The Little Bookshop at Herring Cove

by Kellie Hailes

‘Your coming to Herring Cove to support our wee village, to support us, means everything to me. You’ve given us reason to believe we have so much to offer. Things that those who don’t live here want, and need. You’ve brought with you laughter, kindness and generosity. For that, I can’t thank you enough. I have a feeling this is the first of many wonderful changes to happen to Herring Cove. With that in mind, please raise whatever you have that’s raiseable and let’s toast to new growth and new beginnings.’ She raised the microphone, and the small crowd repeated the phrase, then cheered.

  Sophie pressed the microphone back into Rob’s hand and searched the crowd. Her eyes settled on Alexander as a huge smile lit up her face. One that told him he wasn’t in big trouble, not even a little trouble; in fact, no trouble at all.

  She stepped off the stage and made her way to him. The closer she came, the more pride surged through his body. Filling his heart.

  Sophie Jones was an amazing woman. The best he’d met. She lived her life the way he wished he could live his. Free from expectation of others. Doing the best she could by those she loved, but not at the expense of what would make her happy.

  Tonight, she’d built community camaraderie. All without destroying a single home or business. If anything, if the people of Herring Cove were left alone to their own devices, the village could flourish once more and become the bustling fishing village it once was.

  Alexander eyed the rundown empty shop fronts. An idea sparked, ignited. With a little help, some investment, the revitalisation could be hastened, all while retaining the charming aspects of the village.

  He pushed the plans that had begun to formulate aside as Sophie took his hands in hers and gave them a shake.

  ‘You are a rotter.’ The words were firm but warm. ‘You’re lucky I like you or you’d be fish food.’ Her chocolate-brown eyes twinkled as the sharpness of her lips softened.

  He was going to miss those eyes when he went back to the city. Going to miss her.

  Sadness threatened to lower like clouds before a storm. He shrugged it off. Tonight was not for mourning the eventual. It was for celebrating the possible.

  ‘Lucky you like me then.’

  ‘Indeed.’

  Silence stretched between them. Heavy with anticipation.

  ‘I forgot to tell you how beautiful you look in that dress.’ Alexander broke the silence. ‘Am I allowed to say that these days? I know blatant wolf-whistling’s out.’ He winked to show he was joking.

  Sophie laughed. ‘I think I can take that compliment. And thank you. The local seamstress made it. She’s very talented.’

  Alexander angled his head so it was hovering just above Sophie’s, kiss-close. ‘Seems to be a lot of talent in Herring Cove.’

  Sophie bobbed back a fraction. ‘Alexander Fletcher, are you flirting with me?’

  ‘I might be. Just a little. If that’s okay with you.’

  Sophie’s hand left his, touched his hip tentatively, then brought him closer. ‘It’s okay with me. More than okay.’ She stood on tiptoe and pressed a kiss to his lips.

  He breathed in her sweet, heady scent. Committed it to memory. Their time together was limited, so he was going to make the most of it, and treasure every second.

  The evening flew by in a blur of conversation, laughter, and – later on when the crowds had gone home, the stalls had been packed up and the locals had retired to the pub to celebrate – topped-up glasses.

  Sophie and Alexander had parted ways during the evening but always found each other again. Their hands slipping into each other’s so easily it felt like second nature. Like they were meant to be joined together.

  It was of little surprise to Alexander that at the end of the evening after Natalie had yawned one too many times and taken the kids home to bed, after Mike had swooped Ginny into his arms and carried his heavy-lidded wife home, and Rob and Sherry had waved them off hand-in-hand, it was just he and Sophie left standing outside the shop.

  ‘Tonight may well have been my most favourite night ever.’ Alexander held his arms out for Sophie and she all but fell into them.

  He wrapped his arms around her petite frame and pressed her against his chest. So close. Not close enough.

  Alexander stroked the soft spot of skin between her thumb and index finger. A small gesture that felt hugely intimate. He was so comfortable with Sophie. So at home. It simultaneously comforted and scared him.

  What if he fell for her? What if never wanted to leave? How hard would it be to tear himself away from her when he had to? And he would have to. Sooner rather than later. He’d told his father he’d stay for the market to press the flesh, but now that the market had been and gone he had no more excuses to stay.

