Page 36 of Booked for Summer

He had to work hard not to flinch. ‘It’s her choice to work there. I told her I was happy to pay her to do nothing at all.’

‘Maybe instead of convincing yourself you’ve done the right thing by her, you should find out why it’s so important for her to keep working there.’

With a sharp nod in his direction, Jeremy calmly strolled past him, as if he hadn’t just dropped a stink bomb and then dodged the foul-smelling fallout.

Because he’d planned on doing it, anyway– fuck you, Jeremy– Liam set off towards the bookstore.

The bell jangled as he pushed open the door, and his heart lurched as he saw two blonde heads look up. One gorgeous and distinctly female. The other… his hand clenched and he shoved it into his pocket.

‘Adam.’ He nodded coolly towards the guy whose art shop he’d bought six months ago. The pair of them went way back, and Liam fucking hated the reminder.

Adam looked annoyed, like he’d been interrupted mid chat-up. It made Liam want to take out his clenched fist and shove it in Adam’s smug face. He shouldn’t be jealous. Jade had been a hook-up, nothing more.

‘Hiboss.’

She didn’t look pleased to see him, either. He gave her an ironic smile. ‘I’d like a word, when you’ve finished with thiscustomer.’ Two could play at the emphasis game.

‘Actually, I’ve already got what I came for.’ Adam gave a laconic shrug before turning back to Jade. ‘See you tonight, sweetheart.’

Liam watched the bastard walk out, his insides feeling like he’d swallowed a bag of jumping beans. ‘Tonight?’

Jade’s blonde brows flew up at his barked question. ‘How can I help you?’

‘You can start by telling me what Adam is doing in this shop.’

She rolled her eyes. ‘Technically, I don’t think I have to.’

‘It’s my shop, I have a right to know what goes on inside it.’ He was being a prick but he couldn’t seem to stop. He told himself it wasn’t because she’d been flirting, but because she’d been flirting withAdam.

‘Oh, my God, you really are an arse, or should I sayasshole.’

‘Your American accent needs more work.’ He exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose. ‘Look, I came here to see how you were getting on. Not to pick a fight.’

He watched her shoulders drop. ‘Well, as long as we’re not fighting, I can tell you Adam was here because he’s helping me promote the book week. He and a few others. He designed the poster for me.’ Her eyes found his. ‘A lot of people want the bookstore to stay. Apparently you’re not liked very much.’

‘I don’t care what they think of me.’ His gaze rested on hers and that pull he’d felt from their first meeting? It was still there. An unwanted guest he couldn’t ignore. ‘I find I do care what you think.’

She looked momentarily surprised. ‘I liked the man who talked to me about the Milky Way on his boat. Who took me to Galley Beach and made love to me as if I was special. But the man who slept with me, and apparently other employees, without giving a fig how much he was about to upset me? Yeah, him, I wished I hadn’t met.’

‘I’ve never slept with an employee.’

‘You slept with me.’ She looked away, and instantly he missed her eyes on him. ‘And anyway, that’s not what I’ve heard.’

‘I didn’t sleep with Ashley. I can’t say what happened, it’s her business, but we had a working relationship, nothing more.’ Those blue eyes found his again, and he experienced a sudden and acute desire to regain her trust. ‘I don’t know what other rumours are going around but I did once, in a moment of weakness brought on by tiredness and alcohol, have a one-night stand with a fitness instructor temporarily employed at the resort.’

‘That sounds familiar.’

He met her accusatory stare head-on. ‘It wasn’t. I bitterly regretted it the next day. I don’t regret you.’

She blinked slowly. ‘Why did you regret her?’

‘She found out who I was and came looking for me, suddenly deciding she wanted more.’ He gave her a level look. ‘You found out who I was and don’t want anything to do with me.’

The door chime sounded and a group of tourists wandered in. It was hard to rein in his disappointment, but became easier when he saw how relieved Jade was. She didn’t want to discuss what had happened between them. She wanted him gone.

He nodded towards her. ‘I’ll see you around.’

She gave him a stony look in return. ‘Not if I see you first.’

---