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)
Just then, the door chimes sounded. Malcolm’s brother Tom and his young daughter, Aria, walked in.
“Mari, do you have the book for me?”
Mari got up, a huge smile on her face as she went to hug the little girl. “Of course I do. You’re getting the very first copy. I saved it just for you.”
She gave Aria a copy of her father’s book. Aria hugged it to her and then ran to the children’s section and its smaller-sized chairs. She settled herself and opened the book as though she was unwrapping the most precious gift. Tom watched his daughter with affection, then seeing she was settled and happily reading, he walked over to say hello.
“You must be Josie. I’ve heard a lot about you already, from practically everyone.”
Malcolm noted his brother wore his most charming smile. The one that made women’s panties fall down around their ankles.
Josie stood to shake his hand. “It’s lovely to meet you. I think you and Aria are the last of the family, apart from your parents, that I have yet to meet.”
“How are you liking the island so far?” Tom asked.
“Oh, it’s absolutely beautiful. I’m having a wonderful time.”
“I’m glad to hear it. I was worried that Malc might not be showing you a good time. He’s always glued to his phone, or about to head into a meeting. Whereas I know all the great places for nightlife. I’d be happy to show you around the city if you can spare an evening.”
Malcolm narrowed his eyes. His brother was out-and-out flirting with Josie. All but asking her on a date. “We’re busy,” he growled. “The cottages need a lot of work. That’s why we’re here right now—to go over everything with Mari before we head over there and get back to work.”
Tom’s eyebrows went up. “Okay, but…” He turned back to Josie. “If you need to get away from Mr. Cranky Pants here, just let me know. I’ll give you my number.”
Mr. Cranky Pants? It was obvious Tom spent a lot of time with a five-year-old. Malcolm nearly stopped him from giving Josie his number. Heck, right at that moment, he was stopping himself from slugging his brother.
Aria ran over, the book under her arm. “Hi, I’m Aria,” she said to Josie. “Who are you?”
Josie knelt down. “I’m Josie, Mari’s friend from the United States. You’re so lucky to have the first copy of her father’s book.”
“I know. Do you want to come over to my special rug with me, and I can read it to you?”
Josie smiled. “I’d love that.” She shot another smile at Tom as they walked away, her hand in Aria’s.
Obviously, as if Tom’s charm wasn’t enough, he was wooing her with his daughter. Damn him.
Tom shot him a slightly evil grin. “So that’s the lie of the land, is it?”
Malcolm didn’t pretend not to understand. “She’s off-limits to you, Tom.”
Tom’s eyebrows went up. “But not to you?”
Malcolm would have answered that definitively had he not agreed just an hour ago to keep things with Josie completely secret. “It’s complicated.”
“Doesn’t seem that complicated from where I’m standing. You like her. She likes you. You date. And then if things start to get serious, you see where it goes from there.”
Malcolm frowned. Tom was making things sound easier than they were. “You know better than anyone how messed up relationships can be.”
“True,” Tom agreed. “Relationships can be a mess. But only if you pick the wrong person.”
What had come over Tom? He almost sounded like he was becoming a romantic. Just then, Aria’s and Josie’s laughter sounded throughout the bookstore.
“She’s beautiful, she seems fun, and Mari says she’s brilliant at what she does,” Tom said. “That’s quite a combination.”
Malcolm couldn’t keep from snarling, “Back off.”
“I’m just saying I’m not going to be the only one who notices how great she is.” Tom shrugged. “Not that she’d necessarily go for a guy like you. You’re not exactly the most cheerful person in the world.”
Malcolm knew he shouldn’t rise to the bait. He should just shrug off what his brother said. But he was jabbing him in all the places that he knew would get a rise out of him. “If it was between the two of us,” Malcolm said, “I’d make damn sure she chose me.”
Tom’s eyebrows went up again. “Is that a challenge?”
Malcolm refused to be drawn in any farther. “We’ve got to go. The painters are waiting.” But before he left, he had to say one more thing. “Josie’s heart isn’t for us to battle over. Whatever choices she makes in her life, they’re hers, not ours.”
He headed over to where Aria was reading the last page of the book to Josie.
“That’s the best story I’ve ever read,” Aria said.
“I agree,” Josie said.
They were adorable together and instantly made him think how great she’d be with a child of her own. But with his brother’s challenging words still ringing in his ears, he was gruffer than he intended to be when he said, “We should head out. The painters are going to be there in a few minutes.”