Coming Home to Maple Cottage: The perfect, cosy, feel-good romance

by Holly Martin

  Her breath caught in her throat. Kissing him the night before had been everything but this felt so much more intimate and sexy. And even though his hand never went any higher than her knee, it was like the wonderful prelude to something more.

  They arrived at the Golden Bridge and the sky was a glorious inky blue that seemed to go on forever as it stretched out over the sea.

  Leo got out and she stayed in the car for a few seconds to catch her breath. She smiled when he came to open the door for her. To her surprise he took her hand as they walked towards the restaurant.

  She looked up at him and he smiled. ‘I really am the luckiest man alive to have you with me tonight.’

  She smiled, still not entirely sure where she stood with him but by then she was caring less and less. Maybe she would see where the evening took them without worrying about defining it.

  He held the restaurant door open for her and she was greeted by a woman in a smart black suit.

  ‘Hello, we have a table booked under the name of Melody Rosewood,’ Isla said, looking round the restaurant to see if she could see her sister.

  The woman checked her book and nodded.

  ‘Of course, right this way,’ the woman said, grabbing two menus and walking off towards the far side of the restaurant. It was such a glamorous place, all black sparkly walls, gold waterfall walls and marble floors. It was not like any other place she had ever been to.

  The woman stopped by a small candlelit table overlooking the bay. The view of Sandcastle Bay was incredible, the houses twinkling in the darkness, the moon lighting up the sea beyond, laying a shimmering path out towards the horizon. However, as the woman placed the menus down on the table and waited for them to take their seats, Isla realised there had been a mistake; this wasn’t their table at all.

  ‘Oh no, we’re part of the Melody Rosewood and Jamie Jackson party. There’s a big group of us,’ Isla said.

  The woman’s smile faltered.

  ‘I’m pretty sure this is the table that Melody booked, I spoke to her myself.’

  Isla frowned in confusion. Maybe the table was booked under another name. ‘Is there not a big party booked in for tonight?’

  ‘I don’t think so, let me go and check.’

  The woman wandered off and Isla turned to Leo.

  ‘What’s going on? How can they not have a big party booking? There’s going to be at least seven of us, plus a few friends, Jamie’s friend Klaus maybe, Agatha and Carolyn too. Melody said it was going to be all their friends and family. What if the restaurant screwed up?’ She looked around; could they squeeze in a table for eight or nine people? It looked pretty busy. But where was everyone else? She looked at her watch to see that they were a few minutes early. Perhaps everyone else was still on their way.

  ‘Maybe you should call Melody,’ Leo suggested.

  The restaurant was very quiet, people talking in low voices at their tables, so Isla decided to text her instead.

  We’re at the restaurant and they have given us a table for two, how many people are coming?

  The reply was instant.

  Just you two. Thought you could do with a night out and maybe a chance to talk. Have a good night.

  Followed by a winky smiley face.

  She stared at the text in confusion just as the woman returned. ‘I’ve checked the booking and it was definitely a table for two. It came with instructions for the most romantic table in the restaurant.’

  Leo stared at the woman and then at the table and the incredible romantic view. ‘We’ve been set up.’

  Isla passed him the phone so he could read Melody’s message. ‘It seems that way.’

  The woman hovered for a moment. ‘Is the table OK?’

  ‘Yes, it’s fine, thank you,’ Leo said and the woman left them alone. ‘It seems we have ourselves a date.’

  Isla smirked and shook her head. She couldn’t be angry over Melody’s choice of timing. Melody would have known that Isla would have just sat at home and worried and overanalysed everything surrounding Sadie. She looked across at Leo and couldn’t think of a nicer way to be distracted. And Isla herself had said she wanted time to talk to Leo properly. Melody had given her that.

  ‘Wow, it seems our families are going all out to get us together.’

  Leo held her chair out for her and she quirked her eyebrow at him. In her entire life, no one had held her chair out for her.

  ‘Well, if we’re on a date, I should do dately things,’ he said.

  She sat down, shaking her head fondly, and he sat down opposite her. To her surprise, he took her hand again.

  ‘I’m sorry, this is kind of my fault,’ Isla said.

  ‘Bloody hell, don’t apologise. I get to be on a date with the most incredible woman I’ve ever met.’

  She stared at him, her heart racing as he looked at her with complete adoration.

  ‘And no, I don’t say that to all the women,’ Leo said.

  She smiled and looked out over the view, playing for time. She had no idea what to say to that wonderful compliment.

  ‘Why is this your fault?’ Leo said, stroking his fingers gently over the back of her hand. It was the exact same pressure he had used on the back of her leg in the car on the drive over and she suddenly wanted him to stroke her like that all over her body.

  Isla swallowed and started caressing the palm of his hand with her thumb. ‘Because I said I wanted time to talk to you.’

  He looked down at where their hands were touching and he nodded. ‘Talking is very important,’ his voice was strained. ‘Right now, I could think of quite a few things I’d like to do on our date later on and talking isn’t one of them. But we’re here at this lovely restaurant at this romantic table with that amazing view, what would you like to talk about?’

