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Chapter One
The bell on Ballicliff Bay Bookshop door rarely rang early in the morning. That’s why Maddie scowled at the pile of motivational books she was currently sorting. She swiped her hands down her jeans to rid them of the dust that inevitably came from sorting the books that no one really wanted. After all, if they hadn’t worked for the previous owners, why would they work for new ones? However, Maddie prided herself on keeping her second-hand bookstore well stocked with everything. Unlike the massive stores, she wouldn’t favour certain genres.
Unfortunately, not being a large store and being in a town that usually catered to tourists meant sales were dismal. Visitors didn’t want to take back piles of books in their suitcases and the locals preferred to sell her their old books rather than buy new ones. She mostly relied on sourcing valuable first editions and selling online. For customers to actually step foot in her store was unusual indeed.
Maddie blew a curl out of her face and stepped around the bookshelf as the door clunked shut and her breath turned to ice in her chest.
Oh God.Sawyer.
It had been over ten years. And now he stood there, dark hair slightly mussed from the sea breeze, a tight t-shirt pulling across a firm body and looking as ruggedly handsome as ever. As ever? No, he’d never looked quite like that when she’d last seen him. The years had been unfairly kind to him.
She pushed her hair from her face and grimaced to herself. Great, now she probably had a streak of dust across her forehead. And there he was, impressive and sexy. Oh boy was he sexy. She’d always found him hot when they were teenagers with his bad boy attitude but now... multiply that by one hundred—no, a thousand—and that was maybe close to how hot she found him now.
How unfair. She had hoped she wouldn’t see him until the funeral. She’d even bought a nice form-fitting black dress for the occasion. His gaze locked onto hers and she resisted the desire to leap behind the protection of a stack of books. She gulped. Why here? Why now? A brisk wind had been blowing off the sea and had whipped her hair into a frenzy this morning and now her carefully tamed waves were a wild mess, not to mention she was wearing the bare minimum of make-up—a little mascara and some concealer under her eyes. She was not at her best.
A scar skimmed his jaw, leaving a pale white slice through the thick scruff. She recalled the day when he’d jumped from the pier and caught himself on a piece of driftwood. The cut had bled profusely and she’d been terrified but he simply laughed it off. Sawyer never did seem to have a care in the world.
She envied that.
Maddie cared too much. First it was about her shop, then about the problems she was facing being single and thirty and then what on earth to do with the thousands of pounds she’d won in the lottery recently.
Well, at least she wouldn’t have to worry about selling any more motivational books.
“Sawyer.” The word came out surprised and a little breathy. Really, she was astonished she managed a sound.
“Maddie.”
He had this way of looking at her that reached deep down and touched her soul. At least that’s what she’d always liked to think. How dumb she had been.
Clearing her throat, she reached for the stack of books on the counter and held them against her chest. Protection. Though not much could protect her from those mossy green eyes and the way they scanned over with frank... no, not appreciation surely?
She had a nice figure, if a little on the curvy side. She’d grown into her cutesy looks but at thirty, there were definitely a few minute lines creeping in around her eyes. Lines looked good on him, she noted. Creases around his eyes softened that hard face and angular nose. Didn’t stop him from looking hot as hell though.
“What can I do for you?” she asked primly.
“How are you?” he said at the same time.
How was she?Let’s see. Angry, embarrassed, humiliated.She’d been all those for the past twelve years, ever since he’d left her on their wedding day. Sometimes she thought she had forgotten that day but the people of Ballicliff had long memories.Remember when you nearly married that awful Sawyer boy?people would say.What a narrow escape you had.
It didn’t feel like an escape at the time. It felt like her heart had been torn from her chest and stamped on repeatedly. And, sometimes, it still felt like that.
Twelve years. She hadn’t seen him since that day and yet even now, her heart gave a thump as though remembering that pain.
“Fine,” she replied primly.
“You look well.”
Well. She grimaced. Didn’t every girl dream of meeting her ex with beautiful hair, perfect skin and a body to die for?Wellwasn’t exactly the look she’d been hoping for when she had first heard he was returning for his father’s funeral.
“Yes, um, so do you.”
She turned and prayed he hadn’t seen her embarrassment. Carrying the books over to the romance section, she checked the author and cringed at the cover. As much as she loved bodice rippers, the couples with their flowing hair and awkward poses didn’t do much to enhance the credibility of the genre. And Sawyer had followed her over and glanced at it, and now amusement made those crinkles around his eyes more apparent.
“You’re back for the funeral?” she asked without turning to view him.
“Yes.”
“For long?”
