by Nell Dixon
Emma swallowed, the atmosphere had shifted again and she was acutely aware of his proximity.
“Yeah, that’ll be good.” Her gaze locked with his. His lips brushed her mouth.
“Goodnight, Emma.” Then she was on the other side of the door with her thoughts and emotions a tangle of confusion.
CHAPTER FOUR
Posy deposited a huge pile of carriers next to the only free table in the coffee bar. “Whew, I need to sit down.”
“I’ll go and get the drinks.” Emma waited patiently in the queue and returned bearing drinks, plus two large slices of cake, to her friend.
“I shouldn’t eat this. I’ll never fit in my wedding dress.” Posy picked up a fork and dug into her piece of gateaux.
Emma smiled and shook her head. Posy was as slim as a stick and they must have used a million calories carrying the shopping. ”At least we have pretty much everything we came to get,” Emma said.
“True, and you looked so lovely in your dress.” Posy sighed as she licked the last drop of cream from the prongs of her fork.
“You didn’t look so bad in yours either. My brother is a very lucky man.” Posy had looked amazing. Seeing her in the stunning gown, a fine veil pinned in place under a silver tiara had bought home to Emma how close the wedding actually was.
Posy fished inside her handbag for her wedding planning notebook. “Flowers, check; dresses, check; hair and make-up is booked, and reception catering is done, cake made by your mum.” Posy frowned in concentration as she went down her list ticking off items as she went.
“I don’t think there’s much left on the list.” Emma scraped the last bit of her cake from her plate. “It’s going to be a lovely wedding.”
“I just want to do Noah proud.” Posy bit her lip. Her blue eyes were bright with unshed tears. “After what happened to him with Jessica, I want everything to be perfect. I want him to feel he made the right choice when he asked me to marry him.”
“Oh Posy, of course you’ll do him proud. He adores you. You could turn up in a potato sack on the back of a dustcart and he’d still think he was the luckiest man in the world because he was marrying you.” She reached across the table to hug her friend.
“Thank you.” Posy returned the hug. “I hope I don’t end up in a potato sack though.”
Emma giggled. “That would raise a few eyebrows.”
Posy leaned back in her seat. “Talking of raising eyebrows, I had a text from a mutual friend this morning to say your car was seen in a certain street last night?”
Emma gaped at her. “Wow, word gets around fast.”
The corner of her friend’s mouth curved in a smile. “You can blame Meg and Adam, they were out walking their dog.”
“Honestly, there is no privacy living in New Bay.” She knew her cheeks had pinked. “I had to see Ian for something to do with the wedding. Best man stuff.”
“Uh huh.” A teasing sparkle had returned to Posy’s eyes. “You two would make such a good couple.”
Emma gave an unladylike snort. “Will you give it up? Just because you and Noah are all loved up you are not going to match-make for everyone else.” Besides, she wasn’t really sure she was over her break up with Matt, was she?
Posy continued to look smug. “We’ll see.”
Emma schooled her features to look impassive. Only a few hours ago she would have rolled around laughing at her friend’s suggestion that she and Ian might be attracted to one another. Now, after last night, she wasn’t so sure.
“Come on, little Miss Matchmaker, it’s quite a walk back to the car.”
They gathered their shopping and set off through the winding streets to a small car park on the edge of town.
“I wish we could have parked nearer to the shops.” Posy puffed as they slowly made their way up hill. The sun was high in a clear blue sky and the tops of Emma’s shoulders were burning in the heat.
“That’s what comes of setting out late and finding all the car park spaces gone. Trevean Sands is busier than New Bay.” She adjusted the bags in her hands where the handles were digging into her fingers.
The pavement shimmered in front of her and the smell of melting asphalt mixed with the salt tang of the sea.
“I vote we call in for ice cream on the way home,” Posy said.
“Then you definitely won’t fit in your wedding dress.”
They rounded the final corner and Emma paused to rest her bags on top of the low, grey stone wall surrounding the car park while she found her keys. Posy waited patiently by the car for her to unlock the door.
