Chapter 1
Olivia opened the passenger door of the Jeep and slipped inside. She couldn’t believe she was doing this. And no, it wasn’t the wedding she objected to, though she thought her niece, at twenty-two, was too young to be getting married.
“Stop it.” Her sister Ashley, mother of the bride, gave her a knowing look as she maneuvered the hire car out of the airport car park.
“Stop what?”
Ashley rolled her eyes. “Stop thinking about why you don’t want to be here.”
“Of course I want to be here.” She looked out of the windshield. “Blue sky, sun.” She nudged her eldest sister with her elbow. “A chance to spend time with my two big sisters and their families. How could I not be excited to be in Nantucket?”
“Because you think Sophie is making a big mistake,” Ashley said dryly.
“Not true. Just because I believe the secret to living happily ever after is living alone doesn’t mean it’s right for everyone. Sophie’s happy—I’d go as far as to say besottedly happy. That’s all that’s important.”
Ashley glanced sideways at her. “Okay, so the wedding isn’t the reason...” She snapped her fingers. “Of course! It’s the two weeks away from work that’s got you looking like you’re sitting on a nest of ants.”
“Hardly. Look, no wriggling,” she countered, keeping deliberately still.
Ashley darted another glance at her. “You’ve got the body language of a woman who wants to lunge for the door handle and scarper back to the airport.”
“That would be stupid when I’ve only just got here.” It would take her a while before she was ready to climb back into the small propeller plane that had brought her from Boston.
“Stupidwould be worrying about whether the office can survive without you for two weeks.” Ashley arched an eyebrow. “Even stupider would be worrying if you can survive without the office.”
Damn—her sister knew exactly how to make her feel small. “Fine, you’ve made your point.” She swallowed. “Yesterday Simon told us he was stepping down. They’re looking to replace him internally and I’m in the running. Me and Stuart.”
“Hot damn, my baby sister’s going to be a chief investment officer.”
“Maybe.” Her heart gave a little jump inside her rib cage. “But I have to beat Stuart.”
Ashley snorted. “Please, you’re not going to let anyone else get this job, especially not Stuart. You’ve been working towards it for too long.”
CIO had been her ambition when she’d joined Techtonic Capital Management fresh out of university. They valued loyalty, and she’d given them that on the understanding she’d be fast-tracked. Now she was within touching distance of the job she wanted, but instead of proving her worth to the board, she was here. Fortwo weeks.
“You deserve a holiday, Liv.” Ashley’s voice broke through her spiraling thoughts. “Rest, enjoy the break, and go back fighting with all guns blazing. If they don’t know your value by now, they never will.”
She wasn’t convinced—this was too big an opportunity not to give it her total and absolute focus—but there was no point getting worked up over a decision that had already been made.
With a resigned sigh, she reached into her bag and turned off her mobile. “There. No more looking at my phone for two weeks.”
Ashley spluttered with laughter. “You won’t even make it two hours.”
“Is that a bet?”
“Absolutely.”
“Have you forgotten how competitive I am?”
“Absolutely not.” Ashley smirked. “But at least this way I’m guaranteed two hours of your undivided attention.”
Well played, sis. She didn’t say the words out loud. Ashley was far too pleased with herself already. “Where’s Jessica?” Jessica was the middle sister, forty-two to Ashley’s forty-six and her thirty-nine.
“She couldn’t be arsed dragging her bum off the sun lounger to pick you up. Her words.”
Olivia smiled, picturing Jessica sunning herself, round pregnant belly proudly on display. “Can’t say I blame her. She’s eight months pregnant. Plus it’s the first time she’s been away from the kids.” Jessica had three children: Mia, eight going on eighteen; Matthew, thirteen; and Harry, fifteen. Number four had been unplanned but definitely not unwanted. “She’s going to be a hyped-up hormonal nightmare.”
“She’s going to be a fun-loving aunt, throwing herself into the hen week with gusto.” Ashley slid her a pointed look.
