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)
He wasn’t sure that his grandma was right. He wasn’t sure that he deserved a woman like Josie. What if he let her down again? “I hate to see you get your hopes up, Gran.”
“I can’t help but wish happiness for each of my grandchildren. I knew the first time I met Mari that she and Owen were perfect together. I have that exact feeling about you and Josie.”
Her words settled in deeper than he wanted her to know. He should have been disagreeing instinctively with what she was saying. Everything within him should have been rejecting it. And yet, somehow he found himself wondering. Wondering if his grandmother was right. If maybe, just maybe, Josie was the one for him.
Finally, something inside of him did rebel. Not about whether Josie would be the perfect girlfriend. But at the thought of ever letting someone in far enough to fall in love, far enough to risk losing her.
Gran leaned in and lowered her voice. “You wouldn’t want Tom to swoop in and woo her before you do. You know your brother can be extremely charming when he sets his mind to it.”
“Tom?” He shook his head. “Tom would be a terrible partner for Josie. He’s still too messed up from his marriage, and he has Aria to think of.”
A burning feeling ignited in his chest at the thought of Tom and Josie together. While his grandmother simply sipped tea and regarded him over the rim of her teacup, he recognized the burning feeling as jealousy. Like hell Tom was going to be with Josie.
He was still trying to find words to explain to his grandmother why Tom and Josie would be a terrible match when Josie returned.
“Thank you so much for afternoon tea, Mathilda. It was delicious, and I’m so glad that I got to spend time with you.”
Mathilda rose, and so did he.
“It was a pleasure to meet you, Josie, and to be able to talk about some of my favorite books with another bibliophile. I hope we see a lot more of each other.”
Josie pinkened with pleasure, and after refusing their offers to help her tidy up, Mathilda sent them on their way.
As they walked back to his boat, he said, “Just as I expected, she loved you.”
“Really? I’m still so starstruck. I was trying not to be an embarrassing fangirl the whole time, but I’m not sure I succeeded.”
“Even if you had acted like a slobbering fan, which you didn’t, she still would have loved you. You talk books like a sensible woman. She appreciates that.” Changing the subject, he said, “How do you feel about going over our notes and working out a game plan on the cottages? Or are you too tired? Because right around now is when the jet lag should be kicking in big time.”
“I think that tea has woken me up,” she said with a smile. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to sleep for a few hours at least. Plus, I don’t want to let Mari down. The sooner we get the place cleaned up, the sooner I can run my reading retreat.”
“I agree. I’ve already got some people in mind who owe me a few favors. Hopefully, they’ll be able to do the work at a cut rate for her.”
“It’s really nice of you to help her,” Josie said.
“Don’t paint me as any hero. This is the first truly nice thing I’ve done in a while, and I haven’t even done anything yet besides value some china.”
“Are you sure you’re not selling yourself short? Because your grandmother clearly adores you, and while we’re at it, the two of you should think about taking your act on the road.”
He didn’t think he was selling himself short. He had a fairly clear view of who he’d become, in particular during these past years when he’d had time only for work and very little else, including his family. But it was nice of Josie to try to see the positives in him, just as she did in everything. Especially when he couldn’t get his grandmother’s words out of his head.
She’s delightful. You’d be a fool to let her go.
He couldn’t help wondering—was his grandmother right?
CHAPTER EIGHT
Josie could hardly believe it. She’d had afternoon tea with Mathilda Westcott!
It was the craziest thing. This whole trip so far had been mind-boggling. Surely now it would settle down into something that more closely resembled her normal life, wouldn’t it? But then there she and Malcolm were, all cozy on River Star, a fire crackling away in the mini woodstove in the corner, music playing on the portable speaker, and the two of them wedged in close on the built-in benches on two sides of the small dining table. Papers and plans were spread out around them as they worked out who to call and what steps to take.