Without realising it, she let out a soft, slow sigh.
Ping, his eyes opened. Eek. She’d been caught acting like a stalker. How embarrassing.
‘You okay?’ he asked a little warily.
‘Yeah, sorry, just woke up.’ She didn’t mention the need to pee.
‘Looking for something?’ She could hear the irony in his voice, and saw a half-smile across his lips.
‘Maybe.’
‘You’ll be getting chilly out there. Want to come in?’ he lifted the duvet cheekily.
Emma stayed silent. Could she, should she? Wouldn’t she just be heading back into a whole heap of trouble?
‘I’m dressed, if that’s what you’re worried about. Well, T-shirt and boxers. Your choice. Just don’t stand there all night – it’s a bit freaky.’
She laughed. Whoa, she so wanted to feel his strong arms around her. But was that all he was offering? She suddenly felt she was on a pivot, her decision in the next second or two might just change everything – with or without sex being involved.
‘Well?’ The duvet was still half-lifted.
Emma moved towards the sofa, and saw him shift a little towards the back to make room. She took a slow breath and slid herself in beside him – her back to his front. There wasn’t a lot of room, so side by side was the best they could do. His arm slipped around her lower ribs from behind, and felt so very natural there, keeping her close.
‘Okay?’ His voice was warm and mellow there at her ear.
‘Yes.’
‘Good.’
And they lay there so very close. And it felt as good as she had imagined it might when she’d lain in her lonely bed many evenings before, trying to push the thoughts of him from her mind. Her breathing began to slow to match his. He held her tenderly, yet making no moves to touch her provocatively; she wasn’t quite sure if she was disappointed or not, and then she began to relax, feeling his breath against her hair.
She felt herself drifting off …
It was light. Emma felt a bit achy and at an odd angle. There was something heavy across her … oh, an arm, not her arm; a muscular, slightly hairy arm was wrapped around her.
She opened her eyes, recognised her own living room.
She was there on the sofa with Max. She had a moment of panic, had they? Surely she would have remembered something like that. They hadn’t even been drinking last night. Her nightshirt was still on and – she tried to concentrate, despite there being a distinct feeling of a ‘morning glory’ at her lower back (wow, it had been a long time since she had felt that against her; Luke had always been a morning person) – she had a sense that it was indeed still safely packed away under boxer shorts.
‘Morning,’ came a voice behind her ear, with a hint of humour.
‘Morning,’ she answered, bright as brass. ‘I think we have work to do.’ She needed to think about the shop, keep her focus on that. And she was up and out from the duvet before he had a chance to consider what he might do with that ‘morning glory’ after all.
31
By eight-thirty they’d had a quick breakfast of scrambled eggs on toast and Max had now started on the second window seat.
He was hammering away, securing the frame in place, looking slightly stiff as he moved – probably the results of last night’s work and sleeping hunched up alongside Em for half the night on a sofa. That thought made her smile.
Emma had a few calls to make to get everything organised for the shop reopening the next day. James, her brother, wouldn’t be aware that it was all systems go again, after her telling him of Ron’s illness on Friday. She’d be needing a hand to transport the furniture which he’d picked up for her and was storing in his garage, also the new cushions Chloe was making. She’d also need to call Bev and Pete to get the chocolates transported back from their house. Holly was meant to be coming across with Adam this afternoon to help too, so it was all hands on deck again. It was going to be a long couple of days, for sure, but it was exciting, seeing her dreams becoming a reality.
Emma stood watching Max work; she could already imagine the circular pine tables in place by the windows with her mix-and-match wooden chairs. She had decided she would chalk-paint the more battered looking ones, keeping the best two as natural wood. She offered to fetch Max a coffee. He still had a lot of work to do and he had his own business to get back to. She was so very grateful for his help. The café was back on track, with a little – actually, some huge – help from her friends and family.
