“It’s Kingsley Jeffers’s Journey.” Fiona half rolled her eyes again. “And no, there’s nothing supernatural about it. It’s a literary novel about an Australian ex-pat author in New York, cutting a swathe through the intelligentsia and leaving behind a trail of broken hearts. More than a touch autobiographical, in my opinion.”
Promising herself to look up what intelligentsia meant, Tyler replied, “So lots of sex scenes, then?”
“Oh, if only,” Fiona tittered. “No, it’s not explicit, more’s the pity. I’m sure he’s very good at sex scenes, given his reputation.”
Tyler chewed her lip. She shouldn’t be gossiping about Luke with Fiona, but she couldn’t help asking, “His reputation with women?”
“Mmm. Especially after his affair with Jennifer Kruger.”
Tyler wrinkled her nose. “Jennifer Kruger? Isn’t she that TV presenter on Channel Nine? Luke had an affair with her?” She shook her head, picturing the glamorous, articulate woman who appeared on the current affairs program every night. Jennifer Kruger wasn’t just attractive and polished, she was also an award-winning journalist. That was the kind of woman Luke dated?
“For a short while, then it all went to pieces.” Fiona pursed her lips. “Or should I say, Jennifer Kruger went to pieces when they suddenly split up. He left her heartbroken, according to all the gossip magazines. I’m surprised you’ve never heard about it.”
“I’ve been busy with this.” Tyler gestured around the store. She was surprised Fiona, with her English Literature degree, deigned to read gossip magazines. Perhaps she wasn’t so bad after all.
As if she’d read her mind, Fiona quickly added, “I don’t buy those magazines, of course. I only flick through them at the supermarket checkout. Anyway, the breakup hit Jennifer hard. She even went off air a couple of nights and came back looking pale and upset.”
Tyler frowned. “That sucks. I didn’t take him for a tomcat.” This was a warning to stay clear of him.
“Oh, no, I don’t think he’s a Lothario. From what I’ve read, when it comes to women, Luke Maguire is the classic rolling stone who’s determined not to gather any moss. But that doesn’t stop women from falling for him. Maybe Jennifer Kruger thought she’d be the one to reform him. Turned out she wasn’t.”
Fiona rose to her feet and picked up her takeaway coffee. “Must dash off and start publicizing Luke’s reading next week. Ooh, I can’t wait. Luke Maguire in my bookstore. Gives me goose bumps.” She hurried off with a slightly manic look on her face. Tyler shook her head as she returned the milk to the fridge.
“She’s a mean lady,” Chloe piped up from her table.
Tyler shut the fridge. “Oh, baby, you shouldn’t say things like that.”
“I didn’t say it to her face!”
Tyler had trouble hiding her grin. “That’s good, baby, but Fiona’s not mean. She’s wrapped up in herself, that’s all.”
Chloe thought about that, head tipped to one side. “Mumma, what’s a tomcat?”
Oh, boy. She really should pay more attention to what she said in Chloe’s presence. “Uh, it’s a cat called Tom.”
She hadn’t enjoyed discussing Luke with Fiona, but at least she’d been forewarned about his reputation. Luke might set her blood humming, but he was a lone wolf who’d dumped a beautiful, intelligent, famous woman. She should keep that in mind the next time she caught herself drooling over him.
All morning, Java & Joolz buzzed with activity. Tyler took delivery of their daily order of muffins, cakes, pies, and sandwiches. She made coffees, washed up, chatted with their regulars. Chloe alternately charmed everyone and made a nuisance of herself, as she predictably grew bored with drawing.
At midday, Tyler breathed a sigh of relief when her friend and business partner, Ally, arrived. She was accompanied by Nate, her fiancé, who delayed her entry by giving her several lingering kisses before disappearing to his office above the store. Ally came in pink-cheeked and slightly out of breath.
Tyler gave her a wink, happy to see her friend so head over heels in love. “Glad to see you two love birds haven’t lost any of the magic yet.”
Still looking dreamy, Ally stowed her bag behind the counter. “Oh, the magic’s never going away.”
Hope that’s true. Tyler kept her skepticism to herself. Her own big love adventure had soon turned into disaster, and the only good thing to come out of it had been Chloe. After that, Tyler had guarded her heart much more fiercely. Not that it required much protection. So far, she hadn’t met any man who even came close to scaling her barriers. That didn’t mean she avoided men, but she kept them in their place, which was a distant fourth or fifth after everything else in her life.
