Meet Me in London: The sparkling new and bestselling romance for 2020. Perfect escapism, for fans of Lindsey Kelk and Heidi Swain.

by Georgia Toffolo

  ‘Yeah?’

  ‘Yes. Because, unlike you, I believe in helping instead of hurting.’ Victoria had shown him that too, he realized with a sharp stab. ‘Maybe one day you could try that? Stop thinking about what you haven’t got and think about what you have.’

  ‘Like you, you mean?’ Andrew ground out. ‘You have everything a man could want. Fancy house. Great job. Billions in the bank. But you’re pretty damned hard to be with.’

  ‘Because you scared Victoria away.’

  ‘You actually care about her?’

  Oliver downed the last of his whisky. ‘I do.’

  ‘Damn.’ Andrew shook his head. ‘I’m sorry, man. I… I was in a bad place watching you come in over my head and take control. I was jealous of everything. And her ex, Peter… he told me that she couldn’t have kids and I thought she was lying to you. To us all.’

  ‘I don’t know if I even want kids. But I do know that want her. That’s the most definite I’ve been about anything in my life.’ And now she’d gone. ‘I want to talk to her about it, at least.’

  ‘If she loved you the way she said she did, she’d have stayed, right?’

  ‘When she believed all the Russell might was against her?’ His cousin did not have a goddamned clue. But… wait… ‘Roll back a bit. She what?’

  ‘She said something like, but what if I do love Oliver?’

  Oh God. Could this get any worse? Victoria loved him and the only person she happened to mention it to was his damned cousin? ‘Ah, this is so screwed up.’

  Andrew snorted. ‘Well, you know how hard we Russells fight for things we want. Where is she now? What are you waiting for?’

  Hell. Yes.

  Victoria was the real deal. She was everything he hadn’t even known he wanted. She filled the gaping hole in his chest with warmth and light and love. She gave him a fresh purpose and a new perspective. She made him want to be a better man. He wanted to be that man with her by his side.

  And then he knew. Knew without a shadow of a doubt that he loved her. Adored her. That he wanted the next fifty years, fifty millennia with his Victoria.

  For the first time in weeks he felt a flicker of hope. He wanted her and he had to show her she could entrust her heart to him. That he was not like her ex, that he’d love her not despite but because of what she’d been through. He had nothing but admiration for her. Oh… and love. Lots and lots of that.

  He stood. ‘I’m out of here.’

  ‘What… where?’ Andrew asked, his face contorted in confusion. ‘What can I do to help? You want me to call her, say I was wrong?’

  ‘No. Do not phone her. Ever.’ Oliver didn’t stop to explain more. He was going to do what his father had taught him – he was going to fight for a deal he believed in.

  Victoria stepped out of the taxi that had brought her from the train station into Hawke’s Cove, and breathed deeply.

  Salt. Sea. Home. A pale December sun and clear skies. She breathed out. It was good to be here, even if just to get away from the claustrophobic rooms of her flat and the ever-present feeling that Oliver was literally a few yards away in his store and yet there might as well have been galaxies between them.

  A squawking seagull circled overhead as she looked out to the choppy water. Over to the left was the imposing structure of Hawkesbury House, to the right were the little shops and houses that made up the seaside village where everyone knew everything.

  No doubt they all knew about that kiss too. No doubt Mrs Whittaker would stop and ask her. Victoria would have been fresh gossip for a few days. She just hoped that now, three weeks later, the Hawke’s Cove residents were too focused on Christmas to remember Victoria Scott’s little front-page escapade.

  She played with the ring that she’d transferred to her right hand because she hadn’t the heart to take it off altogether. It was something physical to keep her connected to Oliver. Although, she had enough physical heartache that she doubted she’d ever forget him.

  What would Nana Norma do? She’d hold her head up high and not give a damn about what other people thought.

  But first, Victoria slid the ring from her finger and popped it into her purse. More for safekeeping than anything, but also because there were some questions she just didn’t want to answer.

  After dropping her bag off at home and dodging her parents’ questions as to her wellbeing she meandered over to Lily’s restaurant, The Sea Rose, and pushed open the door. The earthy scent of garlic and rosemary welcomed her, and she immediately felt… tearful. She was home.

  ‘V!’ Lily leaped out from the kitchen and wrapped her in a tight hug. ‘There you are! One o’clock on the dot! It’s so good to see you.’

