Page 30 of The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop

Alfie slunk back to the relative safety of the kitchen at that point.

‘I might just do that,’ Max retorted. But still he stood there.

Emma was frozen to the spot too, her face paling, the anger subsiding. Both of them afraid that he might really walk out at that point.

Max’s features softened, his words said more gently now, ‘I might just go and get some air. I’ll take Alfie …’ That way, they both knew he’d have to come back.

‘Okay. That sounds a good idea.’ Her voice was still curt, but there was a sense of relief between them.

Maybe a cooling-off time was just what they both needed.

Emma watched Max leave from the back courtyard and felt her heart sink. What the hell had just happened there?

Seeing him walk out of her door had made her realise how much she’d hate it if it ever happened for good. Thank heavens Alfie was there, trotting along beside him. He’d be back … he’d have to, this time.

She ran upstairs to the lounge and stood looking out of the window down the street, hoping to catch sight of them once more. She felt a bit queasy. She hated arguments at the best of times. Then she spotted the back of Max’s tall, broad figure next to her brown-and-white spaniel. They were heading down towards the harbour, to the beach, no doubt. They didn’t turn to look back at the shop, or her.

Was it just jealousy on his part? Most likely. But, what if he really believed she’d been messing about? That something had already happened between her and Nate? She realised what it must have looked like for Max walking in to find Nate half-naked like that. But really, talk about jumping to bloody conclusions. She hadn’t even been in the flat at the time!

Ah, love – it swirled up your emotions like a damned whirlpool at times. Her battered heart was still getting a bashing. Was it really worth all the effort?

Oh, Luke why did you have to go and get killed? It would have been so much simpler if they could have carried on, had their wedding dreams come true, the life they’d thought they’d have together. When she didn’t know that love could be a double-edged sword.

But as she watched Max’s figure getting smaller in the distance, she felt such a pang of hurt and longing. A stark reminder that she wasn’t ready to lose her new love for the sake of a misunderstanding.

She slumped down on the sofa, suddenly feeling exhausted, the angry emotions of their argument receding, leaving her feeling raw, vulnerable. She sighed, closed her eyes, and sat quietly for a minute or two. But this was no good, moping about like this, there were chocolates to make, her shop to keep going. She’d be better keeping busy anyhow; switch her mind to something more productive.

As she started pouring chocolate callets into the tempering machine, her mind couldn’t help but drift back to the row with Max. It was so early in their relationship that it felt like they were on Bambi legs still. Could they pull through a blip like this? She knew she wouldn’t relax until he came back, but she pushed on, getting the Baileys and cream measured out ready for the white chocolate-dipped truffles she was about to make.

And here she was back in the Chocolate Shop, with Max’s words that it ‘took all her time’ now ringing in her ears. Okay, so she did work six-and-a-half-day weeks, with early mornings and late nights. But she had to do that to make sure the business survived, didn’t she? Or, was it more her own survival technique, she wondered, a way of cutting off from the world … the world that could hurt you.

Max knocked at the back door before coming in this time. Emma had heard the back gate go just before and felt her heart rate quicken.

She swiftly rinsed her hands and wiped them on a towel, then headed for the back hallway. Max opened the door tentatively, Alfie already barging his way in.

‘Hey.’ Max stood there looking unsure of himself.

‘Hi,’ Em replied cautiously.

There was a second or two of silence, when they both seemed hesitant.

‘Look, I’m sorry …’ Max started. He was standing there with Alfie, both with a hang-dog expression.

She looked into Max’s lovely green eyes.

‘It was just such a bloody shock,’ he continued. ‘Walking in, seeing another guy here like that. Coming out of your bathroom … it just killed me, you know and I jumped to conclusions. I’m sorry … Look, I know he’s Luke’s brother, but he just seems the sort who drifts about from what you’ve said. He won’t be around for long, Em, and I don’t want you to get hurt or used or anything.’

‘You did overreact, but I kind of understand why you did. I’m just getting to know him again, Max, as a friend, that’s it.’ She emphasised the word. ‘I feel like I owe it to Luke to look out for his kid brother.’

‘Yeah, I get it. Like I say, I’m sorry.’

‘If this is going to work, Max, we need to start trusting each other.’ She held his gaze. At this moment, she so wanted this to work.

‘Of course.’

‘And while you were out walking, I’ve been thinking things over. Some of what you said rang true. I realise that we need to somehow, in our busy, hectic working lives, make more time for each other too.’

‘Yeah, I know it’s been harder recently. But once this Leeds job is completed, and I’m back working closer to home again, it’ll be a lot easier.’