It was wonderful to think that by Friday night they’d be celebrating the opening of The Chocolate Shop Café. A party would be such a lovely way to thank all her friends and family and the local community, not just for their help with this project but for all their support over the past few years. They had made her feel so welcome in the village from the start, taking her under their Warkton-by-the-Sea wing, when they only knew her as the new girl in the village who was setting up a chocolate shop, and when her world was at its very bleakest.
She could picture herself on her launch evening, handing out glasses of Prosecco, with plates of chocolate treats. Hmm, chocolate canapés – she could add a little twist to some of her favourite creations, and have some mini chocolate brownies to give an idea of the baked goods for the café. She knew that time was going to be of the essence this week – there would still be some finishing touches to add to the shop, out of hours. Hopefully, Ron might shake off his bug and be back in action in the week to make the final alterations to the counter area.
There was a loud rap at the shop door. She was surprised to find it was Danny from the pub, with another chap. Perhaps they were coming for a nosy to see how things were going.
Emma unlocked the door and let them in.
‘Hi, Em. Meet your new chippie,’ Danny announced with a grin.
Chippie? Fish and chips? Their supper had been lovely from the pub last night, maybe they were bringing up some chips for their lunch too, Emma mused.
Max stood up rubbing the small of his back for a second, then came across. ‘Cheers, mate. That is music to my ears.’ And the three men shook hands.
Emma was still wondering quite what was going on, a crease of confusion across her brow.
‘Chippie – carpenter – wood chips,’ Max turned to her to explain.
‘Ah. Oh, wow. You’re here to help? Fabulous.’
‘This is Nick. An old mate.’ Danny introduced him. ‘Happened to be staying with me this weekend.’
‘Hi, Nick, and thank you so much.’ Emma shook his hand. He was tall and lean with smiley eyes and a whiskery-goatee beard; in fact, he looked very much as though he should have a roll-up slanted out of his mouth.
‘Used to have my own joinery business,’ Nick said, ‘but when the recession hit and the work dried up I just couldn’t make ends meet. Went to work for a bacon factory, then, believe it or not. Pay was better, and it was a regular income. Been there ever since. But I still miss working with wood. When Danny here mentioned you’d been let down at the last minute, well …’
‘I have to work this lunch shift at the pub anyhow, so he didn’t have a lot on. Saves him lounging around on my sofa all day,’ Danny added.
‘Yep, I have a few hours to spare, so no worries. Give me a job.’
‘Right, I’ll make a tea or coffee for us all, whatever you’d rather, and I’ll let Max tell you where we’re at with the woodwork, Nick.’
The two men had already started chatting and were looking seriously at sections of timber. Danny said he had better go to get ready for his shift.
‘Cheers, Danny. Thanks so much for thinking of me and my shop. You’re a star.’
‘No worries. Couldn’t see you struggling when I knew help was at hand. Oh, and Nick’s happy to work for a few pints, by the way. We’re out this evening, so that will be ideal.’ Danny gave a wink.
‘Perfect. You sure?’ She felt she ought to offer proper payment. She had the money from her parents to pay Ron for the work, after al
l.
‘Absolutely, I’m here of my own free will,’ Nick chipped in. ‘But a few pints put behind the bar at the Fisherman’s for tonight would be brilliant.’
James turned up about an hour later. Little Lucy was with him, beaming and following her dad who was carrying two chairs.
‘Hello, Auntie Emma. Oh, who are they?’ The little girl stopped, surprised to find other people in the shop.
‘That’s Max and Nick. They’re helping make the seats for the new coffee shop here.’
Lucy studied the two men seriously, then nodded.
Max gave her a grin, and Nick gave a nod.
‘Will you do milkshakes too, Auntie Emma? I don’t like coffee.’
‘Of course, that’s actually a brilliant idea, Luce. Chocolate milkshakes. And maybe hot chocolates for the winter. What do you think?’
‘I think that sounds good. As long as they have marshmallows on the top.’
‘I think we can manage that.’ Emma smiled. ‘So, you’re helping Daddy today.’
‘Yes. Olivia had to stay with Mummy – he couldn’t do two of us. They’re doing sewing.’ She pulled a yuck kind of face at that. ‘We had to split up. It’s better doing furniture stuff.’