  Victoria’s chest felt so tight she couldn’t get any words out, so she hung on to her friend, squeezing the tears away. It was Christmas. She wasn’t about to ruin that for Lily.

  But her friend was too canny. She pulled away and held Victoria’s shoulders, searching her face with a sad smile. ‘It’s OK, darling. It’s OK. I’ve got you.’

  ‘I thought I was done crying.’ Victoria wiped her eyes with her fist. ‘I was doing so well. I haven’t cried for days. But… I’m glad to be home.’

  ‘I’ve got a surprise that will make you feel a lot better. Come with me.’ Lily took her hand and they walked out of the restaurant, down to the harbour. In the distance was the little rowboat they always ‘borrowed’ from Mr Michaels, who often caught them mid-steal and raised his fist, but never actually stopped them from doing it.

  Victoria’s heart jumped. Lily had promised her prosecco and peace and here it was. ‘We’re going to our bay? Now? Aren’t you busy? It’s Christmas Eve.’

  ‘Never too busy for… Hey! Hey!’ Lily whistled and shouted, and two heads suddenly popped up from inside the boat. ‘A Lost Hours meeting!’

  Heart jumping, Victoria peered towards the boat. A blonde head and a wildly curly one. And there tethered to the side of the harbour railings was Zoe’s wheelchair. ‘Oh. My. God. Zoe’s here too?’

  ‘Yes. She came for you.’

  Her heart felt as if it was going to burst out of her chest. ‘For… me?’

  ‘Because of Oliver. And the kiss. And because we love you.’

  They were all here simply because she was sad. Her lip wobbled and she struggled to hold back a sob. ‘But… Zo’s allergic to this place.’

  Or, to her parents at least. Her chest constricted and she broke into a run. Lily whooped and ran along with her. ‘Best surprise ever!’

  ‘Oh. God. I am so happy to see you all.’ Victoria jumped into the little rowboat and hugged her friends tight, not caring that the tears were flowing freely now. ‘I can’t believe you’re here.’

  ‘Hey. Can’t have you being sad at Christmas. I’m just passing through, so we don’t have much time.’ Zoe held up a bottle of wine. ‘Time enough for this, though. Let’s get round to the bay and we can make a start. Jetlag’s made me very, very thirsty.’

  ‘Me too.’ Malie held up some glasses. ‘What are we waiting for?’

  ‘Er… someone to row?’ Lily, ever the sensible one, made Malie and Victoria clamber out of the boat again and push it into the water. It was a calm, clear afternoon and they were round at their secret cove in no time. They helped Zoe out of the boat, lit a small fire and sat around wrapped in blankets, chatting until the sun started to fade. It was the best Christmas gift she’d ever received.

  ‘Thank you.’ Victoria chinked her glass to her friends’ flutes. ‘For coming all this way for me. I know it isn’t easy for you, Zo. Which makes it extra special.’

  ‘Yes, well, you’re going to have to entertain me while I’m here.’ Zoe grinned. ‘I’m not one for family reunions, but I do love you lots. So, tomorrow, after present-opening, can we meet for a drink or something? I’m going to need some me time.’

  ‘Totally. I’m up for that,’ Lily said. ‘There’s no way I’m going to let you all be here and not spend as much time with you as possible.�
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  ‘And we can plan when we’re next going to get together like this. Like old times. No one understands me like you all do.’ Victoria lay her head on Malie’s shoulder enjoying the numbing effects of the alcohol. ‘I want to come to Hawaii. Can you fit me in your suitcase?’

  ‘Absolutely. Come! Please. I’ll teach you how to surf properly. Then you can relax and do nothing in the afternoons and we can hit the bars in the evenings. It’s hot all year round so it doesn’t matter when you come. The sooner the better. You’d love it.’

  It would be a distraction from everything. From Oliver. Who was still the first thing she thought about in the morning and the most consistent dream she had. But in that one they were happy and together. Victoria sighed. ‘One day.’

  Malie nodded. ‘I have plenty of hot surfer mates, those dudes’ll help to distract you, no problem.’

  ‘Truth is, we were getting worried,’ Lily said, turning to Victoria, suddenly serious. ‘You did a lot of crying and then you went quiet. Too quiet.’