“Better open the doors and windows to let the heat out a bit first before we get in,” Emma called as she pressed the remote.
She collected the shopping ready to join her friend when a small sound caught her attention. Puzzled, she stilled for a moment and listened to see if she could hear it again.
Posy crossed the lot to take some of the bags from her. “I’ve put mine in the car. Are you okay?”
“I thought I heard something.” Emma thrust the shopping at Posy and peered into a dense green bush growing out of the car park wall. She wrinkled her nose at a smelly bag of rubbish someone had dumped there.
“What is it?” Her friend came to join her.
“Listen,” Emma urged.
“A cat.”
The two girls hunted along the edge of the vegetation listening for the weak mewling that had first caught Emma’s attention.
“Here!” She scrambled into the thickest clump of bushes and brambles.
“Oh!” Posy cried as Emma emerged carefully cradling a tiny scrap of a kitten in her arms.
“Poor little thing, it’s so weak.” A tear ran down her cheek as she felt the bones of the kitten's ribs protruding, barely covered by its fur.
“I’ve got some water in my bag.” Posy rushed to the car and collected her bottle of water. She poured some into her cupped hand for the kitten to lap.
“It’s almost too frail to drink. We need to get it to Ian. He’ll know what to do.” Emma’s first thought was to get some help. The poor creature was clearly dehydrated and in bad shape.
“Let’s get to the car and you can call him on your mobile and see where he is,” Posy suggested as she stroked a gentle finger along the top of the kitten’s black and white head.
They found an old towel in the back of Emma’s car and placed the kitten on the rear seat.
“Ian?” Emma’s heart skipped a beat as he answered on the first ring. “I’m with Posy down in Trevean Sands and we found this poor little kitten in the car park. It’s in really bad shape.” She dashed her hand across her eyes as she waited for his reply.
“Come straight to the house and I’ll take a look for you.” The calm tone of his voice reassured her.
“Okay, we’re on our way.” She dropped her phone back inside her bag. “He said to bring the cat to his house.”
Posy rode in the back of the car next to the kitten while Emma drove as quickly as she dared along the coast road back to New Bay.
Ian was at the front door as she pulled up. He was dressed in the denim cut-offs that he’d worn the previous night and a white tee shirt. Simply seeing him on the step made her heart swell.
“Let’s have a look, then.” He opened the rear door of the car as Emma got out and joined him on the footpath.
“Emma heard him meowing in the bushes at the side of the car park,” Posy explained as Ian gently lifted the kitten from the rear seat.
The girls followed as Ian carried the kitten into the house where he had a cat carrier and his vet’s bag ready and waiting.
“Will it be okay?” Emma asked.
Ian continued his careful examination of the kitten. “Hopefully, if we get some fluids into it. Poor thing. It’s badly dehydrated and wouldn’t have lasted much longer in today’s heat if you hadn’t found it. I need to take it over to the surgery and get an IV set up.”
She watched as he placed the kitten inside the carrier. “Will you
call me and let me know if it’s okay?” If Posy hadn’t been with her she would have suggested she accompany him.
“Sure, and don’t worry. Kittens can be tough little things.” His gaze locked with hers and her breath caught in her throat.
“We’d better let you get going,” Posy said and nudged Emma’s arm.
“Yes, of course,” Emma said.
Ian carried the kitten out to his car ahead of the girls and set off for the surgery.
“Come on, we need to get all this shopping back to the farm.” Posy tucked her arm through Emma’s. “Don’t worry, I’m quite sure Ian will be dying to ring you and now he has the perfect excuse.”
“You are completely impossible. My brother is definitely a bad influence on you.”
Her friend merely giggled as she got back into Emma’s car.
* * * *
Ian’s thoughts kept drifting back to Emma while he treated the kitten and placed it in one of the cages in the recovery room. It wasn’t the first time she’d found an animal in distress to rescue. When he’d been halfway through his course and home for the holidays, she’d turned up one morning with a hypothermic hedgehog.
