The True Love Travels Series Box Set

by Poppy Pennington-Smith

  “Oh gosh, I’m so sorry...” She looked up, straight into the chest of Blake O’Brien. Naked from the waist up, he had a navy-blue towel slung around his middle and was blushing furiously.

  “Beth?” Blake stepped back, put his hand on his hip, then down by his side, then sort of just held it across his middle.

  “I was going to shower...”

  “I was just coming back from the shower...”

  They spoke at the same time, then laughed nervously.

  Beth’s hair was hanging loose and wet on her shoulders. She could feel droplets of water trickling down her neck. “I...”

  “I haven’t seen you all day,” Blake said softly. “Have you been avoiding me?”

  Beth looked up. She was trying to focus on his face, not his broad chest and the perfect line of hair that led down to his belly button. “A bit...” she replied. “But you started it. Yesterday.”

  Blake nodded. He still seemed unsure what to do with his hands. “I guess I did.”

  “Did I do something?” Her voice came out sounding small and slightly hurt.

  “No, of course not. I just...” Blake rubbed the back of his neck and bit his lower lip. “When I’m around you, I find the whole ‘friends’ thing a little tricky.”

  “You do?” Beth was sure that her heart was going to leap right out of her chest. Surely, it was beating so loud he could hear it?

  Blake looked down at his bare chest, then stepped back towards his cabin. “Maybe we should talk about this when we’re fully clothed? Ten minutes? Up in the sky carriage?”

  “I thought it was out of bounds at night.”

  Blake shrugged at her. “If we get caught, we’ll just tell them we’re famous journalists writing a very important article.”

  “Okay.” She smiled, relief and excitement and trepidation rushing over her all at the same time. “See you up there.”

  When she reached the top of the stairs, she thought the sky carriage was empty. But then she spotted Blake at the back, dressed in his blue checked shirt, motioning for her to join him.

  “There’s no one else here,” she whispered, sitting down next to him.

  “Pretty nice, huh?” Blake replied.

  Beth looked at him quickly, then looked up. “Wow. Look at the stars. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them so bright.”

  “Beautiful,” Blake whispered, but when Beth turned her head he wasn’t looking up, he was looking at her.

  “Blake,” she said, angling her body so it was facing him. “What’s happening here? We hated each other, then we nearly kissed, then we were friends, and now...”

  Blake thought for a moment then slowly said, “I don’t know. All I know is that when I’m around you, I want to be close to you. And when I’m not around you, I can’t think about anything else.” He took her hand in his, turning it over so he could stroke her palm. “And I never hated you, by the way.”

  “You didn’t?”

  “Never.”

  “But you were so...”

  “I was a jerk. Several times over. Do you want to know why?”

  “Why?”

  Blake laughed wryly at himself and shook his head. “Because you’re stunning, and talented, and funny. And I was trying, in my misguided way, to impress you.”

  “Well,” said Beth, tweaking his chin with her index finger and making him look at her. “It worked.”

  “Beth...”

  “Blake. I know this can’t go anywhere. I know we have to say goodbye in a few days. But, for now, could we maybe be a little more than friends?” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Just for now?”

  Blake brushed his fingers through her hair and let them rest at the back of her neck. “I think I can do that,” he whispered. Then, finally, he kissed her. He pressed his lips to hers and the world melted away.

  It was just the two of them, under the stars, travelling across the moonlit plains. And she never wanted the kissing to end.

  18

  Day Twelve – Toronto

  Their train arrived in Toronto just after breakfast. Beth had woken early with butterflies in her stomach. Remembering the night before, she had placed her hand on the wall that divided her room from Blake’s and whispered, “Just enjoy it, Beth. Don’t think about the end of the competition. Just enjoy your time together.”

  On the platform, they said goodbye to Mike and Doris, promised to stay in touch, and watched as the couple hailed a cab and rode off together as husband and wife.

