The Beach Reads Book Club: The most heartwarming and feel good summer holiday read of 2021! (The Kathryn Freeman Romcom Collection, Book 5)

by Kathryn Freeman

  As he studied his sister’s tear-stained face his heart twisted in sympathy. Relationships. So bloody difficult because neither partner knew exactly what the other was thinking. Patricia had probably contemplated having an affair long before she’d begun one, yet she’d not warned Matt their marriage was on the rocks. Ryan had felt pressured to drink with his work mates in order to get on at work, but he’d not voiced his worries to Gira. You’re falling in love with Lottie, but you haven’t told her.

  He pushed the thought away and focused on Amy. ‘He might have had a tough weekend. He’ll probably phone you today and explain everything.’

  ‘I called him already.’ Amy stared down at her hands. ‘He said he was working.’

  This was why I moved. He wasn’t sure if he could help, or even whether she would appreciate it, but at least now he was part of her life, he could try.

  ‘He probably was working.’ He paused, trying to put himself in Shaun’s shoes. ‘Men are good at compartmentalising their feelings, especially when it comes to work.’ He gave her another wry smile. ‘I should know. When he’s done whatever it is he needs to do, I’m sure he’ll be back in touch.’

  ‘Maybe. Doesn’t explain why he didn’t want to see me at the weekend, though.’

  Matt thought of Lottie, and how he’d misinterpreted her reluctance to allow him back to her place on Friday. ‘When emotions are involved, not everything is as straightforward as it appears. They make us afraid, unsure. Vulnerable.’ He squeezed her hand. ‘There’s likely another explanation to the one you’ve got in your head.’

  Her smile wobbled. ‘I hope so. Otherwise I’m going to have to rip some cow’s eyes out.’

  Matt laughed, but inside he felt a surge of protectiveness. ‘If Shaun is doing anything to hurt you, he’s the one who’ll have to answer for it.’

  ‘You’re going to beat him up, huh?’

  He’d never hit anyone outside a ring, but it didn’t mean he wasn’t prepared to, in order to protect those he loved. ‘I boxed as a kid,’ he reminded Amy, recalling the gym at boarding school. The bullies had hurt with words, but he’d made sure they couldn’t harm him physically. As Amy started to look alarmed, he gave her a reassuring smile. ‘It won’t come to that. Lottie said Shaun’s a solid guy and I trust her judgement.’ He made sure to catch Amy’s eye. ‘If what you have with Shaun is real, you need to trust him, too.’

  She nodded, and he was pleased to say she looked brighter as she stood and went back to filling up the sugar.

  ‘You and Lottie then,’ she asked a few moments later. ‘Is that the real deal?’

  He slid the chair he’d been straightening under the table. He didn’t talk about his feelings, found it hard enough to admit them to himself, never mind anyone else. Yet his sister had been brave enough, open enough, to admit hers to him. ‘Yes, I think it is.’

  ‘Yay.’ For the first time that morning, Amy gave him a proper smile. ‘She’s so cool. If you get married we’d be like, sisters.’

  ‘Whoa, wait a minute.’ A fission of something ran down his spine. Fear, shock, excitement? ‘I tried that once already and look how well it turned out.’ Going through it all again was not on his radar.

  And yet…

  It took no effort at all to imagine a future where he went to bed with Lottie every night. Woke up with her every morning. Walked Chewie together along the seafront before coming back to eat her beloved – and, he had to admit, extremely tasty – bacon butties.

  ‘Aw, look at your face.’ Amy’s voice knocked him out of his daydream and he found her smirking at him. ‘You’re well and truly hooked, big brother. Watching this play out is going to be so much fun.’

  He smiled, surprised to find he was unfazed by the discussion of his private feelings or the gentle ribbing. It was a small price to pay for a relationship with the sister he once feared he’d lost.

  The morning passed quickly and before he knew it, he was gearing up mentally for the arrival of his two o’clock appointment.

  He didn’t have long to wait before the door chime jingled.

  ‘Good God, that ruddy bell’s going to give me a heart attack.’

  He smiled at the visitor. ‘Afternoon, Audrey.’

  ‘Boss.’ She turned back to look at the door. ‘First thing we need to do is stop the door making that noise every time someone comes in. Otherwise you’ll find me in a heap on the floor, clutching my chest.’