  ‘It’s the stupid season for me. The bar’s been so busy and with all the orders for my dresses I’m a bit snowed under. I’m thinking of giving up the bar work and focusing solely on the dress designs, but then I’d have to find somewhere else to live and…’ It had been struggle enough for her to put one foot in front of the other without thinking about moving house too. But she was starting to plan, so that was something.

  ‘Have you seen him?’ Lily’s tone was gentle. It was inevitable they’d come round to this subject eventually.

  ‘No. But that’s not to say I haven’t craned my neck out the window any time I thought he might be passing.’

  ‘Thank God you’re here, then.’ Zoe stroked Victoria’s arm. ‘Your neck will thank you. I forgive you for not telling me about a fake engagement to a freaking billionaire. Almost.’

  ‘I didn’t know what to say, to be honest.’

  ‘It looked like a very good kiss.’ Malie smiled.

  And so did Victoria, because it had been a very good kiss. Very good kisses indeed. ‘Everything about him was amazing and I didn’t explain… about me. About the accident, not properly. I never gave him a chance. Us a chance. God, I want to rewind that clock so much.’

  ‘Maybe it’s better in your head than it would be in reality.’ Lily was always so rational. ‘That’s how it goes sometimes, right? They don’t always live up to expectations.’ And after what Lily’s ex-fiancé did to her, she knew all about the difference between expectation and reality.

  But Victoria imagined being naked and wrapped in Oliver’s arms once more. ‘I’ll never know.’

  ‘Did you see the press release in the paper about his dad?’ Malie asked. ‘Said something about a heart condition and new treatment and that he was recovering. That’s good, right?’

  ‘Eric’s not going to let a bit of heart trouble keep him down.’ Victoria wondered how he was coping with enforced tai chi and Sudoku and whether he’d been able to sneak out to his office and do some therapeutic spreadsheeting.

  ‘What are you smiling at?’ Lily asked.

  ‘They are a lovely family. Even though he’s growly on the TV, Eric’s a pussycat really.’ Victoria’s throat suddenly swelled, and her voice croaked out the last two words. She didn’t just miss Oliver she missed his whole freaking family.

  Well, not Andrew, obviously.

  ‘Oh-oh. I sense more tears.’ Zoe poured more bubbles into Victoria’s glass. ‘Come on, V. Maybe it’s time to start looking forward. Tell us about the amazing interest in your designs.’

  ‘In a minute.’ She was lost again in the memory of Oliver and it was painful and yet lovely at the same time. ‘Did I tell you about riding in the helicopter to Paris?’

  ‘Yes!’ They all replied at the same time.

  ‘A thousand times. Still not jealous.’ Lily laughed. ‘But I bet he didn’t row you out to a secret cove and feed you bubbles.’

  ‘No. Never.’

  Zoe was right, it was time to look forward and to spend good times with her friends who’d come across the globe. For her. ‘Only the very best people do that.’

  ‘Always.’ Malie grinned.

  ‘To friendship. To the Lost Hours.’ Zoe proposed the toast. ‘To us.’

  ‘To us.’ Victoria looked through the flickering flames at her friends. They’d stood by each other through everything. When life had been bleak and the future felt out of reach, they’d cajoled and comforted. They’d been each other’s strength when being strong had felt impossible. They’d crossed the world for her.

  She didn’t have Oliver and the future had certainly felt bleak for a while. But if nothing else, with these women by her side, she was going to have a happier Christmas.

  It was almost dark as they dragged the boat up the beach back at Hawke’s Cove and then settled Zoe into her wheelchair. Malie took control of steering but veered badly to the left. ‘I’m not drunk, it’s this sand.’

  ‘Yeah, right. We believe you.’ Lily laughed, her eyes dancing as she slid her arm into Victoria’s and they all made their way towards the slipway. ‘OK, who’s coming to the pub for one more drink before I get back to work?’

  ‘Me.’ Victoria eyed the white building up ahead. ‘Just one and then I have to get back before Mum and Dad go to Aunty Mary’s for dinner and then Midnight Mass.’

  ‘You’re not going to join them? But it’s your family tradition.’

  ‘I’m mixing things up a bit this year.’ Also known as avoiding her auntie’s questions. She just wanted to wallow watching Love, Actually and possibly do a bit more crying over Oliver and what she’d thrown away. Oh-oh. Maybe the alcohol was going to her head.

