Page 52 of The Cosy Christmas Chocolate Shop

My, he was such a good kisser, stirring up all kinds of dangerous feelings and sensations that hadn’t surfaced for a very long time. It was like he’d rewired her body.

But it was purely physical, she reminded herself. Hah! She could hear Bev’s voice in her head now, hilariously: ‘It’s about bloody time. Just get yourself back in the saddle, girl!’ which she ignored. She could get this so wrong by rushing into things and end up getting herself hurt. Why spend all these years keeping herself safe? She felt a little vulnerable already, so where the hell did it go from here? Nowhere in a rush, that was for sure. All this relationship stuff felt rather like an emotional Russian Roulette. She had let herself get carried away enough as it was.

‘Goodnight, Max. Thanks for a lovely meal, and a lovely evening.’

‘You’re so welcome, Emma.’ He looked slightly disappointed as she moved to get out of the jeep, but he seemed fine. ‘I’ve had a great time too,’ he continued. ‘Tomorrow?’ he asked. ‘Are you still free for a walk in the morning?’

Oh yes, she had already agreed to that. It was only a dog walk, and she’d have to take Alfie out as it was.

‘Ah, okay, yes, that’ll be nice. Come here for, say, ten?’

‘Great, will do. Sweet dreams, Em.’

‘You too. Night.’ And she felt like someone had shaken her up like a snow globe as she watched him drive off, and head down the hill to his harbourside B&B, wondering where her emotions were going to settle.

25

Emma woke early, all the emotions of last night flooding her brain. So, she and Max were about to go on another beach walk together, stirring up memories of that first meeting on Boxing Day.

She got up and made herself a cup of tea, carrying it through to the small living room where she sat for a while with Alfie. From the cottage window, she could see it was a bright autumn day, just perfect for a wrapped-up, sandy stroll.

‘Well, Alfie, what do you think, hey? We’ll be meeting Max again soon.’ She didn’t dare mention the ‘walk’ word, as the poor dog would think it was imminent. She glanced at her watch; crikey, it was only 7.00 a.m., still three hours until they were due to meet at the beach. She might as well go and do some chocolate-making, or maybe make a tray of fudge. It would keep her busy, help allay the sugar-rush feeling of anticipation that was currently racing through her veins.

At a quarter to ten she heard a steady knocking on the shop’s main door. Em headed through, expecting to see some tourist hovering outside who hadn’t spotted the closed sign. But there was Max, looking rather gorgeous, holding a takeaway coffee, and grinning through the glass.

She unlocked the door and let him in. ‘Hi.’

‘Morning. Sorry I’m early, hope that’s okay. But I’ve just been hanging about after breakfast and thought I may as well wander up and meet you here instead.’

‘That’s fine. I was up early too. Come through a sec.’

‘I enjoyed last night.’ He looked serious as he said those words.

‘Me too. The meal was lovely … Well, I just need to grab my coat and get Alfie’s lead, ready for the walk.’ She headed towards the stairs, turning to say, ‘Grab a stool in the kitchen if you like. I won’t be long.’

‘Okay.’

She dashed upstairs, took a quick glance in the mirror, popped on some lip gloss, and flicked her fingers through her long hair. She grabbed her coat and scarf (the very same red tartan one that had started this whole thing off), then called for Alfie and took his lead off the coat peg. Alfie needed no encouragement and was leaping down the stairs ahead of her, tail wagging wildly as he reached the back door.

‘Max, come through,’ she called. ‘Alfie’s banned from the kitchen and shop, so if you can just hang on with him here, I’ll go and quickly lock up out front.’

‘Right.’ Max smiled as he came into the rear hallway. ‘Hey Alfie, good to see you, mate.’ He crouched down to pat the spaniel’s head whose tail wagged even more.

Emma joined them. ‘Ready.’

They set off down the village street, passing the quaint stone cottages that led towards the harbour. Fishing boats rocked on gentle waves within the harbour walls and one or two of the cobles had been pulled up on to the sandy shingle of the small beach. Nets, lobster pots, and colourful floats lay bundled up on the shore.

‘It’s a gorgeous morning,’ Max commented.

‘Beautiful. I love these crisp autumn days.’

‘Hope you didn’t mind me getting to you early?’

‘No, no, not at all. I’ve been up since seven anyway. I usually am. That’s when I make most of my chocolates, early morning. I can work away undisturbed. Whereas once the shop is open, I’m limited as to what I can do. I can’t really stop in the middle of making something or it’ll all be ruined.’

‘Wow – you work long hours then.’

‘Yep. All part of the job. But I couldn’t do it if I didn’t enjoy it. And I do, I love it.’