A Surprise Christmas Wedding: from the best selling author of A Perfect Cornish Christmas comes one of the most feel-good winter romance books of 2020

by Phillipa Ashley

  ‘Deep and crisp and even, like a Nutella pizza …’

  Jay’s impro version at her side made Lottie burst out in giggles.

  A few people gave them funny looks.

  ‘Brightly shone Rudolph’s nose that night …’ Jay sang close to Lottie’s ear. ‘Through the frost was crue-el. When a reindeer came in sight …’

  Lottie joined in. ‘Gathering winter – er … M&Ms?’

  They both dissolved into laughter. ‘You’re a very bad person,’ Lottie said when the carol ended.

  ‘So are you for laughing at me.’

  She thought he’d never looked so attractive. His smile lit him up from the inside, and it gave her hope that he was more ready for a new relationship than she’d thought.

  ‘It’s OK for you,’ she said. ‘You have a great voice.’

  ‘Great? No way. My voice is – was – OK. But I’ve always been strictly backing vocals.’ A wry smile appeared. ‘Ben was the lead singer.’

  She was intrigued at this new snippet of information. ‘Were you both in a band, then?’

  ‘Years back, but don’t be too impressed. Ben and I started it when we were in the sixth form. Nothing serious, we never expected to be famous or anything.’ He gave a wry smile. ‘We enjoyed ourselves, though, and even when I came home from uni we’d get together and do a few gigs in the vacations. Only the back room of the local pub and his rugby club type of thing.’

  ‘Sounds like fun. I’d love to have seen you.’

  ‘It was fun …’ His smile faded. ‘We grew out of it, as you do. I moved away to start my accountant course before I packed that in to retrain in forestry. Are you sure I wasn’t too loud?’

  ‘No. Not at all. I’m glad you can sing to drown my caterwauling.’

  ‘Steph’s right. You can sing,’ he shot back.

  She laughed, embarrassed at his praise, which she really didn’t deserve. ‘No way – don’t tease me.’

  ‘You’re pretty much in tune,’ he said, amusing Lottie with his stark honesty. ‘Which is a huge plus, I can tell you, and you have a lovely soulful tone. You just need more confidence.’

  ‘Hmm.’ Growing uncomfortable at his praise, which she really didn’t believe, Lottie turned the subject to Jay’s past. ‘Did you used to play the guitar too? I noticed it in the cottage.’

  ‘Used to. I haven’t picked it up for a year.’

  ‘Did you stop because of the row with your brother?’

  ‘Yes. I don’t know why exactly. I’ve hardly been thinking straight … I guess I did associate my music with the old times with Ben.’

  ‘It sounds as if you’re punishing yourself,’ she said gently. ‘I wish you’d start again. It seems a shame to deny yourself something you really love.’

  ‘Maybe.’ He shrugged. ‘Actually, I thought you’d like to know – though I’m not sure why – that I’ve decided to go to my parents’ place for Christmas dinner.’

  ‘Whew. That sounds very promising.’

  ‘Mum and Dad are pleased but they’ve arranged for Ben, Nadia and Seb to go over in the morning and leave before I arrive so our paths don’t have to cross.’ He gave a grim smile. ‘Hardly sounds like an overdose of Christmas spirit, does it? Though until a few days ago, I’d decided I was staying at home with Trevor, a microwave meal, the TV unplugged to avoid anything remotely festive.’

  She smiled. ‘Still feels like major progress to me.’

  ‘Well, I realised it isn’t fair to make my parents suffer any more, after the year we’ve put them through. They seemed so happy I was going for Christmas lunch. Mum nearly cried.’

  Lottie had great trouble in not hugging Jay. However, she suspected he’d never been the hugging kind. She contented herself with a smile, and quiet hope that she’d had the tiniest hand in persuading him to be reconciled with his parents, at least.

  ‘Anyway, they’re stuck with me and Trevor now and I’m sure he’ll be delighted to partake of a turkey dinner, if my mum has her way … Oh, someone wants me on the radio. Sorry, I’ll have to take this.’

  With that he left.

