‘Goodbye, Isla,’ Justin said. ‘And bonne chance.’
Isla was shaking as they walked into the reception of Residence Alpenrose.
‘I don’t know how you stayed so calm then,’ Seb said quietly as they got through the door.
‘I don’t know either,’ Isla replied, her voice now cracking.
A flicker of panic crossed Seb’s face and he pulled her into his arms. ‘Hey… I thought you were keeping it together out there… Don’t break on me now…’
‘I wasn’t. God knows I was a wreck inside. I talk the talk pretty well, huh?’ she said, laughing through her tears.
‘Well I was convinced. Remind me never to get on your bad side, because I’d be terrified, even if it was an act.’
Isla buried her face into his shoulder and took a deep breath to calm herself. ‘I’ll be OK, I’m just—’
‘OH MY LORD!’
They both spun to see Dahlia staring at them with a look of glee on her face. ‘You two…?’
Seb gave a sheepish nod in reply as they broke apart, Isla hastily drying her eyes.
‘Oh, I just KNEW it!’ Dahlia squeaked, clapping her hands. ‘I just knew you were perfect for each other! I’m so happy! Come into the bar for a nightcap – tell me all about it! It’s on the house!’
Seb turned to Isla, happiness tempered by a look of concern. ‘How are you feeling? Up to it?’
She squeezed his hand and gave him a watery smile. ‘I think it might be just what the doctor ordered.’
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Dawn was rising, grey and pale beyond the curtains of their room. During the early hours Seb had gone to the window to check the progress of the snow and found it had finally petered to halt. He’d returned to her arms, a new sadness in his eyes, and she’d done her best to hold him and kiss it away. But they both knew the sting of abandonment, how it felt to be lost – how it felt to be alone.
They made love, but where it had been fire and energy the times before, now it was intimate and gentle, consolation for what they were about to lose.
Now, as morning arrived, she felt him stir and looked up from where her head lay on his chest to see him smile down at her.
‘How long have you been awake?’ he asked.
‘Not long. I keep thinking about how I ought to go and check on my flight, but I can’t bring myself to do it.’
He kissed the top of her head. ‘I don’t want you to do it either. Are you sure you can’t just stay here with me?’
‘In this bed?’
‘I would have settled for St Martin, but this bed will do nicely, if you’re offering.’
‘I wish I could. You have no idea how much. But my mum is expecting me home and… well, you don’t know her. If you did you’d be trying to get home too.’ His smile faded and instantly she regretted her quip. ‘God, I’m so insensitive,’ she said.
‘Don’t be silly…’ He wrapped his arms tight around her and pulled her close. ‘You can’t walk on eggshells for me and I wouldn’t want you to. I’ve never known anything different from what I have and you know how they say what you don’t have you don’t miss.’
‘But it must bother you a bit. To hear me complain about my parents when you don’t have any.’
‘Honestly, it doesn’t. And you’re not complaining – you’re just talking through your feelings. I like when you do that with me because I like the idea that you trust me enough to do that.’
‘I do. More than anyone I’ve ever met. That’s weird, right? How a week can change so much.’
‘I suppose it is. Will you think I’m mad if I tell you something?’
‘Probably. But you could try me.’
‘I think I love you.’
He was silent, and Isla could feel the thump of his heart against her cheek as she lay on his chest, and for a moment she was convinced that it was beating that much faster as he waited for her reply. He’d said what they’d both been too scared to say until now.
‘I’ve thrown you, haven’t I?’ he asked. ‘You don’t have to reply. I’m sorry I said anything.’
‘A little. But not because of what you’ve said. Because I think I feel it too, and I shouldn’t. It’s not sensible or logical or safe to fall in love with someone you’ve known for a week. My head is telling me to stop being an idiot, but my heart won’t listen.’
‘What are we going to do about it?’
‘We could do it again. You know, just to check.’
He gave a low chuckle, her joke diffusing the situation instantly. ‘I’ll miss you like crazy.’
‘I know. Me too.’
‘Come back then. Come back to St Martin and stay with me while I finish this research project. You’ve got your grandma’s house to live in.’
‘That’s three months – you know I can’t do that; I’ve got my own studies at home.’
‘Can you distance learn? Online tutorials? Lots of people do it.’
‘My mum. I have to think about her too, remember. We’ve made progress, but I can’t expect her to deal with too much at once.’
‘I don’t know how I’m going to concentrate on anything without you near. Now that I’ve found you I don’t want to let you go, not ever. I don’t want a day to go by when I don’t see your face or hear your voice or feel your touch. It sounds ridiculous and melodramatic but it’s how I feel. My chest hurts when I think about continents and oceans between us.’
‘You could come back to England with me.’
‘But this project… I’ll lose the funding. The university would probably fire me and nobody would employ me again if they thought I was that unreliable. Isla….’ He let out a long sigh. ‘Then we’re stuck. Three months without you will be the worst kind of hell.’
‘Nobody said it had to be three months. I can’t come back right away, and I can’t promise anything at all – it depends on finances. But if I can find a way I’ll come back to visit before your research stint is up. I told my dad I’d come back anyway so it makes sense; I’d be able to see you both.’
