Page 126 of A Recipe for Love
‘That’s not what it’s called.’
He raised an eyebrow. ‘Not any of those things. Us?’
The two of them. Together. Not a passing romance. Not the next stop on the adventure. A team for good or ill for as long as they had. Bella nodded. ‘Us.’
Finally she did close the space between them, wriggling and half crawling across the seats to press her lips to his. Bella’s safe harbour was here, where it had always been, with Adam.
They stayed like that for a long time, gearstick digging into her thigh, shoulder pressed up against the steering wheel, before Bella finally pulled away. ‘So we’re going back to Lowbridge? Together?’
‘If you want to.’
Absolutely she wanted to. ‘All those things I planned. I want to make them work.’
‘OK.’
She grinned. ‘But mostly, I want to marry you. If you’ll still have me. Do you still want to be my husband?’
‘Yes, Bella Smith. I would like that very much, so long as you promise that I never have to look at an account book again.’
‘Deal.’
She bent her head for another kiss, and then paused. ‘So are we going to need to hire an administrator or something?’
He laughed. ‘Apparently Darcy is an admin wizard, and is pretty much chomping at the bit to take over the accounts.’
‘Like Veronica would ever let that happen.’
Adam laughed again, a proper rumbling chuckle that went all the way through his body. ‘Actually, that’s something else I need to tell you about.’
Epilogue
The grassy bank that led down to the Low Bridge was bustling with visitors and locals alike. Bella scanned the scene. People were milling around, chatting and sampling the drinks and canapés that Flinty had strong-armed Molly and Katy into handing out in freshly pressed black skirts and white blouses. Dipper was lolloping between the groups of guests, helpfully hoovering up any crumbs that were dropped. Claire and Cath had appointed themselves unofficial cookery school ambassadors and were singing Bella’s praises to anyone who would listen. Anna and Nina were overseeing proceedings with an attitude somewhere between proud mother hens and imperious sergeant majors. Darcy was charming the pants off a rather mousey looking man from the local tourist board, who seemed thoroughly delighted to be talking to the actual lady of the manor. Everyone, it seemed, was in their element.
Bella stopped in front of the new wooden sign they’d erected at the entrance to the castle. Netty was already admiring it. ‘The artwork you did looks amazing,’ Bella told her.
‘Happy to help.’ Netty smiled as she went off to refill her glass.
‘I heard her!’
‘What?’ Bella felt a touch in the small of her back, accompanied by a waft of familiar aftershave.
‘Netty talked to me, and I understood.’
Adam looked blank. ‘OK,’ he nodded slowly. ‘And that’s exciting because…?’
‘It’s just I can never normally.’ She shook her head. Bella didn’t need to explain. It was enough that it had happened and she knew. She looked around the gathered friends. ‘It’s going OK?’ she asked.
‘It’s going brilliantly. Those little pastry things are amazing.’ Adam leaned in and kissed the nape of her neck.
‘No snogging. Your grandma’s on her way over.’
‘As is yours.’
The two women hadn’t exactly seen eye to eye since Nan’s arrival, but Bella was overjoyed to have her here for their big moment. She pulled her into a hug. ‘Thank you for coming. Are you having a good time?’
‘I’m having a great time. That Iain fellow with the very red face wants to take me out on his boat and show me his salmon farm.’ She turned to Adam. ‘I’m assuming that’s some sort of posh Scottish euphemism.’
Adam shook his head. ‘That’s Sir Iain Macwillis, and I think he has an actual salmon farm. More than one probably.’