  Lottie was kept busy for the next half an hour, dealing with one of Wilf Carman’s coach party who’d tripped over a tree stump while having a sneaky vape. It wasn’t one of the pensioners but the young warden and the residents had gone into action, looking after the man. Once she’d made sure the warden was OK apart from a bruised knee and she’d failed all attempts to get him to fill in an accident form, she snatched a couple of minutes to grab a hot drink and a pork roll from the hog roast. It was while she was finishing her ‘dinner’ in front of the carousel ride that Connor appeared.

  Her heart sank. ‘Connor! What are you doing here?’

  ‘Keegan wanted to come to the event. I could hardly keep her away when the wedding’s happening here. I need to see you. We need to have a proper talk about the situation …’

  ‘Shh.’ Lottie glanced around her. ‘I think we’ve said everything there is to be said about …’ She was going to say ‘about us’ but she changed it to: ‘about the situation. I don’t see why we need to meet face to face.’

  ‘I have to talk to you. Since we met again, I’ve been thinking about how things ended between us. There’s so much I left unsaid. I want to explain.’

  ‘Fine but what if I don’t want to hear it?’

  ‘I promise I won’t hassle you but can I come round tomorrow?’

  ‘It’s my day off,’ Lottie said then kicked herself for admitting it. ‘I’d planned to see Steph.’

  ‘I thought she worked in a school?’

  ‘She does but I was going later in the day …’

  ‘OK, I’ll come round mid-morning while Keegan has a trial appointment with the hairdresser,’ he said sharply. ‘I don’t have many opportunities to get away from her.’

  Charming, thought Lottie, but realised he wouldn’t go away until he’d said his piece. ‘If you absolutely can’t tell me what you want to say now, I can spare ten minutes tomorrow.’

  ‘Thanks. I owe you.’ Connor placed his hand on her arm. ‘I’ll always regret causing you so much pain.’

  ‘Hello, you two!’

  Connor snatched his hand away and sprang apart when Keegan appeared from behind them. ‘Discussing plans for the wedding, are you?’

  Lottie’s mood had been completely dampened. She should have known the evening had been going too well … Keegan could hardly have failed to see Connor and her deep in intimate conversation.

  While Lottie felt guilty and annoyed at being put in this position, Keegan seemed happy enough and slipped her arm through Connor’s. ‘Anything I should know about or are you planning a special surprise?’ she asked silkily.

  ‘If I was, it wouldn’t be a surprise, would it?’ Connor replied smoothly.

  Keegan pouted. ‘I guess I’ll have to be patient then.’

  Lottie had by now perfected The Smile so well that it set on her face like concrete every time Keegan materialised.

  ‘How are you enjoying the evening?’ she asked. ‘Have you been in the house yet?’

  ‘Yes, we have. We’ve just been on the tour. I kept wanting to tell everyone that we were having our wedding there.’

  ‘I don’t blame you. Even though I’m biased, I must admit it looks spectacular tonight.’

  ‘It does.’ Keegan studied her. ‘You know, Lottie, I’m not an easy woman to impress. I have very exacting standards.’

  ‘This is true,’ Connor said, smirking, and probably relieved not to have had more of a grilling from Keegan.

  ‘I expect a lot from people,’ Keegan droned on. ‘In work, in my relationships – and not everyone can live up to those standards.’

  ‘I’m glad we have so far,’ Lottie said, itching to escape.

  ‘Good job I did,’ Connor said with an edge to his tone that Lottie knew only too well.

  ‘Of course, you did, babe. You swept me off my feet.’

  ‘You said “no” the first time, if I recall,
’ he muttered.

  ‘Well I had only known you a month.’ She gave him a little push on the arm. ‘A month! Can you believe it, Lottie?’

  Lottie was speechless. She’d guessed the relationship had progressed fast, but a month from meeting to a proposal? Her tongue was paralysed but Connor managed to speak.

  ‘Keegan …’ Connor’s smile wobbled while Keegan was hurtling on like an unstoppable Aussie road train.

  ‘I rapidly found out,’ she said, ‘if Connor wants something, he won’t stop until he gets it.’

  It was impossible for Lottie to maintain her game face when she remembered Connor’s own proposal to her the previous year. That’s how she’d felt: swept off her feet; blown away by Connor’s romantic gesture, the passion in his voice.

  Lottie knew exactly how easy it had been to ignore the little warning voices in the face of Connor’s protestations of love and devotion. She felt foolish now – but should she be kinder to herself? She had been in love with him. She had believed he was in love with her.