Several of the feral cats who lived in the barns at the farm were there because Emma had rescued them. Even her chickens had all once been battery hens that she’d re-homed. Her kind heart and love of animals was part of the reason he loved her.
He glanced at his watch. Evening surgery would start in less than an hour and he needed to change into his work clothes. Hopefully there wouldn’t be too many animals to see on such a hot day. Then, instead of calling Emma to update her on the kitten’s progress he could call in and see her.
His hopes for a quiet time at the practice were quickly dashed. If anything, he had more four-legged patients than ever. By the time he’d reassured the last owner, he was an hour late closing the doors. He made a final check on the animals in the recovery room, including Emma’s kitten, and ensured his nurse was happy with all her furry patients.
Finally free of his responsibilities he hurried back to his cottage to change. The melting heat of the day had given way to a beautiful summer evening. The sea front was busy with families out for a stroll and children still played happily on the sands.
He whistled to himself as he set off for the hills behind New Bay, and Emma’s farm. The previous evening had been everything he could have hoped for and more. Kissing Emma goodnight had been the perfect ending, too.
His high spirits lasted all the way along the track past the campsite, only to evaporate when he spotted a familiar car parked in the yard. He wasn’t the only person calling on Emma. Matt Greening had beaten him to it.
CHAPTER FIVE
Jealousy knifed him in the ribs. Had Matt come to get back together with Emma? He didn’t know if he should turn the car around and call Emma later or if he should stay and go and find her. He wasn’t quite sure what he would do or say if Matt was there.
Even as he hesitated he saw Matt and Emma walking together into the yard, as if they had come from the top field. Emma had changed from the shorts she’d worn earlier back into her usual jeans. Matt’s head was close to hers as they walked together.
Emma nodded as if agreeing to something Matt had suggested and the pain in Ian's chest deepened. Matt and Emma paused next to Matt’s car and Ian watched as Emma nodded again, a solemn expression on her pretty face. Matt dipped his head to kiss Emma’s cheek before getting into his car.
He raised a cheery hand in greeting as he drove away past Ian’s car. Ian pulled in a breath and braced himself ready to talk to Emma. She strolled towards him still carrying the old metal bucket she’d been holding when she’d been walking with Matt.
“Hi, has something happened? Is the kitten okay?” Questions tumbled from her almost before he was out of his car.
“The kitten is fine. I was out this way and thought I’d drop in to tell you.”
Her shoulders appeared to relax in relief but he could see that her eyes were shadowed. If Matt Greening had said something to hurt her…
“Thanks for calling in. It was kind of you.”
“No problem.” The urge to take her in his arms and kiss away whatever troubled her was almost overwhelming. Instead, he tucked his fingers into the front pockets of his jeans. “It’s such a nice evening I was thinking of driving down the coast for a walk on the beach. Would you like to come?”
He made the suggestion without thinking.
Emma nibbled on the corner of her lower lip as if unsure. “Okay. I’ll just get rid of my bucket and grab a sweater. Maybe some sea air will blow the cobwebs away.” She murmured the last part as if talking more to herself than to him.
He waited patiently by the car and within a few minutes she returned clutching her dark blue hoody.
“I know it’s none of my business but is everything okay?” Ian couldn’t help asking as he pulled away down the drive.
Emma sighed and fiddled with the sweater on her lap as if uncertain of how to reply.
“It’s fine. Matt and I are friends, that’s all.” She gave a careless half-shrug.
Ian wasn’t sure if she was trying to convince him or herself of the truth of that statement.
“He’s seeing someone else,” Emma added.
A guilty spurt of pleasure at her announcement lifted Ian’s heart. It was swiftly dashed by the trace of pain he saw in her eyes.
“He came to tell you that?”
Emma clamped her lips together for a moment and he wished he could take his question back. He forced himself to focus on the road while she gathered herself together enough to answer him.
