Page 57 of The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop

‘And you’re sure you’re all right?’

‘Abso-blooody-lutely!’ Then she felt a bit of a spin going on. ‘Ooh, do you have some water, Nate?’

‘Yep, no worries. There’s some bottled water in the van.’

They had nearly reached the camper van, anyhow.

‘Right.’ Nate unlocked the side door of the unit. ‘You may as well sit in a minute, while I find you a bottle. I bought some at the supermarket earlier.’ He rummaged in a cupboard under the sink, whilst Em perched herself on the sleeper bench. ‘Here.’ He’d found a large plastic water bottle and poured some out into a glass for her.

She took a long sip, still feeling a little woozy. Nate sat down beside her, his hip touching hers, leg to leg. It was a pretty small space. The door of the van had been left open.

‘I still miss him.’ The words came out before Emma knew she had been thinking them.

‘Yeah, me too. Every day.’

They didn’t need to say who.

Nate’s arm drifted around her again. There were a few seconds of silence. Then Emma turned to look at Nathan. Their eyes met, held each other’s. She could see the glisten of a tear in his.

She didn’t know who moved first, but suddenly there were lips pressed against hers. She didn’t stop it, responding gently. Oh God … That smell of his aftershave. The touch of his lips. She’d missed him so much … so much.

She opened her eyes and it was Nathan there. Nathan. The past tangling with the present. She was surprised, yes, and she tried to fathom how she felt … It was okay, nice, her emotions over seeing Luke’s brother again, the confusion and heartache of the past few weeks, the disappointment about the shop, finding an outlet at last.

It was a good kiss, tender, with a hint of passion.

But it didn’t feel like Luke’s kiss … This wasn’t Luke. Luke was never coming back. And it didn’t feel like Max’s kiss. God yes, she and Max had shared their first kiss here in this car park, that day when they’d first met. She felt a prickle of guilt.

And then a realisation. Kissing Nate didn’t make her toes curl.

What on earth was she doing?

Holly and Adam made their way up the track from the beach. They’d taken a stroll along the sands in the dark after leaving the others, wanting to make the most of some extra time just to be together. They were both aware that the summer would pass all too soon, and the time would come when Holly would take up her university place and have to leave Warkton-by-the-Sea.

They were walking hand in hand as they reached the car park.

They saw the camper van with its side door open, the light on inside. They spotted Nate in there and then, Emma – her wavy red locks apparent even though she was facing the other way.

In fact … Holly stopped walking and took a closer look. Yes, it was definitely Emma and she was facing Nate. Kissing him.

29

What the hell had she done?

The next morning Emma woke with a head that felt like it had been used as a rugby ball and the most horrid hangover, and yet she remembered last night’s incident all too well. There had definitely been Nate … and a kiss involved. Bugger. That was before she’d asked him to walk her home and left him politely on her back doorstep. She felt terribly sick, probably the dregs of alcohol kicking around in her system, but also the awful realisation of what had happened. She thought about Luke. Oh God, she’d gone and kissed his brother! What was she thinking of? And then Max, gorgeous Max. Yes, it had been a bit tricky with work lately, but he was a great guy, and now she’d gone and kissed someone else, in a moment of bloody madness.

It was a mistake. Just a mistake. We all make mistakes. She tried to put it into perspective. But it had happened – and she couldn’t change that.

It hurt to open her eyes, but she needed to check what time it was. She squinted at her wristwatch: ten past ten. Oh my, she ought to get up soon. The thought stayed a thought, however; there was no subsequent action. Her whole body felt like she’d been kicked by a donkey.

Alfie must have heard her stirring and came through to her room. He stood patiently beside the bed and nuzzled his nose to her hand that lay on top of the covers. Emma gave him a gentle pat.

‘Oh Alfie, what have I done?’ she groaned. She’d need to let the dog out. Face the day. Get ready to open The Chocolate Shop at noon. But she’d just take five more minutes … just five, yes.

She woke up over half an hour later; Alfie had snuck up on top of the covers, which he was rarely allowed to do, and had curled up beside her.

There was also a missed call on her mobile, which was on the bedside table. Max. She groaned loudly. That was one call back she wasn’t ready to make just now.

With a thumping head and a heavy heart, Emma took Alfie out for a short walk down to the harbour and back, then she forced herself into the kitchen and set about making some chocolate bars to replenish the shop’s supplies. They were fairly straightforward to make, she just needed to melt the chocolate and add a touch of flavouring – Grand Marnier orange and then mint options this time. She found her rectangular moulds and set them out on the countertop. Yes, she thought she could manage to make these even with a headache. She could work on autopilot.