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)
“You’re beautiful,” he said as he came toward her, a hungry gleam in his eyes.
“I was going to say the same to you,” she replied.
He kissed her before she could say anything more—kissed all the lipstick right off her lips. And it was well worth needing to reapply it later just to have someone want her this much. It was a heady, delicious feeling. One she found herself craving.
“I don’t want to disappoint Mari,” he said in a low voice, “or we wouldn’t be going any farther than this tonight.”
She loved it when he talked to her like that, without the need to hold back how much he wanted her. Which was how it would be tonight. They would pretend that they were nothing more than friends. Two people staying together for a short while on his boat and working together to get the reading retreat up and running. Her chest squeezed. But for all that she was tempted just to let that caution go, she knew better. That caution, that self-protection, had held her firmly together these past two years after betrayal had cut so deep.
It wasn’t that she thought Malcolm would lie to her. No, she already knew him better than that. He was an honest man. It was more that he might not realize he was lying to himself. That he might think she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen right now, in this moment, and then he’d wake up and realize she wasn’t.
Of course, as there had been for so much of her life, there was a part of her that simply felt she couldn’t be enough for him. That average Josie Hartwell somehow wouldn’t measure up in the end. So that was why she had to keep those walls up—the ones she’d managed to keep standing—when every kiss, every touch, had knocked down so many more.
“We had better go,” she agreed. “I want to make sure Mari knows she has my support on all fronts. I really am excited for her, getting a chance to have a book launch for her father’s book.”
“We are all pleased for her, my brother most of all,” he said as they headed into the evening.
It was cooler tonight, and she was glad she’d packed her fitted leather jacket, which slipped over the velvet dress so perfectly. She felt more worldly tonight than the girl who had lived the bulk of her life in Idaho. As they headed along the pathway past other couples and families, she felt like she belonged here. In London, on Elderflower Island, she didn’t stick out as the small-town girl.
From a distance, almost before they could see the bookstore lights, they could hear voices. Laughter. Music. Excitement bubbled up in her. Josie loved book launches. Heck, she loved anything to do with books. Few things were better than when a new one came out, and people got to discover all the wonders between the pages. She was a regular at the bookstore in Coeur d’Alene, to the point where the owner often joked that she might as well pay Josie a salary. She loved the smell of a brand-new book that had never been opened as much as she loved the smell of an older one that had shared its story with other readers. It was always a thrill to have an author inscribe a note to her, even if it was something as simple as enjoy.
“It’s great what she’s done with the bookshop,” Malcolm said. “She’s really brought it back to life. Even during her father’s heyday, it was never like this. She’s got so many fresh ideas, and we all are so happy to see yet one more venture on Elderflower Island succeed. With the bakery, the boathouse, the teahouse, all the little shops, the island feels more alive. And the reading retreats will be one more business that infuses life into the community.”
“It really is amazing, that this one small island has so much life and so many wonderful little businesses,” she agreed. “In some ways, it doesn’t feel all that different from Coeur d’Alene.” She laughed before he could respond, adding, “I know that sounds crazy.”
But he was nodding. “It’s not crazy. I see what you’re saying. Elderflower Island, while still in London, somehow manages to have that small-town feel. I think that’s what I’ve always loved about it. There’s a real sense of community here, where everyone is looking out for each other.”
They arrived at the bookstore and joined the throngs of people waiting to get inside.
A man and woman who looked to be in their mid to late sixties turned as Josie and Malcolm arrived. The woman smiled at them. “Malcolm, honey, isn’t this wonderful?”
Josie knew in an instant that this was his mother. And the handsome man next to her was his father.