Starcross Manor: Feel-good summer 2020 romantic fiction from the bestselling author of Love Heart Lane (Love Heart Lane Series, Book 4)

by Christie Barlow

  ‘Here’s to Allie,’ everyone chorused.

  ‘And now I declare the bar back open,’ announced Fraser, switching off the microphone and placing it on a nearby table. Allie stood and hugged her parents whilst the majority of drinkers began to queue at the bar. Eleni followed Julia back to their table where Felicity and Isla were already sat back down and watching Julia with amusement.

  ‘Do not say a word,’ Julia shook her head. ‘Out of all the raffle prizes it had to be me.’

  ‘Do you get a plus one? Maybe you could take Hamish?’ joked Felicity.

  ‘I wish I could be a fly on the wall on that date,’ teased Isla who was waving over at Allie behind the bar. ‘The best thing about one of your mates being the barmaid in your local is you never have to queue for a drink.’

  ‘Mmm, make the most of it, it’ll be the last time for a while. And for the record, it’s not a date,’ added Julia.

  ‘The lady doth protest too much.’ Eleni gave Julia a little nudge with her elbow.

  Julia knew they were only teasing but began to feel a little restless about the situation. Thankfully, there was a swift change in conversation when Allie appeared at the side of the table with a bottle of wine and glasses. ‘I’m not sure what you are going to do for the next six months without your favourite barmaid, and make sure you lot don’t disappear without giving me one last hug,’ Allie’s voice wobbled. ‘Right, I need to keep busy,’ she said disappearing back towards the bar.

  As the girls began chatting about Rory’s TV programme, Julia just wanted to go home. The situation had spoilt her evening and she wasn’t going to rest until she could.

  ‘I’m sorry ladies, I’m going to get off home. I’m just not in the mood,’ said Julia honestly.

  ‘Are you sure? Do you want me to come back with you?’ asked Eleni.

  ‘No honestly, you stay and enjoy the rest of the night. I’ll see you in the morning.’

  ‘Aww don’t go, you can’t do anything now about Flynn. Let him calm down. Everything will seem much better in the morning.’

  Julia knew that Eleni was only trying to help but all she wanted to do was to curl up in bed and see what tomorrow might bring. ‘I know but I’m going to go. I’ll say goodbye to Allie on my way out.’

  Five minutes later Julia was walking down the High Street heading towards the B&B when she noticed Flynn’s car driving towards her. Andrew was sitting next to him in the passenger seat and it looked like they were heading towards Starcross Manor. They were deep in conversation and Julia noticed Andrew looked concerned.

  Without warning Flynn stared straight through the window at her. His eyes were cold and hard as he held her gaze. Julia felt uncomfortable and looked away first. By the look on his face he was gunning for her and she knew she was going to have to have a conversation with him tomorrow. With her heart pounding Julia mentally ordered herself to calm down. She hadn’t done anything wrong, she just needed to explain everything exactly the way it was – but she had no idea who she was going to face in the morning, the old Flynn or the new Flynn. Only time would tell.

  Chapter Nine

  Julia shot up in bed and began to control her breathing. She’d just woken from the most vivid dream, where she had been strolling along a sandy beach somewhere in the Mediterranean, hand-in-hand with Flynn Carter. She’d been wearing a wedding dress and as they’d waded barefoot through the warm seawater Flynn had turned to her and shouted, ‘It was you, you turned the village against me!’

  Last night’s altercation came flooding back for Julia. She gave herself a little shake, the dream had seemed so real, and sitting up in bed she felt not only exhausted but slightly worried about what today would bring. She wasn’t a fan of any sort of confrontation.

  After taking a minute to rally herself, Julia reached for her phone. Allie had left Heartcross and had posted a selfie just before she climbed on the plane to Glasgow, with the hashtag #seeyousoonHeartcross. She gave the photo a quick like then read the latest news. Woody was stretched out across the bottom of the bed and Julia gave his tummy a quick ruffle before finally slipping out from underneath the duvet.

  The B&B was silent as she made her way downstairs, the guests hadn’t begun to rise yet, so Julia switched on the radio in the kitchen then flicked on the kettle. She placed two mugs on the table ready for Eleni’s arrival.