  ‘Alexander?’

  The caution, the hope, in Sophie’s voice brought him back to the here and now.

  ‘I don’t want to be too forward, but we could either stand here hugging each other all night… or we could perhaps go upstairs and hug horizontally?’

  She cocked an eyebrow, her eyes sparkling under the light of the lamp post. Brighter than the stars above. More beautiful.

  He resisted the urge to say yes immediately. The chemistry between them made his desire to do so easy, but they needed to know where they stood with each other. Had to know the outcome was never going to end in a happily ever after.

  ‘I’ve had the best night, Sophie. Best ever. Being with you. Being with your friends. Not being seen as “that Fletcher fellow” but as me, as Alex? It’s meant so much. And I want to hug horizontally with you. I do.’

  Sophie’s grip loosened. Her eyes lost in shadows as her gaze fell from his face.

  His heart twisted, hating that his caution was causing her pain.

  ‘I get what you’re saying. I understand. It’s no big deal.’

  Sophie made to step back, but Alexander kept his arms around her.

  ‘That’s where you’re wrong. It is a big deal, Sophie. You’re not like anyone I’ve ever met before. You’re raw. You’re real. Determined. Independent. With a beautiful heart that’s willing to give so much to those she loves. I’m afraid of how I’ll feel when I have to leave. Because I will have to leave. I can’t be here forever. And I don’t want you doing anything you’d regret. I don’t want to hurt you. You mean too much to me.’

  Sophie locked eyes with Alexander as her arms found their way around his waist once more. ‘There’s no way I could regret the time I’ve spent with you, Alex. Not ever. And you can’t hurt me. I’ve experienced enough hurt that I’m immune to it.’

  Her smile – one that was mean to make light of the situation – only deepened his thoughts and feelings around it. Sophie could say she was immune from hurt all she wanted, but he knew it wasn’t true. Once she let someone in, once she cared, she could be hurt. All too easily.

  ‘I promise not to get hurt.’

  ‘You can’t prom—‘

  Sophie cut the words off with a kiss. Slow, lingering.

  The kind of kiss that would make the most rational man abandon all sensibilities.

  Sophie broke the kiss, but kept her lips hovering millimetres away from his. ‘One night. Just give us that.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  Sophie turned away with a wink, unlocked the shop, tugged Alexander through the store and up the stairs, towards her bedroom.

  Alexander had his answer. Sophie was sure.

  At least one of them was.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Early morning rays of light struck Alexander’s eyes, dazzling him despite his eyes being shut. He squeezed them tighter against the sun and patted his hands around the bed, looking for the person who’d kept him up so late that he was reluctant to wake up.

  Not that he was complaining. The opposite.

  Sophie had chased away the last of his reservations. Her lips soft against his. Teasing his concerns away until there was nothing but the pleasure of two people who wanted to be together enjoying each other. For hours, upon hours, upon more unforg
ettable hours.

  ‘Soph.’ The word came out a sleep-fogged mumble.

  There was no reply, and the spot next to him was cold, like she’d been up and out of bed for hours.

  He rolled onto his back, draped his forearm across his eyes and repressed a groan as his mobile phone’s vibration mode buzzed on the wooden bedside table.

  There was only one person who’d call so early on a Saturday morning.

  And while, as his father, Frank had every right to, did he as his boss? Any other job, any other manager, and he’d have respectfully asked that phone calls be made during office hours except for in the case of an emergency, but his father didn’t believe in boundaries. Work was front and centre, twenty-four seven. And he expected his only son to believe the same.

  And Alexander had, for more years than he cared to count.

  Responsibility threatened to swamp his happiness and he was grateful to hear Sophie’s light footsteps on the lounge’s wooden floor. A reminder of what really mattered, of who really mattered.

  He sat up in bed, gave his face a dry rub and quickly patted his hair in place in a cack-handed grooming attempt.

  The bedroom door was nudged open by a bare foot, then Sophie appeared carrying her laptop. ‘You’re awake. Good.’ She padded over to the bed and set the laptop on the bedside table. ‘I was starting to think you were going to sleep forever.’

