Reluctantly In Love (Emerald Cove Romance Book 1)

by Siân James

  A simple misunderstanding is what it was.

  It didn't have to mean the end of what we were starting. Did it? On one side of the coin, I didn't even want to be a small part of the reason why Matt was moving back to Emerald Cove. The pressure of being part of the reason for him sacrificing his amazing career was too much. But on the flip side, I wasn't naive enough to think I was the only reason. He’d said himself he needed a change, needed more out of life than just working hard. Plenty of people made those kinds of decisions at all points in their lives. Like Jake, who had upped and left London three years ago when his mum had gotten sick. He could've gone back, but he chose to stay in Emerald Cove.

  People chose to quit jobs and move to small towns from the city all the time and for many different reasons. I just needed to talk to Matt about all his reasons first.

  “There you are.” Camille entered the back room. “It's almost time to open!”

  I stood and smoothed out the dress I'd changed into, collected myself and went to open one of my dreams.

  Chapter 24

  The Little Flower Shop had been open for an hour, and for an hour I'd barely had time to breathe, let alone think about Matt. And yet every moment passing with the situation unresolved increased my anxiety.

  I searched every face for signs of Matt, hoping he'd come in to see me, to see how the shop was doing. But so far it had just been friends, townsfolk and tourists.

  I caught a lull in sales and excused myself. Camille gave me an alarmed look, but I grabbed Tash and directed her to step in behind the counter so the two tills were still operational.

  I kept my head down and made a beeline for the back room, giving smiles and the one-minute sign with my finger to those who were trying to grab my attention.

  Through the doors, I ran to my phone. There were messages from more people wishing me luck with my opening and missed calls I knew I'd have to return before the end of the weekend from a few people including a farmer and delivery man, but nothing from Matt.

  I dialed his number again and hung on the line, but once again it went through to voicemail.

  I glared at my silent phone. “Damnit.” What should I do? The dull roar of customers from the shop floor reached me, and I desperately wanted to go back out there and support Camille, Tash and my other friends and family who'd offered their help, but …

  Where was Matt?

  More than wanting to go back out there, I wanted to find him. To tell him … I don't know what. I just needed to talk to him and sort things out. I couldn't stand the idea of him thinking I didn't feel for him the way he felt for me. I eyed the phone again and made my decision. I removed the apron, grabbed my keys and stuffed them into my handbag, then signaled Jim. He was standing near the table set up with a decadent banquet.

  “What's up, love?”

  “I need to do something.”

  Jim’s jaw dropped open. “What, now?” He looked around the bustling room at the tourists picking out bouquets and vases, and the locals eyeing me, waiting for a chance to ask if they could get into a workshop sooner than the now-very-long wait list would allow.

  I nodded. “I'm sorry, it really can't wait. Everything is going so well. Camille knows what to do if there are any issues. I don't know how long I'll be.”

  “But this is your big day,” he protested, shifting his feet. I knew he was already dreading the interrogation he'd get from my mum when she found out Jim was the one I chose to tell I was leaving and not her.

  “It is, but there's something more important I need to do.”

  He must have seen my desperation to be gone because he nodded. “Alright, love. I suppose you want to duck out quick-like without being noticed. I'll distract your mother and tell Camille after you've gone.”

  “Thanks Jim.” I planted a kiss on his cheek.

  “Go on with you.” He waved me away and moved away.

  I ducked out the door and into the crowded square. People were everywhere. I wasn't sure I'd ever seen so many in Emerald Cove. I guessed the opening of the new building coupled with the festival had really drawn the crowds.

  The evening was beautiful; the heat of summer had really cooled off as the week progressed. Last weekend was probably the last weekend of real heat until next summer rolled around. Now, the warmth was comfortable, not suffocating, and the cool breeze blowing off the ocean would cause nothing more than a shiver.

  I weaved my way through the crowd, scanning faces as I did a lap of the square and street in front of the building. Then, I moved back and checked in the Beach Shack, where Andy was busy supervising his staff, and next door to Luke's surf store, where he was laughing with an older local surf lifesaver who was also my high school science teacher.

