GHOSTS OF ST. BARTS a totally addictive romance read (St. Barts Romance Books Series Book 5) Read Free Page A

head of curls she had a dishevelled and careless look. She was not at all the type of woman Astrid would have picked for Sven. She would have chosen someone older; controlled and professional looking. Somebody just like herself.
    Astrid sat abandoned at the table. Sven had got up and was whispering something in Sunny’s ear that made her blush. He used his thumb to wipe away a smudge of pool chalk from her cheek. Astrid had to turn away from the look they exchanged.
    Stellan appeared with a fresh stein of beer.
    “We missed you this summer. You would have loved Judith’s party. It was lots of fun. It’s good to see him so happy, and who can blame him? Sunny’s one in a million.”
    “Why?” Astrid blurted out the question before she could help herself. “She’s not so special. She’s more cute than hot.”
    Stellan looked down at her almost with pity.
    “A lot of women are hot. You’re hot. Sunny has something special — she’s warm. You can imagine coming home after a bad day and seeing her smile. It would make you feel better about the world.”
    “My God, Stellan! I think you’re smitten.”
    “What are you two talking about?” asked Sven.
    “Stellan has a crush on your wife,” answered Astrid with more than a touch of malice.
    Stellan blushed but didn’t deny it. “We’re pen pals.”
    “I’ve been writing to Stellan for months, sending him stamps from my dad’s old letters. He’s a philatelist.” Sunny had to laugh at the sudden gleam in Sven’s eyes. “That means he collects stamps, silly.”
    “Just like you to indulge in a retro hobby like that,” said Astrid.
    “It may be retro but it’s getting more expensive now that so few people use snail mail. Sunny, I should pay you for some of the stamps you sent. The ones from the old Soviet Union are quite valuable.”
    “It’s not the money, Stellan. It’s the pleasure that makes them valuable. I can’t imagine anyone enjoying them more than you.”
    Glancing down at his watch, Sven signalled it was time to go.
    “Be back in a minute,” said Sunny. “Ever since I had the baby, the cold wind gets to my bladder.”
    Astrid took the opportunity to draw Sven aside. “I’m sorry you’re leaving so soon.”
    He didn’t seem to pick up on her urgent, unspoken invitation. “I want to get home to tuck in Bliss. I’ve been busy all day and haven’t had a chance to spend much time with her.”
    Astrid was still processing this revelation when Sven surprised her even further.
    “You’re going to be around over the next few days?”
    “Sure.”
    “Sunny’s going out of town. I have a proposition for you. I’ll call you.”
    Astrid’s heart leapt. She kept her face impassive.
    “I look forward to hearing from you.”
    As the couple said their goodbyes, Astrid smiled and thought; I knew it! I knew he’d be mine when he came home. Her triumph was somewhat dampened when she overheard Sven joking to his wife that they’d better get home to try philately — it sounded like it involved a lot of licking.
    * * *
    Astrid trudged up the front steps to her apartment. The evening hadn’t gone as she’d expected. She hoped that when Sven contacted her in the coming days they could rediscover their special connection.
    She felt the knots in her shoulders loosen as she dropped her keys in the Baccarat crystal bowl beside the front door. As always she was calmed by the spare, almost minimalist lines of the space that was hers. She was heading up to bed when she realized the kitchen light was on.
    She almost fell over when the voice said, “You’re alone.”
    “You scared me. What are you doing here?”
    “I was waiting for your lover, but I see he’s not here. You must be losing your touch.”
    “Don’t be insulting.”
    “I saw the flowers on your bedside table; you were planning to pick up where you left off. What’s the matter? Has he gone off you?”
    “It wasn’t like that,” she muttered through clenched teeth. “He brought