‘Are they making my cushions, by any chance?’
‘Yep.’
‘Well, that will be a big help to me. Of course, this is a big help too. What would I do without you lovely lot, hey?’ She looked up at James meaningfully as she spoke. ‘Come on then, Luce, you can go choose some chocolates from the back kitchen. I’ve had to move them all for now, but there’s still some in there. Choose something for you and something to take home for Olivia.’
‘What about Dad?’ called James after them hopefully. ‘He’s a helper too.’
Emma could hear his deep laugh. He loved her salted caramels. She’d definitely find a pack of those for him too.
‘What about the woodworkers? We like chocolate too,’ came Max’s warm, cheeky tones.
When the girls returned, Lucy clutching her chocolate bounty, James was chatting happily with the two men. Her brother then headed off once more on a second run to fetch the tables.
By 2.00 p.m. the shop was buzzing. Max and Nick were working away on the seating tops. Nick had suggested making them hinged so the inside could be used for storage, a brilliant idea, because Emma’s display materials were currently crammed into a cupboard upstairs – you went looking for a favourite jumper and were at risk of attack from Easter bunnies, mini-foil Christmas trees, tinsel, baubles, the works.
Bev and Pete had popped in to see how things were taking shape and stayed to lend a hand. Em felt like she’d been shipped into that TV programme where they transform a whole house in forty-eight hours.
Bev glanced pointedly over at the best-looking of the two men at work. ‘So, I take it Max came to help then?’
‘Yes – and I need to have words about that,’ Em said tersely under her breath. ‘You are in such big trouble.’ Emma then introduced the two men to Bev and Pete.
‘Hmm, he is gorgeous,’ Bev whispered as they stood back near the hallway door. ‘Nothing at all like the guys I had in to decorate my conservatory,’ she continued, joking that she’d have to find some joinery jobs in her own home very soon.
Emma had to laugh. She explained that the other lad was a mate of Danny’s at the pub.
Around 11.00 a.m., Holly arrived to see how things were going and stood gazing around the shop in awe, with a cheesy grin on her face, feeling very proud – after all, it was her initial idea that sparked all this off, she reminded them. She said she couldn’t wait to try it – she had a group of friends organised, desperately wanting to be one of the first ones in.
Holly then clocked Max. ‘I know him, don’t I? What’s he doing here?’
‘Oh, he’s just helping out, all hands on deck, and all that.’ Emma tried to sound bright and breezy.
Holly was obviously thinking about this, then gave her boss a big grin whilst nodding in Max’s direction. ‘Interesting …’ was all her assistant said, but Emma knew she’d be seriously quizzed tomorrow.
After another round of cuppas, served with chocolate digestives, her visitors made to leave. Emma made sure they all knew about the launch night on Friday. A big thank you was in order.
Mid-afternoon, Max and Nick stood up from their work, stretched out their backs, gave each other a nod, and called Emma downstairs to see the finished product. She paused in the shop entrance and grinned with a tear in her eye. It looked amazing; they had even finished the seat-backs with some white-painted wood panelling, which gave it a lovely coastal feel.
‘Wow,’ was all she could say.
‘Right then, I’ll be off, if that’s everything?’ Nick announced. He’d stayed much longer than the shift Danny would have been working, and he had worked so hard, with just a couple of coffee breaks.
‘Thank you so much, Nick. And I’ll be sure to put some money behind the bar for you and Danny for tonight. And if you’re about this Friday, call in for the launch, won’t you?’
‘Cheers, I’ll be back down in Yorkshire then, but thanks for the invite. And hey, you’re welcome, I enjoyed it. Turning me hand back to some woodworking. Might have to keep it up as a bit of a hobby, you know. Do the odd job here and there.’
‘You should.’
‘Cheers, mate. That was such a help,’ Max said. The two men shook hands.
‘All good.’ Nick gave a thumbs-up sign. ‘That’s me off, then.’