  His lips twitched, even as the voice in his head screamed What have you done? ‘I’ll see what I can do.’

  ‘Now then.’ She rolled up her sleeves. Literally rolled them up. ‘I know you wanted to show me around before I start, but I figured first things first. How are things going between you and our Lottie?’

  The voice in his head screamed louder. ‘Perhaps we should do the training part first?’ he suggested mildly. ‘It is rather important.’

  She tutted at him. ‘I told you, my Harold said I was a natural. Customers come in, I talk to them. Nothing to it.’

  He didn’t know whether to be awed, or terrified by her confidence. ‘And if they ask if we have a certain book in?’

  ‘I’ll tell them to look on the shelf.’ She winked. ‘Or find you.’

  He couldn’t help but laugh. ‘And if by some miracle they want to buy a book?’

  She glanced at the till. The one he’d spent weeks mastering. The one his dad refused to go anywhere near. ‘I suppose you’d better show me how to use that thing.’ She sniffed. ‘It’s not on that interweb, is it? My daughter keeps telling me I need to get on it but I told her, that’s all very well, but where’s the instruction book?’

  Matt took a breath, reminded himself this was only a shop. The worst Audrey could do was lose him money and customers. ‘Why don’t I start by showing you where the fiction and non-fiction shelves are?’

  ‘You could.’ She looked up at him, all five foot nothing of her. Silver hair, a twinkle in her faded blue eyes. ‘After you’ve told me what was bothering our Lottie on Friday.’

  It was a mistake, he realised, to assume the woman who liked to joke, who was always so full of talk, didn’t also pay attention. ‘Her van needs a new head gasket. I think…’ He trailed off, unsure how to phrase it. He didn’t want to speculate about Lottie’s finances. It felt like a betrayal. ‘It’s expensive to repair,’ he settled with.

  ‘How’s she managing without it?’

  ‘I’ve loaned her mine for as long as she needs it.’

  Audrey narrowed her eyes. ‘You had a spare van?’

  Matt could feel himself flush. Hell, the woman was too astute. ‘I do now.’

  The old lady started to chuckle, reaching out to pat his arm. ‘Oh my, you’re like my favourite chocolate in the selection box. Dark shell, soft gooey centre. Now show me where these ruddy books are. Then remind me I need to arrange an extraordinary general meeting of the book club, without Lottie.’

  ‘Now wait a minute.’ He felt a flicker of panic. ‘She’s fiercely independent. She won’t want any handouts.’

  ‘Trust me, dear, we’ll be as discreet as a politician’s mistress.’

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Lottie had a break before her next customer so she drove to the seafront. Chewie needed the walk, and she needed a dose of fresh air to clear her mind.

  The call from Henry weighed heavily on her as she threw Chewie a ball to fetch. She knew part of that was because she needed to tell Matt. And she would, just as soon as she’d found her balance. She wasn’t used to feeling like this, so … adrift, as if she’d been knocked off course. She wanted to find her way back to the weekend, to Matt’s softly spoken, heartfelt words, to the way he’d spooned against her in bed, arms wrapped tightly around her.

  How would she feel if he announced he was having dinner with his ex? Her stomach churned, giving her the answer: sick, riddled with jealousy. Maybe add in angry too.

  She groaned and looked down at Chewie. ‘What am I doing? This isn’t me. I’m not com
plicated. I don’t fall in and out of love easily, don’t have two men on the go at the same time.’

  You’re having dinner with an old friend.

  She felt some of the tension leave her. Sally was right, she was getting in a stew about nothing.

  ‘Come on, Chewie. Let’s find Matt.’

  They scrunched the short way across the pebbles to the shop. When she reached the window she stopped for a moment to stare through it. Matt, wearing a collared shirt, sleeves rolled up to reveal his tanned forearms, was clearly trying to show Audrey how to use the till. From the look on her face, she was utterly lost, yet enjoying every second.

  And who wouldn’t, being the sole focus of those expressive brown eyes. That darkly handsome face.

  Feeling a flutter deep in her belly, she pushed the door open.

  ‘Err, hello?’ she called out, surprised not to hear the usual loud chime.

  They both looked up and gave her a smile.

  ‘He’s been showing me what to do with this infernal machine,’ Audrey announced. ‘I told him, there’s too many buttons. He needs one of those good old-fashioned tills like my Harold used to have. Damn cash drawer kept getting stuck, mind.’