  He’d probably believed it himself until the cold light of day had dawned on him.

  ‘Keegan. It’s freezing,’ Connor said, his voice rising in desperation. ‘We should be getting home now. Mum’s expecting us to pop round tonight.’

  He was clearly mortified and Lottie’s own brain was scrabbling for reasons to leave. Her fingers itched for the radio to crackle with an emergency. Even a minor blip would do: a blocked toilet, Wilf Carman’s coach tour kicking off after too much mulled wine. She had the distinct feeling that Keegan was marking her territory in terms of Connor – rather like Trevor.

  ‘We have plenty of time, yet, Connor,’ Keegan said, before addressing herself to Lottie. ‘Did you know Connor told me that he was scared about taking this new job in Australia?’ Keegan’s tinkly laugh was underpinned by steel. ‘He didn’t know anyone in Oz, but the opportunity was too good to miss and he’d never forgive himself if he ran away from a challenge.’

  ‘How lovely …’ Lottie heard herself saying. ‘How lovely …’ She was teetering on the edge of blurting out the truth. Of shouting ‘How lovely … Did you know Connor did the exact same thing to me? Did you know I believed him right up until the moment reality hit him and he changed his mind …? Do you know how excruciating it is to hear all of this – and think it happened to me too?’

  ‘Connor said he’d never forgive himself if he let the chance for us to be together slip through his fingers,’ Keegan steamrollered on.

  ‘Let’s not go over the top.’ Connor gave a sickly smile. ‘You make me sound like a saint.’

  She laughed but held on to him. ‘No, not a saint, Connor. We both know you’re not perfect but you are very single-minded.’ She threw a triumphant glance at Lottie. ‘Once he’s made his mind up, nothing will stand in his way. I think that’s why I fell for him at the very start; I recognised his passion to go for what he believes in and never go back on his word.’

  ‘Keegan!’ Connor snapped. ‘I’m sure Lottie’s far too busy to hang around listening to our mutual admiration society and I’m sure she’s heard a thousand loved-up couples and we’re no different. Now, come on. I don’t want to end up in a huge queue to get out of this place.’

  Practically dragging her away, he left Lottie wondering if Keegan was worried about Connor’s actual commitment. Was she sending out a warning to him, that he’d better not change his mind? Keegan wasn’t stupid. She might have picked up on the ‘signals’ between Lottie and Connor and interpreted them as Lottie harbouring a crush on Connor.

  She had to face him tomorrow and then hopefully, he’d finally leave her alone.

  Chapter Eighteen

  When Connor was twenty minutes late Lottie had begun to wonder if he was going to turn up at all. Her hopes were dashed when he rapped at the door.

  His first words didn’t make her feel any more comfortable about the purpose of his visit.

  ‘Sorry. I had trouble escaping from Keegan.’ He pulled a face. ‘She was running late for her hair consultation.’

  ‘You’d better come inside.’

  ‘Thanks.’ He banged his palms together. ‘I’ve forgotten how bloody cold this place can be. It’s forty degrees in Sydney today.’

  ‘You must miss it. Keegan too. When are you meant to be going back to work?’

  ‘January … although there’s a possibility that we might be able to move back to the UK after this sabbatical’s over. She’s put in for a transfer to the London office and I’m being headhunted by another insurance company down south.’

  ‘I see,’ Lottie said, avoiding any comment that might have sounded like she was glad he’d at least be in the same country as her.

  He hugged her. ‘Thanks, Lottie. I know this has been hard for you.’

  His embrace lasted a little too long for comfort. She didn’t want any more reminders of what it had been like when things were good between them, of walks around the lake, and nights by the fire – and Cornwall. She’d tried to avoid looking at him too much before. Now they were alone in her little cottage, and so close, she couldn’t avoid focusing on him. Lottie thought again how his life in the sun, his gym habit and on-trend clothes had given him an air of sophistication that had taken his quiet good looks into the realm of handsome.

  ‘I wish I could make it up to you,’ he said.

  She snapped to her senses. ‘I don’t need you to make anything up to me.’

  ‘Still … I …’ Seeming lost for words, he glanced around. ‘Nice little place you’ve got here.’

  ‘Yes, it comes with the job.’ She was determined to nip any idea she was ready for a cosy chat in the bud.

