The Secret Cove in Croatia
Page 33
‘Shall we get out of here?’ he asked her when they both came up for breath.
When he took her hand, he was suddenly aware of two pairs of eyes staring with complete amazement.
‘W-what?’ spluttered Tara, while Cory huddled next to her. ‘You can’t do this to me. Choose her over me!’
‘There is no contest. You don’t even come close. Goodbye, Tara,’ said Nick, lacing his fingers through Maddie’s and squeezing her hand.
‘But Nick …’
For some reason that he would never understand they broke into a run, hand in hand, and headed towards the stern.
‘Come on,’ said Maddie, jumping off the back of the boat into the launch, giving him no choice but to jump with her. ‘Let’s get out of here. Do you want to be Thelma or Louise?’
Nick laughed as he landed in the boat, his heart flipping when she threw her arms around him and kissed him. ‘Forgive me?’
‘For what?’
‘For thinking that you really would propose to Tara.’
‘You thought I’d proposed!’ He almost choked. ‘Seriously?’
Maddie bit her lip and looked up at him, her eyes anxious and apologetic. ‘Sorry, but you were engaged. Me, even Siri and Douglas … we just assumed.’
Nick rolled his eyes. ‘I don’t believe it.’
She turned on the engine and threw him a saucy smile as she pushed forward the throttle and the boat roared away from the yacht. ‘Where to?’
‘Wherever you want to go, as long as it’s with me.’
‘That’s a given,’ said Maddie with a shy smile as the boat headed out of the shelter of the bay into the open sea.
Epilogue
‘Champagne. There’s posh,’ said Jonathon, dumping his keys and phone on the dresser on the side, spotting the bottle sitting in the centre of the table next to a large white box.
‘And cake,’ said Nina proudly, tapping the box.
‘What are we celebrating?’ asked Dan, kissing Gail, already seated at the kitchen table shelling peas. He looked at Nina and Sebastian, who were standing next to the table.
Nina shook her head but took a quick peep at the engagement ring on her finger as Sebastian put his arm across her shoulders.
Maddie hid a smile; that was old news and she was as thrilled as the rest of the family that Sebastian had proposed earlier in the month.
Nick put his hands on her shoulders and she tensed slightly. Everyone had been so welcoming but she didn’t like being the centre of attention or the thought that she was stealing the limelight. ‘Maddie has got some news.’
Everyone instantly looked at Lynda Hadley, who smiled and shook her head. ‘No, I’m not going to be a grandmother. Now, sit down, I’m more than ready for a glass of fizz.’ She looked at the clock. ‘Just waiting for Dad to come in.’
‘Phew,’ said Jonathon, putting his arm around his wife’s shoulder. ‘I was worried that Nick had beaten us to it.’ Cath nudged him and gave a long-suffering what-are-you-like sigh.
‘God, you lot are so competitive,’ said Maddie, rolling her eyes. ‘Is it any wonder Nina lives in Paris? There’s too much testosterone in this family, some of the present company excepted.’
Nina laughed and linked her arm through Maddie’s. ‘Exactly.’
‘Don’t worry, doll. We’re glad to have you on the girls’ team,’ said Gail, getting up from her chair and pushing Nick out of the way, coming alongside Nina to give her a quick hug.
Maddie squeezed her hand. ‘Thanks, Gail.’
‘Hold on.’ Cath jumped up from her seat. ‘I’m not being left out of the girl team.’ She came up behind Maddie’s other shoulder and leaned forward to join in the group hug.
Maddie had been living with Nick on the farm for the last three months and felt as much a part of the family as her own family – actually, probably more. It was as if there’d been a Maddie-shaped hole waiting to be filled all this time. She adored Nick’s mum and got on well with all of his brothers and their partners and had a very soft spot for Nick’s dad, Ken, who was a man of few words but what he said always seemed to count. But it was always best when Nina and Sebastian came back for a weekend.
‘So what’s the news if no one is pregnant?’ asked Jonathon.
Nick looked at her. She drew in a deep breath. ‘I’ve been offered a …’ Suddenly she was too choked up to carry on. Nick squeezed her hand. ‘I …’ Tears blurred the expectant faces around her.
‘What she’s trying to say,’ said Nick, dropping a kiss on her temple, ‘is that my amazing girlfriend has been offered her very first exhibition at a prestigious gallery in Newcastle.’
‘Oh, Maddie, darling,’ said Mrs Hadley. ‘That’s wonderful news. You clever, clever girl.’
