by Liz Harris
Jenny bit her lip in sudden anxiety. If her relationship with Max survived their exchange of words that morning, and if it were to develop in the future – a huge if, but she desperately hoped that it would – she couldn’t just spring it on her mother without having given her at least some warning.
‘Actually, Mum,’ she’d begun nervously. ‘I ought to—’
But her mother had spoken across her. ‘It’s all right, Jenny,’ she’d said. ‘I know you so well that I understand what you’re trying to tell me. I’m not saying that it would ever be easy to meet a Castanien again – of course it wouldn’t: so many memories are attached to that family. But if he’s the right man for you, then you’ll have my blessing. It’s the very least you deserve.’
‘Oh, Mum,’ Jenny breathed, and a great wave of relief coursed through her. ‘Thank you.’
They’d said goodbye soon after that, both drained of emotion, and she’d wandered on to the terrace in a daze.
Stepping out from under the awning, she put her face up to the sun and let its warmth flow through her. Something tickled her toes and she glanced down. A light breeze was blowing a smattering of white rose petals across her toes. Her eyes followed the petals as they skimmed the surface of the patio and drifted across the grass to the line of cypress trees.
She turned to face the trees and scanned the distance for Max’s house. He would be in there now, she knew, and she absolutely had to see him. She had to see him that instant – not the following day, not later that day, but as soon as she possibly could. She found herself taking a step forward, and another, and another.
By the time she reached the trees, she was running.
Not wanting to waste a precious moment by going up the slope to the linking path, she sped through the nearest gap in the line of trees and ran straight across the grass to the loggia.
One thought filled her mind, and that thought was Max.
No matter what he felt about her now that he knew why she’d gone to work for him, she had to tell him that she was desperately sorry for what she’d said, for what she’d believed about him, and she had to tell him that she loved him with all her heart. Even if she was too late and her feelings were thrown back in her face, she still had to tell him. He had to know.
By the time she was close to the house, she was panting heavily, and she slowed down to a walk as she reached the loggia. The French windows suddenly opened, and Max appeared.
She stopped sharply and took an involuntary step back.
Standing motionless in the shadow thrown by the stone pillar, she followed him with her eyes as he walked to the edge of the loggia, his hands in his pockets, and leaned against the column nearest to him, gazing at the view.
He had never looked more handsome, she thought, in his jeans and a black T-shirt, his face and forearms lightly tanned.
And he’d never looked more sad and dejected.
Squinting against the sun, he glanced up at the sky, and then again stared ahead of him.
With a sigh, he straightened up, turned slightly and caught sight of her.
An expression of surprise swept across his face. He pulled his hands from his pockets and took a step towards her.
She stood staring at him, rooted to the spot, her heart racing as he walked towards her, gathering speed with every step, his eyes asking a question.
He reached her and stopped. For a moment neither said a word.
Then she held out his mobile phone. ‘I thought I ought to return your phone,’ she said, breaking the silence, her voice coming from somewhere far away.
His eyes on her face, he took the phone and put it in his pocket. And waited.
‘My mother told me about Peter and her. Not that there ever was a Peter and her.’ Her voice caught in her throat. ‘I’m so sorry that I blamed you for my father’s death.’
‘So you did call her. I wasn’t sure if you would, and I didn’t know if she’d tell you the truth if you did.’
‘I didn’t need to hear what she said to know what had happened – I knew in my heart that what you said was true. But I had to get it all out in the open with her, for the sake of the future …’ Her voice trailed off.
His dark brown eyes gazed down at her, warm with sympathy. ‘That’s what any loyal daughter would do.’
‘I still feel as if I’ve behaved badly, coming here for the reason I did but not being honest about it.’ He made a move as if to speak, but she shook her head. ‘No, don’t say anything, Max. I must say this while I’ve got the courage to do it.’ She took a deep breath. ‘I wouldn’t blame you if you hated me, but even if you do, I love you. I love you so much that it hurts. I can’t bear to think of life without you. But I’ll understand if you can’t forgive me.’
His face broke into a broad smile, and he threw back his head. ‘Yes,’ he cried out to the sky above. ‘Oh, yes!’ And he reached out to her and pulled her close to him. ‘I could never hate you, Jenny – I love you far too much for that.’ And he wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her hair.
‘Despite everything?’ she asked, her voice muffled by the T-shirt she was being crushed against.
‘Definitely despite everything.’ His arms tightened around her. ‘This morning’s been sheer hell. I thought I might have lost you for ever, and I never want to feel that way again. The houses, the paintings, my company – nothing means anything if you can’t share it with the person you love. From the moment I met you, you have been the person I love. Without you, my life would be empty.’
She pulled slightly back and gazed up at him in naked relief. ‘Oh, Max, when you left, I was so unhappy. I thought you wouldn’t want me any more.’
