“I still can’t move to Edinburgh,” she said, not wanting to break the spell between them but knowing she needed to make sure there were no misunderstandings.
“I know,” he said. “We can do long distance. It’s Christmas in what, ten days? I can be here for a couple of weeks then. We can give it a go…”
“I’ve always wanted to visit Edinburgh,” Beth said with a watery smile.
“I just want to be with you,” Caspian said. “However we can do it, that’s all I want.”
And then his lips were on hers and it was like the cold night air didn’t exist. The fireworks fizzed through both of them, burning a trail of desire that Beth wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to sate.
“Will you do one thing for me?” she asked, her breath slightly ragged.
“Anything.”
“Be my date to my sister’s wedding?”
He grinned. “With pleasure.”
Chapter 31
Epilogue
The day dawned bright but cold, with a frost on the ground but no clouds in the sky. It was beautiful weather for a Christmas wedding, and although there was no snow, Beth was pleased there was no rain as had previously been forecast. As had been the case for every day Caspian had been back in Dartmouth of the festive period, she woke up next to him and grinned. She didn’t dwell on the fact that, come New Year, he would be back in Edinburgh, because they had a plan: she would go with him, for the Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh, and stay for a couple of weeks. Work had already granted her the time off - in fact, she thought they were a little pleased, as it was no secret that there were far fewer hours to go around in January. She could meet Sean, Caspian’s publishing friend, who she had tentatively emailed an agreement to, and she could even begin work on a second novel.
They had a plan.
Yes, it was very long distance. Yes, it was going to be tough. But they had both agreed to throw out the nonsense of ‘only four dates’; they didn’t want to be apart. And that was all that truly mattered.
“I’ll meet you there?” she said, pressing a kiss to his lips and running her fingers across his unshaven jaw line. She was getting ready with her sister, and she was already in danger of being late.
“I’ll meet you there. Dartington Hall, twelve o’clock,” he recited.
“Don’t be late!”
“When am I ever?” he asked. “I’m going to have a leisurely coffee, a hot shower, get into my suit and be there in plenty of time. You, on the other hand, need to hurry up so the bride isn’t stressed!”
Beth grabbed her bag and turned back to face him as she reached the door. “Make sure you’re not late, because you know otherwise, tradition would dictate I have to flirt with the best man - and as he is James’s married brother, I’m not sure it would go down too well.”
“I promise you I will not be late - and no best man or groomsman will be getting anywhere near you. Now go!”
She laughed all the way down the stairs.
***
The music began, and Beth squeezed her sister’s hand. “Ready?”
“One hundred percent,” Lee said with a smile, looking radiant in a soft white gown with a bright red trim.
They hugged and tried to avoid tears that had been threatening to spill over all day, and one at a time the bridesmaids made their way down the aisle, with Beth bringing up the rear. She caught Caspian’s eye in the crowd and was very pleased with the look he gave her; she knew she had chosen the right dress. Red, of course, with a ribbon round the waist and a v-shaped neckline. The heels helped to make it sway as she walked, and she had sudden vision of herself walking down an aisle as a bride herself.
One day, she thought, it would be her wedding.
And it would be Caspian standing at the end of the aisle.
And they would most definitely end their reception with fireworks…
Thank you so much for reading the first three books in ‘The South West Series’! After writing ‘The Worst Christmas Ever?’ – available on Amazon (mybook.to/worstchristmas) – I felt that Lee and James’ story was not over, and so I hope you enjoyed following them through as they create their own happily-ever-after in the South West of England.
Devon, and the South Hams in particular, also has a special place in my heart. I was born and grew up in the South Hams, visiting Totnes and Dartmouth regularly. As a student at university, Totnes was where I took the train to when I came home, and it’s still somewhere I visit every time I visit my parents. It has a special something to it that I’ve not come across anywhere else.
I hope you enjoyed these three novels - rest assured, this won’t be the last you’ll hear of Lee, James, Holly or Lee’s sister Beth – or the beautiful South Hams. I’d love to hear your thoughts on Lee’s story – email [email protected] and I’ll be happy to reply! You can sign up for my newsletter here to get news of new novels, free stories and the occasional cute picture of my dog!
The Worst Christmas Ever? mybook.to/worstchristmas – Book One
Lawyers and Lattes mybook.to/lawyersandlattes – Book Two
Feeling the Fireworks mybook.to/feelingthefireworks– Book Three
The Best Christmas Ever mybook.to/bestchristmas – Book Four
Trouble in Tartan mybook.to/troubleintartan - Book Five
Summer of Sunshine Coming Soon! - Book Six
If you enjoyed this book, you might want to read the other novels I have published:
Oh, Brother – YA Contemporary
Family Portrait – Family drama (Book 1)
Snap Shot – Family drama (Book 2)
Camera Shy – Family drama (Book 3 – out soon!)
Happy reading!
Rebecca Paulinyi
The South West Series Box Set Page 56