  In the pick-up zone, Emily was waiting for them with coffee and hugs and an excited smile. “How are you both?! Beth, I can’t even tell you how much we loved your piece on Mike and Doris. Blake, I’m surprised you let her have that one!”

  Blake shrugged and glanced at Beth. She’d never thought of it that way before. She’d just written her piece and submitted it; she hadn’t stopped to wonder why Blake hadn’t written about it too. “Ah,” he said, “that touchy feely stuff isn’t my style.”

  “Well,” Emily said, “there’s still time. We need one article from you tonight and then another tomorrow. The big finale!”

  “Niagara Falls is tomorrow?”

  “Sure is. Now let’s get you guys to your hotel so you can get used to being on non-moving ground, shall we? Blake, I know your apartment’s only a few blocks away but Nomad are still happy to put you up in the fancy hotel, so I think you should take it.”

  “Absolutely. Never turn down a freebie, that’s my motto.”

  “Great. Follow me, guys.”

  Beth was putting the finishing touches to her article about the train passengers when her phone buzzed.

  Ms Greenwood, would you do me the honour of joining me for dinner this evening?

  Holding her phone to her chest, she grinned, jigged her feet up and down, then replied.

  I would love to, Mr O’Brien.

  Meet you in the lobby at seven thirty?

  Ball-gown or no ball-gown?

  More than a towel, less than a ball-gown. No checked shirts.

  Okay. See you there.

  “This feels like a date,” Beth whispered as they walked into the luxurious hotel dining room arm-in-arm.

  “I think it is a date.” Blake was wearing the same white shirt and grey trousers that he’d chosen for the wedding but, somehow, tonight he looked even better.

  Beth too, had stuck with her wedding-guest outfit. Black dress, blue heels, and her pendant. Only, this time, she’d added a touch more makeup and a few extra sprays of perfume.

  As they sat together, drinking wine and chatting and letting their fingers touch across the table, she felt – for the first time in such a long time – happy. Not just content or okay. Happy.

  “My dad would have really liked you, Blake,” she said, touching the pendant around her neck and looking up at him.

  “He would?” Blake looked slightly taken aback.

  “He’d have been impressed by your blog – what you’ve achieved with it – definitely.”

  Blake shook his head. “My blog is just content – your dad was a real writer. And that’s what you should be too.”

  “Why’d you say that?”

  “I’ve read your pieces, Beth. You were good before we started the competition but something’s happened since you got here. It’s like you found out who you’re supposed to be. And you’re a great writer.” He paused and smiled at her with a tilt of the head that said he was about to make a joke. “I mean, I do take some of the credit. It was my critique that helped you figure out the kind of stuff you really want to be writing...”

  Beth nudged his leg playfully with her foot. “Well, I’ll make sure to thank you when I win.”

  “Please do,” he replied.

  “You wouldn’t mind if I beat you?”

  “Actually...” He smiled and took her hand. “I’m praying that you do.”

  “No, you’re not.’

  “Seriously. I am. You deserve it way more than I do.”

  “You’re jus
t saying that because you’re trying to stay in my good books.”

  “Maybe,” he replied. “Maybe not.”

  “Well, it’s not long before we find out. Last day tomorrow...” She took a sip from her wine glass and sat back in her chair, still fiddling with her necklace.

  “You’ve worn that the whole trip. Is it special?” Blake gestured to it, being careful not to let his eyes linger too long.

  “My dad gave it to me before my first ever trip abroad. I was twelve. It was a school trip to France, and I was so nervous. He said it would bring me good luck and remind me that he was always watching over me. It’s my birth stone. I haven’t taken it off since he died.”

  “He sounds like a wonderful man.”

  “He was.” Beth smiled, remembering her father’s twinkling eyes. “You know, he loved Niagara Falls. He went once. A long, long time ago. Have you been?”

  “As a kid.”