‘Not want you?’ He stared down into her face with a passion that took her breath away. ‘I shall always want you. You say that you can’t bear to think of life without me, well I know that I can’t bear to think of life without you. And that means there’s only one thing for it. Will you marry me?’
‘Oh, yes, I will,’ she cried. ‘I love you, I love you, I love you. Now that I can finally say it, I feel so free. And so very, very happy. I don’t deserve to be this happy.’
‘Yes, you do.’ He lifted his hand and lightly traced the arch of her brow, the line of her nose, the fullness of her lips, the curve of her chin. Then he took her face in his hands and looked down at her.
‘I’ve many beautiful pictures at home in England,’ he said, his voice full of wonder, ‘and I’ve many beautiful pictures here, but nothing comes close to how beautiful you are to me. You’re a picture that I’ll never tire of looking at, and I shall be the luckiest person alive if I’m able to do so every day for the rest of my life.’
A low sigh of sheer bliss escaped her, and she raised herself on her toes, brought her lips to his and silenced him.
The End
About the Author
Liz was born in London and now lives in South Oxfordshire with her husband. After graduating from university with a Law degree, she moved to California where she led a varied life, trying her hand at everything from cocktail waitressing on Sunset Strip to working as a secretary to the CEO of a large Japanese trading company, not to mention a stint as ‘resident starlet’ at MGM. On returning to England, Liz completed a degree in English and taught for a number of years before developing her writing career.
Liz has written several short stories, articles for local newspapers and a novella. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association. The Road Back, her debut novel, won a 2012 Book of the Year Award from Coffee Time Romance & More.
For more information visit www.lizharrisauthor.com and you can follow Liz on twitter @lizharrisauthor
More Choc Lit from Liz Harris
The Road Back
Winner of the 2012 Book of the Year Award from Coffee Time Romance & More
When Patricia accompanies her father, Major George Carstairs, on a trip to Ladakh, north of the Himalayas, in the early 1960s, she sees it as a chance to finally win his lo
ve. What she could never have foreseen is meeting Kalden – a local man destined by circumstances beyond his control to be a monk, but fated to be the love of her life.
Despite her father’s fury, the lovers are determined to be together, but can their forbidden love survive?
‘A splendid love story so beautifully told.’ Colin Dexter, O.B.E. Bestselling author of the Inspector Morse series.
Find out more and purchase in the kindle store:
UK here…
US here…
Australia here…
A Bargain Struck
Does a good deal make a marriage?
Widower Connor Maguire advertises for a wife to raise his young daughter, Bridget, work the homestead and bear him a son.
Ellen O’Sullivan longs for a home, a husband and a family. On paper, she is everything Connor needs in a wife. However, it soon becomes clear that Ellen has not been entirely truthful.
Will Connor be able to overlook Ellen’s dishonesty and keep to his side of the bargain? Or will Bridget’s resentment, the attentions of the beautiful Miss Quinn, and the arrival of an unwelcome visitor, combine to prevent the couple from starting anew?
As their personal feelings blur the boundaries of their deal, they begin to wonder if a bargain struck makes a marriage worth keeping.
Set in Wyoming in 1887, a story of a man and a woman brought together through need, not love …
Find out more and purchase in the kindle store:
UK here…
US here…
Australia here…
Evie Undercover
When libel lawyer, Tom Hadleigh acquires a perfect holiday home - a 14th century house that needs restoring, there’s a slight problem. The house is located in the beautiful Umbria countryside and Tom can’t speak a word of Italian.
Enter Evie Shaw, masquerading as an agency temp but in reality the newest reporter for gossip magazine Pure Dirt. Unbeknown to Tom, Italian speaking Evie has been sent by her manipulative editor to write an exposé on him. And the stakes are high – Evie’s job rests on her success.
But the path for the investigative journalist is seldom smooth, and it certainly never is when the subject in hand is drop-dead gorgeous.
Find out more and purchase in the kindle store:
UK here…
US here…
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Introducing Choc Lit
We’re an independent publisher creating a delicious selection of fiction.
Where heroes are like chocolate – irresistible!
Quality stories with a romance at the heart.
Choc Lit novels are selected by genuine readers like yourself. We only publish stories our Choc Lit Tasting Panel want to see in print. Our reviews and awards speak for themselves.
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More Choc Lit
If you enjoyed Liz’s story, you’ll enjoy the rest of our selection. Here’s a sample:
A Stitch in Time
Amanda James
A stitch in time saves nine …or does it?
Sarah Yates is a thirty-something history teacher, divorced, disillusioned and desperate to have more excitement in her life. Making all her dreams come true seems about as likely as climbing Everest in stilettos.