  Woody was off up the garden sniffing frantically after the scent of the foxes and Julia stood in the doorway, staring out across the view. Already she could feel the warmth of the day; according to the news, today was going to be the hottest day on record for years, which meant she and Eleni needed to work hard this morning to get all the bedding changed and bedrooms cleaned before they sweltered in the heat.

  With the sound of the crunching gravel outside, Julia smiled; Eleni was right on time. She wheeled her bike up the path and appeared around the corner with a beam on her face and propped her bike up against the wall, before taking her handbag out of the wicker basket attached to the front of the bike. ‘Good morning! It’s a new day and what a scorcher it’s going to be,’ chirped Eleni.

  ‘The sooner we get our jobs done, the better. There’s fresh tea in the pot too.’

  ‘Perfect,’ replied Eleni sidling into the kitchen. ‘I can’t function until I’ve had my first cup of the day. How you feeling after last night?’ asked Eleni pouring herself a drink.

  ‘Terrible, it must have sounded like I’d organised for the contractors to down tools,’ she shared. ‘And then just sat in front of him revelling in it as Flynn was frantic wondering what the hell was going on.’ Julia felt awful and knew that she had to clear the air with Flynn as soon as she could.

  After checking on the breakfast things, they spent the next thirty minutes setting up the dining room. Every morning they had the same routine and it worked well. Right on cue the guests began filtering down for breakfast. It was a lovely day to hike the mountain of Heartcross and Julia reminded her guests that it was going to be a hot day and to help themselves to the frozen bottles of water in the cool box she’d left by the front door. The breakfast hall was busy, and Eleni took the orders for the guests’ packed lunches before ringing them through to Rona.

  ‘Good morning,’ chirped Julia with a smile to Grayson, who’d become a regular at the B&B. Julia knew little about him except that he was away a lot on business and always stayed here. ‘How’s your breakfast?’ she asked as Grayson laid down his knife and fork.

  ‘Don’t tell the missus, but Julia you always cook up the best breakfasts,’ he answered with a grin. ‘Not good for my waistline or my cholesterol levels but always the best breakfasts.’

  ‘I promise I won’t tell her,’ said Julia brightly.

  Once the guests began to disperse Julia and Eleni set to work tidying up. ‘Andrew hasn’t been down for breakfast yet, should we put a Full Scottish to one side?’ suggested Eleni, flinging a tea-towel over her shoulder as she began to gather up the empty plates.

  Julia stopped what she was doing for a minute before replying. She hadn’t seen Andrew since he and Flynn had driven past her last night. ‘I’ll take the fresh towels up and check with him.’

  ‘Good plan.’

  Julia walked along the corridor, wishing the hikers on their way out a lovely day. A couple of seconds later she arrived outside Andrew’s room and rapped softly on the door.

  Silence.

  Julia knocked again and waited but there was still no answer. She turned the handle and peered around the door. The bed was made perfectly and looked like it hadn’t been slept in.

  ‘Hello, it’s only me, Julia,’ she gave a little shout just in case Andrew was in the bathroom but that too was empty. Quickly she swapped the towels and pulled the curtains back. Andrew’s holdall was open on the bed and two chef’s double-breasted jackets hung on the rail.

  She was just about to leave the room when Julia noticed an open notepad lying on the bedside table. She knew she shouldn’t snoop but curiosity got the better o
f her. Taking a deep breath, she cast her eyes over the words on the page that looked like new menu ideas for the restaurant at Starcross Manor accompanied by a list of suppliers. Feeling a twinge of guilt for snooping Julia laid the notepad back in the same place and picked up a couple of photographs that were lying next to it. The top photograph was of Flynn and Andrew standing on the huge stone steps in the front of Starcross Manor. Flynn was dressed in a tailored suit whilst Andrew was posing in his chef’s attire. The second photo was again of Flynn and Andrew and they were pictured with a distinguished-looking gentleman, dark hair with soft curls, a thin line of stubble on his jawline, also dressed in chef’s whites. He looked Italian and vaguely familiar to Julia. They were standing on a sandy bay, with a banquet fit for a king laid out in front of them. Julia narrowed her eyes, she didn’t recognise the white building behind with its old-fashioned shutters, purple wisteria and pink roses twisting around the doorway.