‘Ooh, will they include that picture you did with me in it – the one in the farm shop and all those OAPs from the tour bus?’ asked Gail.
‘Yes,’ replied Maddie, ‘and the one in The Queen’s Head, as well as the one at the livestock market.’ Maddie had found a wealth of inspiration within the warmth of the local community and this family. She’d worked in the local pub behind the bar at lunchtimes and several evenings a week to ensure she paid her way, but during the rest of the time she’d been working on her new style of paintings, which she’d entitled her ‘Fellside Neighbours’ series.
She’d developed her own distinctive style, which was definitely unique to her. A Maddie Wilcox Croatian beach neighbours picture had even graced the walls of a certain art establishment in London, although its sojourn in the sophisticated gallery had been remarkably brief. It had sold almost immediately, for over a thousand pounds.
‘They’ve agreed to take everything,’ Nick butted in proudly. ‘Everything she’s done since she’s been here and the Croatia pictures.’
‘Which reminds me …’ Nina jumped forward and opened the box on the table. ‘Ta-da!’
‘Oh, my, that’s brilliant,’ said Maddie, looking down at the top of the cake. ‘How did you do that?’
‘Nick got me a photo of the picture and I got it made into an edible cake-topper.’ Nina screwed up her face. ‘But I did make the cake.’
‘It looks fabulous,’ said Gail. ‘Is the colour of the sea really like that?’
‘Oh, yes,’ said Maddie, turning to smile at Nick.
‘It definitely is,’ he agreed, smiling back at her.
‘We are so going there on holiday, aren’t we, Dan?’ Gail poked her husband in the ribs.
‘Yes, my love.’
‘Well,’ said Nick, taking Maddie’s hand, ‘we can recommend the perfect place.’
She turned to him, her eyes shining. ‘We certainly can … Tajna bay … our secret cove in Croatia.’
Acknowledgements
I’ve so enjoyed writing this book. If you haven’t been to Croatia – go, go, go!
I adored the Dalmatian Islands I visited, sadly I really didn’t spend as much time as I’d have liked there (a year would have done) but I really hope that I’ve managed to bring the gorgeous scenery, the amazing blue of the oh so clear sea and the stunning historic towns to life.
It’s been so wonderful to hear from so many readers who’ve read the Romantic Escapes series and added some of the settings of my books to their travel wish lists – I’m sure Croatia will make the grade too. I am always grateful to everyone that takes the trouble to get in touch, leave a review or recommend me to a friend. Those things make a writer’s day so much brighter, especially when we’re sitting on our own staring at a laptop screen and listening to imaginary voices in our heads!
I owe a massive thank you to my former colleague Gordana. When I first mentioned I was going to visit her home country of Croatia and planned to set a book there, she couldn’t have been more helpful. Where would I have been without her initial fifteen-page email with recommendations, ferry times, car hire contacts, details of vineyards, olive oil co-operatives, secret beaches and so much more! I’ve shamelessly picked her brains over the last year an
d then repaid her by pinching all the names of her family to feature in the book.
Last but not least; my dear friend Donna Ashcroft, who plies me with Prosecco and pep talks on a regular basis, I’m surprised she’s not sick of me by now; my fabulous super agent, Broo, who should probably receive some kind of award, or a sainthood, for constant reassurance and support. I’m surprised she’s not sick of me either; and to the gorgeous Charlotte Ledger, my editor and publisher who always makes my books shine. Thank you ladies, I couldn’t do it without you.
About the Author
Julie Caplin is addicted to travel and good food. She’s on a constant hunt for the perfect gin and is obsessively picky about glasses, tonic and garnishes. Between regular gin tastings, she’s been writing her debut novel which is set in just one of the many cities she’s explored over the years.
Formerly a PR director, for many years she swanned around Europe taking top food and drink writers on press trips (junkets) sampling the gastronomic delights of various cities in Italy, France, Belgium, Spain, Copenhagen and Switzerland. It was a tough job but someone had to do it. These trips have provided the inspiration and settings for the trilogy, The Little Cafe in Copenhagen, The Little Brooklyn Bakery and The Little Paris Patisserie.
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About HarperImpulse
HarperImpulse is an innovative, award-winning digital imprint. In the five years since launch, we have continually hit digital bestseller lists, hosted the UK’s first online romance festival, published into over ten countries and grown an exciting stable of commercial women’s fiction authors.
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Writers, our vision is to publish the very best in digital-first commercial women’s fiction and we are simply looking for good stories! So, what are you waiting for? To submit, e-mail us at harperimpulse@harpercollins.co.uk.
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