  “Excuse me, sorry to interrupt.” Both men turned their smiles on me. “Have you seen Matt?”

  Luke looked out the door. “Uh, yeah, he was just here reminding me I need to get changed into something smarter if I'm going to get any decent votes for the charity auction. It starts in ten minutes.”

  I checked my watch. He was right. The evening entertainment must have started about half an hour ago, the bachelor charity auction was scheduled to start at six-thirty.

  “Okay, thanks.” I turned and hustled out the shop, shouting “Good luck! You'd better remind Andy!” over my shoulder as I went.

  I dove back into the crowd and made my way as quickly as I could to the stage, a block up the road. The crowd grew thicker as I closed on the area. The warm-up band was playing a popular tune as children in sunflower costumes filtered off the stage to be greeted by proud parents.

  I jumped up and down, trying to get a visual over the crowds at where Matt should have been, but I couldn't see anything. It took me a good ten minutes to circle around the stage, but I couldn't even get close to the area behind it where those who were due to perform were hanging around.

  “Ladies and gentlemen!” a voice boomed over the loudspeaker, and I distractedly noticed Harold MacIntyre was MC. I craned my neck over the swelling crowd. “It is my greatest pleasure to bring to you a real treat for this year's Sunflower Festival. I can't say I was terribly impressed when I first heard the proposal—” Boos sounded from the crowd and he held up his hands, moving them in a settle down motion. “But after some upstanding young men in our community volunteered themselves, I realised it was just a bit of fun for a good cause. That cause being the Emerald Cove Nippers Surf Lifesaving Club and the Kids Surf Safety Program run in our schools.”

  A cheer went up this time, and Harold let them enjoy the moment. “So, on to one of our most anticipated events of the evening—the Charity Bachelor Auction!” The crowd went wild, everyone snickering and grinning at each other. “Okay, okay, a few rules. First, if you win a bachelor this evening, you are entitled to one, that's one meal of your choice, breakfast, lunch or dinner. You may have your pick of three restaurants in town who have all donated their services. These are the Surf Club, Lulu's on the Sand, and the Beach Shack from which our very own Andy Hughes and Luke Hunt are currently participating tonight.” Harold paused for the crowd to applaud.

  “Our second rule is in how to bid. We'd appreciate, if you're intending to bid, you use one of the red cards currently being handed out. It'll make it a lot easier for our auctioneer to see you in this crowd.” A teenager came past and shoved a few cards at me, I protested and moved to hand some back, but she was already gone. I put the pile on top of a nearby barrel that held empty paper cups and plates for anyone who wanted one.

  “And finally our last rule.” Harold paused and eyed the crowd. “These blokes are up here for charity, and they're real members of our community. There are also children present … so keep it clean.” The crowd laughed and cheered as Harold motioned for the men off-stage to join him.

  “Now, I'm sure you're tired of seeing my old face when you could be looking at some of Emerald Cove's finest.” Harold spoke in a game-show-style voice. “So in order of auction here they are, Andrew Hughes, be
tter known by his friends as Andy. He's twenty-eight years old. He likes surfing, sushi and watching foreign films.” Catcalls and whistles sounded as Andy strode confidently onto the stage, hands out and spinning around to show off the goods. “Following Andy, we have his good friend Lucas Hunt, who goes by the nickname Luke. Luke enjoys surfing too, hanging out with his friends and—” Harold's brow furrowed, he reread the paper, turned his head to Luke who was smiling innocently, then cleared his throat and continued with, “—riding the horizontal waves.”

  The crowd went wild, and Luke's innocent expression turned wicked. Despite my mood, I smiled. Trust him to get an inappropriate reference into his bio. In fact, Luke wasn't nearly as much of a player as Andy was; he'd had two steady girlfriends since university but had been single for over a year now. Come to think of it, I hadn't seen nor heard of Andy doing his usual pickups for a while now.

