Page 29 of The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop

No answer. He might not be able to hear for the sound of the shower running. Oh well, she’d soon be back. She dashed out.

Max parked the Jeep up on the side street. He’d finished work early for a change and it would be lovely to surprise Emma, especially having been a bit late the last few weekends, and he was looking forward to a nice chilled-out evening together.

The back door, his usual port of entry out of hours, was unlocked, so he wandered in, calling out a ‘hello’ to Em as he entered. No answer, so he looked in the shop’s kitchen. She wasn’t there. Then he heard the sound of the shower running upstairs. Hmm, he smiled to himself, that could be a very nice welcome indeed! He swiftly made his way up the stairs.

He heard the shower stop, gave it a second or two and was about to stroll on in and take her gorgeous wet body into his arms, when the bathroom door was flung open.

‘What the fu—’

‘Ah, hi.’ The young man had very little on other than a short towel which was wrapped around his waist area, and he was grinning away as though he had every right to be there.

Max’s heart sank so low he felt physically sick. And then he had the strongest urge to punch the guy’s lights out. His fist was prickling as he heard the back door go, just as the lad whose face had paled was saying, ‘Ah, okay, it’s not like it looks, mate.’

‘Don’t you mate, me.’ Max’s voice was a low growl.

It was then that Emma came up the stairs where all she could see initially was Max. ‘Wow, hi Max, you’re early.’ Her voice came out a little squeaky, twigging who was still in her bathroom. Except, as she took two more steps up, she could see he wasn’t still in her bathroom at all and was standing opposite Max, sporting a very small towel over a crucial area.

‘Yeah, thought I’d surprise you …’ Max’s tone was full of irony, ‘thinking that it might be nice to get a bit more time together. But I see you have other plans.’ His voice was low, angry.

‘Ah, right. This really isn’t how it might seem, Max.’

‘And how’s that? That some guy’s been staying over?’

‘It’s not just some guy!’ She was floundering now, digging herself into a deeper hole, she knew. Dammit, she’d better get her explanation out quick or Max’d just carry on assuming the worst, but the words seemed to be stuck in her throat. ‘Max … this is Nathan, L-Luke’s brother.’ She’d managed to find the words at last. ‘He-he’s just staying in the village for a time.’ She looked between the pair of them. Max’s face still a scowl. ‘Okay, I can see how this might look right now, but it’s only because he doesn’t have a shower in his camper van.’

Nate was nodding. ‘Yep, no shower facilities in the VW.’ He tried a small smile. Max’s face was totally stony in return. ‘Well then, I’ll quickly get dressed, and get out of your hair, Em.’ Nate scurried back into the bathroom where he shoved on his shorts and T-shirt.

‘What the hell?’ was all Max could say, as Emma stood looking embarrassed, realising just how bad that had looked. All she did was hold up the milk carton as evidence, but she wasn’t quite sure what of.

Nate was out of the bathroom again in a matter of seconds. ‘Nice to meet you, Matt.’ He offered his hand to shake.

‘It’s Max,’ Max replied bluntly, with no intention of lifting his hand in response.

‘Right, I’ll leave you guys to it. I can see myself out. No worries.’

And he vanished.

‘I was fetching milk,’ Emma managed to say. ‘I was just doing him a bit of a favour.’

‘Yeah, I bet.’ Max was struggling to shake off the feelings of anger.

‘Hey, hang on, that’s not fair. There’s nothing at all going on. He’s virtually family, after all.’

Alfie came out to the landing to see what all the noise was about. Max patted his head absently.

‘And you didn’t have to be so damned rude,’ Emma continued.

‘What? How the hell would you have felt if you came down to my house and some woman was walking out of my shower half-naked?’

‘I’m sure I’d have given you a chance to explain.’

Max just raised his eyebrows at that. ‘Hah – really?’

‘Ye-es.’ Though Emma wasn’t totally certain herself.

‘Ah, well actually, that would never happen as you never have time to come down to my place. What with your precious Chocolate Shop taking up all your time.’ Max was so riled up it was all pouring out now.

That made the hairs on the back of Emma’s neck rise – her Chocolate Shop was very precious to her; surely he could understand that? ‘Well, if you don’t like it, you can bloody well get out of it!’ The words were out before she could stop them.