by Karen Clarke
‘I couldn’t,’ I said. ‘I didn’t know what to say.’ His eyes moved back to mine. ‘But now I do.’ Before losing my nerve completely, I slid the rolled up picture out of my bag and handed it to him with trembling fingers. ‘I wanted to write it in the sand like you did, but there isn’t a full moon tonight, and I thought if I did it this morning the tide might come in and wash it away, or some kids would mess it up, so…’ I ran out of steam. There was no option but to endure him studying my drawing, with no idea of how he would respond.
‘I like you too,’ he read out loud, turning the page for me to look at, even though I knew that the words were drawn inside a heart in golden sand, with the letters C and D at the top and bottom. I hadn’t been able to resist adding some waves, a starfish, and a couple of seashells, but the message was loud and clear.
‘It’s my response,’ I said. ‘To your message.’
‘I can see that.’ His voice was soft and querying, his face packed with emotion. ‘But… aren’t you going back to London?’
‘No,’ I said. ‘I’m not.’ Adam had been more understanding than I deserved when I’d called him the night before, to explain why I wouldn’t be applying for the job with Grace Dewsbury because I wanted to stay in Seashell Cove and become an artist. Not a Connor Daley or a Vicky Burton type, but one who drew whatever she fancied – sad-eyed greyhounds, seascapes, or caricatures like the ones he’d seen on the wall of the café and dismissed – and that I couldn’t wait to start.
‘That person who slipped her business card into your pocket on the train,’ I’d said, trying not to cry. ‘It wasn’t me, Adam. I did it because I thought it was something I should do, because I wanted to be in a relationship. It was the same with my job. I was good at it, but I’d never really considered whether it was right for me. I was completely stressed all the time.’
‘But you seemed so composed at the café, with all those cats.’
‘Maybe on the surface.’ It was clear he thrived on pressure, and probably couldn’t understand what I was on about. ‘I’ve got eczema.’
He hadn’t responded to that but, instead, suggested I visit anyway, so we could talk face to face and he could take me out to dinner, but I’d made up my mind and knew I wouldn’t be swayed.
‘I know someone who’d love the job with Grace,’ I’d said, and gave him Nina’s number. ‘I’m sorry for wasting your time.’
‘I really hope you find what you’re looking for, Cassie.’ He’d sounded sad, but not heartbroken, and I knew he’d waste no time in moving on. ‘I’ve enjoyed getting to know you.’
It was the nickname that had really clinched it. Adam had been so keen for romance he’d seen what he wanted to see. Only Danny had had an inkling that things weren’t as they seemed, and he’d liked me anyway.
‘I saw your bags in the car, back at Sylvia’s,’ he was saying, returning me to the moment.
‘Oh, yes.’ I smiled. ‘I’m moving in with her for now. Mum and Dad really like their own routine, and Nan’s got plenty of room. We can keep each other company, and there’s space there for me to paint.’
He looked at the picture again, and back at me. ‘You’re going to be an artist?’
I laughed, because it sounded absurd, but also like the only thing I really wanted to do. ‘Better late than never,’ I said, feeling a rush of happiness. ‘I was actually fired from my job in London but I’m glad now, because I’ve realised I’m not cut out for event planning.’
‘I know,’ he said gently. ‘I heard you talking to your friends the other night, at the pub. I came out to see if you were OK.’
‘You did?’
‘It was obvious something wasn’t right. Until the moment you kissed me,’ he said. ‘That felt very right indeed.’ His tender smile made my heart soar. ‘So, if you’re staying, there’s every possibility we might keep bumping into each other.’
‘Maybe,’ I said. ‘I might even have hatched a plan to win you over.’
‘I think you just did.’ He pressed my picture against his chest, and the look in his eyes stole my breath. ‘Come here, you.’
I stepped into the space between us, and his arm slid around my waist and pulled me closer. When our lips finally met, his response was instant and somehow familiar, as if I’d been dreaming about it for a very long time.
‘Wow,’ he said, when we pulled apart, his eyes smiling into mine. ‘If you hadn’t won me over before, you have now.’ He slid the picture back into my bag with great delicacy, then slowly ran his hands down my arms and took my hands in his. ‘Can we do it again?’
‘Actually, that wasn’t how I was planning to win you over.’ My mouth wouldn’t stop smiling. I hadn’t thought it was possible to feel this good. ‘I’ve something even better in mind.’
‘Not possible,’ he said, letting me lead him back along the path, his hand strong and sure around mine. ‘Where are we going?’
‘There’s a barbecue later at the Smugglers Inn, and they’re doing karaoke.’ I looked over at the terrace outside the café. They were there, by the picket fence, waiting for me to join them; my friends, in strappy tops, combat trousers and ugly trainers. Legal Mystics, reunited.
‘Is that why you’re dressed like a nineties girl-band?’
‘It is.’ The look on Danny’s face made me laugh. ‘I’m going to win you over with the power of song,’ I said. ‘I hope you’re ready, Danny Fleetwood.’
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If you enjoyed Cassie’s journey home to the heart of the community in Seashell Cove, you’ll love The Beachside Sweetshop by Karen Clarke! Join Marnie Appleton in her family’s sweetshop as she provides sweet treats and laughter for all! Get it here.
The Beachside Sweet Shop
Chocolate fudge, butterscotch and raspberry bonbons… treat yourself to some sugary treats, a big slice of friendship and a sprinkling of romance at The Beachside Sweet Shop.