But Ally was different. Sweet, soft, romantic Ally had given her heart and soul to Nate, and very soon would be making things official.
“How are the wedding plans coming along?” Tyler asked as she rinsed out a milk jug.
Some of the mistiness faded from Ally’s expression. She picked up a cloth and began to wipe the counter. “Oh, uh, good. Fine. No problem.”
Tyler eyed her closer. “Really?”
“Yeah, really.” Ally rubbed at a spot as if her life depended on it.
The shop was temporarily empty, and Chloe was at her corner table playing with Mr. Piggy. Tyler touched her friend on the shoulder. “We both know you’re a hopeless liar. Now tell me what’s bothering you. Is it the wedding?”
Sighing, Ally balled up her cloth and nodded. “Don’t tell Nate, but I want to postpone it.”
Tyler drew in a breath. “But why? We’ve got the business up and running. Now’s a perfect time for your wedding.”
“I just think we should wait until next year.”
“Next year! I bet Nate wouldn’t be happy to hear that.”
“He’d be crushed.” Ally fiddled with her large engagement ring and her expression clouded. “Oh, Tyler,” she suddenly burst out. “I’m afraid. What if Nate doesn’t show up at the wedding?”
Tyler gaped at her friend. “But honey, that man is crazy in love with you! He’d never do something like that. He worships the ground you walk on.”
“I know he loves me. I know it’s stupid to doubt him.” Ally bit her lip. “I’m being completely irrational, but I can’t stop these awful thoughts entering my head”
Tyler let out a sigh. She knew why these doubts were plaguing her friend. “Nate is not and never will be Seth,” she said softly but firmly. Seth was the man Ally had once been engaged to, until he’d jilted her on her wedding day by not turning up at the church. And ironically, the man who had fronted up and told her the horrible truth had been none other than Nate.
“I’ve never seen any man more in love with a woman,” Tyler continued. She wasn’t lying. Sometimes the besotted look Nate wore every time he saw his beloved was a bit much for Tyler. At other times she found herself envious of her friend for being so lucky. Not everyone was destined to find her perfect partner.
“I know he loves me and would never purposely let me down.” A tortured expression lingered on Ally’s face. “I’m desperate to marry him. It’s just this wedding. Somehow I wish I could fast-forward my life to the point right after the minister says, ‘I now pronounce you husband and wife.’ If I could just do that, I’d be able to skip all this prewedding anxiety and enjoy becoming Nate’s wife.”
“Well, short of putting you in a medically induced coma, there’s no avoiding the next few weeks.”
“Hmm. How much does this coma cost?”
Tyler aimed a mock punch at Ally’s arm. “You’re being silly. Nate loves you, and your wedding is going to be perfect. Trust me.”
“You promise?”
“Promise.” Tyler squeezed her friend’s arm. “And besides, you can’t go into a coma because I need you. Chloe’s babysitter has come down with shingles. She’ll be out of action for weeks.”
“Oh, heavens. Not to worry. I’ll come in and cover your morning shifts for you.”
“That’s very generous of you, and I might take you up on your offer once in a while, but we’re partners. I’m not shirking my responsibilities. I’m just letting you know Chloe might be around the store more than usual, unless I can find a temporary babysitter I can trust.”
Tyler knew plenty of people, but there weren’t too many she trusted to look after Chloe. Aunt Daphne would help where she could, but she had a busy job herself and not much time to spare.
Ally nodded sympathetically. “It’s a pity you don’t have more family around you can rely on.”
Tyler shrugged. “I prefer relying on myself. That way I don’t get disappointed.” She’d learned that long ago when her mother had dumped her in foster care without explanation and left town. Two years later, Aunt Daphne arrived and rescued her, giving her a loving home and stability. But the damage had been done. Tyler knew what it was like to be left with total strangers, knew firsthand the slow, soul-eating torture of wondering if her mother would ever show up again. With Chloe’s dad out of the picture, Tyler knew the hurt that must cause her little daughter, so she compensated—maybe overcompensated—by vowing to herself that she’d never put Chloe through the same ordeal she’d endured.