Reluctantly In Love (Emerald Cove Romance Book 1)

by Siân James

  I drove as fast as I safely could back to my apartment, then juggled the burgers, my empty coffee cup, purse and phone as I unlocked my front door.

  “Surprise,” a deep voice sounded from behind me, and everything I was carrying flew into the air as I shrieked in fright and spun, my hands lifted and ready to karate chop.

  It was Matt. An expression of amusement on his face, hands held half out as if he were going to hug me. He eyed my raised hands. “Mr. Miyagi would be proud, Izzie-san.” With a wink, he bowed and I unfroze, slapping at his shoulder. He dodged and grabbed me, pulling me in until my body was flush against his.

  “Don't do that!” I exclaimed, laughing.

  He was smiling down at me, sapphire eyes radiating pure joy so my heart continued racing. “I'm sorry, I didn't realise you'd jump so much. I'll have to remember to do that again.”

  In mock outrage, I took another swat at his arm and opened my mouth to protest, but he wasted not one more second covered it with his own. It started out as a gentle exploration, caressing, re-learning. His tongue touched mine gently, reverently but I felt the need humming in his body, answering the desire in mine.

  Just when things were really starting to heat up, a voice from behind Matt croaked out, “Nice to see you home safe, Matthew. I expect to see you soon to arrange our date.”

  Matt and I broke apart, his eyes dancing with humour. He turned so that he was holding the door open with one hand, his other arm wrapped tightly around my shoulders so my front was plastered to his side, my hand on his chest. “Gladys, nice to see you again too. I'll be sure to be in touch soon. I can't wait,” he said charmingly, and she blushed.

  She looked between us and sighed. “Ah, young love. Get on with you both, then.” She waved us away as if we were atoning in her front door and shuffled off down the stairs. “I don't have time to chat, I'll be late for bingo, and I've got my eye on Arthur Conrad. If I don't get there early enough Molly Jenkins will steal my seat!”

  Matt gave me a bemused grin and called after her, “You mean I'm not the only one?”

  Her response was a delighted cackle, which echoed up the stairwell until she disappeared out the entrance door. We picked up everything I’d dropped, and moved inside, dumping it all on the entryway table.

  I giggled at the expression on Matt's face as he pushed the door closed. “Sometimes I think the elderly have more game than we do.”

  “Or at the very least Gladys does.” He wrapped his arms around me, his head descending to mine, and our lips touched. “Now where were we?”

  “You were going to tell me how you got here half an hour earlier than predicted, and I think I was going to feed you,” I said against his mouth.

  Matt pulled back and frowned. “I'd rather make up for all our lost time.” But the rumble of his stomach betrayed him.

  “You know I'm happy you're back.” I gave a flutter of my lashes. “But you clearly need some sustenance if you're going to survive what I have planned for you the rest of the weekend.”

  Wiggling his brows, he said, “I like the sound of that.”

  “You should.” I spun and picked up the paper bag. “But first, burgers.”

  We took our food to the balcony and settled into the Adirondack chairs.

  “Why did you get her half an hour earlier?”

  “I woke up early and couldn't get back to sleep, plus I had good traffic and incentive.”

  I blushed, chewed, swallowed. “So that's it, then? Nothing left? You're fully moved to Emerald Cove?”

  He nodded. “Yup, that's it. I have a hire trailer downstairs with a few things and the removalists are bringing the rest tomorrow. I'm storing a bunch of stuff in my folks shed, but I have plans on selling the apartment and buying a house in about six months, so it'll all go there.”

  My adrenaline spiked. A house. That was much more settled than an apartment. My tummy did a little happy dance.

  “I had thought, if you were interested, we could maybe look at a house … together.” He lifted his eyes from his burger, catching me frozen, mid-bite. “Only if you're interested. And it's six months or more away yet, so I thought I'd throw it out there for you to think about.”

  I put my burger down. “I would love to consider possibly looking at a house with you in six or more months,” I answered with conviction, though my words were as non-committal as you could get, and he laughed.

  He put his plate down, took mine from my hands and set it down too, grabbed my hands and pulled me into his lap.

  “Beautiful Izzie, there is something I need to tell you,” he said seriously. Butterflies erupted in my stomach.

  I really, really hoped I knew where he was going with this because I was fit to bursting to tell him I was in love with him. I didn't care if he said it first, but I had the feeling he wanted to, so I sat quietly.

  “From the first moment you pummeled on my door—”

  I ducked my head, my cheeks colouring at his reminder, and he grinned

  “—you have captured my thoughts, my emotions and my intense curiosity in a way I didn't know was even possible.” He took a breath and waited until I met his eyes again. “I love you.”

  “I love you too,” I responded.

  “I know,” he gave me a cheeky smile, which I kissed off his face. Then things got a little heated and we ended up eating our burgers for dinner.

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  This book has been a long time coming. After approximately ten years of false starts and much trial and error it finally came to fruition. For this I have to thank my parents who never stopped believing in me. My husband for watching the kids and encouraging me to keep going. My good friend, Bec for reading the horrid first draft and all her valuable feedback. My outstanding editor Hannah Sullivan from Hannah Sullivan Editing, and Sarah from Okay Creations for creating this beautiful cover in the middle of a pandemic (we got there in the end!). What a ride it has been. I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it.