  ‘Hmm.’ He lounged back on the sofa. ‘Any chance of a cuppa to warm me up?’

  Lottie hesitated, surprised that he wanted to linger any longer than he needed to.

  ‘Tea or coffee?’ she said politely, reminding herself he was a client.

  ‘Tea. Builder’s with sugar.’ He laughed. ‘Don’t tell Keegan, though. She’s got me on a keto diet thingy until the wedding. I’m only supposed to have herbal stuff that tastes like badger’s wee.’ He threw her a disarming smile.

  While making herself a coffee, she quickly made him a drink, squashing the teabag against the side of the cup the way he used to like it. Then she reminded herself that she no longer had to make his tea ‘just how he liked it’.

  It was surreal to have him enter her life in this intimate setting, turning back the clock to a time that should be long gone. She could barely cope with him on public territory at Firholme, but him violating her home – her new home – in this way, was a step too far. She resolved to get rid of him as quickly as she could.

  He’d shed his jacket and was lounging on the settee, one leg crossed over the other, a newspaper spread out on the spare seat, open at the sports pages. A creeping sense of déjà vu sent a chill up her spine. It was exactly as if he’d never moved out.

  Tensing up, she held out the mug. ‘There’s your tea. Now, what’s this all about?’

  He closed the paper before taking the drink. ‘Like I said, I wanted to see you face to face. Thing is … I’m not sure I should have come here.’

  Lottie was even more frustrated. ‘You can’t talk in riddles like this. You must have wanted something. This is driving me mad. The secrecy and the subterfuge. I’m not cut out for it.’

  ‘You always played everything straight. That’s what I liked about you.’ Putting down his drink, he moved a little closer to her, and she caught a whiff of his aftershave; a different one from the brand he used to wear. ‘I did care … I swear I did.’ Before she realised, he pushed a tendril of hair off her face. Lottie froze, caught up in a moment that had catapulted her back to another, simpler time. ‘I deeply regret the hurt I caused you. You didn’t deserve it.’

  There was a tenderness in his voice that she’d not heard before, perhaps not even since the moment he’d got down on one knee and proposed. She held her breath, caught between pu
shing him away and revelling in a moment she’d once longed for. Was he going to say he’d made a huge mistake?

  He leaned in closer. ‘Lottie, I wish I could …’

  ‘Trevor!’

  Lottie sprang away from Connor at the sound of Jay’s shout from the rear of the house. Seconds later, Trevor dashed into the sitting room, barking. He jumped up at Connor, and knocked him backwards onto the settee.

  ‘Jesus, he’s drooling on my jeans!’

  ‘It’s only Trevor.’ Lottie dived for the dog’s collar but Trevor eluded her. His tail thumped wildly against Connor’s legs and he shoved his snout into his crotch.

  ‘That’s disgusting!’ Connor seized a cushion to fend the dog off. ‘Get him off me. These are Hugo Boss jeans.’

  Lottie could have hugged Trevor. He’d saved her from being lured into who knows what with Connor.

  ‘Trevor doesn’t read the fashion mags and he won’t hurt you!’ She tried to pull Trevor away but he thought Connor was playing a fine old game with the cushion and barked in delight.

  ‘Trevor!’ Jay burst into the room, with a wooden box of holly and mistletoe in his arms. ‘Come here!’

  Trevor was most reluctant to leave Connor but at Jay’s command, he slunk back to his owner.

  ‘Sit!’ Trevor dropped to the carpet, sinking his nose on his paws, but with his eyes on Connor.

  Jay’s gaze darted from Lottie to Connor, cowering on the sofa. ‘I came round with your Christmas tree and some greenery for the Bothy and Trevor darted round the back of the house. Your back door was open. I’m sorry, he gets overexcited.’

  ‘You can say that again,’ Connor snapped. ‘Look at my bloody jeans.’

  ‘Oh dear.’ Lottie saw a trail of drool glistening on the denim and grabbed a box of tissues from the dresser.

  ‘Sorry,’ Jay said as Connor dabbed at his jeans with the tissues. ‘I wouldn’t have walked in if I’d known you were with a client,’ he said to Lottie.

  ‘Client?’ Connor laughed sarcastically. ‘Lottie and I are old friends.’ He threw the tissues on the carpet, sat back down on the sofa and shot Trevor a nasty look.