The Little Book Café
A charming new series from the author of Millie Vanilla’s Cupcake CafeTash, Emma and Amy couldn’t be more different.A successful estate agent who has her life pretty much on track, Tash has ticked all the boxes. Hasn’t she?Emma is a budding writer who yearns to flex her writing skills and shake up her life that has become, well, a little stale…And then there’s Amy, the manager of The Little Book Café, a hopeless romantic who had her heart broken, but quietly refuses to give up on love.Brought together by their love of books and delicious cake from the café next door, they are in for a year of romance, crime and classic novels that will help them get through all that life will throw at them…
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HarperImpulse
an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd
1 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9GF
First published in Great Britain by HarperImpulse 2018
Copyright © Georgia Hill 2018
Cover design by Micaela Alcaino © HarperCollins Publishers 2018
Cover illustration © Shutterstock.com
Georgia Hill asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.
Ebook Edition © December 2018 ISBN: 9780008281298
Version: 2018-10-22
Table of Contents
To Bertie, with love and cuddles.
‘Is that really what you’re wearing to this book club thing?’ Adrian frowned at Tash’s reflection in the mirrored door of the wardrobe in their fitted bedroom.
‘Yes, what’s wrong with it?’ Tash looked down at her miniskirt and wedge sandals.
‘Oh, I don’t know. You wear skirts all the time for work. Why not try those palazzo pants I bought for you last week? And that black sweater?’
‘Ade. It’s August.’
‘Aren’t you meeting up in that chapel Millie’s converted? Those sorts of places are always freezing.’ He smiled and, lifting her hair out of the way, bit her ear. ‘Or you could always stay home with me.’ He reached around her waist and covered a breast with each hand, finding the nipples and pinching hard. ‘I might have plans for you. Plans that would keep you very warm.’ He nuzzled his mouth into her neck and nipped.
Tash took his hands off her and stepped away. ‘You know I promised Emma I’d go with her for the first time. It’s only this once, Adrian.’
He flung himself onto the bed and pouted. ‘Well, if you prefer the company of a load of boring old women instead of a night of hot passion with me…’ He spread his legs and rubbed his crotch, grinning.
Tash looked away, revolted. Adrian’s sexual appetite was getting wearisome. ‘I’ll change into those trousers and then I’d better get going. I’m late already.’
‘You sure you don’t want me to give you a lift?’
Tash hurried into the next bedroom, the one she used as a dressing room. ‘No, it’s fine. I need the fresh air and exercise.’ She yanked her skirt off and pulled the trousers on. She needed to get out. Fast.
‘Plenty of opportunity for exercise here,’ Adrian called from the bed. ‘I’ll get you hot and sweaty.’
Tash grabbed her bag and ran down the stairs. ‘Won’t be late. Don’t wait up!’ Please don’t wait up, she added silently. The thought of his body grinding over hers yet again was nauseating. How had it come to this? She slammed the door decisively on her way out.
‘You okay, Tash?’ Emma asked as they walked along Berecombe’s seaside promenade.
‘Yes, I’m fine!’ Tash replied curtly.
‘No need to snap my head off.’
‘Sorry, Em. Lot on my mind.’
‘Yeah, work was manic today. That’s three take-ons this week and it’s only Wednesday. Good, innit?’
‘Excellent.’ Tash shoved her bag onto her shoulder as a group of men ambled past.
‘Evening girls,’ one cackled. Another wolf-whistled.
She put an arm through Emma’s and hurried her on. ‘Honestly, why men feel they can just, just—’
