Chapter 24
‘Fancy seeing you here,’ Bella said, her gaze sweeping over Eliza’s rumpled clothes. ‘Let me guess – Luke’s cabin to Stanley’s in one convenient morning-after trip?’
‘Not that it’s any of your business Bella, but no.’ Of all the people in Farmington to run into, of course it had to be her.
‘Don’t tell me you’re still pissed off that we slept together, Eliza. What woman wouldn’t try and get their wicked way with him given half a chance.’
‘Oh, for God’s sake, Bella, can’t you just grow up?’ Eliza muttered. She needed caffeine before dealing with this. ‘Not everything is about Luke.’
Bella’s perfectly arched eyebrow rose. ‘Are you sure? You’ve barely been gone a week and you’re back already.’ Bella sighed and then smiled at her. ‘Oh, please, Eliza. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. It’s different than how he ever looked at me. That man loves you, any fool can see that.’
Just then Fenella appeared from behind the counter, her face lighting up. ‘Eliza! You’re back!’ She rushed forward, pulling her into a tight hug that smelled of coffee and cinnamon. ‘I’ve been dying to thank you for the wedding – it was beyond perfect!’
‘It was my pleasure,’ Eliza said, hugging her back.
‘Honestly, you disappeared before I could properly thank you. Everyone’s still talking about how amazing it was.’ Fenella pulled back, her eyes bright. ‘Are you staying? Please tell me you’re staying.’
‘Sorry, I’m just passing through today,’ Eliza replied, feeling a pang of guilt. ‘And I’m sorry I disappeared, it was unprofessional of me.’
‘Oh, please, don’t worry about it!’ Fenella waved her hand dismissively. ‘Whatever happened between you and my brother is your business. Though I must say, he’s been absolutely miserable without you.’
Bella leaned closer. ‘She’s right. He’s been impossible since you left. The man’s clearly besotted.’
Bella looked at Eliza with unexpected sincerity in her eyes.
‘Listen, I know we’ve had our differences.
But I’m trying to make changes in my life, starting with honesty.
So don’t make the same mistake I did, Eliza.
Holding on to the past only hurts everyone.
’ She glanced toward the door. ‘I should go.’
Before Eliza could respond, Bella was gone, leaving her standing there with Fenella.
‘One flat white, extra shot, just how you like it,’ Fenella said. ‘On the house as I’m standing in for the day!’
‘So.’ Fenella leaned forward, her eyes wide with curiosity. ‘What brings you back so soon? I thought you’d be in London for a while.’
‘I’m actually working on a wedding,’ Eliza said, taking a sip of the perfect coffee, ‘at Jean Pierre’s vineyard. So, I’ll be back and forth for the next few weeks.’
‘Another wedding already? Anyone I know?’ asked Fenella.
‘It’s all a bit top secret,’ Eliza replied, ‘but it’s really exciting. I also wanted to come by and see Luke, try and clear the air. Do you think what Bella said is true, Fenella, about Luke?’
Fenella glanced over her shoulder to ensure they were alone. ‘I think my brother is absolutely crazy about you, Eliza. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him like this. He’s been stomping around like a moody teenager since you left.’
Eliza’s heart did the fluttery thing. ‘I don’t know, Fenella. It’s complicated.’
‘Oh, come on, Eliza, when isn’t it complicated?’ Fenella smiled knowingly. ‘Look, I’m not trying to meddle—’
‘Yes, you bloody are!’ Eliza said smiling.
‘Okay, fine, I totally am.’ Fenella laughed. ‘But only because I care about you both. Luke deserves to be happy, and so do you.’
The bell above the door jingled, and Eliza turned to see Luke walk in. Surprise flickered across his face when he saw her, before a smile replaced it.
‘So much for needing to head off,’ he said, coming over to the counter. ‘Seems you couldn’t resist Stanley’s coffee after all . . .’
Eliza could feel herself turn beetroot red and her heart flip-flop in her chest. ‘I figured I might as well fuel up before heading to the vineyard. Seems a bit early for wine.’
Fenella looked from one to the other, barely able to conceal her delight.
‘Right,’ Fenella said, ‘I’ll just leave you two to chat. I need to check on something in the back.’
She disappeared through the swinging doors to the kitchen with such obvious intent that Eliza found it hard not to giggle.
‘So,’ Luke said, sliding onto the stool next to her. ‘What time is your meeting?’
Eliza checked her watch. ‘Oh, not for another hour or so. I just wanted to check the space again before finalising the layout.’
Luke nodded. ‘I could drive you there if you want. Save you getting lost on those back roads.’
‘Or we could just head back to the cabin, I guess,’ said Eliza, steeling herself, ‘you know, as we have an hour to fill.’
‘Are you propositioning me, Eliza Fox?’ His voice had dropped lower, to that familiar roughness that made Eliza’s stomach flip.
‘Maybe,’ she said, feeling a sudden surge of confidence. ‘I mean, it would be a shame to waste so much precious time don’t you think?’