‘But maybe you’d see a little more of me?’
Isla smiled. ‘Greedy.’
Seb folded her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. ‘I’ll hold on to that hope. At least it’s something to keep me going when I’m lonely.’
‘It’s lucky how things turned out, isn’t it? I mean, if you hadn’t come to this hotel, and if my flight hadn’t been cancelled, and if Dahlia didn’t have a booking for my room…’
‘About that,’ Seb said.
Isla pulled away to look up at him. ‘What?’
‘Don’t be mad at her, but I think she might have been telling us a little white lie.’
‘About what?’
‘I haven’t seen anyone go in or out of your old room. And the key is on the hook in reception.’
‘The conniving little minx!’ Isla squeaked. ‘So she…’
‘Yep. I think her plan was to throw us together all along. She obviously saw what we were both too stupid to see.’
‘I don’t know whether to go downstairs and thump her or kiss her.’
‘Perhaps you should settle for a friendly hug before you leave.’
‘Shall we tell her we know about her little plan?’
‘What do you think?’
‘Perhaps we will. One day. But right now, let’s keep her guessing.’
‘Now who’s the little minx?’
‘I’ve got plenty more where that came from.’
‘I don’t doubt it for one minute.’
She snuggled down, back into the sanctuary of his arms. For the first time in her life, Isla understood what it was to want time to stand still. She wanted to hold back the dawn forever, to stay warm and safe in this bed with a man she now realised was the most perfect man on earth, a man who would never hurt her or manipulate her or leave her. A man who was kind and gentle and true and would be there when she needed him no matter what. It had been the most extraordinary week and an even more extra
ordinary Christmas. She’d found a father, new friends, fallen in love with a village and a man. Life would never be the same, and she’d never been happier to know that.
THE END
***
If you got swept away in the romance of A Cosy Candlelit Christmas, why not try The Little Village Bakery.
Out now!
THE LITTLE VILLAGE BAKERY
A FEEL-GOOD ROMANTIC COMEDY WITH PLENTY OF CAKE
Help yourself to a generous slice of Victoria sponge, a perfect cup of tea and a big dollop of romance. Welcome to The Little Village Bakery.
Meet Millie. Heartbreak has forced her to make a new start and when she arrives at the old bakery in the little village of Honeybourne she is determined that this will be her home sweet home. Her imagination has been captured by the tumbledown bakery but with no running water and dust everywhere, her cosy idea of making cakes in a rural idyll quickly crumbles.
Luckily the locals are a friendly bunch and step in to help Millie. One in particular, Dylan, a laid-back lothario, soon captures her attention.
But just as Millie is beginning to settle in, an unexpected visitor from her past suddenly turns up determined to ruin everything for her. It’s time for Millie to face the skeletons in her closest if she’s going to live the dream of running her little village bakery, and her blossoming romance with Dylan.
A charming heartwarming novel about love, life and new beginnings perfect for fans of Milly Johnson and Debbie Johnson.
Get your hands on The Little Village Bakery here!
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ALSO BY TILLY TENNANT
An Unforgettable Christmas series:
A Very Vintage Christmas
A Cosy Candlelit Christmas
From Italy with Love series:
Rome is Where the Heart is
A Wedding in Italy
Honeybourne series:
The Little Village Bakery
Christmas at the Little Village Bakery
Hopelessly Devoted to Holden Finn
The Man Who Can’t Be Moved
Mishaps and Mistletoe
Mishaps in Millrise series:
Little Acts of Love
Just Like Rebecca
The Parent Trap
And Baby Makes Four
Once Upon a Winter series:
The Accidental Guest
I’m Not in Love
Ways to Say Goodbye
One Starry Night
A LETTER FROM TILLY
I really hope you’ve enjoyed reading A Cosy Candlelit Christmas as much as I enjoyed writing it. I’m very proud and excited to share this story with my readers. You can sign up to my mailing list for news on what’s coming next. I promise never to hassle you about anything but my books. The link is below:
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I hope you’ve fallen for the charms of St Martin-de-Belleville and love it as I do. If you liked A Cosy Candlelit Christmas, the best and most amazing thing you can do to show your appreciation is to tell your friends. Or tell the world with a few words in a review. It can be as short and sweet as you like, but it would make me so happy. In fact, hearing that someone loved my story is the main reason I write at all.
If you ever want to catch up with me on social media, you can find me on Twitter @TillyTenWriter or Facebook.
So thank you for reading my little book, and I hope to see you again soon!
Love Tilly x
www.tillytennant.com
A VERY VINTAGE CHRISTMAS
AN UNFORGETTABLE CHRISTMAS BOOK 1
Get it here!
The fairy lights are up and shoppers are flooding the snowy seaside promenade. It’s going to be a busy month at Forget-Me-Not Vintage, a magical shop with a warm heart where every item has a story to be told.
With bright red hair and an infectious smile, Dodie is a hopeless romantic and absolutely one of a kind, just like the pieces in her shop.
When Dodie finds a love letter in the pocket of an old woollen coat, she makes it her mission to deliver it to its rightful owner. Following the address, she manages to persuade the handsome but reluctant new tenant, Edward, to help her with her search.
