And suddenly he knew she couldn’t leave. ‘You’re right.’
Connor didn’t wait for Finn, didn’t wait for anyone. He hopped up from his desk, grabbed his keys, called Jaws and was on the drive and in his truck in seconds. The passenger door opened and Finn climbed in. ‘For moral support,’ he murmured. ‘Besides, I’m a sucker for a happy ending – beats watching you talking to a ghost.’
They set off, but when they got to the end of the driveway the Skylars were standing in their way. Behind them Jesse pulled up in his Morgan and Amy jumped out. And behind them Julie from Tips & Toes looked out of her car window. Connor slowed and opened his door.
‘Where’s Madison?’ Jack looked inside the car. ‘She ran out of the cafe before we could tell her we’re not selling. We’re not selling to a man who treats the people on Sunflower Island the way David does – and after everything you’ve all achieved since we left, we just can’t.’
‘Gone.’ Connor’s voice flattened.
‘Where?’
‘To get the ferry. If we don’t catch up, we might never see her again.’
‘Then you’d better get going.’ Jack opened the back door so he and Sandy could hop in next to Jaws. ‘Put your foot down. This is an emergency.’
This was it, Connor decided, as he thumped the truck into first and headed out of his drive, taking the fast road across the island. It was time to step into the light and claim the life he deserved – and the woman he wanted to share it with. He wasn’t going to let her down again.
Forty
Connor pulled the truck into the ferry car park and cut the engine. He didn’t wait for anyone to follow – instead he started to run with Jaws at his heels, heading for the dock, hoping the ferry was running late because otherwise he knew he’d missed it. But he couldn’t think about that. Couldn’t think about what it would feel like to lose Madison for good.
‘Idiot,’ he muttered, as he skidded to a halt on the dock and stood watching the bubbling trail of water left by the ferry. It was too far to swim and there was no other way of catching it. Connor’s heart squeezed as he watched the boat disappear into a cluster of dark clouds on the horizon. ‘She’s gone.’
Rain began to splatter on Connor’s jacket, dribbling into his ears and down his collar as he sprinted to the booking office. If he bought a ticket for the next ferry, he might just be able to catch up with her. He dialled Madison’s mobile again, knowing already it was dead. Then he stopped running. Because in the distance, standing patiently beside a set of closed white shutters, was a woman who looked a lot like Madison.
Connor walked up to her, feeling his heart hammer with a mix of excitement and fear. Madison was standing with her back to him. His eyes dropped to her leggings and the flash of a red T-shirt under her jacket. ‘Why are you here?’ Connor asked slowly, ignoring the clatter of feet behind him signalling that both his dog and the others had followed. He had an audience, but couldn’t care less.
Madison turned, her eyes widening. ‘I could ask you the same thing.’
‘I came to stop you.’ Connor moved closer. ‘I’ll admit I’m stupid – I should have asked you not to leave.’
‘But you didn’t.’ Madison scanned his face, hers expressionless. Her backpack was by her feet and Connor fought the urge to take it so she couldn’t run away.
‘You stunned me…’ Connor searched for the words. The magical combination of nouns, adjectives and verbs that would convince Madison to stay. ‘Don’t go.’ He grimaced. ‘I wanted to dress the words up, to make them pretty, but I don’t know how…’ He swallowed. ‘I will say I need you, Madison. Please don’t go.’
Madison’s eyes brightened.
Connor’s attention slid to the ticket in her hands. ‘Oh… Did you miss the ferry?’
‘No.’
He frowned, looking back at the water, where the boat had all but disappeared. ‘So what are you waiting for?’
Madison’s eyes sparkled. ‘There’s no one around – even Sprinkles is closed. I think they’re all at the Grand Opening. I’m waiting for the office to open so I can ask someone to call me a cab.’
‘Where are you headed?’ Connor’s heart was in his throat.
‘Home.’ Madison looked into Connor’s eyes. ‘I realised something when I got here, when I was waiting for that ferry. I realised there was nowhere else I wanted to go. You were right. I have been afraid. I’ve been terrified of losing everything. So I’ve never allowed myself to stay in one place for long. But you showed me how it feels to belong. You showed me how it feels to be loved.’ Madison looked down at her hands, and Connor tipped her chin up so he could look into her eyes.
‘You’re not going?’ Connor felt the tightness across his chest ease.
‘I’m not going anywhere. My home is on Sunflower Island and I’m never leaving again.’
