The Chocolate Lovers’ Wedding by Carole Matthews Read Free Book Online

she said, and it sounded a lame excuse even to her own ears.
‘It will be Easter soon,’ he countered. ‘They must give you some time off from that dreadful call centre. They don’t chain you there twenty-four seven.’
She laughed at that. ‘They do!’
‘And Lewis will be off school. So will Seth and Lily,’ he added smoothly, ignoring her protests. ‘I’ll take some time away from the farm to show you around. Come and stay with us for a week. More if you want to. There’s really no reason not to. Unless you don’t want to.’
‘It’s not that. Of course it isn’t.’
‘Then why the hesitation?’
‘I’m frightened,’ she admitted. ‘It was all so lovely at Christmas. We got on brilliantly. What if we can’t recreate that?’
‘Come,’ he said, suddenly serious. ‘We need to see if we can make this work. You can jump on the train. I’ll send you the money.’
‘It’s not the money.’
‘Then come. Are we really going to spend the rest of our lives doing nothing more than calling each other every night?’
‘It sounds like a good proposition to me,’ she teased. Yet she knew in her heart that there was some truth in her words.
‘Not to me,’ James said. ‘I want to see you again. I want to hold you, Nadia.’
Her mouth went dry.
‘I want to show you my world, because I think you’ll like it very much.’
‘That’s partly what I’m scared of.’
James laughed softly. ‘What’s the worst that could happen?’
They could fall in love and that would turn her world upside down. Or she could stay here, call it a day and never know what she might have missed.
When she didn’t answer, he said, ‘We could see if we have a future together. After all that we’ve been through, don’t you think we owe ourselves that?’
She imagined him striding over the open fells, sheepdog at his heels, and glanced out at her rather scruffy garden that was the size of a postage stamp. What would it mean if she went up there and still liked what she saw?
‘I’ll think about it,’ she said. ‘I promise.’ Her stomach gripped with anxiety even saying it.
‘Don’t think too hard,’ he said. ‘Or you’ll talk yourself out of it. Just do it. Book your ticket.’
If she dithered for too long, James would move on. She knew that. Perhaps the odds were stacked against this relationship working, but wasn’t it worth giving it a try?

Chapter Eight
    I put on a long dark wig with a blunt-cut fringe and, despite the grey day, add mirrored aviator shades. I’ve also bought a dark trench coat from one of the vintage second-hand shops on Camden High Street to complete my disguise. Perfect. No one will ever know me now.
    I’m going undercover, visiting Chocolate Heaven to get a handle on exactly what’s happening. I jump on the Tube, sweltering in my big coat after the walk up there. The wig is nylon and my head itches. Perhaps I could have done with a more lightweight, yet equally cunning disguise.
    When I arrive at Chocolate Heaven, hot and bothered, I stand across the street from my spiritual home and gaze longingly at its window. The display is rubbish. Totally rubbish. It makes me grind my teeth in frustration. What is this new manager thinking of? I always made sure that there were gorgeous cakes and chocolates on show to tempt in the customers. Now there’s nothing remotely enticing there at all. It looks very neglected, but it would take me five minutes to sort it out.
    My heart squeezes with longing. Oh, I do miss it. I haven’t even walked past here since Marcus took over running the business. I couldn’t bring myself to. Now he wants me back and I need to know why.
    I turn the door handle and the bell tings my arrival. There are hardly any tables occupied – a couple sit at the one in the window; two guys are stretched out on the sofas that were the favourite and daily haunts of the Chocolate Lovers’ Club. Only a short while ago, particularly in the run up to Christmas, you could hardly move in