The Beach Reads Book Club: The most heartwarming and feel good summer holiday read of 2021! (The Kathryn Freeman Romcom Collection, Book 5)

by Kathryn Freeman

  Plus there was that underlying … fizz. A sexual tension he thought she felt, too. He wasn’t going to act on it, he wasn’t ready for that step, but it didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy the prickles of awareness whenever their eyes met.

  ‘I imagine life is a bit quieter here.’

  Grateful for her undemanding reply, his hands relaxed on the wheel. ‘London can be crazy, but there are places you can go to catch your breath. You just have to know where.’

  ‘I’m sure, but I’ve lived here all my life so it’s hard to imagine not having a prom to walk on to clear my head.’ He’d reached the road that ran parallel with the sea and she pointed ahead. ‘Not far now. It’s the second turn on the left. Just park up next to the rusty old van.’ On the back seat, Chewie let out a bark, and Lottie laughed. ‘Clever dog, you know we’re nearly home, huh?’

  He drew to stop outside a small terrace house that, if he was honest, looked like it needed flattening and starting again.

  Beside him, Lottie laughed. ‘Oh boy, it must look bad, because for once I can read your expression.’

  ‘Not bad,’ he corrected, embarrassed he’d been so transparent. ‘I’m sure it has the potential to be charming.’

  ‘Very tactful. According to my dad, it also has the potential to be a serious money pit that will take years to make properly habitable.’

  ‘Yet you bought it anyway.’

  She grinned. ‘I’ve never been much for taking advice. I’d rather make my own mistakes.’

  They had that in common at least, he thought, as he turned off the engine. He was in the process of opening the door when she put a hand on his arm. ‘It’s okay, you don’t need to get out.’ She gave him a wry smile. ‘I can make it from here.’

  ‘I’m sure you can.’ Yet years of having manners drilled into him made remaining in the car impossible, so he climbed out anyway and went to open her door.

  On the back seat, Chewie scrambled around, desperate to get out.

  ‘Wait, Chewie.’ Lottie climbed out and lunged for the rear door. ‘He’s probably added scratched leather to the muddy paw prints.’ A second later, the dog was out and up on his hind legs, his body plastered against her, his tongue licking her face.

  For a fleeting moment, Matt wondered what it would feel like to be pressed against Lottie’s trim length. To kiss her, though he hoped his technique was more elegant than Chewie’s.

  ‘I know you missed me, but enough.’ She patted Chewie’s head and the dog settled back onto his four legs. Lottie drew in a deep breath and turned to Matt. ‘There are so many apologies I need to make, I don’t know where to start. Obviously, I need to pay for your car to be valeted. I know a really good place that’s used to removing evidence of Chewie’s presence.’

  She reached into her handbag and drew out a fuchsia-pink purse. He was starting to realise colour was her thing. ‘Please put that away.’

  She quirked a blonde brow. ‘You have something against pink?’

  He smiled. ‘I have something against accepting money unless I’ve earned it.’

  ‘What about if you’re owed it, like if something of yours got damaged?’ She looked down at Chewie. ‘A shoe, for example.’

  ‘I would say accidents happen.’

  She exhaled sharply, her exasperation clear. ‘You’re really not going to help me reduce my guilt levels?’

  He studied her face, wondering what attracted him so much. Patricia had been elegant, beautiful, polished. Maybe that’s all it was; Lottie, with her freckles, blonde curls, jeans and vivid coloured jumpers, was the total opposite of his ex-wife. ‘I let Chewie into my car. I offered to take him home with me.’ He stared down at the curly-topped mutt, who was now sitting patiently on the pavement. ‘Should the need arise, I’d do the same again. Though perhaps I’d hide my shoes.’

  Lottie laughed, and inside he felt a flood of warmth. He’d missed making someone laugh. ‘And I’d bring dustsheets for the car.’

  ‘Deal.’ Their eyes met and once again he felt that pulse, the zing that had everything inside him sitting up and taking notice.

  ‘Do you want to come in for a drink?’ Her smile looked a little awkward. ‘The living room is the one part of the house that doesn’t have a damp, 1930s vibe.’

