Page 63 of The Cosy Christmas Chocolate Shop

‘Yeah, sorry, just woke up.’ She didn’t mention the need to pee.

‘Looking for something?’ She could hear the irony in his voice, and saw a half-smile across his lips.

‘Maybe.’

‘You’ll be getting chilly out there. Want to come in?’ he lifted the duvet cheekily.

Emma stayed silent. Could she, should she? Wouldn’t she just be heading back into a whole heap of trouble?

‘I’m dressed, if that’s what you’re worried about. Well, T-shirt and boxers. Your choice. Just don’t stand there all night – it’s a bit freaky.’

She laughed. Whoa, she so wanted to feel his strong arms around her. But was that all he was offering? She suddenly felt she was on a pivot, her decision in the next second or two might just change everything – with or without sex being involved.

‘Well?’ The duvet was still half-lifted.

Emma moved towards the sofa, and saw him shift a little towards the back to make room. She took a slow breath and slid herself in beside him – her back to his front. There wasn’t a lot of room, so side by side was the best they could do. His arm slipped around her lower ribs from behind, and felt so very natural there, keeping her close.

‘Okay?’ His voice was warm and mellow there at her ear.

‘Yes.’

‘Good.’

And they lay there so very close. And it felt as good as she had imagined it might when she’d lain in her lonely bed many evenings before, trying to push the thoughts of him from her mind. Her breathing began to slow to match his. He held her tenderly, yet making no moves to touch her provocatively; she wasn’t quite sure if she was disappointed or not, and then she began to relax, feeling his breath against her hair.

She felt herself drifting off …

It was light. Emma felt a bit achy and at an odd angle. There was something heavy across her … oh, an arm, not her arm; a muscular, slightly hairy arm was wrapped around her.

She opened her eyes, recognised her own living room.

She was there on the sofa with Max. She had a moment of panic, had they? Surely she would have remembered something like that. They hadn’t even been drinking last night. Her nightshirt was still on and – she tried to concentrate, despite there being a distinct feeling of a ‘morning glory’ at her lower back (wow, it had been a long time since she had felt that against her; Luke had always been a morning person) – she had a sense that it was indeed still safely packed away under boxer shorts.

‘Morning,’ came a voice behind her ear, with a hint of humour.

‘Morning,’ she answered, bright as brass. ‘I think we have work to do.’ She needed to think about the shop, keep her focus on that. And she was up and out from the duvet before he had a chance to consider what he might do with that ‘morning glory’ after all.

31

By eight-thirty they’d had a quick breakfast of scrambled eggs on toast and Max had now started on the second window seat.

He was hammering away, securing the frame in place, looking slightly stiff as he moved – probably the results of last night’s work and sleeping hunched up alongside Em for half the night on a sofa. That thought made her smile.

Emma had a few calls to make to get everything organised for the shop reopening the next day. James, her brother, wouldn’t be aware that it was all systems go again, after her telling him of Ron’s illness on Friday. She’d be needing a hand to transport the furniture which he’d picked up for her and was storing in his garage, also the new cushions Chloe was making. She’d also need to call Bev and Pete to get the chocolates transported back from their house. Holly was meant to be coming across with Adam this afternoon to help too, so it was all hands on deck again. It was going to be a long couple of days, for sure, but it was exciting, seeing her dreams becoming a reality.

Emma stood watching Max work; she could already imagine the circular pine tables in place by the windows with her mix-and-match wooden chairs. She had decided she would chalk-paint the more battered looking ones, keeping the best two as natural wood. She offered to fetch Max a coffee. He still had a lot of work to do and he had his own business to get back to. She was so very grateful for his help. The café was back on track, with a little – actually, some huge – help from her friends and family.

It was wonderful to think that by Friday night they’d be celebrating the opening of The Chocolate Shop Café. A party would be such a lovely way to thank all her friends and family and the local community, not just for their help with this project but for all their support over the past few years. They had made her feel so welcome in the village from the start, taking her under their Warkton-by-the-Sea wing, when they only knew her as the new girl in the village who was setting up a chocolate shop, and when her world was at its very bleakest.

She could picture herself on her launch evening, handing out glasses of Prosecco, with plates of chocolate treats. Hmm, chocolate canapés – she could add a little twist to some of her favourite creations, and have some mini chocolate brownies to give an idea of the baked goods for the café. She knew that time was going to be of the essence this week – there would still be some finishing touches to add to the shop, out of hours. Hopefully, Ron might shake off his bug and be back in action in the week to make the final alterations to the counter area.

There was a loud rap at the shop door. She was surprised to find it was Danny from the pub, with another chap. Perhaps they were coming for a nosy to see how things were going.

Emma unlocked the door and let them in.

‘Hi, Em. Meet your new chippie,’ Danny announced with a grin.

Chippie? Fish and chips? Their supper had been lovely from the pub last night, maybe they were bringing up some chips for their lunch too, Emma mused.