Fiona Sullivan showed up at the informal family launch party of Elderflower Island Reading Retreats promptly at seven o’clock Tuesday night. The reading retreats started the next day, but Mari and Josie had decided to hold a little party to thank the family for pitching in to get the cottages ready in time. Secretly, they all wanted to see with their own eyes that Malcolm had learned his lesson and wouldn’t be putting his heart at risk again anytime soon.
Malcolm and Josie couldn’t seem to stop touching each other, glancing over with looks so full of love that Fiona felt she was intruding if she didn’t glance away.
The cottages were beautiful, and she took a moment to take pride in the part she and her decorating eye had played. She’d even enjoyed working within a tight budget, sourcing secondhand designer curtains and cushions. Amazingly, she’d popped into a couple of charity shops, something she’d never done before and secretly enjoyed. She’d bought a couple of lamps, a side table that was also a bookshelf, and some book-themed prints for almost nothing.
Lewis demanded the best, and she’d learned early in their marriage that he equated cost with quality. Everything from their house to their furniture to their cars and clothes was top of the line. So she’d enjoyed a little holiday from buying the very best and gotten creative with cheaper finds. It had been surprisingly satisfying.
“You really should have become a professional decorator,” Alice said, also gazing around at the comfortable room that looked like something between a country hotel and a private library.
Perhaps there were moments when she’d have liked a career, but Lewis needed her. They entertained his clients a great deal, and he expected her always to look her best, so she spent more time than she cared to admit on treadmills and in salons and high-end boutiques. She hired and managed the household staff, but always did her own cooking. Lewis liked a home-cooked meal, and she did love to cook. At one time, she’d imagined motherhood would take up a lot of her time, but that joy had been denied her.
Still, she was happy. Why wouldn’t she be? She had everything she could ever want, like the diamond earrings Lewis had given her on their tenth wedding anniversary. He’d made sure she knew how much they cost, and the sum had made her eyes grow wide. She was glad they were insured, or she’d never be able to wear them outside of the house in case she lost one.
Glancing over at where Malcolm was sitting beside Josie, holding her hand as though he’d never let it go, she wondered if she’d ever been as happy as those two were.
For a moment, she wondered whether she might ask Josie to suggest some books she might read. Not that she had a problem, of course. Her life was perfect, but sometimes there was an ache inside her.
Could she explain that to Josie? And would the bibliotherapist be able to prescribe a course of books that would help her find contentment?
Her phone buzzed. Lewis hadn’t been able to come tonight. He’d had a squash game with a client. Now he was on his way home and asking that she join him there for dinner.
It wasn’t a command, of course. He worked very hard and understandably liked to find his wife home and dinner ready to serve when he returned after a long day at work. She had left homemade moussaka warming in the oven and a Greek salad in the fridge. All she had to do when she got home was warm the bread and pour the wine.
She rose, wished Josie well in her reading retreats, and left. When she glanced back, the windows were lit from within, and she heard the sound of happy laughter. For a moment, she was tempted to turn back.
Then she shook her head at her own foolishness and got into her late model Jaguar. She checked that her makeup was perfect and her hair in place. Lewis hated it when she didn’t look her best, and even more when she was late.
* * *
Thank you so much for reading STARS SHINE IN YOUR EYES! I hope you loved Malcolm and Josie.
The next London Sullivan will be released soon! But until then, if you love books about a close family who live in one of the most beautiful seaside towns in the world, you will love meeting the Davenports! In CALIFORNIA DREAMING, book one in the series, hotshot movie star Archer Davenport has never met a stunt he couldn’t ace, a challenge he couldn’t overcome, or a woman he couldn’t have. When he breaks his leg during a dangerous stunt, the production company insists on hiring a live-in caretaker for him. He refuses the help…until he meets Tessa Taylor. She’s not only caring and beautiful, she’s also as tough on him as a drill sergeant.
Tessa knows all about confident men. She used to be married to one and that didn’t go well. Her only solace is her painting, even if she has no talent, as her late husband always claimed. Her biggest problem on this job, however, is that sexy, magnetic Archer makes her toes curl with desire every time he’s near. She does everything she can to try to remain professional. But it gets harder and harder every day as she starts to fall for him—and for his amazing family—even though she knows she’ll have to leave him for her next client as soon as he’s fully recovered.
Arch, however, has no plans to let Tessa disappear once his leg is fully recovered. In fact, as the sparks between them grow hotter and hotter, he’s determined to show Tessa that she’s not only the most incredible and loving woman he’s ever known, she’s also the most talented.
“Great start to a beautiful new series; the writing, story and characters are all amazing! Truly heartwarming.” 5 stars
Get CALIFORNIA DREAMING (The Davenports, Book 1) now!
Turn the page for an excerpt from CALIFORNIA DREAMING (The Davenports, Book 1)…