  Was she asking because she felt the same spark of attraction he did? Or did she feel she had to invite him, hence her need to clarify he’d only be allowed in the living room? Because he didn’t know, because even if it was the former, he wasn’t ready for it, he slid his hands into his pockets and took a mental step back. ‘Thanks, but it’s getting late.’

  ‘Yes.’ Her eyes avoided his so he couldn’t see if she was relieved or offended. ‘I’d better get this one some food before he eats any more shoes.’

  He smiled. ‘I’ll see you next month?’

  ‘If we’ve not scared you off.’

  ‘You’ll find I don’t scare easily.’ Though the fact he’d ducked her invite proved he was a coward in some matters. ‘Out of interest, you mentioned Campbell-Black and his favourite stud. Which book were you discussing?’

  ‘Mount! … by Jilly Cooper,’ she added, no doubt because it was clear he didn’t recognise it.

  He’d heard of Cooper, though he’d never read any of her books. Amy accused him of being straight-laced, particularly when it came to his reading tastes, but he believed books, like art, were meant to be enjoyed, not endured for the sake of pleasing someone else. One man’s Hirst was another man’s dead animal. ‘And next month?’

  She smirked. ‘It depends whether Audrey gets her way.’

  Did he really want to know? It appeared he did. ‘If she does?’

  ‘The Mister by E. L. James, the same author who wrote—’

  ‘Fifty Shades of Grey,’ he supplied, feeling slightly uncomfortable. He couldn’t think of the book without thinking of sex. And he didn’t want to think of sex while talking to a woman he found attractive, because then he’d start thinking of having sex with her.

  Of their own volition his eyes sought hers, and immediately he knew it was too late. The silver/grey twinkled back at him and he inhaled sharply as raw desire throbbed through him. Damn, he needed to push it away, to bury it, but it had been so long since he’d enjoyed the sensation. So long since he’d wanted to have sex.

  ‘So, anyway, thanks for today.’ Lottie’s voice punctured his haze of lust. ‘Unless you come to your senses in the next few weeks, I’ll see you in March.’

  ‘Yes.’ He swallowed to lubricate his throat. ‘And hopefully before that. To buy the book,’ he added, so she wouldn’t think he was flirting with her. He needed to get his life in a better place, a more settled one, before he could start to think about flirting. About sex.

  He watched as she walked up to her front door, trying not to think how deliciously pert her bum looked in the tight jeans she favoured. The unloved-looking house wasn’t what he’d pictured for her, he thought as she let herself in. Then again, the tale about rescuing Chewie suggested she had a nurturing heart, so maybe, like Chewie, the place would thrive under her care.

  Build the business, mend your relationship with your dad, help Amy find her focus.

  Those were his priorities. Not the fantasy of a relationship with a woman who probably only saw him as the stuffy bookshop owner she needed to be nice to.

  With a sigh, he climbed back into the car.

  Chapter Seven

  March meeting, nominated book:

  The Mister by E. L. James

  As Lottie went to push open the door of the bookshop, Sally grabbed at her arm to stop her.

  ‘Are you sure this is a good idea?’

  Lottie stared down at the pram Sally was pushing. Little Fredrick’s face peeped out from behind the blankets and she felt a surge of what could only be described as warm mush. ‘He’s so cute, my ovaries are dancing.’ Then she looked back at her friend, the pale face, the bags under her eyes. ‘Am I sure what is a good idea?’

  Sally gave her a
tired smile. ‘He’s cute until he wakes up. Then he’ll not only disrupt your meeting, his wailing will piss off the guy you’ve got a secret crush on, but for some reason won’t admit it to your best mate. That’s why I should turn around.’

  ‘I don’t have a crush on him.’

  ‘That would be more believable if you’d look me in the eye. And if you hadn’t flushed when I’d asked if you got home okay the night I pushed the medicine ball out.’

  Lottie turned to look in the shop, relieved she couldn’t see Matt. They’d not bumped into each other since the evening she’d lost her marbles, along with her good sense, and asked him in for a drink. Whether he’d turned her down because he didn’t want to risk ruining his designer clothes stepping into her dump of a house, or because he didn’t want to spend any more time in her company, she wasn’t sure. Just that she’d felt a total fool.

  ‘Do you want to join us?’

  Sally rolled her eyes. ‘Are you kidding? The chance of some vaguely adult conversation? Paul doesn’t get back from work until after seven most nights. Freddie’s the new love of my life, but right now all he does is sleep, poo and cry.’