  “Next up we have Matthew Carter! Also goes by Matt, the prodigal son who has returned home from the big smoke. He likes paddle boarding, the beach and a certain florist in town, but we won't say too much more about that right now because we'd have to kick him off the menu!” Catcalls followed Matt as he strode onto the stage. My cheeks had already heated at Harold's words—how the hell did he know? Now, at the sight of Matt, my stomach did an uncomfortable flip. He gave Harold an unhappy face as he passed him, and I knew he hadn't added the last comment himself. Turning, he gave the audience an embarrassed smile and a wave, and I swear a few of the women around me swooned.

  He'd changed his clothing since I last saw him. They all appeared a little more dressed up. He wore tan shorts, hitting him just above the knee and a teal button down short-sleeved shirt with a pattern of white palm trees. And he looked hot.

  The bouquet of flowers he'd given me—had chosen each flower especially—flashed into my mind. Did this amazing, talented, hard-working man really love me? Wasn't it too soon?

  Yes, it is. But you feel the same way so who cares?

  Movement on the stage caught my attention.

  Harold had introduced Brendan Jones as well as a few guys who I knew from the surf club, but I wasn't sure where they worked in town.

  “Alright ladies, and any gentleman who might be so inclined, let’s start our bidding for Andy at fifty dollars! Do I have fifty?” A red card went up to my right by a middle-aged lady with a huge hat, “Yes! Can I have sixty dollars?”

  And so the bidding continued. Andy went for a respectable $270. The crowd warmed up a bit, and Luke went for $310. Then it was Matt's turn.

  “Alright, next up is Matt Carter, civil engineer and budding local property developer. Matt is responsible for the outstanding renovations of our beloved Emerald Cove Cinema Building. As an aside, the votes have been counted, and I can announce that the building will henceforth simply be known as”—he looked into the crowd over the top of his spectacles—”The Emerald.”

  The crowd clapped and cheered, clearly pleased with the news, but I was chewing on my thumb nail, nerves assailing me as I anticipated what would happen after Matt had been won and left the stage.

  “Okay, let’s start the bidding. Can I have fifty—”

  “One hundred!” A familiar voice from the crowd called out, and I swung my neck to the left to see Gladys standing with her bingo buddies, her red card held high in the air. “He's my neighbour, and I deserve a dinner.”

  The crowd tittered.

  “Alright then, does anyone have one hundred ten dollars?” Harold continued and someone held up a red card near the front. “One twenty?” Gladys held up her card, glaring at the previous punter. “One thirty?” A new bidder entered the fray, and I felt the nervous knot of energy in my stomach tighten. The number climbed to two hundred dollars.

  The bidding was fast and furious, women were standing, flashing their cards, and I felt the intensity of the crowd like a thick blanket. Something in me snapped, and I grabbed a red card from the barrel. “Three hundred!” I shouted, holding my card up high. All eyes turned to me but Matt's were the only ones I was fixed on. I felt a surge of determination. I had money in savings; I could win this.

  “Well, well, well, if it isn't our resident florist.” Harold smirked, and a few people in the crowd chuckled, but I didn't let it bother me. I was focused. Determined.

  “Three hundred dollars, you say?”

  I gave him one sharp nod, and Matt's head shook ever so slightly. He didn't want me to do it, but it wasn't his choice.

  “Can I have three ten?”

  Gladys lifted her red card.

  “Three hundred twenty?”

  I lifted mine.

  “Three hundred thirty?” Gladys's bid.

  “Three forty?”

  My bid. It seemed as if no one else was in the running anymore.

  “Three hundred fifty?” Harold asked Gladys, and she sighed and turned in her seat to me.

  “Honey, you can have him any day of the week, but for one evening he will be mine.” Then she turned back to Harold. “Five hundred dollars!”

  Some people in the crowd gasped while others clapped. Five hundred dollars? I couldn't match that. I mean, I could. But it wasn't sensible. And she was right. Hopefully.

  I shook my head, bowing out of the competition.

  “You sure love? Can't spare five hundred and one dollars ?”

