A Surprise Christmas Wedding - Phillipa Ashley Page 0,94

Jay’s breath away when he stepped outside. It was still dark so he took a torch. The lights were on in the café, and a couple of the other cottages, as people got ready for work. Jay automatically glanced up at Lottie’s windows where the curtains were drawn, but lamplight glowed both up and downstairs. He pictured her having a hasty breakfast, ready for the busy day she had in store.

Trevor had left a deep trail of doggy prints in the snow that looked more like a bear had stumbled across the lawn. They led all around the rear of his and Lottie’s cottages.

‘Come on, Trevor,’ he said cheerfully. ‘Let’s go down to the lake for a change.’

Trevor romped towards the wicket gate in the hedge that led from the rear garden of his own cottage, and down to the lake pathway. He stood by the gate and barked before tearing back to the bird feeder.

‘Trevor!’ Jay called, as the dog wriggled through a gap in the low box hedge that separated his garden from Lottie’s. Jay spotted smaller prints in the snow. A squirrel had clearly visited in the hope of a feed and then tried Lottie’s own bird table.

‘Leave the squirrel alone, Trev. We don’t have time and he won’t appreciate you being friendly—’

Out of sight, Trevor’s barks became louder and more insistent.

‘Oh no. I hope you haven’t caught one …’ Jay stepped over the hedge into Lottie’s garden. A moment later he heard a man shouting and stopped dead.

‘Can you get him off me!’

Connor was pinned against Lottie’s back door by Trevor. ‘He’s like a wild beast!’ he screeched.

‘Trevor!’ Jay called. ‘Come here now!’

With a final sniff at Connor’s jeans, Trevor slunk back to Jay.

Connor glared at Trevor. ‘Thank feck for that.’ He took a tentative step away from the door. ‘I thought he was going to have me for breakfast.’

‘He wouldn’t have hurt you. He probably only looking out for Lottie, thinking you were an intruder,’ Jay said, as his mind went into overdrive: why would Connor be creeping out of Lottie’s house on the dawn of his wedding day. Or had he only just turned up?

Any rational explanation – apart from one – faded when Lottie emerged onto the porch, wearing only a dressing gown. ‘Connor,’ she said. ‘I told you to leave quietly.’

Her face fell when she saw him. ‘Jay … I didn’t expect to see you so early.’

‘I was taking Trev for a walk. It’s going to be a busy day.’ He directed this at Connor, who was smirking now he was safe. ‘I thought Trevor had scented a squirrel …’

‘No, it was Connor. He had to stay the night here because of the snow …’ Lottie said, clutching her dressing gown tighter. ‘I was going to find a way of getting him home. He turned up after midnight,’ Lottie added, an edge of desperation in her voice. She looked like she’d been awake all night to Jay, the shadows under her eyes contrasting with her pale face. She threw a desperate glance at Connor, as if wanting him to help her out.

‘I had a few too many drinks and ended up here,’ Connor said.

Lottie glared at him.

Jay was still in shock at seeing Connor emerge from Lottie’s cottage, so cocky and blasé. ‘It’s your business, but you won’t get out in your car,’ he said to her alone. No matter what had gone on between her and Connor, Jay could only think of keeping her safe.

‘I realise that now. Connor was going out to check how bad it was.’

‘If you really want to leave, I’ll give you a lift in the truck,’ Jay said to Connor.

‘Thanks, that would be a great idea, if you don’t mind,’ Lottie said, glowering at Connor, as if she was angry with him for being caught creeping out of the cottage. ‘And the sooner the better. Connor has to get ready for the wedding. I think we’re going to need more help with transport for the rest of the bridal party too, if you can.’

Jay hesitated. He didn’t give a monkey’s if Connor made it to his wedding or not. Privately, he thought Keegan was way better off without him, but that wasn’t his business. No matter how broken his trust in Lottie was, no matter what she and Connor might have been up to, he was still prepared to bust a gut to help her.

‘I’ll sort something out. Let me take Trevor for a quick run