  ‘Then you’re coming in. So what if Freddie wakes up and screams the place down? We’re there to help calm him down. As for the adult conversation, we can definitely do that. Audrey’s bound to want to talk about kinky sex.’

  Sally shook her head, but her expression was amused. ‘I can’t believe, ten years after we’ve left school, you’re still making me do things I shouldn’t.’

  Suddenly the door opened and Lottie found herself staring at a crimson-red tie.

  ‘Ladies.’ Matt, wearer of the tie, stepped aside and waved them both through. ‘I wasn’t sure if the door was stuck.’ His gaze fell on the pram. ‘I see you have a new member.’

  Sally snorted. ‘I tried to tell Lottie I shouldn’t bring him but she insisted, so apologies in advance when he starts yelling and remember to blame her, not me.’

  Lottie watched as Matt bent to get a closer look at Freddie. ‘He doesn’t look like trouble.’

  ‘Neither does this one,’ Sally said, nudging Lottie. ‘But trust me, she is.’

  Finally, Matt met Lottie’s eyes. ‘I believe you.’ His gaze was surprisingly warm and a shiver of awareness raced through her. God, she’d forgotten this feeling, the sizzle of attraction, the does-he-like-me tug, warring against the he’s-only-being-nice-to-a-customer shove. ‘No Chewie today?’

  ‘I promised I wouldn’t bring him again.’

  ‘He would be very welcome.’

  The sincerity in his expression caused another tug in her chest. ‘Thank you, but I thought a crying baby was enough disruption for this evening. Your shoes are safe.’

  ‘Shoes?’ Sally screwed up her nose. ‘I thought Chewie peed all over the floor.’

  ‘He decided that wasn’t enough destruction.’

  Sally started to laugh. ‘And here’s me thinking I was the one having all the fun that night.’

  ‘Not at all.’

  Matt’s quietly spoken words, the way his eyes remained riveted on hers… Another shiver rippled through her. But the signals he was sending were confusing. Did he fancy her, or was he just trying to be nice? Though nice wasn’t the right word. Far too wishy-washy for someone so striking.

  Aware of Sally watching them, Lottie yanked her gaze from his. ‘Come on, let’s get settled while we wait for the others.’

  Sally, clearly trying, though largely failing, not to smirk, started to push the pram towards the café. As Lottie went to follow her, Matt spoke again.

  ‘I see Audrey got her way.’

  ‘How do you know that?’ Then the penny dropped. ‘Ah, they came in to buy The Mister.’

  ‘We had to order in extra copies.’ His lips curved in that small smile she was starting to enjoy. ‘My father was keen to tell me he’d sold you a copy. I think it made his day.’

  Lottie thought back to the chat she’d had with Mr Steele senior. Shorter than his son, his hair now grey, but with the same soulful brown eyes. ‘I told him he was welcome to come and join the discussions.’

  This time Matt’s smile was wider, softening his sharp features. ‘He sends his apologies. He wasn’t sure his heart was up to it.’

  Lottie rolled her eyes. ‘There is more to the stories we read than sex, you know.’

  His face sobered. ‘I’m sure.’ It looked like he wanted to say something else, but the door jingled and Audrey burst through it.

  ‘I’ve brought more gin. Thought we’d need it.’ She pulled the bottle out of her bag. ‘Where were the spankings? Did I miss them? Can’t believe that James woman wrote a whole book without kink. Talk about disappointing.’ Lottie watched as Matt’s eyes rounded so much, it was almost comical. ‘Right, well, I’ll go and get the gin poured.’

  His eyes tracked Audrey as she marched over to the café. ‘There’s tonic in the kitchen if you need it.’

  Lottie started to laugh. ‘Thanks, you’re a life-saver. I totally forgot Audrey would be force-feeding us gin again.’

  He smiled, this time with his eyes, and as she smiled back the air surrounding them became charged. God, when he let himself relax, he really was incredibly attractive. Her heart gave a little bump.

  The moment was broken by the arrival of Heidi and Gira. By the time Lottie had said hello to them, Matt had quietly disappeared.