‘I’m sorry, I was an idiot.’ Connor stepped closer so he could look into Madison’s eyes. ‘I put work first because that’s what my father taught me. Because it was something I could control. But it’s not enough – it doesn’t mean anything.’ He leaned forwards so he could brush his lips against hers. ‘You were only gone a short time but the world grew darker. Without you all the light went out. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, getting lost on ridiculous adventure walks, drinking camomile tea, trying the dragon pose and flying kites. I love you, Madison Skylar – will you stay with me?’
Madison laughed and placed her hands around Connor’s neck, jumping up suddenly so she could wrap her legs around his hips. And Connor held on, pulling her closer, knowing he’d never let her go again.
‘I love you too, Connor Robertson. I need a man like you in my life. Someone sensible and responsible to keep me grounded, who’ll keep me on the straight and narrow, making sure I don’t get lost. I don’t care if I’ve lost The Hideaway, because you make me feel like I belong.’
‘You haven’t lost The Hideaway, Madison.’ Connor dipped his head and kissed his way across Madison’s skin to her mouth, taking the kiss deeper until someone behind them coughed. When he looked up, Sandy, Jack, Finn, Amy, Jesse and half the clientele of Tips & Toes were watching them.
‘I’d say get a room, but we’re a long way from home,’ Finn said mildly. ‘I think what Connor was trying to tell you – before he got distracted – is that The Hideaway isn’t for sale.’
‘That’s right, we’ve taken it off the market,’ Sandy added, smiling. ‘Please come home, Madison. I promise there’s a place for you there. I’m so sorry we didn’t tell you about my illness or the sale. You’re an important part of our lives, but we never wanted you to feel responsible for us, or that you had to stay… We’ve always wanted you on Sunflower Island, we just thought your heart lay elsewhere.’
‘I did love seeing the world,’ Madison admitted. ‘But I’ve realised I love being here – with all of you – more.’
‘Then stay!’ everyone on the dock shouted, stepping forwards so they could envelope Madison into a huge hug. And Madison hugged each of them back, one by one, until she got to Connor again, and he swept her up into his arms and slowly kissed her.
And at that moment, Madison knew, whatever happened, she’d finally found her way home, to the new beginning she’d been searching for.
If you adored Connor and Madison’s story, why not take a trip to the beautiful Castle Cove in Summer at the Castle Cafe. Alice is escaping a broken heart… could lifeboat volunteer Jay O’Donnell be the one to fix it? Get it here!
Summer at the Castle Cafe
‘Yes, yes, yes! This was the book that I have been waiting for all year! I absolutely loved it! Had me hooked from the first page… worth far more than five stars… Fab, fab, fab!!’ Stardust Book Reviews, 5 stars
IF YOU ONLY READ ONE BOOK THIS SUMMER, MAKE IT SUMMER AT THE CASTLE CAFE…
When Alice Appleton’s boyfriend dumps her out of the blue, just after she has lost her mother, she‘s knocked sideways. Escaping to the stunning Dorset coast, she
takes a job at the crumbling Castle Café. It’s a million miles away from her busy London lifestyle, and she knows her mum would approve. Surrounded by cream teas and welcoming faces, could the quirky seaside village be the perfect place for Alice to heal her broken heart this summer?
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Mysterious and handsome Jay O’Donnell has lived in picturesque Castle Cove since he was a child. Haunted by a tragedy from his past, he’s on a mission to save as many people as possible as a lifeboat volunteer. When newcomer Alice catches his eye, Jay he has to remind himself he can have no distractions. But he begins to realise that it might just be his turn to be rescued…
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As Alice and Jay find in each other someone they can really talk to, will they learn the importance of letting go to make way for second chances?
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A heart-warming and gorgeously uplifting story about the importance of friendship, finding yourself and embracing the summer. Perfect for fans of Debbie Johnson, Lucy Diamond and Phillipa Ashley.
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Get it here!
Hear more from Donna Ashcroft
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Books by Donna Ashcroft
Summer at the Castle Cafe
The Little Christmas Teashop of Second Chances
The Little Guesthouse of New Beginnings
A Letter from Donna
I want to say a huge thank you for choosing to read The Little Guesthouse of New Beginnings. If you enjoyed it, and want to keep up to date with all my latest releases, just sign up here. Your email address will never be shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.
I loved being on Sunflower Island with the characters from The Little Guesthouse of New Beginnings. Everyone was so warm and there was such a wonderful sense of family. I hope you’ve enjoyed visiting the island and stopping in at the guesthouse too. Were you cheering for Madison as she tried to find her home? And did you love Connor as he gave in to what he’d wanted all along – leaving the lessons from his past behind to swim, try yoga and fall in love? If so, it would be wonderful if you could please leave a short review. Not only do I want to know what you thought – it might encourage a new reader to pick up my book for the first time.
