Secrets at the Loch (Loch Lannick #5) - Hannah Ellis Page 0,88
“Where did you come from?”
“I’ve been to see Leana. What are you doing?”
“I thought you were ignoring me. My knuckles might be a bit bruised.” He glanced around to the road. “Can I come inside? I’m sure some guy walking past earlier was about to call the police on me.”
Lexie smiled as she unlocked the door. Neither of them said anything until they were in the living room, then they both spoke at once.
“Let me talk for a second,” Nick said, taking her hand as they sat on the couch together. “I’m sorry about last night.”
“You don’t have to apologise,” Lexie said, jumping in. “You had every right to be annoyed.”
“But I don’t care about anyone else. If you don’t want to tell people, it’s fine. We’ll keep it a secret forever. I just want to be with you.”
Lexie squeezed his hand. “I already told them.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I should have told them ages ago. It was stupid.”
“What did they say?”
“They’re happy about it.”
“I told you!” he said as his mouth twitched to a smile.
“I know.” Her features fell serious. “I kept telling myself that they’d say I wasn’t good enough for you, but I think really it’s me who thinks that.”
He screwed his face up. “What?”
“I look at Meghan and she’s sweet and kind and intelligent. Even I think that’s the sort of person you should be with. I’m worried that once the novelty wears off, you’ll think so too.”
“Except you are all of those things. I’m not sure how you don’t see that. That’s why I want to be with you.” He rolled his eyes. “Plus, sometimes Meghan can be annoyingly cheerful.”
“No one can accuse me of that,” she said lightly. “I’m sorry for being such a nightmare.”
“You’re not.”
“Liar,” she said, giving him a playful shove. “I promise it will all be plain sailing from here.”
“I highly doubt that.” Gently, he pushed her hair from her face and kissed her. “Are you hungry?”
“Starving. Are you going to make me breakfast?”
“What do you want?”
“Pancakes?” she asked sheepishly.
He chuckled. “No. Pick something else.”
“Did I ruin pancakes?”
“Yes.”
“How about if I make them?”
He looked thoughtful.
Lexie leaned into him. “How about I make them at your place? Then there’s no chance of me kicking you out! And your place is nicer.”
“Go on then,” he said, standing when she pulled him up.
Everything was still when they stepped outside. The breeze was chilly but the sky over the loch was a striking shade of blue.
“We could have breakfast on the deck,” Nick suggested. “The otter’s been playing around on the rocks this morning.”
“If we eat pancakes on the deck we’re going to get overrun by seagulls.” Her face cracked into a wide smile.
“What’s so funny?” he asked.
“Nothing. I just meant to say yellow-legged gulls. We’ll be overrun by yellow-legged gulls!”
He laughed. “It feels like you’re teasing me. And you can just call them gulls if you want to be correct.”
“I think I’ll keep calling them seagulls if that’s okay with you?” She pulled on his arm and they stopped on the pavement outside of his house.
“It’s fine with me,” he said, amused.
“I’d also like to spend today educating you on action films.”
He snaked his arms around her waist. “You’re trying to change me already?”
“Not change you.” She beamed and draped her arms around his shoulders. “Just educate you. I think you need to learn about the other kind of wolverine.”
“I suppose one action film won’t hurt.” He made to move inside but Lexie tightened her grip on him.
“You know I wouldn’t want you to change, don’t you?”
“I was joking.”
“I know, but last night you said I was embarrassed by you. And I’m not.” She caught the flash of vulnerability in his eyes and leaned closer to kiss him. “I could never be embarrassed to be with you.”
Nick’s eyes sparkled. “That feels like a challenge. I might spend the rest of my life trying to embarrass you.”
Trailing her fingers across his neck, she felt ridiculously happy. She looked at him seriously. “I’d really like that.”
Don’t miss the next book in the Loch Lannick series…
Surprises at the Loch (Book 6)
The best moments are the ones we don’t see coming . . .
Isla is perfectly content with her solid, stable relationship with Logan. But when they challenge each other to inject spontaneity into their relationship things quickly get out of hand.
Soon, Logan is determined to find the ultimate romantic gesture. Can he truly surprise Isla when she knows him so well?
Lexie is enjoying being in a steady relationship with Nick. But organising a birthday surprise for him at the same time as taking on more responsibilities at work hardly leaves her time for anything else. When the birthday plans don’t go as expected, Lexie finds herself evaluating both her relationship and her career.
And she’s more surprised than anyone by the conclusion.
Available here: https://mybook.to/SurprisesAtTheLoch
Also by Hannah Ellis
The Cottage at Hope Cove (Hope Cove book 1)
Escape to Oakbrook Farm (Hope Cove book 2)
Summer at The Old Boathouse (Hope Cove book 3)
Whispers at the Bluebell Inn (Hope Cove book 4)
The House on Lavender Lane (Hope Cove book 5)
The Bookshop of Hopes and Dreams (Hope Cove book 6)
Always With You
Friends Like These
Christmas with Friends (Friends Like These book 2)
My Kind of Perfect (Friends Like These book 3)
A Friend in Need (Friends Like These book 4)
Beyond the Lens (Lucy Mitchell book 1)
Beneath These Stars (Lucy Mitchell book 2)
Coming Home to the Loch (Loch Lannick book 1)
The Castle by the Loch (Loch Lannick book 2)
Fireworks over the Loch (Loch Lannick book 3)
The Cafe at the Loch (Loch Lannick book 4)
Surprises at the Loch (Loch Lannick book 6)
All of Hannah’s books can be found here:
Hannah has also written a series of children’s books aimed at 5-9 year olds under the pen name, Hannah Sparks. You can find the first book in that series here: https://mybook.to/WhereDragonsFly
About the Author
When she’s not writing, Hannah loves to read and spend time with her family. She goes jogging regularly and practices yoga.
Hannah resides in the beautiful city of Munich. She can also be found online at the following places…
Twitter: @BooksEllis
Facebook: @authorhannahellis
Instagram: @authorhannahellis
Website: www.authorhannahellis.com
Feel free to contact Hannah at any of the above or email her at this address: [email protected]
If you would like to receive email updates from Hannah you can sign up for her newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/dB3fHH
Hannah has also written a series of children’s books for 5-9 year olds under the pen name, Hannah Sparks. Details of those books can be found on her website or on Amazon via this link:
https://mybook.to/WhereDragonsFly