  He moved her hand to his mouth and kissed across her knuckles. His hot breath on her skin was heavenly.

  ‘I have absolutely no idea,’ Isla said, her breathing heavy. ‘But I’d quite like to know about those things you want to do on our date later.’

  His mouth twitched into a smile. ‘I’d rather show you those things.’

  She couldn’t take her eyes off him. Her heart was thundering in her chest, blood roaring in her ears.

  She placed her menu down on the table and stood up, offering out her hand. ‘Then let’s go.’

  He frowned slightly. ‘Wait, I’m just teasing you. Well, of course I want that but we don’t have to do that now. Wouldn’t you prefer to have your glamorous date, here, overlooking the sea?’

  ‘There is nothing I’d rather be doing right now than being with you again like we were four years ago.’

  He didn’t hesitate this time. He stood up and took her hand.

  ‘Let’s go home.’

  He marched out of the restaurant and she followed in his wake. He didn’t even break his stride when he approached the woman who had shown them to the table.

  ‘Sorry, change of plan,’ Leo said and Isla giggled as he tugged her outside into the car park.

  As they approached his car, Leo stopped and pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard. His large hands spanned her back, holding her close against his body. His touch was gentle, almost reverential, but his kiss was so much more. It was sensual, dark, sexy as hell. It took her breath away. God, his house was suddenly too far away. If he tried to push her back against the side of his car and take her there and then, she wouldn’t even stop him.

  He pulled back abruptly. ‘We need to go home, now.’

  She nodded and he grabbed her car door and yanked it open, probably a bit too hard. She quickly got inside as he ran round to the driver’s side. She had to laugh at his urgency.

  He started the car, slammed it into gear and took off in a wheel spin, with gravel flying behind them in a cloud of dust. Although to his credit, once he hit the road, he drove a bit more sedately. She had noticed that he was a very safe driver, though maybe that was an after-effect of Matthew’s accident.

 
; She placed her hand on the inside of his leg this time, giving it a little squeeze, and she smirked when he swerved a little.

  She inched it a little higher and he captured it with his own, raised it to his mouth to kiss and then pushed it back towards her. ‘Let’s save that for the bedroom or I don’t think we’ll be arriving back home in one piece.’

  They pulled into the secluded drive in front of his house, the lights shining from the windows welcoming them home. He quickly unclipped his seatbelt and she laughed when he unclipped hers too. He moved to get out but she caught his shoulder and held him back, nerves suddenly getting the better of her.

  He looked at her in concern.

  She stroked his face to soften the blow of what she was about to say. ‘Promise me something.’

  ‘Anything.’

  ‘Promise me, that whatever happens between us, it won’t affect what you have with Elliot. He needs you more than I do and I never want to do anything to ruin the beautiful relationship you two have.’

  He smiled and shook his head.

  ‘I love him. I never wanted children and I was scared about the responsibility of being his godfather but now, god, I love him so much and that is never going to change. I’m not going anywhere.’

  ‘Even if we hate each other and don’t want to talk to one another any more?’

  ‘That will never happen. We’ll always be best friends. But when I said I’m not going anywhere, I meant for you too. I’ll always be here for you.’

  She smiled, her doubts and fears fading away, at least for tonight.

  She leaned over and kissed him and he stroked her face, his gentle fingers caressing down her throat and then sliding her dress strap off her shoulder. She felt the bodice of the dress slip down a little and his hand skated down her chest and inside her bra, touching her nipple with the lightest of touches.

  It was like her body was suddenly coming alive again, as if it recognised his touch and was waking up after four long years of hibernation. Sex with her ex had always been good but it was never like this.

  She let out a sigh of need as Leo stroked her and she pushed him back in his seat. She quickly wiggled out of her knickers and then climbed over the handbrake and straddled him, kissing him again as his hands pushed her dress down to her waist and explored her body. He took both breasts in his hands, running his thumbs over her nipples. He knew exactly where to touch her to make her gasp.

  She yanked the tie from his neck and undid his shirt buttons, stroking across his strong hard chest.

  He lowered his lips to her breast, sucking her into his hot mouth, and she moaned as she wrapped her hands round his neck and kissed the top of his head.

  He slipped his hand between her legs and it was mere seconds before waves of pleasure rocked through her. She clung to him, her breath accelerated and unsteady.

  She was vaguely aware he was undoing his trousers and rolling on a condom. She shifted to her knees so she was raised above him but her legs were shaking like jelly.

  He leaned up and kissed her, cupping her face and gently taking his time as if he was in no rush. She slowly moved down on top of him and he shifted his hands to her hips, guiding her so she took him inside her. He pulled her tighter against him, so he was deeper inside her and she gasped against his lips. It was as if something had been missing from her life for far too long, and it wasn’t sex, it was him.

  They started to move against each other. It was gentle at first as if they wanted to take the time to rediscover each other but pretty soon it became hard and urgent and needful as they grabbed at each other, kissing hard, tasting and exploring. It was hot and sweaty and their bodies sliding together as one was so incredibly erotic that she was soon shouting out his name as her orgasm hit her with the force of a double-decker bus. He let out a noise that sounded like a roar as he kissed her hard, and then she slumped against him, resting her head on his shoulder as she tried to catch her breath.