I really love hearing from my readers – so please say hi on my Facebook page, through Twitter or on my website.
Thanks,
Donna Ashcroft
www.donna-writes.co.uk
The Little Christmas Teashop of Second Chances
Snow is beginning to fall around the cosy Castle Teashop, with its toasty log fire, scrumptious mince pies and delicious hot chocolates. Romance is in the air and Lily King is hoping some winter magic will help to make her dreams come true…
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Twenty-five-year-old Lily King is wondering when her life is going to start. She adores working at the much-loved Castle Teashop, surrounded by familiar faces and delicious cakes. But she’s stuck in a rut. She’s just been dumped by her boyfriend and her dream job seems to be slipping through her fingers.
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When her best friend Emily Campbell needs urgent help to organise her enchanting Christmas wedding, Lily realises it’s finally her moment to shine and reach for the opportunities she’s been wishing for. Can she pull off the biggest celebration Castle Cove has ever seen or will something - or someone - make things more complicated than she imagined?
* * *
Rebellious and handsome photographer Josh Havellin-Scott has always felt like an outsider, especially next to his perfect older brother, who is about to get married. At the last minute, Josh finds himself roped into plans for the Big Day, the very last thing he wants to do, until he is meets creative and quirky Lily King…
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When Lily and Josh are thrown together, it’s clear they couldn’t be more different. But they begin to realise that opposites can attract – and sometimes when you’re not looking for love, it comes and finds you when you least expect it. With some festive magic, will they manage to work together and save the day?
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And could they discover a winter romance of their very own along the way?
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An utterly scrumptious festive romance about the importance of being true to yourself, following your dreams and opening your heart to second chances. Perfect for fans of Carole Matthews, Milly Johnson and Debbie Macomber.
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Get it here!
Acknowledgements
I’ve been thinking a lot recently about support and how far you can go when you have the right people in your life. People who are there, offering the right things at the right times – celebrating wins or giving encouragement when things don’t work out. So, I wanted to take some time here to appreciate them.
Thank you to Jackie and Julie, who have always brought sunshine, sanity and just the right amount of wine into my life. To my writing buddy Jules Wake for cheering me on when I’ve most needed it. To Katy Walker, Sue Moseley, Kirsty Egan-Carter, Hester Thorp, Andy Ayres, Steve Phillips, Bernadette O’Dwyer, Maria Rixon, Chris Evans, Alison Phillips and Amy Deane – your support has been amazing.
To Kirstie Campbell – an author in the making. I absolutely love that you’ve read my books and thank you for your lovely texts.
To my ultra-supportive partner (and hero) Chris, and my gorgeous teens Erren and Charlie, for believing in me – and for the incredible book cover bunting.
To all the people at ADP, who have bought my books and given me so much support. I can’t tell you how much it means to me.
To Natasha Harding for your brainstorming, editing, advice and assistance in helping to guide my stories (while vastly improving them). To Noelle Holten, Kim Nash, Ellen Gleeson and the rest of the Bookouture team for the fantastic covers, blurbs, PR, social media support and everything else you’ve done. To all the other Bookouture authors – you are an awesome, talented and supportive bunch. I’m so proud to be in such amazing company.
To Katie Fforde for putting me on the right path, just when I most needed it. And to the Romantic Novelists’ Association (RNA) for all the incredible work you do. I wouldn’t have been published without you.
To my talented sister Tanya Roberts, for the photos you’ve taken for me to use on social media (and to her husband James for starring in them). To my brother, Peter Ashcroft, who read my books in one sitting, and to my sister-in-law Christelle, for letting him. And to my parents, Janette and Ian Ashcroft, for all their support.
And finally, to the people who have read my books and enjoyed them, many of whom have written lovely reviews – they really do mean the world. Thank you.
Published by Bookouture in 2019
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An imprint of StoryFire Ltd.
Carmelite House
50 Victoria Embankment
London EC4Y 0DZ
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www.bookouture.com
Copyright © Donna Ashcroft, 2019
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Donna Ashcroft has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work.
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers.
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eBook ISBN: 978-1-78681-757-0
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places and events other than those clearly in the public domain, are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
onna Ashcroft, The Little Guesthouse of New Beginnings: A gorgeously feel-good and heart-warming romance to escape with
The Little Guesthouse of New Beginnings: A gorgeously feel-good and heart-warming romance to escape with Page 25
