The Love Island Bookshop by Kate Frost (ebook reader with internet browser .TXT) 📕

her own, sipping a lukewarm coffee, feeling jet-lagged and in need of a shower, she was feeling less and less certain. It was only natural, though, to have second thoughts about such a major decision. And what would happen when the job came to an end – she could hardly stay living on a tropical island. What would she do then? Where would she go? She breathed deeply and focused on the storm clouds clustering over the city. The whole point of the next few months was to allow her the time to make decisions about her future and what she wanted to do with the next decade of her life.

The storm blew over as quickly as it had rolled in. The sky returned to a near-perfect blue, and the tall buildings of Malé sparkled in the sunshine once again. Freya sensed the heat increasing as the sun streamed through the windows, and she imagined the water that had just been dumped over the city steaming up from the pavements. She was looking forward to the next part of her journey and reaching an island filled with sand and leafy greenness.

She wandered down to the harbour in time to meet Ibrahim and the boat that would take her to Makumathi. Speedboats and traditional dhonis bobbed in the choppy water. The thought that the storm wasn’t far away crossed her mind, but she was distracted by a jolly Maldivian man holding up a printed sign with her name on it.

A couple was standing with him with their bags by their feet. Freya joined them and the man turned to her.

‘You must be Miss Freya Clifton, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Ibrahim,’ he said. ‘Please meet our newlyweds, Mr and Mrs Burrows. Welcome, all.’

They exchanged hellos and Freya followed the couple on to the boat as Ibrahim heaved their luggage on board.

Freya smiled at the couple sitting on the seat opposite. She’d clocked their matching wedding rings. The woman’s sizeable diamond engagement ring glinted in the sunshine.

‘You’re on honeymoon then?’ Freya asked, nodding at the ring.

‘Yes, we got married two, three days ago?’ The woman laughed. ‘We’ve lost track of time.’

‘I’m not sure it’ll matter where you’re going.’

‘You’re probably right.’ She gazed up at her husband. ‘This is our dream holiday, isn’t it?’ She turned back to Freya. ‘How about you? Is this somewhere you’ve always wanted to go?’

‘Kind of. I mean, there are lots of places I’d love to visit, but I’m lucky enough to have got a job out here for the next few months.’

‘Seriously?’ The husband looked impressed. ‘Doing what?’

‘Running a bookshop, although not on Makumathi. This is just an over-night stop.’

Ibrahim uncoiled the rope tying the boat to the dock and made his way to the front.

‘It will take us around thirty minutes to reach the island.’ He was round-faced, dark skinned, with a permanent smile and eyes that glinted with humour. ‘Right, hold on tight. It’s a fast and noisy journey and there’ll be quite a breeze,’ he said, flashing another toothy grin.

They set off at a moderate speed away from the harbour and the other speedboats and yachts, out towards the darker open water.

Freya looked back at Malé, its cluster of buildings shimmering in the heat haze. It was the last bit of civilisation she was likely to see for a while but she was more than happy to kiss goodbye to city living and embrace the laid-back lifestyle of a tropical island. Excitement began to take over from the nerves she’d been battling. It had been such a blur getting ready and organised over the last few months that she’d barely had time to digest the reality of it.

As soon as they were clear of the other boats, they sped up. Even enclosed within the speedboat, wind buffeted her through the gaps in the windows, but it was a delicious respite from the intense heat.

‘So, you won’t be staying on this island?’ the wife shouted over the roar of the engine.

Freya shook her head. ‘No, it’s one much further north; I’m just meeting the resort owner today.’

That thought made the butterflies return. The reality of meeting Zander made her anxious – his reputation preceded him. And in less than a month, the bookshop that she’d be in charge of running would be open.

Chapter Three

The boat sped past islands that glittered like emeralds in the ocean, giving Freya a glimpse of what they were heading towards. Soon enough an island appeared on the horizon, a green mound of trees ringed by pure white sand. The choppy water turned from deepest blue to a mesmerising turquoise the closer they got and the island began to reveal its details with palm trees looming over the beach.

Ibrahim docked, jumped out on to the wooden jetty and tied the boat securely. The boat rocked as Freya and the couple stood. She took Ibrahim’s outstretched hand and stepped on to the jetty. The heat took her breath away as much as the place did. A couple of people were snorkelling in the sparkling shallows and a handful of guests were sitting on the sunny deck of a bar overlooking the water. This wasn’t even the island she’d be staying on but her immediate reaction was she didn’t want to leave.

While Ibrahim retrieved their luggage, Freya followed the newlyweds the short distance along the jetty to a covered area where a European-sounding woman greeted the couple. A Maldivian woman handed them each a damp towel and Freya relished the cooling relief as she wiped her hands and patted her hot neck.

The European woman turned to her. ‘Freya, it’s lovely to meet you. I’m Ingrid.’ They followed the couple along the wooden walkway that led to the beach and a large thatched building nestled among the trees. The clearest aquamarine water Freya had ever seen lapped at the sides. ‘Zander wanted to be here to meet you, but he’s been delayed in Malé. He’ll be back this evening though so you