‘Thanks again,’ said Emma appreciatively, as she handed him a box of chocolate-dipped fudge with a twenty-pound note from the till. After all the hard work she couldn’t not give him some cash at least, as well as the beer money.
‘Ah, cheers.’ And he headed jauntily off down the hill.
‘I’d better be going too. I’ve got that other job to check on.’ Max turned to face her.
‘Yes … well, I suppose you had.’ She felt a weird pang of disappointment, but of course Max had his own business to run and life to lead. ‘Of course, Max. I really don’t know how to thank you enough. Can I pay you for the work? For the wood, at least?’
‘No, absolutely not. There’s no need to pay. I don’t want anything.’
‘But—’
‘It’s fine. Honest.’
Aw, he was really lovely. Yes, she still felt a bit confused, but she was sad that he was heading off and she didn’t know when, or even if, she was going to see him again. She had to admit he looked pretty damned gorgeous stood there, all ruffled hair, and sawdust on his clothes. He had come up all this way when he was already busy to help her out. She remembered how close they had been last night on the sofa.
‘Will you be coming back at all?’ What are you doing, woman? Inner Bouncer was back again.
‘Ah …’ He sounded unsure.
It was a long drive, she knew, and he’d worked like a Trojan here. He’d be ready to get back and get on with his life in Hexham, just as she had asked him to do two weeks ago.
‘Do you want me to?’ he asked.
They held each other’s gaze for a second, both wondering what was coming next, where they went from here.
‘Yes.’ She didn’t know how or what or why, but the thought of never seeing this guy again crushed her. She stood looking at Max, who was gazing back at her intently, that one word so meaningful between then.
He smiled. ‘Well then, that would be great. Shall I come back tomorrow after work? I could try and get an early finish.’
‘Okay, yes, that’d be lovely.’
And the sense of tension in that room notched itself up several volts. Emma felt her cheeks burn and headed off for the kitchen to find something, anything to do, whilst Max got on with sweeping up the last shavings of sawdust and emptying them into the dustbin outside, ready to set off.
Once Max had left, Emma had the shop all to herself, and time to think. Was she doing the right thing agreeing to see Max again? Was it just the intimacy of being close
last night that had made her cave in? It didn’t solve all the other problems, did it? She felt cross with herself.
She needed to get on with some baking for the café’s opening; a double batch of brownies and some chocolate cookies. She’d need more than that, but time was short. She could phone Maureen, Ron’s wife and maker of the most scrummy chocolate cake, see if she could make a couple of her chocolate cakes by tomorrow lunch time. It was worth a try. Then James arrived with the second of the two tables.
‘Who were the two blokes, by the way? The ones doing the joinery work?’
‘Oh, just a friend and an acquaintance of Danny’s.’ She kept her answer purposely vague.
‘Ah, right, they seemed pretty sound. Great they could help out.’
‘Yes, they’ve been brilliant.’
‘Looking good in here, sis. I like the paint colours. Chloe’s nearly finished the cushions for you, by the way.’
‘Aw, thank you so much, James, and Chloe too. It’s going be fabulous,’ Emma confirmed, picturing a cosy Christmassy space, perfect to settle down with a slice of chocolate cake and a huge hot chocolate piled with cream and marshmallows. She felt a buzz of happiness. Her dream was about to come true.
‘Right, gotta go, sis. I’ve promised the girls a trip to the park when I get back.’
‘Yeah, I’d better go and take Alfie out soon too. He’s been cooped up for two days, out of harm’s way. He’ll be going stir crazy up there. Thanks for everything, bro.’ She gave James a gentle punch on the arm, a gesture they’d hung on to from childhood, and then a big hug.
‘No worries. It’s great to see it all coming together for you. I wish you all the success in the world, Em.’
A tear misted her eye. She so hoped it would all work out for her little chocolate shop by the sea. After everybody’s help, she couldn’t possibly lose it now.
32
It was the morning of the big opening day. Emma drew the curtains on a pinky-grey dawn that warmed the sky.
The Cosy Christmas Chocolate Shop Page 18
