by Petrova, Em
“Are we all set?”
She glanced up to see Nikki approach. Today there were blue streaks in her hair in honour of the fete. Naturally, her friend was as beautiful as ever in ridiculously short shorts and a t-shirt that said something about reading past her bedtime. Even holding a hotdog smothered in mustard, she looked sexy. Maddie felt almost frumpy in her strappy top and cream trousers.
“Pretty much. What’s the time?”
Nikki glanced at her watch. “Nearly eleven. They’ll be opening the gates soon.”
Tourists came from all over Cornwall for the Ballicliff fete, anxious to buy the farm produce and homemade wares. They had various food stalls with hundreds of varieties of cheeses, sausages and fish. And then there were the rides set up for the kids which she’d also seen Sawyer helping with. She couldn’t help sigh.
“Your mum’s here,” Nikki said through a mouthful of hotdog.
“I didn’t think they’d be home in time.”
Her stomach dropped a little. If her mother saw Sawyer, there would be questions to answer. Frankly, her parents’ dislike of him had been the only reason they’d waited until she’d turned eighteen to marry. They might have done it sooner if they’d believed they could get permission from them. Still, she supposed it was better to get it over and done with. She’d remind her mother that she was a grown woman. Heck, she was considered a wealthy woman now. She could definitely make her own decisions.
“I’ll find her later.” Maddie strode around the stall and positioned herself behind it. “They’re opening the gates now.”
A stream of tourists filled the market square. Before long, Maddie was on her way to making more profit than she did on even the best days. Something about the fun atmosphere made people far more willing to part with money and fill their suitcases with books. Of course, a percentage would go to charity but she’d still make a nice amount and clear out some of her old stock in the process.
By the time the fete was winding down, she hadn’t seen her mother and she’d only seen Sawyer once when he’d brought her a burger and a coffee. He’d been helping run one of the rides and she kept stealing glimpses of him helping the kids on and off. Each time he glanced her way, her heart squeezed.
She needed answers. She had to know where this was going. The house was coming on brilliantly. Did he still intend to sell? What she would do was, she’d go up to him and she’d say—
“I hear you’ve been helping restore the old Steele place.”
Maddie sighed as her mother came around to place a delicate kiss on her cheek. Always glamorous, her mother wore a 50’s style floral dress and her dark hair was sleek and shiny, just brushing her shoulders.
“How are you? How was your trip?”
“Oh lovely. I ate far too much though.”
Maddie glanced down her mother’s slender figure and shook her head. Her mother had never had a problem with her weight or, well, with anything really. It always made Maddie feel completely imperfect. It was hard to keep up with her mother even when she did try to think everything through so carefully.
“So, this house renovation...you haven’t put any of your money into it, have you?”
“No, of course not. Sawyer is funding it.”
“Mrs White says you’re spending a lot of time with him.” Her mother’s lips compressed.
“Mrs White says lots of things,” she retorted and immediately felt thirteen again.
“Maddie.” Her mother fixed her with a look. “What’s going on?”
Maddie swallowed and lifted her chin. She’d stood up to her mother before and she would again. She’d spent too long being cautious around her after the wedding disaster. It had been easy for her mother to remind her she had known that Steele boy was no good for her but she wouldn’t let her do it again.
“I’m seeing him, Mum. He loves me.”
She shook her head and released an audible breath. “You’re really going to give him another chance?”
“Yes.” She scanned the dispersing crowds for him and spotted him helping a child out of one of the rides. A smile curved her lips. “Yes, I am.”
“Maddie...”
She turned her attention reluctantly back to her mother.
“Don’t you think it’s a little strange that he’s interested now that you’ve won all that money?”
“No, of course not. I haven’t even told him about it yet, though I really—”
“What does he even do? I’ve asked everyone and no one knows.”
“He writes books, Mum.” She folded her arms. “Look, I know you never liked him but I’m a grown woman. I’m not going to have you make these decisions for me.”
“Writers are always poor,” she muttered. “Maddie, think carefully. He could know. Wasn’t he good friends with Ryan? Or what if Nikki said something? You know she’s not great at keeping secrets.”
“Mother...”
“I don’t want to see you being taken advantage of.”
Maddie pressed her fingers to her temples. Did she really think Sawyer was capable of feigning interest in her because of her money? And if he was so poor, how could he afford to fix the house? Though she supposed he must have inherited some money from his father.
But still...
“I need to think, Mum. I’ll see you later.” She gave her a quick hug. As frustrating as she was, she knew her mother only wanted the best for her. “I’m glad you had a good holiday.”
Before she could protest, Maddie turned on her heel and marched off. Nikki would see to packing up the stall. She couldn’t think properly with her mother putting doubts in her mind. She needed time to figure out exactly what she wanted from Sawyer. And she knew exactly the place to go.
Chapter Thirteen
Sawyer glanced up to see Maddie hurry away from her mother. He frowned. Where was she going and what had her mother said to her? He could hardly keep her away from the woman but he had known as soon as he’d spotted her that she’d make trouble. As far as parents went, she might not be as bad as his own father but she’d always stopped Maddie from taking chances.
