by Karen King
‘I’ve missed you.’ Lexi knelt down so that she could give the little dog a big fuss. ‘She looks so happy, I can see how close you’ve both got,’ she told Joel.
‘Yes, but not for much longer. Hazel and Al are coming home next month,’ he told her. ‘So we need to decide where we’re going to live.’ He reached out and touched her cheek. ‘You still want us to live together, don’t you?’
She nodded. ‘I can’t wait. Maybe we can go online over the weekend and look at some houses? Then you can check them out in the week and let me know what you think.’
‘Well I was hoping I could move in with you and we could choose somewhere together.’
‘What?’ Her eyes met his, startled.
A broad grin spread over his face and he placed his hands on her shoulders, his gaze holding hers intently. ‘I’d like to move to Gloucester. I love spending weekends there and think it’s a great place to live. Unless you prefer to move down here, to be by your parents? If so, I don’t mind. Whatever makes you happy.’
He was studying her face, waiting for her reaction, and she saw him relax when she grinned in delight. This was amazing! ‘I want to stay in Gloucester, too. But are you sure? What about your job?’
‘Andy lives in Exeter, there’s not that much difference in the travel time, but actually, I’ve been offered a job working in the Forest of Dean. It sounds perfect but I haven’t agreed to take it yet, I wanted to talk it over with you first. What do you think? Am I okay to move in with you while we look for a house together?’
She nodded emphatically. ‘Yes. Yes, please!’ She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.
‘We’ll tell your folks on Sunday, after your gran’s party,’ he said. ‘Do you think they’ll mind? I wondered if they were hoping we’d find a home down here.’
‘They won’t mind at all. And we can visit regularly at weekends,’ Lexi assured him. She snuggled into him. ‘Have I told you how much I love you?’
‘Once or twice,’ he whispered, his breath tickling her ear. ‘Why don’t you show me instead?’
So she did.
The Olde Tavern was full. People kept dropping in to wish Granny Mabe a happy birthday, bringing her cards and gifts. She sat with a big smile on her face all night, and now and again Lexi was sure she saw a tear in her eye as she turned to show another present or card to Lloyd, who was sitting next to her.
When everyone had sung ‘Happy Birthday’ and the cake, with two candles, an eight and a five, on it, had been brought in, Granny Mabe blew them out and thanked everyone for coming.
‘This has been such a special day for me, and I’m so pleased to have so many members of my family, and friends, to share it with,’ she said, her voice wobbling a little.
Everyone clapped and cheered.
‘And now I want to share with you some news that has made my day even more special.’ She held out her hand to Lloyd and he stood up beside her.
‘Lloyd has asked me to marry him, and I’ve accepted,’ she said.
This announcement was greeted by even more claps and cheers.
Joel put his arm around Lexi’s shoulder and hugged her as she clapped excitedly. This was the best news.
‘Fancy Granny getting married again,’ Ryan said with a grin. He winked at Lexi. ‘If anyone was going to make an announcement like that, I thought it would be you two.’
Joel looked into Lexi’s eyes and smiled. ‘Maybe next year,’ he said.
And, as Lexi snuggled into him, she thought that next year would be perfect.
Read more from Karen King . . .
Ellie Truman’s mum has been struggling to keep the family hotel in Cornwall afloat since Ellie’s dad passed away. Ellie is determined to help her mum, even if that means moving back to the sleepy Cornish village of Port Medden she fled from broken-hearted a few years ago.
Running the hotel isn’t easy and Ellie is grateful for the help from charming guest, Reece Mitchell. Ellie feels herself falling for Reece but should she trust him and risk getting her heart broken again? And will their hard work be enough to save the hotel?
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When Hattie is made redundant and evicted from her flat in one horrible week, she needs time to rethink. Her Uncle Albert left her and her father each half of Fisherman’s Rest, his home in the Cornish town of Port Medden, so this seems the perfect place to escape to until she can figure things out.
As Hattie stays in the cottage, clearing it out, tidying it up and getting it ready to sell, she starts to find her feet in Port Medden and making a new home here begins to feel right. If only her dad didn’t need a quick sale and things weren’t complicated by her unwelcoming neighbour Marcus . . .
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If you enjoyed The Best Christmas Ever,
you will love Karen King’s new novel . . .
Available to pre-order from Headline Accent now!