to sleep with her knowing he was about to crush her. Maybe it had all been an act. ‘Now I just want to focus on the reason I came, which is to manage this shop. I know he’s going to stop me at some point, but I’m not going to roll over for him.’

Jeremy cleared his throat. ‘No.’

She saw the twitch of his lips and let out a huff of laughter. ‘Bad choice of words.’ Bending her head, she thumped it onto the table. ‘Bollocks, bollocks, bollocks. Why did I succumb to those ridiculous good looks. I feel so stupid.’

She felt Jeremy’s hand slide across her shoulders and squeeze. ‘Don’t. The boss can be an asshole, as we’ve already concluded, but he’s also an undeniably sexy asshole. Now, let’s have one of those cups of tea you Brits are so certain solves everything, and work out a plan of action.’

* * *

Liam frowned at the poster on the wall behind the activities desk. It had only been a few days since he’d sat and listened to Jade’s earnest plan for how she was going to turn the book shack into a million-dollar empire in a week. From the description on the poster, the transformation would start on Monday.

Why couldn’t she see reason and enjoy a paid three-month vacation on Nantucket like any normal person who found themselves in her situation? He wasn’t so much of a bastard that he wanted to see her fail, yet that was the only possible outcome. No matter how much effort she put in, keeping the bookstore would never be a viable option for him.

He looked up at the sound of whistling and saw Jeremy ambling towards him. ‘Is this your doing?’

‘I agreed she could promote the book week within the resort, yes.’ Jeremy ignored the dark look Liam gave him and smiled at the poster. ‘Looks good, doesn’t it? The guy who runs the art society designed it.’

‘Adam.’

‘That’s the one. Jade managed to persuade him to do it for free.’

He didn’t like the tight feeling in his chest. ‘I’m sure she can be very persuasive.’

‘Oh, I have no doubt you know exactly how persuasive she can be.’ Clearly immune to the death glare Liam gave him, Jeremy carried on talking. ‘You’re aware the sexual chemistry between the pair of you is so hot Leroy and I nearly got burned the other night?’

‘She’s an employee,’ he gritted out.

‘Barely. And according to rumour, that hasn’t stopped you before.’

Anger coiled, like a rattlesnake waiting for a reason to pounce. ‘Youthink I was fucking Ashley?’

Jeremy met his stare face on, then let out a slow breath. ‘Actually, no. But I think you have been fucking Jade. And if you hurt her I’m going to be seriously pissed with you because she’s a lovely woman who doesn’t deserve to have her dream crushed by this crazy obsession of yours.’

The anger began to uncoil, humming through his blood. ‘You mean my obsession with making money, which keeps you and your fiancé employed?’

‘It’s more than the money,’ Jeremy countered.

‘Oh?’ Jeremy didn’t know. Hecouldn’tknow. Liam kept his expression impassive and tried to ignore the knots forming in his gut.

‘Fine, I’m guessing it’s more than money. No sane person checks out the competition as often as you do.’ Liam opened his mouth to argue but Jeremy rolled on. ‘I’m not talking about looking at the Chase Resort restaurants, their rooms, their on-site activities, which is what you pay me to do, by the way. I’ve seen your computer screen, boss. You’re checking their financials, their net worth.’

‘What I do is my business,’ he gritted out. ‘I suggest you butt out and stick to yours.’

Most people would take offence, at the very least take the hint, but Jeremy just smiled. ‘Sure, but while you’re going about yourbusiness, spare a thought for the woman who’s about to bust a gut working at that shop because she thinks she has a chance of convincing you to keep it.’

---