As he knew well. That woman had been one of the many reasons he’d done a runner. But not this time.
He strode over and stopped in front of Mrs Green.
“What did you say to her?”
The woman—an attractive, older version of Maddie—lifted a brow. “It’s good to see you too, Sawyer. I’m sorry we couldn’t attend the funeral. We couldn’t cut our plans short.”
He didn’t give a damn that neither she nor her husband had been there. In fact, he was grateful. He strongly suspected if Maddie’s mother had been here while he’d been trying to win her back, he might not have succeeded. He’d always hated the controlling influence she had over her. She was one of the reasons Maddie worked so hard to do everything right.
“What did you say, Lynda?” He tried not to hiss out the words, tried to pretend he wasn’t terrified that her mother had just swanned in and destroyed everything he’d been working for.
Damn it. Today should have been perfect. He’d have gone down on one knee in front of the whole town and proved once and for all that he was deadly serious about Maddie and no nosey locals could make him change his mind.
Lynda gave him a cool look. “I only want the best for my daughter.”
“What if the best isn’t what you think it is?”
“Sawyer, you left her on her wedding day. I don’t want her hurt again.”
He wouldn’t mention that her parents’ dislike of him had been a huge motivation in that—that their fears for her future had sealed the decision. Because, honestly, he couldn’t blame them there. The bitterness that used to eat at him was slowly dissolving. He bitterly regretted ever hurting her but he didn’t regret that they’d had time to find themselves and that he had been able to work on being a better person.
“I have no intention of hurting her again.”
Her eyes grew hard. “Really? So you turned up out of the blue
because you want to make amends? And the money was no enticement whatsoever?”
“Money? What money?”
“We’re adults here, Sawyer. You’re not a boy anymore. Just admit the truth and leave my daughter alone.”
He drew in a long breath and released it slowly. He let his gaze run over her and saw the genuine concern in her eyes. Regardless of how he’d once hated her, he realised now she believed she was protecting her daughter.
“Lynda, I don’t know anything about any money.”
She narrowed her gaze and assessed him. “So you haven’t heard she won the lottery? Because let me assure you, I shall make sure you don’t see a penny of it, even if you do manage to persuade her to marry you.”
“Lottery?” He held up a hand. “Wait, how did you know I was going to propose?”
“Nothing stays secret in this town for long.”
He groaned inwardly. So Maddie thought he was after her for some money and the surprise had been ruined. Damn. Now she probably believed he’d only pursued her for the money. He should have been more upfront about his books’ successes but that would mean revealing far too much about what he wrote. He hadn’t been quite able to open himself up to that yet. He’d needed to win her over without written words—he couldn’t let his fiction play a role.
And apparently she’d been keeping secrets too. Didn’t she trust him to know?
“Where did she go?”
Lynda lifted a shoulder. “How should I know? She said she needed to think. I’d give her that time if I were you. Give her a chance to make up her own mind about you for a change.” She shook her head. “You always were bad news.”
He kept back any response. If he was still going to win over Maddie, he couldn’t be on bad terms with her mother.
“I swear I had no idea about the money. Believe it or not, I don’t need money. I love your daughter and I’d do anything for her.” He let his gaze connect to hers. “Anything.”
Her expression softened a little. “If you hurt her again...”
He waved a hand. “I know. I won’t.”
Sawyer didn’t think he’d won her over yet but there was time. After all, he’d almost won back the woman he loved. Hopefully. Now he’d have to somehow persuade her he wasn’t after her money. Christ, why hadn’t she just told him? Was she really a millionaire? Why the hell was she still working in her bookshop and not travelling the world or something?
Sawyer swivelled. He had to find her. Had to explain. He’d made the mistake of being too closed off from her before. If he’d told her about his fears as a teenager, maybe things wouldn’t have turned out like this. And now, if he’d been open about his books, maybe she would have been more open too.
He headed to the bookshop first but it was still locked up. Sawyer rang the doorbell. No answer. He stepped back and peered at the windows but the empty sensation in his gut told him she wasn’t there. He’d know if she was. He always knew when she was nearby.
Lynda said she needed to think. If she wasn’t at home, he was willing to bet she’d be at the cave—the place they’d always gone to escape everything and everyone.
Sawyer headed toward the beach, making his way down the alleyway to the dockside. Most of the tourists were at the fair instead of hanging off the docks to fish for crabs so it didn’t take him long to reach the beach. Heart beginning to pound, he took the small path past the main beach onto the rocks on the other side.
His breaths came hard and heavy as he strode across the rocks, avoiding the rock pools. Waves rolled against the grey stones and the wind pushed a light spray toward him. He peered at the cave but couldn’t see her yet. He only hoped he wasn’t too late. What if she’d already made up her mind? What if she didn’t believe him?
What if he’d been an idiot in thinking she’d ever see him as anything more than the bad boy who’d jilted her?
The cave ate deep into the rocks and a natural ledge of rock met the rolling waves. They crashed about them and he knew from experience the water was deep and dangerous here. He’d only gone in once and nearly killed himself in the process. He’d learned his lesson there.
