by T A Williams
This time it was David who crushed his lips onto hers and pressed his whole body against hers. After a wonderful, tender, passionate kiss, he struggled to sit up and, as he did so, the dog also jumped to his feet, tail wagging, and looked out of the back of the car towards the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps, splashing up the slope towards them. David glanced back down at her.
‘I really did hear you right, didn’t I? I didn’t just imagine you saying that thing about you being the girl who loves me?’
‘You heard right, and I meant it.’ She reached up and kissed him again just so there could be no possible doubt. ‘So does this mean you might not be going off and leaving me any time soon? I don’t want you to go. Read my lips: I do not want you to go.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Of course I’m sure, you idiot. Now, just tell me you’re staying.’
‘I’m staying.’
Chapter 25
Jess was woken on Saturday morning by birdsong from the courtyard and a cold, wet Labrador nose against her bare shoulder. She smiled down at the dog and then shook her head.
‘Good morning, Brutus. You might have to wait a little bit for your walk. Go back to your bed. Go to your bed, Brutus.’
As the dog trotted obediently back to the kitchen, Jess rolled over and reached for her man, burrowing her head into his muscular chest and kissing him softly. Her other hand ran lightly down his side and across his taut stomach.
‘Good morning, Jess.’ He was smiling all over as he reached for her in turn. ‘I can’t think of a better way of waking up.’
Neither could she.
It was a good bit later when the long-suffering dog finally managed to persuade her to get up and take him out for a walk. The sky was cloud-free and that wonderful clear blue colour that reminded her of David’s eyes. The ground beneath her feet had almost dried out and there was little trace left of the big storm, apart from a few leaves and branches still scattered about. It was warm, the views were stunning, the air was full of the scent of the flowers, and the only sound was the gentle lapping of the waves. Altogether, it felt really, really good to be alive and she knew there was a smile on her face.
By the time she got back, she found David in the kitchen, clad in just a towel, busy at the coffee machine. Jess’s smile broadened as she went over and gave him a hug and a long, lingering kiss.
‘I knew there was something missing in this kitchen.’ She gave him a grin. ‘I must make sure I specify one of these in all of the kitchens I design from now on. And I’m not talking about the coffee machine.’
‘So, have you made your mind up about your next job?’ It was a rhetorical question. They had discussed this the night before and both of them already knew the answer.
‘I’ll contact Monsieur Mailly this morning and set up the meeting. And I’ll send an email to London, thanking Graham for his kind offer, and politely refusing.’
‘You see? That’s what I mean. You’re such a kind, well-mannered person. After the way he treated you, I’d have told him where to stick his job.’
‘He’ll get the message. Thanks.’ Jess took her cup of coffee and set it on the table. After giving Brutus his breakfast, she sat down and took a sip. ‘Excellent coffee. I’m pleased to inform you, Mr Dupont, that you’re hired.’
‘Talking of jobs, might you have a bit of spare time to check out a house?’
‘You’ve found one?’
He nodded. ‘Ironic, isn’t it? Just as I was thinking about leaving, I get a call telling me there’s a house coming up for sale.’
‘Ooh, how exciting. Near here?’
‘It’s in a wonderful position. You pass it every time you walk into St-Trop on the coastal path. You’ve probably never noticed it. It’s terribly dilapidated. It’s quite small, tucked away on a…’
‘… on a headland. A tumbledown stone farmhouse with an absolutely enormous umbrella pine behind it? I know the house. I’ve lusted after it ever since I got here.’ She reached over and squeezed his hand. ‘So that makes two things I’ve been lusting after.’
‘It isn’t very big, though.’
‘You have to be talking about the house.’
‘But of course.’ He gave her a wink.
‘As long as it’s got a bedroom, I don’t care.’
He raised her fingers to his lips and kissed them one by one.
‘So, I’ll phone and make an appointment to view it next week?’
‘Absolutely.’ Jess felt the dog’s nose against her thigh and reached down with her free hand to scratch his ears under the table. ‘Of course, it’ll need a new kitchen – with the essential element I’ve just been talking about.’
‘You decide what you want, and I assure you it’ll be there.’ He glanced across at the clock on the cooker. ‘Did you say we’re invited for lunch?’
‘That’s right. Twelve o’clock down at the harbour.’
‘Then I’d better go back to the villa and check my emails. Shall I book a taxi for twelve?’
‘Perfect.’
* * *
Hope was waiting for them on the quay. When she spotted Brutus, she ran forward and dropped to her knees to hug him. Then she straightened up again and came over to greet Jess and David.