  “My dad wanted his ashes to be scattered there. Of course, it was impossible. But he said Niagara was his favourite place in Canada.” Beth tapped her fingernails on the side of her glass and looked out at the city. She’d been looking forward to seeing Niagara Falls ever since she’d heard it was where the trip would finish. But now that the end was so close, all she could think about was that in a couple of days she’d be on her way back to England.

  She’d say goodbye to Blake. Get on a plane. Fly over the ocean. And then she’d be back in Oxford. Rainy, sleepy, quiet Oxford. Harry would be there, waiting to pick over the ruins of their relationship. Jo would be there, desperate to know everything about the trip. And her mum would be there, hugging her and welcoming her back. And then, a few weeks later, she’d receive an email from Emily or some top-bod at Nomad, telling her that Blake had won the competition. And she’d have to watch him blog his way around the world. Without her. He’d probably meet someone. A kindred spirit who would accompany him to all the exotic places he’d ever dreamed of.

  “Beth?” Blake waved a hand in front of her face. “Hello? Earth to Beth?”

  “Sorry,” she shook her head and tried to re-orientate herself. “I was just thinking about what happens next.”

  “Next?”

  She caught his eyes, then looked quickly away and cleared her throat. “With us.”

  Blake breathed in slowly and squeezed her hand. “What do you want to happen?” He was looking at her as if he might be able to find the answer written on her face.

  She wanted to say, I want us to be together. But she couldn’t. She understood that Blake liked her. But how much? They’d shared one almost-kiss and one actual kiss - it was hardly the stuff great love stories were made of. And yet, she felt as if they were both dreading saying goodbye.

  The Blake O’Brien sitting in front of her now was so different from the one she’d met at the beginning of the trip, but she still couldn’t work out what he was really thinking. So, tentatively, looking down at their entwined fingers instead of into his eyes, she said, “I’ll miss you.” Because that was all she knew for certain.

  “I’ll miss you too.”

  Beth took her hand back slowly and tried to smile. “No you won’t, you’ll be travelling around the world with your buddy Karl. You’ll be far too happy to miss me.”

  “Well...” Blake paused and took a large sip of red wine from his glass. “I wouldn’t have to take Karl.”

  Beth didn’t speak. She just waited. Waited for him to say it...

  “Beth. I was thinking...”

  “Yes?”

  Blake drummed his fingers on the table. Then sat up. “I was thinking that we should head to bed soon. Need to be fresh for our last day. Don’t we?”

  Beth felt her throat constrict. A lump that was threatening to turn to tears was creeping up into her mouth. She really thought he was going to say it... Let’s travel together, no matter who wins. But clearly she was wrong.

  “Yes. We do.” She stood up and grabbed her handbag, leaving her unfinished wine on the table. “Goodnight Blake.”

  “Beth...”

  She turned back. Her hands were trembling.

  “Goodnight.” Blake smiled thinly at her, then looked away, down at his drink.

  Beth didn’t reply. And as soon as she reached the elevator, she let herself cry.

  Emily had arranged a cab to take them to Niagara, and when Beth ventured into the lobby the next morning Blake was already there waiting.

  He smiled at her bashfully and lingered in front of her, as if he wasn’t sure whether to be affectionate or not. Were they supposed to be acting like two people who’d been on a date last night? Or were they back to being friends?

  Beth didn’t know either, so she just patted him awkwardly on the arm and said, “Morning.”

  Emily, clearly not noticing anything odd between them, ushered them towards the cab. “When you’re ready, just call me and I’ll send someone to pick you up. Have a great last day.”

  “Excited?” Blake asked as the driver pulled out of the hotel’s front courtyard and into a heavy stream of early-morning traffic.

  “Nervous.” Beth reached for her pendant and rubbed it slowly between her fingers.

  “No need to be nervous, Greenwood. You won’t care about the height when you see them.”