  ‘Where are you?’ Eleni shouted up the corridor causing Julia to jump. She quickly put the photographs back and hurried out of the room.

  ‘Just coming!’ shouted Julia.

  Eleni was waiting patiently at the end of the corridor. ‘Well?’

  ‘Well what?’ replied Julia.

  ‘Does Andrew want any breakfast?’

  Julia had completely forgotten the reason why she’d gone to his room in the first place. ‘He’s not there and it doesn’t look like his bed has been slept in. Come on, we need to get those beds made, the bathrooms cleaned and the towels changed. If you do the rooms over the far side I’ll take the bedrooms at the top of the stairs.’ The day was heating up and Julia already felt hot and sweaty, she pulled at her T-shirt around her neck and took a tentative look in the mirror that hung on the wall in the reception. Her hair looked like she’d put her fingers into an electric socket, it had frizzed into something that resembled a bird’s nest. ‘I really need to do something with this hair.’

  ‘There’s no point worrying about it now,’ replied Eleni, picking up the box of cleaning products she’d left on the reception desk. ‘Right… Ready… steady GO!’

  They were just about to disperse off in different directions when the bell above the entrance tinkled. Julia spun round and froze. Standing in front of her was Flynn and with his lack of smile, she didn’t have a good feeling about this.

  ‘Julia, have you got a minute?’ Flynn’s tone was firm and far from friendly.

  ‘Of course, would you like to come through to the kitchen?’ Julia was fully aware there were guests lounging around in the nearby day room and by the look on Flynn’s face she assumed this was not a conversation she wanted people over-hearing. ‘This way.’

  In silence Flynn followed Julia down the hallway and into the kitchen. After closing the door, she turned towards him. ‘I was going to come and see you after we’d finished the shift.’

  ‘Julia, I won’t beat around the bush, we need a conversation to clear the air.’

  Even though Flynn was still being standoffish she was glad he was there.

  ‘I’ve been nothing but polite and genuine towards you and others since I arrived in Heartcross. So I wondered if you might explain why you’re calling meetings and warning the villagers against me.’

  Julia felt hot under the collar and knew this was the time to lay all the cards on the table. He was still staring at her, waiting for an explanation, and he didn’t once drop his gaze.

  Taking a deep breath, Julia spoke. ‘When I saw you yesterday, I didn’t know anything about why the contractors had cancelled. It was only when I got to the pub that I knew. But did you honestly think that you could turn up in Heartcross and build a hotel that would have an effect on all our businesses and we’d sit back and take it?’ Julia was hoping her voice sounded braver than she felt. ‘Why all the secrecy, Flynn?’

  ‘Secrecy? What secrecy? I’ve not hidden the fact from anyone! There’s been planning applications stuck to lampposts and in the local newspaper. I’ve been upfront about everything I’ve been doing, Julia.’ Flynn was direct.

  ‘Except you haven’t come directly to any of us because you must have known you wouldn’t get the village’s blessing. We have long-standing businesses in Heartcross and you just come along with an agenda to make more money. Where do we fit in with all of this?’

  Flynn raised an eyebrow, but Julia didn’t let him answer.

  ‘A hotel with a swanky spa, swimming pool, gym, restaurants and shops will put this place out of business. Who would want to book a room here when they could have all that less than a mile up the road?’

  Julia had to admit Flynn looked a little stunned, his colour paled.

  She continued, ‘And why do you think Hamish is so upset? His shop is his life, and now you are opening up another one within your hotel. People will have bought their newspapers before they’ve even wandered into the village.’

  ‘It’s not my intention to put anyone out of business…’ interjected Flynn.

  ‘I suppose you are going to tell us all now that a little bit of healthy competition never hurt anyone,’ chipped in Julia, hearing her own voice rise a little.

  ‘There will be room in the village for all of us, the hotel will bring in more tourists…’

  ‘And they will be spending all their money within your hotel complex and the Boathouse. It’s a win–win for you isn’t it, Flynn? But what about everyone else?’ Julia finished in a rush.