As the story of the letter unfolds, Dodie is there, as always, to pick up the pieces and make things right. But who will be there for her when her own love story needs a helping hand?
Is it too much to dream of a happy ending like the ones in the black and white movies she adores?
Get it here!
If you’re looking for a sweep-you-off-your-feet romance that will warm you through and through then the door to Forget-Me-Not Vintage is always open. Perfect for fans of Jane Linfoot, Debbie Johnson and Jenny Colgan.
CHRISTMAS AT THE LITTLE VILLAGE BAKERY
HONEYBOURNE SERIES BOOK 2
It’s time to get toasty by the fire with a glass of mulled wine and a slice of chocolate yule log sprinkled with a little romance. Welcome to Christmas at the Little Village Bakery.
Snow is falling in Honeybourne and Spencer is bringing home his American fiancée Tori for a traditional English Christmas with all the trimmings. But when his hippie mum and dad meet her high-maintenance parents, sparks of the wrong sort start to fly. Then Spencer bumps into his first love Jasmine and unexpected feelings come flooding back.
Millie is run off her feet with Christmas orders at the Little Village Bakery and new baby Oscar. Thank goodness her cousin Darcie is here to help her. Although she does seem to be rather flirty with Millie’s boyfriend Dylan.
Will Darcie ever find true love of her own? And is marrying Tori a terrible mistake for Spencer if his heart is with someone else?
A heartwarming Christmassy romantic comedy, perfect for fans of Carole Matthews and Milly Johnson.
Get it here!
ROME IS WHERE THE HEART IS
'I'm fully in love with this story and Alessandro is my new book boyfriend!' Darcy's Book Blog
Available now…
Can a holiday romance ever have a happy ending? Escape with Kate to the sun-drenched city of Rome where a love affair is just about to begin …
When Kate’s husband Matt dumps her on Friday 13th she decides enough is enough – it’s time for her to have some fun and so she hops on a plane to Rome. A week of grappa and gelato in pavement cafes under azure blue skies will be just what the doctor ordered.
What she doesn’t count on is meeting and falling for sexy policeman Alessandro. But the course of true love doesn’t run smoothly – Alessandro has five meddling sisters, a fearsome mama and a beautiful ex Orazia. They’re all certain that Kate is not the girl for him.
Can Kate and Alessandro’s love last the distance? Or will she return home with the one souvenir she doesn’t want – a broken heart …
Fall in love with the colourful cafes and the cobbled piazzas of Rome and follow Kate’s dreams and her heart in this enchanting escapist read. Perfect for fans of Debbie Johnson and Carol Matthews.
Get it here!
What everyone's saying about Rome is Where the Heart Is:
'What an absolute gem of a book. A lovely feel-good story.' Stef Loz Book Blog
'Every page of this novel was a delight to read...I loved this book, it picked me out of my wintertime blues!' The Anxious Canadian
'Superb! The perfect romance for everyone ... I highly recommend it!' Urban Book Reviews
'I’ve been a fan of this writer for some time now and she never fails to delight. Tilly really does have a way of captivating her readers and taking them to the settings of her stories. I have really enjoyed myself in Rome this time round, drinking coffee along the pavement cafés.Five stars! The Reading Shed
'Wow! Such a wonderful feel good story effortlessly transporting me to Rome.Loved every word! Renita D'Silva
'An interesting
, fun, easy read, I thoroughly enjoyed it.' Any Excuse to Read
A WEDDING IN ITALY
FROM ITALY WITH LOVE BOOK 2
Available now!
Sun, spaghetti and sparkling prosecco. When it comes to finding love, there’s no place like Rome...
Kate is living the dream with her gorgeous boyfriend Alessandro in his native city, but the reality is sometimes a little less romantic than she’d hoped. Every day in her new home is a fight against leaking pipes, her cantankerous landlord and her less-than-perfect grasp of the Italian lingo.
All around her there is talk of weddings, but when a secret from her past is thrust out into the open, Kate must fight to prove to Alessandro’s Mamma – and the rest of his formidable family – that she truly is Italian marriage material.
With the women in Alessandro’s life on a mission to break them apart, the cracks begin to show and Kate starts to question if Alessandro really is the man of her dreams. Can love and the city of romance conquer all, or is that just a fairy-tale?
Let Rome steal your heart this summer in this gorgeously romantic escapist read. Perfect for fans of Jo Thomas and Abby Clements.
What everyone’s saying about Tilly Tennant:
'Wonderful characters which make you want to befriend them and a storyline which left me wanting more.’ The Reading Shed
'What an absolute gem of a book. A lovely feel-good story.' Stef Loz Book Blog
'Observant, insightful, humorous, and heart squeezing. I adored her humor.' Books and Bindings
'Every page of this novel was a delight to read...I loved this book, it picked me out of my wintertime blues!' The Anxious Canadian
'Superb! The perfect romance for everyone ... I highly recommend it!' Urban Book Reviews
A Cosy Candlelit Christmas: A wonderfully festive feel good romance (An Unforgettable Christmas Book 2) Page 27