Love at the Little Wedding Shop by the Sea - Jane Linfoot Page 0,128
you’ve done today, you two are due some down time, so we’ll be sorting out any problems from now on.’ She bends and breathes into my ear. ‘When we replaced the condoms in the emergency basket, I dropped a few in your bathroom, just in case.’
My eyes go wide as I hiss back at her. ‘Why would you do that?’
Her low voice is full of laughter. ‘However determined you are to keep your hands off the sizzling space captain, it might be the ideal opportunity … to cross the bridge properly this time.’
‘Absolutely not – but thanks for thinking of me.’
She laughs. ‘You’re welcome.’ She gives me a wink. ‘Thank me again tomorrow if they come in handy.’
Nic stands up, and a moment later he’s back with a tray of full glasses. He hands them to me, Poppy, and Immie and takes the last himself. ‘There you go, Milla Vanilla. You can allow yourself a glass of fizz now.’
‘Cheers.’ Poppy and Immie are staring at me as I take my first sip.
Poppy smiles. ‘You’ve come so far since Valentine’s Day, Mills. We’re all very proud of you.’
Immie’s waving her glass at me too. ‘Brides Go Wild is already big – by next year it’s going to be huge.’
Poppy’s brow wrinkles. ‘What we’re saying is, you have to tell us you’re staying on with us in St Aidan.’
Nic’s looking at me like I’m his protégée, not the other way around. ‘She’s just promised me that she will.’
As I sip the fizz, the bubbles are pricking my nose. ‘I can’t actually think of being anywhere else now.’ I really should be thinking of my lunchtime walks along the high-tide mark with its tangles of driftwood and pebbles and cockle shells. Falling asleep to the rush of the surf, waking to the view from the tiny porthole in the bedroom, of the sun sparkling off the water. The clatter of Poppy baking in the kitchen, the buzz of the wedding shop down below. But for now, the clearest image in my mind is the outline of Snow Goose’s rigging against the sky at sunset. I push that out of my head and smile. ‘It’s all thanks to you two and all the friends who’ve helped me.’
This time Immie pulls me into a hug and Poppy follows. ‘No arguments. You’re on Team St Aidan with us now.’
As Don’t Worry, Be Happy drifts out of the speakers, Nic catches my eye. ‘Not wanting to break up the friend-fest, but this is our cue – three minutes, and we’re on.’
I’m frowning across at the dance area. ‘This was never on my mum’s list. It’s too wet – look, everyone else thinks so too, they’re all leaving and heading for the horse-box bar.’
He gives a low laugh. ‘All part of my plan. Wouldn’t you rather dance when it’s not too crowded?’
Then he passes my glass to Poppy and takes my hand, and, as I hurry behind him, a moon that’s almost full slides out from behind a cloud and covers the garden in silver light that makes me shiver.
Chapter 36
Even later on Thursday.
On the dance floor at Cockle Shell Castle.
The last dance.
As I stand facing Nic on an almost empty dance floor, the last track fades and there’s a beat of silence. Then, as a few slow tinkling piano notes and some slow humming spreads across the terrace, he pulls me towards him. As I let myself lean in, the warmth of his body is radiating against my skin.
His voice is low in my ear. ‘I hope Ellie Goulding is okay?’
I listen as the lyrics hang in the air. How long will I love you? As long as stars are above you – longer if I can …
As the sound echoes back off the walls of the castle there’s something about the haunting tone of her voice, the stark simplicity of the words, that somehow wraps up all the emotion of the day. And here I am with a few minutes to legitimately run my hands over the man I’ve been aching to have permission to touch for months. And then as the words sink into my head, it hits me why it’s all been so very hard. What I’m feeling isn’t mistaken. It isn’t fake, it’s actually real. What began as a tingle as he took my hand is building to a tidal surge, rushing through my entire body. That feeling isn’t just crazy, uncontrolled lust – it’s love. This is the man I’ve loved for