Then one evening the doorbell rings and the handsome and mysterious John Needler brings more excitement than Sarah could ever have imagined. John wants Sarah to go back in time …
Sarah is whisked from the Sheffield Blitz to the suffragette movement in London to the Old American West, trying to make sure people find their happy endings. The only question is, will she ever be able to find hers?
Find out more and purchase in the kindle store:
UK here…
US here…
Australia here…
Highland Storms
Christina Courtenay
Winner of the 2012 Best Historical Romantic Novel of the year
Who can you trust?
Betrayed by his brother and his childhood love, Brice Kinross needs a fresh start. So he welcomes the opportunity to leave Sweden for the Scottish Highlands to take over the family estate.
But there’s trouble afoot at Rosyth in 1754 and Brice finds himself unwelcome. The estate’s in ruin and money is disappearing. He discovers an ally in Marsaili Buchanan, the beautiful redheaded housekeeper, but can he trust her?
Marsaili is determined to build a good life. She works hard at being a housekeeper and harder still at avoiding men who want to take advantage of her. But she’s irresistibly drawn to the new clan chief, even though he’s made it plain he doesn’t want to be shackled to anyone.
And the young laird has more than romance on his mind. His investigations are stirring up an enemy. Someone who will stop at nothing to get what he wants – including Marsaili – even if that means destroying Brice’s life forever …
Sequel to Trade Winds.
Find out more and purchase in the kindle store:
UK here…
US here…
Australia here…
To Turn Full Circle
Linda Mitchelmore
Life in Devon in 1909 is hard and unforgiving, especially for young Emma Le Goff, whose mother and brother die in curious circumstances, leaving her totally alone in the world. While she grieves, her callous landlord Reuben Jago claims her home and belongings.
His son Seth is deeply attracted to Emma and sympathises with her desperate need to find out what really happened, but all his attempts to help only incur his father’s wrath.
When mysterious fisherman Matthew Caunter comes to Emma’s rescue, Seth is jealous at what he sees and seeks solace in another woman. However, he finds that forgetting Emma is not as easy as he hoped.
Matthew is kind and charismatic, but handsome Seth is never far from Emma’s mind. Whatever twists and turns her life takes, it seems there is always something – or someone – missing.
Set in Devon, the first novel in a trilogy.
Find out more and purchase in the kindle store:
UK here…
US here…
Australia here…
The Silver Locket
Margaret James
Winner of 2010 Reviewers’ Choice Award for Single Titles
If life is cheap, how much is love worth?
It’s 1914 and young Rose Courtenay has a decision to make. Please her wealthy parents by marrying the man of their choice – or play her part in the war effort?
The chance to escape proves irresistible and Rose becomes a nurse. Working in France, she meets Lieutenant Alex Denham, a dark figure from her past. He’s the last man in the world she’d get involved with – especially now he’s married.
But in wartime nothing is as it seems. Alex’s marriage is a sham and Rose is the only woman he’s ever wanted. As he recovers from his wounds, he sets out to win her trust. His gift of a silver locket is a far cry from the luxuries she’s left behind.
What value will she put on his love?
First novel in the trilogy.
Find out more and purchase in the kindle store:
UK here…
US here…
Australia…
The Importance of Being Emma
Juliet Archer
Winner of The Big Red Read’s Fiction Award 2011
A modern retelling of Jane Austen’s
Emma.
Mark Knightley – handsome, clever, rich – is used to women falling at his feet. Except Emma Woodhouse, who’s like part of the family – and the furniture. When their relationship changes dramatically, is it an ending or a new beginning?
Emma’s grown into a stunningly attractive young woman, full of ideas for modernising her family business. Then Mark gets involved and the sparks begin to fly. It’s just like the old days, except that now he’s seeing her through totally new eyes.
While Mark struggles to keep his feelings in check, Emma remains immune to the Knightley charm. She’s never forgotten that embarrassing moment when he discovered her teenage crush on him. He’s still pouring scorn on all her projects, especially her beautifully orchestrated campaign to find Mr Right for her ditzy PA. And finally, when the mysterious Flynn Churchill – the man of her dreams – turns up, how could she have eyes for anyone else …?
Find out more and purchase in the kindle store:
UK here…
US here…
Australia here…
Dream a Little Dream
Sue Moorcroft
What would you give to make your dreams come true?
Liza Reece has a dream. Working as a reflexologist for a troubled holistic centre isn’t enough. When the opportunity arises to take over the Centre she jumps at it. Problem is, she needs funds, and fast, as she’s not the only one interested.
Dominic Christy has dreams of his own. Diagnosed as suffering from a rare sleep disorder, dumped by his live-in girlfriend and discharged from the job he adored as an Air Traffic Controller, he’s single-minded in his aims. He has money, and plans for the Centre that don’t include Liza and her team.