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When Marnie Appleton inherited a sweet shop from her grandfather she was determined to do his legacy proud. The shop has been a much-loved feature of the little seaside town of Shipley for years, but now Marnie needs to bring it up to date, and she’s recruited gorgeous new assistant Josh to help.
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Marnie gets busy redecorating the shop and choosing delicious new sweets to stock, but things are never that simple: new neighbour Isobel, a fame-hungry blogger, is on a crusade against sugar, and she’ll go to any lengths to secure bad publicity for Marnie’s shop.
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Marnie fights back with homemade sugar-free treats, but with her best friend Beth heavily pregnant, her grandmother Celia recovering from an operation, and her very recently ex-boyfriend Alex returning to Shipley with a new love, Marnie has a lot on her plate.
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And then there’s Josh, with whom Marnie is struggling to keep her relationship strictly professional…Will both the sweet shop and love flourish?
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Available now!
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A deliciously heartwarming read about family, friends and handmade coconut ice. Perfect for fans of Cressida McLaughlin, Debbie Johnson, and Tilly Tennant.
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Also by Karen Clarke
The Beachside Sweet Shop
The Beachside Flower Stall
The Beachside Christmas Lights Society
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Being Brooke Simmons
My Future Husband
Put a Spell on You
A letter from Karen
I want to say a huge thank you for choosing to read The Café at Seashell Cove. If you did enjoy it, and want to keep up to date with all my latest releases, just sign up here. Your email address will never be shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Being a lover of
cake and coffee, the idea of basing my new book around a family-owned café felt very natural. A lot of the book was written in cafés, as I find the atmosphere both relaxing and inspiring – the busier the better. Obviously, they’re handy for refuelling, too, though I have to be careful I don’t only eat cake when I’m writing! I’ve had some happy holidays in Devon, an area I find beautiful and inviting all year round, so having the café overlook a pretty cove seemed like the perfect setting. I’ve never visited a cat café, but I couldn’t resist adding cute animals to the story. From my research, cat cafés are becoming more popular, but it’s probably best I stay away, or I’d never get any writing done!
I hope you loved The Café at Seashell Cove and if you did I would be very grateful if you could write a review. I’d love to hear what you think, and it makes such a difference helping new readers to discover one of my books for the first time.
I love hearing from my readers – you can get in touch on my Facebook page, through Twitter, Goodreads or my website.
Thanks,
Karen
Karen’s website
The Beachside Flower Stall
A feel good romantic comedy
Out now!
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A heartening and uplifting read about lost love, true friendship, and blossoming romance. Perfect for fans of Cressida McLaughlin, Cathy Bramley, and Debbie Johnson.
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Carrie Dashwood fled Dorset ten years ago when her best friend Megan stole her love, local heart-throb Tom. Now she’s back to help run her aunt Ruby’s flower stall in idyllic Shipley.
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Trying to persuade herself that her feelings for Tom are in the past, Carrie plans to avoid him and Megan completely. But it’s not to be, because Ruby’s Blooms are arranging the flowers for Megan and Tom’s wedding.
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Soon Carrie’s crawling under the stall to hide and accidentally inventing an imaginary boyfriend... But with the stall’s finances in jeopardy and Ruby needing her niece more than ever, Carrie has to keep her emotions in check.
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With bouquets to arrange, family secrets to uncover, and Tom unavoidably a part of her life again, can Carrie keep her cool, save the stall, and find her very own happy ever after?
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Out now!
The Beachside Christmas
Snow is falling and there’s romance in the air. Curl up for a cosy Christmas by the fire at Seaview Cottage…
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When thirty-year-old Lily Ambrose’s latest relationship ends in disaster, she remembers happy childhood holidays in the seaside town of Shipley and decides it’s the perfect place for a fresh start.
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But when Lily arrives, the town’s spirits are as low as her own: the local celebrity due to turn on the Christmas lights has gone on a cruise instead. Keen to prove herself, she calls in a favour and secures gorgeous reality star Ollie.
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Lily’s neighbours are initially thrilled, but Ollie is as uncontrollable as he is good-looking. He can’t remember the town’s name, calls the Christmas decorations tacky, and manages to offend everyone. And whilst handsome but stubborn cameraman Craig tries to help, even he can’t stop Ollie’s madcap plans to stage a romance with Lily…
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Will Lily be able to keep Ollie under control and bring the Christmas cheer back to Shipley – and find herself a real kiss under the mistletoe?
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An addictive, heart-warming and uplifting read about friendship, romance, and Christmas spirit. Perfect for fans of Phillipa Ashley, Cathy Bramley and Debbie Johnson.
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Available now.
Acknowledgements
A lot of people are involved in making a book, and I would like to thank the brilliant team at Bookouture for making it happen. Particular thanks to my wonderful editor, Abi, for her clever and insightful comments, to Anne for her seamless copy-editing, Emma for the gorgeous cover, Claire for her eagle-eyed proofreading, and Kim and Noelle for spreading the word.
As ever, I owe my lovely readers a massive thank you, as well as the blogging community, whose reviews are a labour of love, and Amanda Brittany for her tireless feedback and friendship.
And last, but never least, thank you to all my family and friends for their constant encouragement, my children, Amy, Martin and Liam for their unwavering support, and my husband Tim for everything – I couldn’t do it without you.
Published by Bookouture
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An imprint of StoryFire Ltd.
Carmelite House
50 Victoria Embankment
London EC4Y 0DZ
United Kingdom
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www.bookouture.com
Copyright © Karen Clarke 2018
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Karen Clarke has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work.
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers.
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places and events other than those clearly in the public domain, 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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ISBN: 978-1-78681-366-4
