Read Online The Turnaround Treasure Shop by Jennie Jones - Free Book Online Page B

they’re still young.’
    â€˜And I’m over the hill?’
    â€˜There are things we can’t discuss in front of you.’
    Lily settled her features into a sardonic contemplation of Charlotte. ‘I’ve been married, remember?’
    â€˜Yes, but that wasn’t in any way nice. Romantic didn’t even come into the equation of your marriage.’
    Lily didn’t argue or even feel affronted. It was true, and her girlfriends in town knew it, and she didn’t mind them knowing it.
    â€˜You’re missing out on the really nice parts of a relationship. The juicy parts. The saucy bits.’
    And the tender, private moments. Lily had dreamed of them often enough. But they hadn’t come her way and neither did she expect them to. That’s why she read the kissing books, where she was part of some other woman’s romantic adventure.
    â€˜Talking about oomph ,’ Charlotte whispered, looking over Lily’s shoulder.
    Lily spun to the door that led from the kitchen to the front of the hotel.
    â€˜Hi,’ Nick said, one hand on the open door. ‘Jillian was on reception. Said I could pop on through. Is that okay?’ He paused. ‘At least, I think it was Jillian.’
    â€˜Of course,’ Charlotte said, a smug smile on her face. ‘We were just talking about you.’
    Lily blinked as a rush of mortification swept through her body. ‘We were talking about your knives,’ she said quickly. ‘Charlotte thinks they’ve got oomph.’
    He raised the metal knife box in his hand. ‘Not sure what oomph’s got to do with cutting up vegetables, but your knives are ready and sharpened, Charlotte.’
    â€˜Thanks, Nick.’ Charlotte took the box off him. ‘You’ve just missed Dan. He’s gone for a run.’
    â€˜I know. Saw him go. He’s coming over to my place later for a gym session.’
    â€˜Well.’ Charlotte smiled heartily. ‘Must get back to my scones.’ She walked over to her end of the kitchen, sprinkled some flour onto Olivia’s pastry then picked up her scone dough and started kneading it intently, leaving Lily uncomfortably alone with Nick.
    Lily threw a quick smile in Nick’s direction and turned her focus to the potatoes. ‘I ought to get on with these pasties.’
    â€˜Lily.’
    â€˜Yes?’ she asked, sounding husky.
    â€˜I’ve got Janie-Louise’s bike in the ute, and Andy’s outside. I’ll run you both home when you’ve finished work.’
    Another favour. She waved a hand his way but couldn’t meet his eye. ‘No need to wait for us, Nick. Honestly. I can ride the bike home, or Andy can and I’ll walk.’
    â€˜It’s not a problem,’ he said quietly, sounding patient. ‘I want to have a word with Mrs Tam anyway. I’ll wait for you outside.’
    He made to leave.
    â€˜Don’t wait with Jillian on reception,’ Charlotte called out to him. ‘Or you’ll never get Lily home.’
    Jillian Tillman worked on reception duty afternoons to evening. Her twin sister Jessica worked the early morning to mid-afternoon shift. The time of day was the only way most people could tell the girls apart. The twins were in their early twenties and Lily adored them. Ten years younger than herself, but age didn’t count because when they were together, they were the only three young single women in town, since the fourth, Gemma Munroe, had left town two years ago when she turned 18. Gemma was now somewhere in Paris. How wonderful! Gem was an artist. Imagine all the youthful chances of romance she was surrounded by. Art, beauty and romance. Now there was a book Lily would like to read.
    Nick nodded goodbye but didn’t make an observation about being talked to death by either of the twins. He left the kitchen without another look at Lily.
    Lily picked up her peeling knife and got back to the potatoes. Charlotte