  Lottie glanced at Matt, whose amused eyes twinkled deliciously back at her. ‘Is she proving to be a star employee?’

  He let out a low laugh. ‘She doesn’t like the door chimes so we’ve had to take the battery out. She doesn’t like the shop layout, too much bending down. Oh, and she’s not going to use the till, too complicated, so she’s going to write everything down.’ His gaze fell on Audrey and Lottie’s heart melted at the affectionate look he gave the older lady. ‘She’s not short of good ideas, though.’

  Audrey positively glowed, looking a decade younger. ‘I told you I was born to do this.’

  Lottie laughed. ‘You told us you used to make sausages.’

  ‘Excuse me?’ They all turned towards the voice, which belonged to a middle-aged man who was holding out a book. ‘Can I buy this?’

  ‘Certainly.’ As Matt stretched out his hand to take the book, Audrey grabbed hold of it and studied the cover.

  ‘It’s not one of his best.’

  Matt’s eyebrows shot up and Lottie had to smother a laugh as the customer looked warily at Audrey. ‘Oh? Which book would you recommend, then?’

  ‘Come with me, young man. I’ll find you a better one. Or how about you buy both and we’ll cut you a deal.’

  Audrey set off with the bemused customer and Lottie tried to stifle her laughter. ‘Did you tell her she could cut deals?’

  ‘No.’ Slowly he slipped his hands into his pockets. Then he darted her a dry smile. ‘To be honest, I’m no longer sure who’s in charge.’

  Oh God, this man she’d thought so serious, so reserved, was utterly adorable. She wanted to throw her arms around his neck and kiss his sensuously curved lips. To push him onto the nearest chair and snuggle into his lap.

  But the call from Henry hung over her and suddenly all of that seemed terrifyingly out of reach.

  Feeling suddenly nervous, she bit into her bottom lip. ‘Can we have a quick chat in private?’

  Surprise flickered and his eyes searched hers. Whatever he saw made him frown. ‘Should I be worried?’

  ‘No.’ The last thing she wanted to do was make this into something bigger than it was. ‘It can wait until the customer’s gone.’

  He clasped her hand, the warmth causing a flutter deep in her belly. ‘I’m sure Audrey has it under control.’

  So many jokes she could make, but they died on her tongue as she stepped into his office. While Chewie circled, finding a place to lie down, the butterflies in her stomach twitched nervously and Lottie had to remind herself this was not a big deal.

  You wouldn’t be saying that if he told you he was seeing Patricia.

  ‘Hey.’ His fingers were gentle on her chin as he lifted it so he could look into her eyes. ‘You really are worrying me now. You’ve gone quiet.’

  She tried to smile, but it was hard when what she was doing suddenly felt so wrong. A few months ago seeing Henry again would have put a spring in her step, joy in her heart. Now she wasn’t sure she wanted to go through with it.

  ‘I’m seeing Henry tonight.’

  For a split second shock crossed his handsome features, but then a guard came up. The one he’d worn so frequently when she’d first met him. ‘Okay.’ His jaw tightened fractionally. ‘Is he over here on business?’

  ‘No.’ Damn it. No matter how she worded this, she knew if she were in his place, she’d be hurt by what she was about to say. ‘He’s actually over here for good now.’

  The muscle in his jaw jumped. ‘I see.’

  What did he see, exactly? She wanted to reassure him Henry was in her past, yet she wasn’t one hundred per cent certain she could say that. Not until she’d met him. ‘He’s got a job in London, working for The Times newspaper. He’s a journalist, and that’s a really good step up for him. He’s really excited.’ Okay, Matt probably didn’t want to hear about the promotion of the guy she’d once been in love with. The one who was taking her out to dinner tonight. ‘I think he just wants to touch base now he’s back. You know, meet up with his friends before he starts his new job.’

  Matt exhaled heavily, running a hand through his short, dark hair. ‘I’m not sure what you want me to say. Of course you’re going to see him. I respect that.’

  She couldn’t get a read on him; his thoughts were locked up tight. Was she overreacting, putting her emotions into the situation when actually his didn’t run that deeply? Maybe he wasn’t that bothered she was seeing Henry. ‘Okay. I just wanted you to know. I mean, we haven’t put a label on us, or what we’re doing, but I wouldn’t want you hearing from someone else that I was in a restaurant with another guy.’