“Yes, actually he did. He’s bringing her to the wedding and someone, probably my tactless brother, had dropped heavy hints that he might want to check if I’d be okay with it.” She stared straight ahead as she spoke.
“I’m sorry, Emma.” He wished he wasn’t driving. At least they would be at the beach in a minute and they could talk properly as they walked. He could hold her hand or give her a shoulder to cry on. Although, glancing at her set profile, he guessed Emma would keep up her brave exterior.
“I’m fine. We only dated for a few months. It wasn’t anything serious.”
Ian longed to believe her but he remembered how, years ago, she’d practised writing her name as Mrs Emma Greening on the pages of her school notebook. First loves always ran deep. Weren’t his own feelings for her proof of that?
He pulled into a tiny car park next to the beach. He loved this part of the coast in between New Bay and Trevean Sands. Few people who weren’t local knew this beach existed. At first sight it seemed as if there was no way down to the sea from the car park, just the steep cliffs. However if you walked to the far end, a narrow path led down steps carved in the rock and onto the beach.
“The older people in the town say the smugglers made this path,” Ian said as Emma walked beside him through the clumps of bright pink Thrift flowers.
“Can you imagine them on the cliff further down, waving a lantern to draw some unsuspecting ship onto the rocks so they could plunder the loot?” Emma shivered and drew a little closer to his side. “It’s a bit creepy, don’t you think?”
They scrambled down the last few feet of the path ready to jump down onto the sand. Ian went ahead. The beach was still wet, the golden sand dark and firm beneath his feet. Shallow pools surrounded weed covered rocks jutting out here and there from the sand, shelter for crabs stranded by the tides retreat.
He held out his hand to help her down the last step. Her fingers were warm to his touch.
“It’s not creepy now though. No ghosts here tonight.” He smiled at her as she landed next to him. He wasn’t sure if he meant the ghosts of the smugglers and pirates or the spectre of Emma and Matt’s relationship.
“No, tonight is lovely.” She tightened the knot on the arms of her hoody where she’d tied it around her waist and fell into step beside him as they ambled across the beach. The air was fresh with the tang o
f salt and the gulls wheeled overhead, crying out to the sky with their distinctive shrieks.
They strolled along, inspecting the contents of the pools. Emma was clearly not in the mood for conversation and Ian was content simply to be in her company.
“We should start to head back. I don’t want to walk up the cliff steps in the dark.” He halted at her side as she stood, frowning out at the expanse of ocean in front of her. The sun glowing like an orange as it slipped towards the horizon.
“Thank you for bringing me down here. I’m sorry I haven’t been better company.” She gave him a weak smile.
“I always enjoy your company.” He reached for her hand and gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. To his surprise she didn’t remove her hand from his. They strolled back towards the steps hand-in-hand.
He was almost sorry when they returned to the car and he was forced to break contact with her.
“Would you like to call back to the cottage for coffee?”
She lifted a stray strand of her hair from her cheek and tucked it behind her ear before answering. “Why not? It’s still early.”
Hardly believing his luck, he drove back to New Bay, half expecting her to change her mind on the way. By the time he pulled up outside his cottage, the street lamps were springing to life casting a gentle yellow glow over the quiet street.
She followed him inside the house, rubbing the tops of her arms as she walked.
“Are you cold?” He clicked on a lamp.
“A little.” She draped her sweater around her shoulders and stood in the entrance to the kitchen as he busied himself with the kettle.
* * * *
Emma leaned on the door jamb as Ian made them both a drink. She still wasn’t quite sure why she’d agreed to come back to his cottage. Seeing Matt earlier had shaken her even though she hadn’t been too surprised when he’d said he was dating someone new. Someone who he was quite serious about already.
She’d always thought she and Matt would end up together. He lived on the neighbouring farm, they were the same age, and had the same interests. She’d had a crush on him right through her teenage years and couldn’t believe her luck when he’d finally asked her for a date a few months ago.