  I shook my head again.

  “Okay, so Matt Carter is currently having dinner with Gladys O’Hare for an even five hundred. Going once, going twice, sold!” He banged the gavel he'd been wielding on the MC stand, and a round of applause filled the air, but I didn't wait to see Matt leave the stage. I darted as quickly as I could around the backside to where the contestants had exited earlier.

  I saw his back through the crowd walking the other direction, “Matt!”

  He turned and squinted at me. The sun had gone down over an hour ago, and twilight had faded to darkness. But the festive bulbs strung around the stage and between the street lights provided enough illumination that he couldn’t miss my frantic waving. He waited, hands on hips and a blank expression on his face as I weaved through the people milling about or making their own way around the festival. The scent of sausages, spicy Indian street food and Tibetan Momos permeated the air. I was hungry. I hadn't eaten since before the opening of the shop, but food would have to wait.

  I made it to where Matt was standing, his expression hadn't changed. I had a lot of work to do. “Hey, um—”

  “What the hell were you thinking?” He shook his head in short jerky motions as if to shake off whatever he was feeling. He was angry. Really angry. And I had no idea why.

  “What?”

  “I can understand if you were thinking of the kids and the good all that money would do them, but I really don't think you were thinking at all.”

  I jerked my head back at his insult.

  “Are you talking about the fact I bid on you?”

  “No, not the fact you bid on me. How much you bid on me.”

  I rubbed my opposite elbow, crossing my body as the embarrassment hit my cheeks. I hadn't really been thinking of what I was doing in the moment. I just knew I wanted to win him, and I wanted him to know how much he meant to me. Throwing money away was probably not the right way to go about it, but if I'd won him it all would have gone to a good cause.

  “You're just lucky Gladys is loaded.” He turned and stalked away. Stunned by his words, it took a minute for my mind to start my body after him.

  “Wait! Matt!” I called, darting after him. “What did you say about Gladys?” I navigated through the crowd, shoulder checking a few people in my haste. ”Sorry, sorry,” I mumbled while Matt stood above the rest and the crowd parted for him like the Red Sea.

  He twisted his head over his shoulder, made eye contact, then turned left to go behind some buildings, and I followed. As I pushed through even more people, my irritation rose. I'd searched him out to apologise, I'd bid on him with more money than I could sensibly spend on such a thing, and h
e was running away from me!

  I mean, how rude.

  I turned the corner to see he was only a few metres away but when he saw me, he turned and started walking away again. “Hey!” I called out, breaking into a jog to catch up, my dress swishing between my knees. “Hey!” I reached him and grabbed his shoulder, so he spun around to face me, but his eyes were still scanning the area.

  “What are you looking for?”

  His lips pressed together before he answered, “Some privacy.”

  Not what I was expecting. “Oh.” People were crowded around us, many watching with interest. Heat hit my cheeks and I dropped my eyes to the pavement.

  Matt made an annoyed sound, grabbed my hand and pulled me along behind him. It was all I could do to keep up, jogging to match his long strides as he dragged me along behind the building until we came to the back of the Emerald. He didn't stop here though. Instead, he led me part way down the arcade before pausing at the door to the office space upstairs.

  I'd been up here once before, but I hadn't seen it since it was renovated. Matt keyed some numbers into the security panel beside the door and it beeped, letting us through. When it closed behind us, there was a sudden vacuum of sound. Now only muted noises from the festival could be heard. He flicked the light, illuminating the stairwell. Then we hurried up the newly carpeted space to the front office. I had a glimpse of a sitting area, a water cooler and a plant before he pulled me through another door, down a hall and to the last room on the right. He opened the door and I took in a tastefully decorated office complete with a desk, side bar and lounge with a coffee table before Matt flicked the switch on the lamp on the desk and turned to me.

  He crossed his arms and his legs and leaned against the desk. A masculine pose of protection.

  Hmmmm.

  “Go on, then.”

  I narrowed my eyes. He wasn't going to make this easy. “Is this your office?”