Would a four-day fling include making love with Ben? That might be more than she—or Ben—could handle. They should keep it to kissing. And talking. And lots of laughing. Like it had been back then. Carefree. Uncomplicated.
She refused to listen to that nagging internal voice. Could anything be uncomplicated with the grown-up Ben?
She forced her thoughts back to the present and got on with her work. She had to finish the job Ida had been in the middle of when she’d fallen—unpacking a delivery and slotting the books artfully onto the ‘new releases’ table.
Just minutes later, with a sigh of satisfaction, she stepped back to survey her work. She loved working in the bookshop. Even after just a few hours she felt right at home. The individuality and quirkiness of Ida’s set-up connected with her, though she could immediately see things she’d like to change to bring the business model of this bricks-and-mortar bookstore more in step to compete with the e-bookstores. That said, if she could inject just a fraction of Bay Books’ charm into her candle shop she’d be very happy. She must write in her fairy notebook: Ask Ida about Balinese woodcarvers.
But it wasn’t just about the wooden dolphins with their enchanting carved smiles. The idyllic setting was a vital part of Bay Books. Not, she suspected, to be matched by the high-volume-retail-traffic Melbourne mall the candle people would insist on for their shop. It might be hard to get as excited about that.
Here, she only had to walk over to the window to view the quaint harbour, with the old-fashioned stone walls that sheltered it from the turquoise-blue waters of the open sea—only had to push the door open to hear the squawk of seagulls, breathe in the salt-tangy air.
This morning, in her hotel room, she had been awoken by a chorus of kookaburras. When she’d opened the sliding doors to her balcony it had been to find a row of lorikeets, the small, multi-coloured parrots like living gems adorning the balcony railing. On her way to the beach she’d surprised two small kangaroos, feeding in the grass in the bushland between the boardwalk and the sand dunes of Big Ray. It was good for the soul.
What a difference from fashionable, revitalised inner-city Surry Hills, where she lived in Sydney. It had more restaurants, bars and boutiques than she would ever have time to try. But it was densely populated and in summer could be stiflingly hot and humid. Driving round and round the narrow streets, trying to find somewhere to park her car, she’d sometimes dreamed of living in a place closer to nature.
And here she was back in Dolphin Bay, working in a stranger’s bookshop, reconnecting with her first love.
It seemed surreal.
She paused, a paperback thriller in her hand. Remembered her pink-inked resolution. Get as far away from Sydney as possible.
That didn’t necessarily have to mean moving to Melbourne.
But she had only ever been a city girl. Could she settle for small-town life and the restrictions that entailed?
The bell sounded again. She looked up, heart thudding, mouth suddenly dry. But again it wasn’t Ben. It was red-haired Kate, the waitress from the hotel.
‘Hey, nice to see you, Kate,’ she said, masking her disappointment that the woman wasn’t her tall blond surf god.
‘You too,’ said Kate. ‘We all love this shop and the personal service Ida gives us. It’s great you’re able to help her out.’
‘Isn’t it? I’m getting the hang of things. Can I help you with a book?’ she asked.
Kate smiled and Sandy wondered if she could tell how inexperienced a shopkeeper she was.
‘Ida ordered some titles for me, but in all the drama yesterday I didn’t get a chance to see if they were in.’
‘Sure,’ said Sandy, heading behind the counter to access Ida’s computer. She had the special orders file open when Kate leaned towards her over the carved wooden counter.
‘So, I heard you and Ben were kissing on the beach this morning.’
Sandy was so flabbergasted she choked. She coughed and spluttered, unable to utter a word in response.
Kate rushed around the counter and patted Sandy’s back until her breath came more easily.
‘Thanks,’ Sandy finally managed to choke out.
‘Don’t be so surprised. News travels fast in Dolphin Bay.’
Sandy took another ragged breath. ‘I’m beginning to see that.’
Kate’s green eyes gleamed. ‘So you were kissing Ben?’
Again Sandy was too aghast to reply. ‘Well, I...’ she started.
‘She who hesitates is thinking of how to tell me to mind my own business,’ said Kate with a grin.
Sandy laughed at her audacity. ‘Well, now that you mention it...’
‘Feel free to tell me to keep my big mouth shut, but...well, I love Ben to pieces and I don’t want—’
Ben and Kate?
Sandy felt dizzy—not from lack of air but from the feeling that her heart had plummeted to the level of her ballet flats. ‘I’m sorry, Kate, I didn’t know... He didn’t say...’
Kate’s auburn eyebrows rose. ‘I don’t mean that kind of love. My mum and Ben’s mum are friends. I grew up with Ben. It’s his brother, Jesse, I have a thing for. Unrequited, unfortunately.’
‘Oh,’ said Sandy, beyond relieved that Kate hadn’t marched into the bookshop to stake a claim on Ben.
Kate leaned closer. ‘You do realise that for Ben to be kissing a woman in public is a big, big deal?’
Sandy took a step back. ‘It was six-thirty in the morning on a practically deserted beach.’
‘That might be private in Sydney, but not in a place like Dolphin Bay. Here, it takes one person to see for everyone to know.’
‘I had no idea.’ Sandy felt suddenly dry in the mouth. What kind of pressure did this put on Ben? On her?
‘You and Ben together is big news.’
‘Then next time—if there is a next time—I’ll make sure we’re completely alone.’
She spoke with such vehemence that Kate frowned and took a step back from her. ‘I’m sorry, Sandy. But this is a small town. We all look out for each other. If you’re not serious about Ben don’t start something you’re not prepared to see through.’
Sandy gripped the edge of the counter. She knew Ben had been to hell and wasn’t yet all the way back. She didn’t need anyone to tell her.
Pointedly, she scrolled through the special orders file on Ida’s computer, looked up again at Kate. ‘I don’t see your order here, but your contact number is. How about I call you when it comes in?’
Kate shifted from foot to foot. ‘You must think I’m the nosiest busybody you’ve ever met.’
Sandy didn’t disagree.
‘But I’ve only got Ben’s interests at heart,’ Kate continued, sounding hurt.
Sandy gentled her tone of voice. ‘I appreciate that.’
She was gratified at Kate’s smile as she said goodbye. Despite the redhead’s total lack of tact, she thought she could get to like her.
But Kate’s visit, with her revelation about the undercurrents of small-town life, had left her reeling. She’d had no idea that any reunion would be conducted under such watchful eyes. What had seemed so simple on the beach at dawn suddenly seemed very complicated.
It made her self-conscious when dealing with the customers who came in dribs and drabs through the doors. Were they genuinely interested in browsing through the books—or in perusing her? Her doubts