And he’d learned his lesson with Maddie. He wouldn’t let her go again. He might not have deserved her then but he did deserve her now, and he’d fight to make her see that.
“Sawyer?”
She stepped out of the gloom as he clambered up the shelf of rocks to the mouth of the cave. The spray had made her hair wild and curly and made her skin sheen. His heart gave a little jolt.
“I didn’t know about the money,” he blurted.
Maddie gave a soft smile and the tension lifted slightly. “I know that.”
“But your mother...”
“I came here to get away from her.”
“But not from me?”
She shook her head and took a step closer. He couldn’t resist. He wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her into him. One hand to her back, the other to her face, he pressed aside a damp strand of hair and skimmed his finger down her cheek.
“I should have told you,” she admitted, “but we were meant to be keeping it a secret. I hadn’t asked the others if they’d mind yet. I know I should have told you but—”
“Others?”
“Yes, didn’t Mum say? Ryan, Nikki and a few of us bought a ticket together. We won the jackpot between us.”
“So you’re not a millionaire?”
“Definitely not.”
He chuckled. “Well, it’s a good job I’m not after you for your money then, isn’t it?”
Her smile dropped. “What did my mother say to you? Are you going to leave again? That’s why you came to find me wasn’t it?”
“No.” Sawyer grasped her tight. “No. Never again. There is nothing anyone could say to me to make me leave you again. Nothing.” He lifted her chin so he could gaze into her hazel eyes. He felt himself drown a little. “Have you changed your mind about me?”
The short pause made his chest constrict. She hadn’t, had she? What would he do if she had? He’d vowed he wouldn’t give her up easily but if she really didn’t want him...
“No.” She looped her hands around his neck. “I haven’t changed my mind. But, Sawyer, you kept so much from me when we were younger. I never had any idea things were that bad with your dad and I still wish you’d told me about your doubts. And you’re still keeping secrets from me. How am I meant to trust you again when you hold stuff back?”
He drew in a breath. No one knew his penname apart from his publisher and editor. He was opening himself up for her to see everything—and he prayed it didn’t put her off.
“Do you know K. R. Wilde?”
She blinked several times. “You write erotic romance?”
Sawyer tensed. “Yes.”
“That’s amazing. Why didn’t you say so?”
He felt the tension slowly slipping away. “I take it you haven’t read my books then.”
“No. They’re on my to be read list. Nikki kept nagging me to start them but with everything that’s happened recently...”
“Listen—” he stroked a thumb across her cheek and marvelled at the way she sank slightly farther into him “—if you ever read them, you should know...my heroine...” he sucked in a heavy breath, “she’s you. It’s us. It’s everything I wanted for us. I could never get you out of my head, Maddie.”
She gaped at him for several moments before giving him a light tap on his arm. “Why didn’t you tell me? Didn’t you trust me?”
“Just like you didn’t tell me about the lottery?” He gave her a reprimanding look. “I didn’t want this in the way. I wanted you to see me—the real me. Not a penname, not the boy from twelve years ago. Me.”
Maddie laughed and shook her head. She slipped her hands over his shoulders and up to clasp his neck. Sawyer bent to rest his forehead against hers. “You realise you could have won me in an instant had you told me this? Every girl wants a book written about her.”
“You were wort
h the effort, Maddie,” he said, his voice gruff with love and longing. “I didn’t want to win you in an instant. You’re worth more than that.”
Hands still firmly clasped around his neck, she drew back and locked her gaze with his. “I see you, Sawyer. I see the real you. And I love you. I probably always have and I know I always will.”
Warmth rolled through him. He held her tight and bent her back to kiss her firmly. The kiss soon deepened and he delved into her mouth with this tongue, finding the taste that he craved—his Maddie.
As the waves crashed about them and covered them in a fine spray, he endeavoured to show her with his kiss everything he’d written in his books. His love for her, his desire for her. How he would go to the ends of the earth to protect her. Coming to Ballicliff to win Maddie back had been the best decision of his life. He knew for certain he wouldn’t mess up again, not with her at his side.
Almost dizzy with gratitude, he drew back and framed her face in her hands. “Marry me?”
Epilogue
Maddie took several deep breaths and clutched the beautiful bouquet of lilies in her hand. She glanced at her dad who gave her an indulgent smile and waited for the carriage door to open. She gripped her father’s arm before he exited.
“Thanks, Dad.”
“For what?”
She lifted a shoulder. She couldn’t exactly say for not hating her fiancé but she suspected he understood.
“We only wanted the best for you, Maddie. It’s hard to tell an eighteen-year-old they might be making a mistake but I think you know your own mind enough now.”
“I do, I just wish Mum would see that.”
“Your Mother isn’t as disproving as she seems. Even she’s admitted Sawyer is a good man and deserves you now.”
Maddie shook her head. “I wish she’d told me that.”
“You know what she’s like and, anyway, you never needed our approval before.”
“I’d like it though, especially now that...” She clamped her lips shut. They hadn’t told anyone yet. She’d only just passed the twelve week mark and thankfully her morning sickness hadn’t kicked in. That didn’t mean her stomach wasn’t rolling with nerves though.