  The group settled into their seats and as Audrey splashed a frightening amount of gin into their glasses, Sally nudged her. ‘Don’t have a crush on him, my arse. There were so many sex sparks flaring between you two, I had to cover Freddie’s innocent little eyes.’

  ‘What’s that about Freddie’s eyes?’ Heidi, who was the other side of Sally, peeked into Freddie’s pram. ‘Surely it’s his ears we should be covering tonight.’

  Lottie breathed a sigh of relief that she’d escaped Sally’s comment.

  Gira smiled. ‘True, but this book was no Fifty Shades, was it? More of a slow burn. A love story, I thought, rather than a story about sex. To be honest, I wasn’t sure I liked it.’

  As she spoke her smile faltered and again Lottie was left wondering what was going on in Gira’s life that caused the occasional flash of bleakness.

  ‘I thought it was pants,’ Sally announced. ‘I mean, Maxim was no Christian and Alessia no Anna. To be honest, I skipped right through the first half.’

  Audrey barked out a laugh. ‘You just wanted to get to the sex, like I did.’

  Sally gave her a wan smile. ‘You’re probably right. I knew with this one I wouldn’t have time to read the whole thing properly,’ she nodded behind her to the still-sleeping Freddie. ‘So I just headed for the good bits. With the way my body feels, and the fact that any moment I know we’re going to be interrupted by a yelling baby, I can’t see any real sex happening until Freddie’s old enough to leave home. Reading about it’s all I’ll have. And frankly E. L. James really disappointed with this one.’

  ‘Alas, I’m with you in the no-sex club.’ Heidi took a sip of her gin, her expression sad. ‘I have twin girls, both away at university now. Hard to believe the time has flown that fast. I remember, clear as day, when they were born, how exhausted I felt. How there were days I wanted them to hurry up and grow, at first so they’d sleep through the night, then so they could feed themselves and go to the loo, so I could get rid of nappies. A part of me was even glad when they went to school, as I got some time to myself again.’ Tears welled in her eyes. ‘Now I’d give anything to have the time back. To slow it all down so I could enjoy them both more.’ With a soft laugh, she reached into her handbag and drew out a tissue. ‘Oh dear, ignore me, I’m getting all daft and sentimental.’

  ‘There’s nothing daft about being sentimental.’ Lottie gave Heidi an understanding smile.

  ‘And there’s nothing daft about missing your kids,’ Gira added. ‘My two are still at school, but I dread the day they leave me. I know it’s part of growing up, that they need to spread t
heir wings, but I can’t imagine looking into their room and finding them not there. You must really miss them.’

  ‘I do. Even though the house has never been tidier.’ Heidi’s smile turned wobbly. ‘Their father and I divorced eight years ago, so for a long while it’s just been the three of us. Their first term away wasn’t so bad. Maybe it was because it was new, having the place to myself. I had all these great ideas for what I was going to do when I wasn’t at work. Then I was made redundant, and now instead of filling a few hours, I have days to fill. And the ideas seem to have stalled.’ She shook her head. ‘Heavens above, it must be the gin making me maudlin. They’re coming home for Easter, so I’ve plenty to look forward to. Which reminds me.’ She bent to retrieve a square tin from the floor. ‘I had a baking session and thought a slice of cake might help soak up some of the gin Audrey is so liberal with. This one’s coffee and walnut.’

  ‘Oh God, my favourite.’ Sally grabbed the first slice the moment it was placed on a napkin. ‘You’re an angel, Heidi.’ She swallowed down a huge mouthful. ‘Wow, that’s seriously yummy. Like a slice of heaven on a plate. I heard what you said though,’ she continued between swallows. ‘And you’re right. He’ll grow up so fast, I’ll try to focus on the joy, not on how knackered I feel.’ She licked her fingers and munched another mouthful. ‘Before you all judge, I never know when he’s going to wake up, so I’ve learnt to speed eat.’

  They all laughed and began to tuck in to the cake Heidi dished out, murmuring words of appreciation.

  ‘So, about this book.’ Lottie grinned as everyone turned to look at her. ‘We are meant to be a book club, after all. Shall we talk about our favourite parts?’

  Audrey plonked her gin down on the table and from the spark in her eyes Lottie knew, without doubt, they were going to be talking sex again. ‘My favourite part wasn’t in this book at all. It was in Fifty Shades, when Christian had her bound in his playroom…’