Page 84 of Booked for Summer

‘We’re having dinner at my grandma’s.’

Oh, my God. Her heart thumped against her ribs and she stared back at him. ‘You’re taking me to meet her?’

His jaw clenched and he looked away from her. ‘This was a stupid idea.’

‘Well, it was only stupid if you don’t want me to meet her.’

Slowly his silver-grey eyes found hers. ‘Of course I want you to. That’s why I set this up.’ His Adam’s apple slid down his throat as he swallowed. ‘The question is, do you mind spending the evening eating questionable fish pie with a seventy-five-year-old or would you rather go to dinner at a restaurant and dine on something infinitely more edible?’

She was aware of the giant step he was taking. Just as she was aware of the vulnerability behind his throwaway words. He wanted her to meet the most important person in his life. The person a few weeks ago she’d thought he was actively avoiding her meeting. ‘What’s questionable about the fish pie?’

‘Likely to have one or two main ingredients missing. Or replaced with cat food.’

‘It sounds delicious.’ She reached up to put a hand on either side of his guarded, ridiculously handsome face. ‘I’d be honoured to meet your grandma.’

His gaze jumped to hers, eyes narrowed. Whatever he saw must have reassured him because his expression lost some of its tension. ‘Yeah?’

‘Absolutely.’ She grinned. ‘Does this mean I also get to hear lots of tales of Liam Haven as a boy because I seriously can’t wait for that. I might need to take notes, so I can tell Jeremy, so he can tell Leroy, so he can spread it to the rest of the staff.’

His eyelids fluttered closed as he heaved in a breath. Mumbling something about bad ideas, he went to untie the ropes from their moorings. She watched on, appreciating the perfection of his bum, outlined by the smart dark jeans and the play of muscles on his forearms, revealed by the rolled back sleeves of his white linen shirt.

The hard pull on her heart could not be ignored, yet neither could the fear that, unlike Rob, unlike Paul, this complicated, brooding man, whose own damaged heart held a fierce love for his grandma, had the power not just to break hers, but leave it shattered and unable to be repaired.

* * *

His grandma loved Jade. Of course she did. It had never been in doubt, because everyone loved her, yet seeing the pair of them laughing together as they discussed their favourite books had a profound effect on Liam. She’d put on an act with April, and with Sabrina, the only other women he’d brought home. It had been subtle, but he’d seen it in the polite smile, the way she’d put on her best dress.

Put fresh flowers in the vase.

She was herself with Jade. The flowers were there, the best dress was on, but the smile wasn’t polite. It had been wide, warm and welcoming from the start. And now there was added laughter. He could put it down to their shared love of books, but somehow he knew Jade would have found a way to connect with his grandma whatever her interest.

He cleared his throat, and they both looked over at him. ‘Just checking you both know I’m here.’

His grandma smiled. ‘Of course we do. Have you checked on the fish pie? And we could both use a top off.’

‘Isn’t the whole point of going to someone’s for dinner, that they serve you?’ he grumbled, rising out of his chair.

‘You’re not here for the food. You’re here so I can get to know this charming young lady you keep talking about.’ She pinned him with a glare. ‘And how can I do that, if I’m fussing about in the kitchen?’

Suitably chastised– how had he suddenly turned ten again?– he slunk into the kitchen. It didn’t help that Jade looked like she was trying not to erupt into laughter. As he rummaged in the fridge for the open bottle of wine, he felt an arm slide around his waist. ‘She thinks I’m charming.’

He gave Jade a sidelong glance and scowled. ‘Doesn’t mean she’s right.’

‘Aw, come on grumpy pants.’ She plucked the bottle out of his hands. ‘I’m a natural with people, you said so yourself. But don’t worry, you’re going to teach me business, and I’m going to teach you how to be more human.’

With a wink, she turned and walked back out, hips swaying mesmerisingly. Groaning, he adjusted his hard-on. He should have taken Jade out for a quick bite to eat at the resort, then invited her back to the yacht for dessert. Then spent the rest of the evening fucking her senseless.

Except she wasn’t sure about him, so sex was off the table. And he’d already hurt her by making her think sex was all he was interested in, so he had to suck this up. If all he got out of the next two months was her friendship, and the knowledge he’d helped her see herself for the amazing woman she was, then he would have achieved something remarkable.

And if the way she’d just teased him was anything to go by, she was getting there.

‘So how come you live in Martha’s Vineyard?’ he heard Jade ask as he slipped back into the room having ascertained the fish pie was coming to no harm. At least no more than it had probably come to already in the preparation. ‘Didn’t you both used to live in Nantucket?’

‘We did,’ his grandma confirmed. ‘But Liam decided it was time for a change of scenery.’

‘Oh?’

‘It’s a different vibe here. Nantucket can be… snobby, stuffy. It’s more laid back on Martha’s Vineyard.’ His grandma looked at him, as if for agreement. He gave her a small nod of his head. ‘When Liam bought up the land to build his first resort on Nantucket, some were against him. They didn’t like so-called “new money” demolishing their history and replacing it with modern monstrosities. Of course, one person’s monstrosity is another person’s chic, modern resort that employs plenty of locals and encourages tourism to help many other businesses on the island. But some are too shortsighted to see that. And some couldn’t handle the fact that the boy they’d shunned, was actually doing well for himself.’ She smiled proudly. ‘I was happy to stay, give them a piece of my mind, but Liam didn’t want me upset by the nasty talk, or ostracised, so he bought me this lovely place.’ Her expression softened as she caught his eye. ‘But lovely as it’s been, it’s time to go back to my roots. To go home.’

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