  Alexander’s heart sunk. She’d wanted him to be awake? So he could leave? So things could go back to the way they were? Business as usual?

  So much for a romantic start to the day.

  He’d imagined the two of them snuggled up in bed, drinking tea, catching up on the news on their phones… Instead he was getting kicked out like he was nothing more than a one-night stand…

  Which he was. It was all he could be. The phone began vibrating again. A harsh reminder of the truth.

  ‘Be back in a sec.’ Sophie jogged out of the bedroom, her pink, cotton bathrobe patterned with white polka dots, flying behind her.

  He reached over and turned off the phone. Bugger his father. If this was the only chance he was getting to spend with Sophie he was making the most of it. All attention on her.

  ‘Here we go.’ She stood in the doorway with a food-filled tray. ‘I figured you’d be starving because I’m beyond famished.’

  So much for being kicked out. Sophie had made enough breakfast to keep them bed-bound for a week. Something he would not object to.

  She placed the tray in the middle of the bed, leaned over and kissed him full on the lips. ‘I hope you like toast, yoghurt and fruit.’ She kissed him again, before straightening up, arranging her pillows against the lemon-yellow washed headboard and settling onto the bed.

  Alexander’s stomach rumbled as he took in the pile of toast, smothered in melting butter and coated in golden honey, which was plated next to a mountain of juicy red strawberries and plump blueberries.

  ‘I heard that.’ Sophie reached over and patted his grumbling tummy, then sat her laptop in front of her and started typing. ‘Ignore me. You get stuck in. I’ll eat soon as I check my emails. See if any orders have come in overnight.’

  Alexander picked up a piece of toast, cupped his other hand under it to stop butter or honey dropping onto the mint-green bedsheets, then bit into it, relishing the crunch, the salt, the sweet. ‘Yum,’ he let out a low moan of satisfaction. ‘That’s so good. Just what I needed.’

  Sophie smirked. ‘Working up an appetite will have that effect. You’ll be in raptures when you try the strawberries. Fresh from the farm round the road.’

  ‘More raptures?’ He finished off the toast and licked each finger before reaching for another piece. ‘I thought last night was as rapturous as things could get.’

  Sophie reached for a blueberry and popped it in her mouth. ‘Yeah, it was pretty good.’

  He reached over and tickled her waist, laughing as she squeaked and bum-shuffled away from him. ‘Pretty good? Is that the rating you’re giving it? After I—’

  Sophie picked up a strawberry and pressed it against his mouth. ‘Kidding, Alex. I’m amazed I didn’t hear a choir of angels singing, or the sky splitting open to reveal marshmallow pink clouds and golden light spilling over us.’

  Alexander bit into the strawberry, then went to wipe the juice that dribbled down his chin.

  Sophie took his hand. ‘Uh-uh. That’s mine.’ She leaned over and kissed the juice off his chin, then lingered on his lips. ‘Mmm, delicious.’

  She made to move away, but Alexander wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. ‘Oh no, Miss Jones, you’re not going anywhere after that. You’ve given me a taste of dessert, and now I’m ravenous for more.’

  ‘Is that so?’ Her leg slid over his as Sophie came to hover inches over him. ‘In that case…’ She took another strawberry, placed it in her mouth and brought her lips down to his.

  Desire surged hot and heavy through Alexander as he ate the strawberry in one bite, anything to get to the sweetness that lay beyond. ‘Delicious, but that wasn’t the dessert I was talking about.’

  Alexander tangled his hands through Sophie’s hair and brought her down for another kiss, loving how her body collapsed onto his, inch by inch. All resistance gone.

  He could get used to this. Could live like this.

  Forever.

  And the thought didn’t frighten him. Not one bit.

  ***

  ‘No more distracting me.’ Sophie wagged her finger at Alexander as she grabbed her laptop and set it down in front of her, laughing as he placed his hand on his bare chest with an innocent ‘who, me?’ widening of his eyes. ‘I wasn’t kidding about checking orders, and I have research to do. I don’t want to sell my dad’s books too cheaply, but I don’t want to put people off buying them either.’