  He stroked his hands down her damp back soothingly and she sat up to look at him, her whole body shaking. He smoothed her hair from her face and gave her a brief kiss on the lips.

  ‘So, shall we go inside now?’ Leo said.

  She laughed and nodded.

  He ran his hands up her thighs, stroking that sensitive area at the top of her legs. ‘We have lots more to talk about.’

  She kissed him. ‘I agree. I hope you have more condoms because I have a feeling we’ll be talking all night.’

  He grinned. ‘I came prepared.’

  ‘I’m so glad.’

  Chapter Sixteen

  Leo watched Isla as the light from the log fire flickered across her face. She was wearing only her bathrobe as she sat on his lap, twisting her damp hair round her finger as she stared at the flames. She leaned back, resting her head on his shoulder, slipping her arm round his stomach. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and held her against him, kissing her forehead. She had a peaceful, contented expression on her face. He couldn’t really believe he had put that look there. The women he had been with in the past always looked at him as if they were waiting for him to leave after they’d spent the night together. There had never been any cuddling like this, it had always just been sex. In fact, if any of them had cuddled up with him like this he would have run a mile. But it was different with Isla, it had always been different with her.

  ‘We should have done this a long time ago,’ Isla said, quietly.

  ‘What, shower sex?’ he teased. ‘Yes, that was one place we never ticked off our list last time. We pretty much stayed in bed the whole night.’

  She giggled. ‘No, this – us.’

  He leaned his head on top of hers and let out a sigh.

  ‘Maybe it wasn’t the right time,’ Leo said. When was the right time to make a move on his best friend’s sister when she was grieving the loss of her brother and trying to raise her nephew at the same time? Especially when it was partly his fault that her whole life had been turned upside down. A wave of guilt surged through him but he pushed it back down. Even though he knew this wasn’t the moment to tell her what he did, or rather didn’t do, he still cursed himself for being a coward.

  She looked up at him. ‘Is it the right time now?’

  He stared at her. ‘God, I hope so.’

  She smiled and kissed him briefly before cuddling back up to him again.

  It had been an incredible night so far. After coming in from the car, they’d kissed for the longest time, against the wall, on the sofa and then in the shower, where things had progressed to the best sex he’d ever had. He smiled; every time with Isla was the best sex he’d ever had. In fact, that night had probably been the best night of his life, and although he’d said that about the first night they’d spent together, this was infinitely better. Probably because he loved her completely and because he’d never thought this would really happen for them. She had turned his marriage proposals down more times than he could count. He’d always thought it was because she didn’t like him that way. Until recently, he’d had no idea that she had feelings for him too.

  And he’d nearly screwed it all up that day that the truth about how she felt about him came out. He’d walked away from her. But he had her now and he wasn’t going to let her go.

  ‘What did you want to talk to me about tonight?’ Leo asked, tracing his fingers down her back.

  She sat up and smiled at him. ‘We never got the chance to finish our conversation yesterday. You said you had feelings for me but I wasn’t sure if you meant sex and lust or… something more.’

  ‘Ah, I never made myself clear.’

  ‘No, you didn’t. But it’s OK, I know now,’ Isla said.

  ‘You do?’ She couldn’t possibly know how deep his feelings ran for her.

  ‘You feel the same way I do.’

  He smiled; they were both skirting around those words.

  ‘I really do, with everything I have.’

  She pushed apart the top of his robe and placed a kiss over his
heart. ‘It’s this I like the most.’

  ‘My pecs?’

  She laughed. ‘Those too.’

  ‘Was that the only thing you wanted to talk to me about?’

  She frowned, as if trying to decide whether to talk to him about something. ‘Jamie says you blame yourself for Matthew’s death?’

  He swore under his breath. Talk about a mood killer. He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t bear to see the love for him that was shining from her face fade away. He knew he would have to tell her at some point but he didn’t want to destroy what they had, not when he’d just got her back after all this time.

  ‘That’s not… I… Let’s not talk about that tonight.’

  She stroked his face, her eyes clouded with concern. ‘We don’t have to talk about it now but if this is holding you back then you need to let go of it at some point. And talking it through with me might help.’

  ‘You will hate me,’ Leo said, quietly.

  ‘That’s not possible. Best friends forever, remember.’

  ‘I’m not a good man.’

  ‘But you are, you are wonderful and generous and loyal. There is no one else in this world that I would rather raise Elliot with. I don’t care about the man that you were. Who you are now is the man I’ve fallen for.’

  He stared at her. She saw something incredible in him and maybe it was time he started believing in that person too.

  He kissed her hard, cupping the back of her head. She tasted divine. She slipped her hand underneath his robe, stroking across his shoulder and chest. As the kiss continued, he slid his hand between her legs, caressing her in that place that made her moan against his lips. That moan sent a kick of desire straight to his gut. He needed her now.

  He quickly brought her tumbling over the edge. As she was trying to catch her breath, he wrestled a condom from the pocket of his robe but to his immense frustration she suddenly stood up and climbed off his lap.