  ‘Hey. Dude alert.’ Malie pointed to a lone figure standing at the top of the slipway, hands stuffed deep in his coat pockets. He was staring out at… at them. ‘Tasty. Do you think he might want surfing lessons?’

  Oh, God.

  Victoria closed her eyes. Opened them again. Her chest felt as if it was collapsing in on itself. ‘It’s him.’

  Zoe shielded the last rays of sun from her eyes and squinted. ‘Who?’

  ‘Oliver,’ said Lily. Her voice sounded the way Victoria felt – cautious. Hopeful. Sad.

  Despite herself, despite her friends, despite everything, Victoria slipped her arm from Lily’s and strode towards him. She couldn’t stop herself. Didn’t know what the hell she was going to say to him.

  But she had to reach him, and fast.

  Chapter Nineteen

  HE WAS HERE. IN sleepy Hawke’s Cove on Christmas Eve. Victoria tried hard not to read a million messages into this and failed. Did he want her back? Was he here…?

  ‘Victoria.’ He nodded hello but didn’t kiss her… not even her cheek.

  Okaaaay. So, this wasn’t going to be the grand reunion where they ran across the beach on a snowy Christmas Eve into each other’s arms. Right. Too much Love, Actually made a girl believe in happy ever afters.

  Maybe he was here with bad news? Her throat caught as her heart jumped. ‘How’s your dad? Is he OK?’

  ‘He’s actually much better.’

  ‘I couldn’t believe the way the press were so intrusive about his illness.’ She walked towards a bench that looked out to sea and he came and sat next to her. They stared out, she didn’t dare look at him and try to read his thoughts. But her heart jittered and she hoped. Hoped.

  Oliver’s hands were still in his pockets. He hadn’t reached for her. ‘Dad’s used to handling that kind of thing. He sent out a press release saying he’s had the doctors’ sign-off and just has to rest up. He’s getting stronger. But I’m not here about that.’

  Hope rose as she turned to him. ‘Oh?’

  He gave her a small smile. She was relieved to see that he looked about as tired as she felt. Had he been having sleepless nights too? ‘I have another deal for you, V.’

  She daren’t ask, but her body prickled with promise. ‘Yes?’

  ‘The thing is, ever since
the catwalk show we’ve been inundated with orders and queries about your designs.’

  Ah. He was here about that. Her shoulders sagged as if her hope bubble had literally been popped. ‘I know. Your PA forwarded them. I’m working through them.’

  ‘Good. I’d like to offer you space in the bridal shop. For your collections. A permanent place. Then we can help with the orders too.’

  Whoa. Was he for real? She’d broken things off and he was still giving? ‘I can’t. It’s not right.’

  ‘What isn’t?’

  ‘You don’t get to wave a magic Russell wand and give me my dreams on a plate.’

  He frowned. ‘I thought you wanted your clothes in a shop like ours?’

  ‘I do. But I want to earn it, I want you to offer me the space because my designs are worthy and deserve to be there, not do it because you know me. I want to be good enough to be there.’ It sounded churlish and ungrateful, but she didn’t want to be his pity project.

  He shrugged. ‘I don’t know anything about dress designs, I admit. But Marianne, the bridal store manager, can’t keep up with the interest, especially when we don’t have any of your stock. She insisted I talk to you about it. So, it’s not my doing. I’m just the conduit.’

  She bit her lip and thought. It wasn’t just Oliver then. Other people believed in her. Hell, she knew that already, but she didn’t… believe it. Could she do this? Could she grab this dream with both hands? ‘I don’t want any concessions. If they don’t sell, then we reconsider. I want a proper contract.’

  ‘I don’t think that’s going to be an issue. Russell & Co want to be exclusive and we’d aim to stock them in our global stores. Although, obviously you’d need to lawyer up to make sure the contract is to your benefit.’

  ‘OK. Right.’ Gone viral. Or global at least.

  ‘Do we have a provisional deal?’ He sounded like the true professional he was. Steady. Calm. Certain.

  ‘Deal.’ She didn’t think she would be able to love him more, but she did. So much. So much it made her throat sore and her eyes sting. She missed him. She loved him.

  She should have been elated. This was a chance in a million. A dream career in a beautiful space, but she would be at risk of seeing him every day. She would want him every day. And her heart would never heal. And yet she had to do it. ‘You came all this way to tell me that? You could have sent an email.’