  ‘Is this your way of telling me I need to leave?’ Alexander rearranged the tangle of sheets, tucking them up around their bodies. Covering them. ‘There we go, all decent.’

  ‘Got a sudden case of shyness, Alex?’ She stuck the tip of her tongue out between her teeth and wrinkled her nose at him. ‘Pretty sure after last night and this morning there’s not a lot left to hide between us.’

  ‘I’m just preserving my modesty. Wouldn’t want you to lose interest too soon.’

  Sophie grinned at his proper tone, complete with a prim tilt of his nose.

  Alexander had the most amazing ability to combine cute and sexy. It was moreish.

  Except more was not an option and she’d had to remind herself of that more than once already that morning. She’d sprung out of bed before dawn in an attempt to create some distance between the night they’d shared and the reality of their situation. However, contented snores and the lift of his lips as he smiled ever so slightly in his sleep scuppered any boundaries she’d wanted to build, and she found herself pulling on yesterday’s clothes and a pair of trainers on a mad-woman run to the fruit and veg stall to gather breakfast supplies so he could eat. So they could spend a little more time together before reality set in and they had to part ways.

  ‘Soph? You okay? You’ve gone all quiet.’ Alexander’s eyebrows drew together. ‘You mentioned you were hungry, but you’ve not really eaten. A couple of blueberries is hardly breakfast. Shall I get up and make you toast? Return the favour?’

  Alexander was already half out of bed before Sophie had a chance to say no.

  She caught his hand and drew him back into bed. Into their bubble.

  ‘I’m fine. Honestly. Blissed out.’ She pasted a bright smile on her face and hoped it hid the small, but no less, brilliant pain that flared in her chest.

  Sophie loaded up her email, and hoped working would distract her enough that she could put Alexander’s inevitable return to London out of her mind.

  Her heart seized as a name she’d not expected to see flashed up.

  ‘Are you kidding me?’ She clicked on the email, peered at the screen. Her heart kicked back into action, this time in double spe
ed, as she scanned the contents of the email. ‘This cannot be happening.’

  Alexander touched her forearm. ‘Is something wrong? Are you okay? Can I help?’

  Sophie dragged her eyes away from the email. ‘I am more than okay. I’m going to be fine. Better than fine. Lucille Devine has agreed to give an author talk.’

  ‘Lucille who?’ Alexander peered over her shoulder.

  ‘Only one of the UK’s most celebrated romance authors. I sent her an email asking if she’d consider an author talk here since I’d read she was touring the area. I never thought she’d say yes, but she has.’

  A slow smile curved Alexander’s lips. ‘This is a great thing, right? If she leaves happy, then she’ll recommend you to other authors for talks and signings and people will come from all over?’

  ‘Ten points to the hot, mostly naked man.’ Sophie rubbed her hands together. ‘There’s only one catch. She wants to come tomorrow. It’s her day off from the tour, but she heard about Herring Cove from a friend who came to the market yesterday and raved about it, and when she heard I’d set the market up, she remembered my name from the email I’d sent and was intrigued by the story: a bookshop owner determined to save the village she lives in from economic ruin. She reckons there’s a book in it.’ Sophie giggled as she reached over and ran her hand through Alexander’s hair, then cupped his neck, stroking the soft skin of his nape. ‘I’m starting to think you’re my lucky charm. Only good things have happened to me since you arrived in Herring Cove. I’m going to have to tie you up so you can never leave. Tell your father I’m holding you hostage but there’ll never be a ransom note because I refuse to let you go.’

  Alexander looked away. His jaw tightened. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down.

  Sophie bit her tongue. Idiot. She knew the score. Knew Alexander had to leave. Knew it was going to be painful when it happened – for both of them. Making light of it only emphasised that point.

  There was no getting out of the situation or of finding a way to change what had to happen. She couldn’t sell the shop and move to London. Not for a man she’d just met. Not for anyone. Herring Cove was home and leaving it was non-negotiable. And because she understood how important home was, she would never ask Alexander to leave London. Not that she’d expected he would. He had his family there, his mother and father. Not to mention a job that he was committed to. He had to be in London. She had to be in Herring Cove.