Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 89183 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89183 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Funny, River Star truly did feel like home already. Just as she truly felt like his river goddess, at least for now. “I think my jet lag might be waning.” Then she smiled at him. “Thank you for the date.”
“This is the best date I’ve had in… ever,” he said once they were back at the riverboat, and she was helping him tie up the dinghy.
“Me too.”
They smiled at each other in the moonlight, and then with one more kiss, he stepped out of the dinghy and offered her his hand. It felt so natural to take it and walk into his arms, and then to walk up the stairs and into the houseboat. It was so easy, too easy, to imagine this being her life. To imagine actually being a local on Elderflower Island. And to imagine being in a relationship with Malcolm.
One that lasted not just two weeks, but forever.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Malcolm could get used to this. To waking up with Josie in his arms after a night full of the sweetest lovemaking imaginable. It’d been hard to let her sleep at all. But he knew she wasn’t just here for him. She was here to work with Mari to get the reading retreats up and running. And he needed to catch a few hours of sleep as well so that he could continue to help out in any way he could.
Yet again, they woke too late to do anything more than give each other a lingering kiss, gulp down some coffee and a quick bowl of cereal, throw themselves in the shower, and head out. The painters and the decorator were already there, waiting for them.
“Sorry we’re late,” Josie said, dashing over with the keys to unlock the doors.
A part of him wanted to lay claim to Josie in front of everyone, to make sure all of them knew that he was the reason they were late, because she hadn’t wanted to get out of his bed. But he knew she wouldn’t appreciate that, so instead he headed over to finish work on the rock wall.
A couple of hours later, he was able to give her the good news. “The rock wall and the stone pathway are completely repaired. No one coming to the retreat will trip on tilted or fallen stones.”
She launched herself into his arms, giving him a huge hug. For a moment, it looked like she was about to kiss him, but then she realized at the last moment that wasn’t their agreement.
He wanted to tell her to forget about their agreement. That he didn’t care who knew they were together. Hell, that he wanted everyone to know. But it wasn’t just him in this relationship. Because that’s how it felt—a proper relationship. More real, in spite of their agreement that it was just a casual fling, than any relationship he’d ever had. And what she wanted mattered as much, if not more, than what he wanted. So he wouldn’t dare do anything without discussing it with her first.
It was the mark of not just a real relationship, but an actual partnership, he found himself thinking. He could see it all so clearly in his mind. The two of them working together to set up reading retreats all over the world. Exploring all those places that she had talked about and more, while they both enjoyed the work. Working with his hands, building and rebuilding. Josie making the spaces cozy and welcoming and filled with books and private gardens that would delight people. It was crazy to have such a clear vision of the future with a woman, especially with one who’d made it plain she wouldn’t be staying.
Reluctant to let her out of his arms, he finally let her go. He needed to spend more time with her and had an idea.
“Will you be okay to take off for a few hours with me? I’d like to take you somewhere.”
Josie looked surprised and then uncertain. “But there’s so much I have to do here. I wouldn’t feel right about just blowing off the afternoon.”
“Oh no, this would come under the category of work,” he told her. “When I was renovating the houseboat, I found an outdoor marketplace in East London that sells the tiles I used in the kitchen and bathroom, and some of the rugs and even some of the paintings on the walls. I thought it would be good for us to go there today and see if there’s anything you might be able to use. Fiona’s doing a wonderful job with the soft furnishings, but we might find some paintings and furniture that would fill in the extra spaces.”
Her face lit up. “That’s a great idea. As long as we’re back in a few hours so I can continue working, I’d love that. But Fiona might—”