Page 37 of Booked for Summer

He walked out before she could see how much her dislike bothered him.

ChapterFourteen

Murder Mystery Monday. Last night, and the night before, when Jade had been working to prepare a trail of mystery and intrigue around the wharf and along the waterfront, helped by Jeremy, Mary and a flirtatious Adam, she’d been convinced it was a great idea.

So far today, she’d had two more sales than the same time yesterday. Not exactly what she’d had in mind when she’d bragged she was going to use the next two weeks to show Liam what an asset the store was to his resort. He’d probably made as much money in the last second as she had all afternoon.

‘Hey, don’t look so glum, these things take time to gain momentum.’ Adam, who’d breezed into the shop a few minutes ago to “check on progress”, patted her hand. And took the opportunity to look down her top. Or had that been accidental?

Pulling her hand away, Jade took a step back. ‘Thanks, and on one level I know it was never going to have immediate results, but on another level, I really wanted to be unable to move in here for the mass of people.’

The door opened and two customers strolled in. Relieved to have something to do besides worrying if Adam was going to ask her out, Jade breezed past him and gave the elderly couple a bright smile. ‘Have you come to take part in the murder mystery?’

‘Oh, no, who can be bothered with that?’ The woman glanced around her. ‘I’m looking for Richard Osman’s latest. Do you stock it?’

Well, that told her. Keeping the smile on her face, Jade found her the book and consoled herself with the fact that at least it was another sale.

The couple made a swift exit, ignoring the displays she’d agonised over. Her heart fell when a tall, dark-haired figure strode in after them. Hard enough to deal with Liam when she was feeling her best. Right now, her confidence was so squished she wasn’t sure it could ever unsquish.

It really wasn’t fair that he looked so bloody yummy. Or that her stomach started performing happy somersaults the moment her eyes registered his presence. Or that she spent way too much time remembering how earnest he’d looked when he’d told her he cared what she thought.

Like she could trust any words that came out of the mouth of a guy who’d had sex with her knowing he was about to screw her over.

His gaze swept the shop, expression tightening when he saw Adam, before he carefully rearranged it into a neutral mask.

‘Have you come to gloat?’

He halted, dark brows coming together. ‘Sorry?’

Crap, why had she said that. ‘Nothing.’

‘I suspect he’s here to checkOcean Havenis the only boat moored to the wharf.’ Adam turned, slotting his pockets into his chino shorts. ‘We didn’t have time to talk about this when we last met,’ he continued, glancing in her direction before staring back at Liam, ‘but not content with getting rid of Little Bay Book Shack, the new owner of the wharf has declared the moorings private property, stopping the rest of us from using it.’

‘Oh.’ She wasn’t sure she could get worked up over something that sounded like a rich guy problem.

Liam’s mouth twisted as he stared back at Adam. ‘How does it feel to have something you thought was your right to use, taken away from you?’

Adam’s expression lost some of its cockiness. ‘For Christ’s sake, Haven, that was nearly twenty years ago.’

‘Seventeen, to be exact.’ Liam turned to her and indicated towards the blue sofa. ‘I’ll wait here while you finish your meeting with Adam.’

‘Oh, we’re not having a meeting,’ Adam countered, regaining some of his swagger. ‘We were planning tomorrow.’ He gave Jade a flirty smile. ‘I’ll see you later.’

The door closed behind Adam, and Liam slowly rose to his feet again, a muscle flexing in his jaw.

‘I know what you’re thinking.’

He raised a brow. ‘Try me.’

‘You’re thinking I’m a flirt. Probably on account of my blonde hair and the way I dress.’

His mouth formed a tight-lipped smile. ‘Wrong.’

‘Then you’re thinking that because I slept with you without knowing you, I must be continually jumping into bed with guys.’

‘Whom you sleep with is none of my business.’

‘Good, I’m glad we cleared that up.’ It was hard to fight when the person you were fighting refused to hit back. ‘Look, I don’t know the history between you and Adam, but obviously there is one. He’s using me to try and wind you up.’

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