He was already standing, fishing car keys from his pocket, and reaching for her hand. ‘I couldn’t agree more. Shall we?’
The drive to the cabin was silent, charged with sexual chemistry that made Eliza feel she might burst. She watched the now familiar landscape of Farmington blur past, wondering if she’d completely lost her mind.
But when Luke’s hand brushed her thigh as he shifted the gears, she decided she knew exactly what she was doing.
The cabin door had barely closed behind them when Luke’s mouth was on hers, his kiss hungry and desperate. Eliza melted against him, her body remembering exactly how good a match they were. Her fingers were tangled in his hair as he backed her against the wall, his hands sliding beneath her shirt.
‘I thought you needed space,’ he murmured against her neck, his breath hot on her skin.
‘Oh, shut up, Luke,’ Eliza gasped, tugging his T-shirt over his head.
Their clothes fell away in a frantic rush, and when Luke lifted her, wrapping her legs around his waist, Eliza knew with absolute certainty that this was where she wanted to be. Not London, not anywhere else. Right here, with Luke’s hands on her body and his name on her lips.
‘I honestly thought I’d lost you, when you disappeared from the wedding. I thought that was it.’
‘I’m sorry,’ she whispered, her fingers threading through his hair, drawing him closer. ‘I panicked. I have a tendency to do that.’
Luke pulled back just enough to look into her eyes, his hands framing her face. ‘Well, we’ll have to work on that.’
In the warmth of the cabin, with the world waking up around them, everything felt so much simpler than earlier. There was no complicated village politics – just Luke and the way he made her feel. Happy.
His hands moved to the buttons on her shirt, his questioning look giving her the chance to stop. But Eliza had no intention of stopping, instead she ripped her shirt off over her head.
‘I’ve missed you,’ he admitted, his voice husky as his fingers traced the lace edge of her bra.
‘Show me how much,’ she whispered into his ear.
He groaned. ‘Even though it’s only been just over a week, it’s felt like forever.’
Eliza shivered under his touch. ‘Luke the lothario – you have all the lines, don’t you?’ She smiled. ‘I missed you, too. I tried not to, but I couldn’t help myself.’
Luke smiled, that devastating smile that, amongst other things, had first caught her attention at the river. ‘You’re terrible at following your own rules, you know that?’
‘Shut up and kiss me,’ she whispered, and he happily obliged.
Their bodies were completely intertwined as they stumbled towards the staircase, unwilling to break contact even to navigate the steps. Luke’s hands were everywhere, leaving a trail of fire across her skin as they fumbled their way upstairs.
‘Careful,’ he murmured against her lips when she nearly missed a step. ‘I’ve waited too long to have you back in my bed to have you break your leg on the stairs.’
‘So romantic,’ Eliza laughed, her breath catching as his fingers deftly unhooked her bra.
‘Wait,’ Luke breathed against her shoulder as they reached the landing. ‘Are you sure about this? If you’re going to disappear again tomorrow morning . . .’
Eliza placed her finger against his lips. ‘I’m not going anywhere,’ she whispered. ‘Not tonight, and not tomorrow morning.’
The conviction in her voice surprised even her, but she meant it. The rational part of her brain that usually overthought everything had gone quiet, and she wondered whether it was finally being silenced by the certainty and safety she felt lying in his arms.
They left a trail of clothes from the door to his bedroom, stumbling and laughing between kisses. When they finally reached the bed, Eliza pulled him down onto her, their bodies finding each other with urgent familiarity.
Later, as they lay tangled in his sheets, Eliza rested her head on his chest. She traced lazy patterns across his chest with her finger. ‘So, this is it, then, the first day of the rest of our lives . . .’
Luke chuckled. ‘Is that what this is?’
‘I don’t know,’ Eliza admitted, propping herself up on her elbow to look at him. ‘I just thought I’d say it and see how it felt. You have me in a moment of post-coital joy!’ She started laughing.
Luke pulled her closer into him, letting her head rest against his chest where she could hear the steady beat of his heart. ‘You know, there’s something so wonderfully chaotic about you, Eliza. I think I could get used to it.’
‘Nancy will be insufferable when I tell her she was right; she practically shoved me into the car. She says I’m afraid of being happy,’ Eliza murmured against his skin. ‘That I sabotage things when they start to feel too real.’
She felt him pause, breath in and out, before he continued, ‘Are you? Afraid of being happy?’
Eliza considered the question for a few moments. ‘I don’t know. Maybe I’ve just never known what real happiness feels like until now – like this – with you. I feel like I can breathe. Like I don’t have to pretend to be someone else. Like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.’
‘You know, for someone who claims to be afraid of happiness, you seem to be handling it rather well,’ said Luke.
Eliza laughed, the sound bubbling up from somewhere deep inside her. ‘Give me time. I’m sure I’ll find a way to complicate things.’
‘I’m counting on it,’ Luke replied with a grin.