  Beth smiled wryly at him and tried to fight the urge to sigh. “It’s not that. It’s just... finally seeing something I’ve dreamed about for so long… I’m worried I’ve built it up too much... that I’ll be disappointed.”

  “Trust me, Beth, you won’t be disappointed.”

  19

  Their cab dropped them in the parking lot and, as they walked towards the Welcome Centre, the sound of fast-moving water filled Beth’s ears. It was a bright day. The sky was almost cloud-less, and as she caught a glimpse of the water her skin began to tingle with anticipation.

  Finally, she saw them. The enormous, thundering waterfalls that her father had talked about. She and Blake were standing level with the top of the falls. It was early and, so far, there were only a few tourists leaning over the black railings and peering down below.

  Beth couldn’t contain her excitement; she broke away from Blake and jogged towards them, so overwhelmed that she could barely even bring herself to reach for her camera. Huge cascades of foaming water tumbled down into the pool below.

  They were bigger than she’d imagined and Blake was right. She wasn’t disappointed. They were powerful. So powerful they almost took her breath away.

  Finally, she took some photographs, but they didn’t seem to capture what she was seeing.

  Below, the Maiden of the Mist tourist boat was making its first trip of the day out to view the Falls from below, and it was only when Blake pointed at it and said, “You want to go get booked onto the next boat?” that she realised he’d caught her up and was standing beside her.

  “Absolutely,” she replied.

  In the queue for the boat, they were handed fashionable blue plastic ponchos and Blake immediately took a selfie of them with their hoods up and their sunglasses on, looking utterly ridiculous.

  On deck, they were warned that as they got close to the Falls it would get very loud and very wet. But where some passengers moved towards the middle of the boat to stay dry, Beth hurried to the side, desperate to feel the spray on her face.

  The Maiden of the Mist headed straight for the centre of the Falls, then turned so that they were sailing parallel with them on the way back.

  The entire time, Beth stood with her arms outstretched, not caring that her blue poncho was letting water in, not caring that her makeup was running and her hair dripping wet, not caring that her shoes were sodden, just letting the water touch her skin and smiling from ear-to-ear.

  “You’re crazy,” Blake tutted at her, chuckling as he stood back from the side. “You’re drenched!”

  “I know!” She laughed. Then, waving her camera at him, shouted above the sound of the water, “Good job this is waterproof!”

  They were almost at t
he end of their voyage when Beth decided to try and take a picture of the helm of the boat with the Falls in the background. Leaning over the side, she angled her camera so that the boat took up half of the frame, took a few shots with the boat in focus and a few with the Falls in focus, then - as a steward tutted at her and asked her to keep her arms inside the boat - tucked herself back inside. As she did, she felt something tug at her neck. She reached up for her pendant but, before she realised what was happening, she felt a snap; it had got caught on the railing as she leaned over it. She grabbed for it, but her fingers were still damp and the chain slipped right through her hands.

  “No!” She cried out and lurched forward, almost hauling herself over the side after it.

  Blake grabbed her arm. “What is it? What happened?”

  Turning to him, she could barely get the words out. Instead, she reached for the empty spot on her chest and looked towards the edge of the boat. “It broke...” The words came out small and quivering.

  “Oh Beth, I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s gone.”

  “Hey,” Blake pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead. For a moment, he didn’t say anything. Just held her tight. Then he whispered, “Hey, it’s okay. Listen…” He cupped her face in his hands and stroked the tears that were falling down her cheeks.

  Beth looked away. The pain in her heart was almost physical.

  Blake dipped his head to catch her eyes. “Your dad wanted his ashes to be scattered here, right?”

  Beth nodded slowly. “Yes. He did.”

  He stroked the spot just below her throat, where her pendant usually sat nestled against her skin. “Well, now a little piece of him is here.”

  Beth let Blake’s words settle inside her. It was the perfect thing to say. The only thing that could have made her feel better. “Thank you,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around his waist and letting herself lean into him. “Thank you, Blake.”