GHOSTS OF ST. BARTS a totally addictive romance read (St. Barts Romance Books Series Book 5) by EMME CROSS
Authors: EMME CROSS
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in.” There was no mention of the uncanny resemblance of one of the angels to his parishioner, with the same strawberry curls and greenish-grey eyes.
“And Mimi’s memorial garden?”
“Perfect. The gardener has his work cut out for him keeping the paler roses flourishing in the heat and humidity. Mould and black spot. But they look wonderful. Come and see after the meeting tomorrow.”
“It’s a date.”
* * *
Sunny chattered about Linus’s sudden reappearance all the way home, and continued as she settled Bliss down for the night.
“He makes me feel so safe,” she said, nuzzling her daughter’s tummy.
Sven tried not to grimace but he was stung to the quick. He never made Sunny feel safe. That was Linus’s ace in the hole.
“Are you coming to bed?”
“I think I’ll take Sponge out for a walk. Don’t wait up. You have a busy day tomorrow.” With a gentle kiss on her forehead, Sven picked up the leash and took the eager dog out to wear off some energy.
Sunny’s face fell as the door closed behind them. Tonight it was the dog needed a walk. The night before it was because Bliss was teething. Email to answer. A late night phone call from his agent in Los Angeles. Sven had been making excuses not to have sex with her, staggering their bedtimes. One morning she’d found him asleep on the couch in the Great Room. They’d only made love once since London. He’d been so gentle she might have been a soufflé he was afraid would fall with the slam of the oven door.
This couldn’t continue. She’d talked to her therapist about it. She and Sven had been celibate for long stretches before, but then they had been apart physically, not emotionally. As she rubbed moisturizer into legs that would lie untouched again tonight, Sunny remembered what the doctor had said. Sven felt guilty and was afraid of losing control and hurting her again.
Okay, she understood.
But that didn’t prevent her from longing for his touch, his kiss. She even felt a pang of envy when he snuggled their daughter — or gave the dog a belly rub. Understanding didn’t stop Sunny from reaching out for his empty pillow, hoping against hope that he’d find his answers in the clear night sky and come home and want her again.
Chapter 10
The final notes of “ Panis Angelicus ” had barely faded before the small audience let out its collective breath and broke into applause.
The twelve-year-old singer was going to study at Julliard and there was even enough money left over in the scholarship to allow his mother to accompany him to New York City. The business of the morning complete, Linus and Sunny wandered into Gustavia in search of lunch. They settled at the Carl Gustaf Hotel where Linus had taken a suite, enjoying canapés and wine and the harbour view from their perch in the dining room.
“So how’s my favourite innkeeper?”
“If I’d known you were coming, I would have saved you one of the villas but we’re booked solid through to the end of March. I’m working on renovating the two other properties Mimi left in trust for Bliss — the old house in Corrosol and the two bedroom condo in Gustavia. I’m turning into a slum lord.”
“As if there were such a thing on St. Barts. It’s just as well the villas are booked. It’s a little soon for me to stay so close to Mimi’s — still too many memories. As for the foundation, you’ve done a terrific job sorting through all the candidates. But what a collection!”
“I know,” nodded Sunny savouring her array of mini quiches and marvelling at how well the mascarpone, sage and plum went together. She ticked off the list on her fingers. “A plumbing apprentice in France, an aspiring doctor going to McGill University in Montreal and an opera singer heading to New York to follow his dream. I like to think that Mimi is smiling down on them, wishing them well.”
“I don’t know how our budding opera singer will be able to fulfill his obligations and return to work on
“And Mimi’s memorial garden?”
“Perfect. The gardener has his work cut out for him keeping the paler roses flourishing in the heat and humidity. Mould and black spot. But they look wonderful. Come and see after the meeting tomorrow.”
“It’s a date.”
* * *
Sunny chattered about Linus’s sudden reappearance all the way home, and continued as she settled Bliss down for the night.
“He makes me feel so safe,” she said, nuzzling her daughter’s tummy.
Sven tried not to grimace but he was stung to the quick. He never made Sunny feel safe. That was Linus’s ace in the hole.
“Are you coming to bed?”
“I think I’ll take Sponge out for a walk. Don’t wait up. You have a busy day tomorrow.” With a gentle kiss on her forehead, Sven picked up the leash and took the eager dog out to wear off some energy.
Sunny’s face fell as the door closed behind them. Tonight it was the dog needed a walk. The night before it was because Bliss was teething. Email to answer. A late night phone call from his agent in Los Angeles. Sven had been making excuses not to have sex with her, staggering their bedtimes. One morning she’d found him asleep on the couch in the Great Room. They’d only made love once since London. He’d been so gentle she might have been a soufflé he was afraid would fall with the slam of the oven door.
This couldn’t continue. She’d talked to her therapist about it. She and Sven had been celibate for long stretches before, but then they had been apart physically, not emotionally. As she rubbed moisturizer into legs that would lie untouched again tonight, Sunny remembered what the doctor had said. Sven felt guilty and was afraid of losing control and hurting her again.
Okay, she understood.
But that didn’t prevent her from longing for his touch, his kiss. She even felt a pang of envy when he snuggled their daughter — or gave the dog a belly rub. Understanding didn’t stop Sunny from reaching out for his empty pillow, hoping against hope that he’d find his answers in the clear night sky and come home and want her again.
Chapter 10
The final notes of “ Panis Angelicus ” had barely faded before the small audience let out its collective breath and broke into applause.
The twelve-year-old singer was going to study at Julliard and there was even enough money left over in the scholarship to allow his mother to accompany him to New York City. The business of the morning complete, Linus and Sunny wandered into Gustavia in search of lunch. They settled at the Carl Gustaf Hotel where Linus had taken a suite, enjoying canapés and wine and the harbour view from their perch in the dining room.
“So how’s my favourite innkeeper?”
“If I’d known you were coming, I would have saved you one of the villas but we’re booked solid through to the end of March. I’m working on renovating the two other properties Mimi left in trust for Bliss — the old house in Corrosol and the two bedroom condo in Gustavia. I’m turning into a slum lord.”
“As if there were such a thing on St. Barts. It’s just as well the villas are booked. It’s a little soon for me to stay so close to Mimi’s — still too many memories. As for the foundation, you’ve done a terrific job sorting through all the candidates. But what a collection!”
“I know,” nodded Sunny savouring her array of mini quiches and marvelling at how well the mascarpone, sage and plum went together. She ticked off the list on her fingers. “A plumbing apprentice in France, an aspiring doctor going to McGill University in Montreal and an opera singer heading to New York to follow his dream. I like to think that Mimi is smiling down on them, wishing them well.”
“I don’t know how our budding opera singer will be able to fulfill his obligations and return to work on
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