  Flynn looked exasperated, his mouth open. ‘Julia, what is going on here? You seem quite hostile towards me all of a sudden, when I’ve only ever been friendly towards you. All I know is that my contractors cancelled because of you, your actions led to Hamish interfering in my business matters. What am I missing? Why are you telling everyone I’m untrustworthy and trying to tarnish my good reputation?’ Flynn was direct, standing his ground. He wanted answers.

  ‘Tarnish your good reputation,’ scoffed Julia. ‘That’s questionable. What was good about your reputation when you offered me thousands less for my grandfather’s house due to the economic climate or…?’ Julia walked over to the table and grabbed the magazine, she opened it up to the page of the article and slapped it against Flynn’s chest. ‘Or this, which is all lies.’ Her own outburst took Julia by surprise, but these were issues that needed to be addressed. She was so confused by this new Flynn, when she knew, in the past, he had been a very different man.

  She felt the tension between them growing as Flynn took the magazine and glanced at the article, with a puzzled look on his face. ‘Why are you angry over this?’

  Julia shook her head in disbelief, her eyes firmly fixed on Flynn. She pointed at the article. ‘Why am I angry over this? Because it’s not the truth, is it, Flynn? Was it a ploy to entice people into believing your story to secure bookings for your hotel, increasing your profits?’ She bit down on her lip, the knots in her stomach twisting. ‘Because I know this isn’t what happened. Flynn Carter wasn’t jilted, it was you who did the jilting!’

  Flynn’s jaw fell open. ‘Julia, what the hell are you talking about?’

  Julia was shaking her head in disbelief, but she felt a sudden stab of unease. Flynn looked dumbstruck by her accusation. ‘You know exactly what I’m talking about,’ she said, but her words had lost a bit of their strength.

  ‘I really don’t.’ Flynn was shaking his head. ‘I’ve no idea what you are going on about,’ exclaimed Flynn, blowing out at breath.

  ‘Of course you do! Why pretend? You were the one who jilted Anais, leaving her devastated ON HER WEDDING DAY,’ Julia’s voice rose a notch. ‘I’d only nipped out for some pastries and when I returned her beautiful dress was cut to shreds and you’d run off with a woman you were having an affair with, and now you’re pretending you know nothing about it.’

  Flynn’s eyes flickered as he ran his hand through his hair. He exhaled. ‘I’m not pretending anything. But your version of events is not the truth. You know what…’ Flynn stared into space for a second then placed the magazi
ne back on the table. ‘You’ve painted this picture of me that simply isn’t true. Julia, everyone in this village thinks I’m not trustworthy, thanks to you,’ he took a breath. ‘You’ve tarnished my reputation and the lies you are spreading about me are damning. I’ve no intention of causing anyone’s business to fold. But now I will do whatever I have to do to get that hotel up and running ready for its opening. No thanks to you… you should have just come and spoken to me first. There was no need for any of this. And as far as Anais is concerned, you are SO far off the mark…’

  ‘I know the truth,’ remarked Julia, but she suddenly felt decidedly sick.

  ‘And so do I,’ Flynn replied calmly.

  ‘So there’s nothing more to say.’ Feeling mentally exhausted Julia walked to the door and opened it, gesturing for Flynn to leave.

  ‘Agreed.’ He hovered in the doorway and turned back towards Julia. ‘You really have got it all wrong,’ Flynn said softly.

  As the door swung shut behind him Julia took a deep breath. With the emotion pouring through her body, she blinked back frustrated tears. Julia didn’t like confrontation of any sort – but how could he stand in front of her and blatantly lie? Unless he had got it wrong?

  With a soft rap on the door, Eleni peered around it. ‘You okay? Can I come in?’

  Julia nodded, ‘How much of that conversation did you hear?’

  ‘Most of it,’ admitted Eleni, giving Julia a hug. ‘You’re shaking.’

  ‘I’m so frustrated and fuming… that man… Urghhh. He stands in front of me with his barefaced lies.’

  Eleni pulled out a chair. ‘Sit down and I’ll get you a drink.’

  Julia did as she was told, pushing the magazine to the other side of the table.