‘Hi, you two. It’s great to see my hairy friend again. And I gather things got a bit hairy up there in the woods on Thursday.’ Jess had already phoned her with the news. ‘Let’s see your wounds, then.’
The sun was high in the sky now and Jess had opted for just a light summer dress. The white dressings on her knees and elbows looked a bit incongruous against her suntan, but she didn’t mind.
‘It’s all healing up well. Compared to what might have happened, I got off very lightly. Apparently I have Range Rover and David’s grandma to thank for that. And somebody else, of course.’
Hope led them across the gangplank and onto the boat. Jess was pleased to see that David managed it without too much difficulty. Somehow, he was looking more confident after his exploits on Thursday. Up in the lounge – Jess remembered she should refer to it as the saloon – they found Max dispensing drinks. There were a dozen or so people there and Jess found she knew most of them. There was Olivier standing alongside Pete – now a very happy couple. Terri and Louis from the beach bar were there, as was Steve the deckie, and a handful of other familiar faces. Jess went round, shaking hands and dispensing kisses, and she was delighted to see David greet the others with hugs and kisses as well. He looked genuinely happy to see them all again, as was she.
They stood around and chatted for a while. Everybody sounded very pleased to hear Jess’s news that she was going to be staying on in St-Tropez, and then Hope gave her own news.
‘Max has spoken to Christian – the owner of Helios – and they’ve made a deal. This winter, for the first time, Helios isn’t going to stay in the Med. When the autumn comes, we’re sailing across to the Caribbean for the winter and staying over there until the spring.’
Jess caught Hope’s eye. ‘So, does this mean you’re a full-time hostie now?’
Max stretched his arm around Hope and answered for her.
‘She’s not only accepted the offer of a full-time job, but another offer I made.’
Hope was smiling now. ‘They say that husband and wife teams make the best crews.’
Jess grabbed first Hope, and then Max, and hugged them warmly.
‘That’s fabulous news. Congratulations, you two!’
Max returned Jess’s hug and gave her a wink.
‘And I owe it all to you.’
After a while, David decided to sit down. Everybody else followed suit and Jess found herself perched on the arm of the armchair alongside him. She reached across and clinked her glass against his.
‘Feeling good?’
‘Feeling great.’
He was smiling. It looked as though he was about to say more, but they were interrupted by Hope, who had come to collect.
‘Right, then, Jess, le
t’s have my hundred euros.’
Jess looked up in surprise and then the penny dropped.
‘Of course, our bet. Look, Hope, I haven’t brought any cash with me, but I’ll pay you next time I see you.’
Hope grinned. ‘No sweat. Your credit’s good with me.’
David looked up suspiciously. ‘So what was the bet about?’
Jess felt herself blushing. ‘Nothing special…’
But Hope wasn’t going to let her get away with that.
‘This was my prediction, David, way back in June, just after we’d arrived in St-Tropez – that Jess and you would end up together.’
‘Is that so?’ David grinned at Jess’s discomfort. ‘So was I worth losing a hundred euros for?’
She reached down and caught hold of his free hand. ‘Worth every cent.’
He was grinning more broadly now.
‘You and I had our own bet, didn’t we, Jess? Something about us dog-walking together by the end of the summer?’
‘Ah, but I didn’t specify which summer.’
‘No cheating. Maybe by next summer we’ll be able to walk together. Who knows? But in the meantime you’ve lost your bet, so there’s something you’ve got to do for me.’
Jess sighed theatrically and dropped to her knees in front of him. Behind her, she heard Hope giggle.
‘Jess, please! Not in front of Brutus.’
Jess ignored her friend and reached for David’s foot.
‘So which shoe would you like me to help you with first?’
Acknowledgments
With many thanks to Michael Bhaskar and the whole team at Canelo for their support and encouragement.
Thanks also to my old friend Phil Mason who has the great good fortune to live on the Côte d'Azur and who is a mine of useful information.
‘This is contemporary romance at its best…’ WhatsBetterThanBooks
T.A. Williams’ novels will enchant and delight!
Sun-drenched romantic adventures in Spanish villas and charming Italian cities…Can true love happen, or will trouble get in the way?
Find out more…
First published in the United Kingdom in 2018 by Canelo
Canelo Digital Publishing Limited
57 Shepherds Lane
Beaconsfield, Bucks HP9 2DU
United Kingdom
Copyright © T.A. Williams, 2018
The moral right of T.A. Williams to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN 9781911591931
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places and events are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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