‘You’re having a laugh!’ Sarah shook her head with disbelief. ‘Please tell me you’re joking?’
‘Nope,’ Jess replied. ‘I’m deadly serious. Let’s all have a fresh start, shall we? Sarah, Ben, welcome to your exciting new roles at the Romance Library!’
3
SARAH
As I dragged myself out of bed and into the shower, I cursed under my breath.
Why did life never seem to go my way? It was just one obstacle after another.
Just over a year ago, I’d thought I was in a committed relationship that was about to move to the next stage. Stupidly, I’d even thought marriage was on the cards, but then,boom! That dream had sunk faster than theTitanic.
Despite knowing that what had happened would always be the greatest betrayal of my life, I’d soldiered on. I’d continued doing my boring admin job for the local council, living in my boring town, living my boring, uneventful life.
During those dark times, it was my romance books, Jess’s friendship, and more recently, running the library’s social media that saved me.
I loved hearing all about Jess’s adventures at the library and I’d wanted to work there from the beginning. So when the incredible opportunity had come to leave everything I hated behind and have a fresh start, I’d thought my life had finally turned a corner. I was so sure it was going to be amazing.
Then that bastard Ben had walked in and ruined everything.
When I was on the train, I’d thought it was a cruel coincidence that I was in the same carriage as a romance hater. Little did I know that that coincidence was just the tip of the iceberg.
I should be excited about starting my first official day at the library. But instead, I was dreading it.
And to think I was excited to meet him!Hah!The joke of the century.
What the hell were Jess and Theo thinking when they suggested that we work together?
I doubted Ben knew anything about running a social media account, and you could fit my knowledge of property development, renovation or whatever Ben would be doing on a postage stamp.
If Jess hadn’t gone to Theo’s friend’s engagement party not long after I’d arrived, I would’ve asked to meet privately to try and change her mind.
After she’d left with Theo, I was so pissed I hadn’t even stuck around at the library. Once I’d said a quick hello to Jane, Jackson, and Celeste, I’d headed to the B&B and got myself settled before having dinner with Glenda and going to bed.
Now I had to get ready to spend the day withhim.
Ugh.
Once I’d got dressed and eaten Glenda’s epic full English breakfast, I crossed the road and headed straight for the beach.
I wasn’t due to meet Jess until nine, so I had a full twenty-five minutes to go for a morning stroll and calm down before I had to face my new colleague.
I took off my sandals, letting my feet sink into the soft, golden sand.
That’s better.
Although it was only mid-April, it was lovely and mild.
I walked towards the sea, inhaled the salty air, then stood there, taking in the phenomenal views.
Wow.
I still couldn’t believe that I was here. Thatthiswas now my home.
The small town I’d lived in before wasn’t in a very cool part of the Midlands. There wasn’t the buzz of living in a vibrant city like Birmingham or the historic beauty of Shakespeare’s home in Stratford-upon-Avon. The views I’d seen on a daily basis were either a run-down factory that had closed decades ago or the crumbling high street, where eighty per cent of the stores were boarded up and the rest were betting shops.
So to be here, in a beautiful town like this, so close to the sea, working in a romance library all day with my friends, was what dreams were made of.