  ‘Lottie.’ Her name seemed forced out of him. Stepping towards her, he put his hands on her shoulders, twin dark eyes insisting she made him her whole focus. ‘I don’t know what label you want, but I do know I wish it was me taking you to dinner tonight.’

  She swallowed, throat feeling horribly tight. ‘Me, too.’

  ‘Maybe you’ll let me take you out tomorrow?’

  Slowly she shook her head, but as his face fell, she reached up to whisper in his ear, ‘I’d prefer it if you came to mine. Take-out, TV, bed.’

  Heat flashed in his eyes, and the tension eased from his face. ‘Yes to the last two, but I’ll cook.’

  ‘You’re doing that health freak thing again, aren’t you?’

  He smiled, eyes skimming her face in that sexy way he had that made her feel admired, cherished. ‘I’m looking after our arteries.’

  ‘I’m not going to say no to a handsome man volunteering to cook for me.’ His smile turned strained and she played back the words in her head. ‘Let me rephrase. I’d love it if you cooked for me.’ So he was in no doubt how she felt, she rose up on her toes and kissed him. Immediately his arms wrapped around her and he kissed her back, taking control, deepening it. In a flash, he’d lifted her onto his desk and stepped between her thighs. As he pressed against her core, heat flashed through her.

  But then Chewie started to bark. Much as she wanted to ignore him, to keep Matt where he was, doing what he was, Chewie was too loud, the noise too distracting.

  With a sigh she drew back. ‘Come on, buddy. I thought we’d got over this.’

  Matt looked at Chewie and shook his head. ‘I don’t think he’s barking at us. I think he heard something in the shop.’

  They raced out to find the central book display on a heap on the floor, Audrey on her hands and knees, skirt around her thighs, picking up the scattered paperbacks. She looked cross. ‘Which plonker put a display together that’s so easy to knock over? I’m telling you, it’s a good job you’ve got me working here. This place needs a lot of sorting out.’

  Lottie glanced sideways at Matt, who ran a hand down his face and heaved in a breath. ‘I’ll pick those up, Audrey. Why don’t you ta
ke a break? Put your feet up and get Amy to make you a drink.’

  ‘Good idea.’ As she started to lurch to her feet Matt dashed over to help her up. After dusting herself down, Audrey turned towards the café. ‘Is it too early for gin?’

  Matt gave his new employee a tolerant smile. ‘The way today is going, I’d say gin was entirely appropriate.’

  Matt was restless. He kept looking at his watch, wondering what Lottie was doing. Correction: what Lottie and Henry were doing.

  His stomach knotted and he jumped off the sofa, shoving the book he’d been trying to read onto the coffee table. As a child, books had been his safe space, a world he could retreat into when the real one became too upsetting. Now he couldn’t focus, though. Instead of words he saw Lottie’s face, smiling into the eyes of a guy who wasn’t him. It didn’t help that he was still reading The Kiss Quotient.

  Annoyed with himself, he marched off to the kitchen. Audrey preferred gin, but whisky was his go-to. He’d just dragged the bottle out of the cabinet when his dad appeared, his gaze falling on the bottle in Matt’s hand.

  ‘Must have been a tough day.’

  He wasn’t ready to talk about Lottie, or about Henry’s arrival, not until he’d got a better handle on his raging jealousy. ‘Audrey started work with us.’

  His dad’s bushy eyebrows flew up to his hairline. ‘You’ve got her working in the shop?’

  Matt shrugged, his mind still elsewhere. ‘Lottie’s idea. Apparently Audrey is bored at home. Do you want a glass?’ When he glanced at his dad for an answer, he found he was staring at him. ‘Dad?’ He waved the bottle at him. ‘Do you want to join me?’

  His dad shook himself. ‘Aye, pour me one.’

  Silence descended as Matt took out the glasses and poured two healthy measures. When he handed one to his dad, he realised the man hadn’t moved from his current spot. ‘Are you okay, Dad?’

  He blinked a few times, then reached for the glass and took the sort of swallow Matt felt he needed. He followed suit, welcoming the burn and the distraction. Maybe now he could get back into his book. As he set off to the living room though, his dad spoke again.