Page 105 of The Secret Christmas Bookshop
‘No,’ she said, her smile fading. ‘But if it’s anywhere near as glad as I am that I decided to stay, and that you hadn’t given up on me, then I’m guessing it’sprettyglad.’
‘Monumentally glad,’ Harry murmured. ‘I can’t believe you’re here.’
‘I’m right in front of you,’ Sophie whispered, and then he was kissing her, his arms wrapped tightly around her, bringing them as close as possible while the sun rose higher in the sky, and a thick bank of peach-hued clouds chased it down. She slid her hands around his neck and threaded her fingers through his hair, letting the last slivers of uncertainty melt away. His kiss claimed her, rewarded her, told her he was confident that she was here for good, and that they belonged together.
He pulled back, glancing in the direction of the manor. ‘We should go. I promised May I’d make pancakes for breakfast.’
Sophie’s breath hitched, her heart pounding for an entirely new reason. ‘Bacon and maple syrup?’
‘You can have whatever toppings you want. Are you staying all day?’ He lifted Clifton over the fence, settling him gently on the other side, then held his hand out for Sophie. She passed himJane Eyre, then put her hand in his.
‘I would love to stay, if you’ll have me.’
His eyes were soft, his smile gentle when he said, ‘Always.’ He squeezed her hand. ‘Come on, you can use this as leverage.’ He put his boot on the bottom line of wire, and Sophie put her foot on his, then hesitated.
‘How’s your shoulder?’ she asked.
‘Better. I promise.’
‘OK.’ She used his weight to spring herself up and over. ‘How will you get over?’
‘Like I did on the way here,’ he said. ‘Very carefully.’ He grinned, then gingerly stepped over the fence, the barbed wire catching on the inside of his denim-clad thighs. With her gloved hands, Sophie prised him off.
‘Why didn’t you come through the village to my flat?’ she asked, taking his hand again as they started walking.
Harry huffed out a breath. ‘I didn’t want to wake the dogs or Felix, and they were asleep in the hall because it was so cold I left the fire going last night. I came out of the side door and then, well, I was on the right side of the estate, and the sun was rising, and it looked so peaceful, so I thought I’d go along the cliff path. You were coming to see me too?’
Sophie nodded. ‘I wanted to come this way. It made me think of that day we met on the path, and that gave me a bit of confidence that you wouldn’t turn me away.’
He tightened his grip on her fingers. ‘I wouldn’t have. Not ever. What made you change your mind? You said you spoke to some people.’
Sophie laughed. ‘I did. I spoke to Fiona, who didn’t hold back; May, who apologized and told me why she’d done it. Jazz, who gave me both barrels.’
‘Three strong women, changing the mind of a fourth.’
‘No.’ Sophie shook her head. ‘They had things to say to me – things that made a whole lot of sense – but you were the one who changed my mind.’
‘Me?’
Sophie’s throat tightened, and she had to clear it so she could continue. ‘I realized that I loved you, I trusted you. I didn’t want to live my life without you.’
Harry stopped, bringing her to a halt, too. ‘This is real, isn’t it?’ His laugh was low and rumbly and perfect. ‘It’s like something out of a book.’
She smiled up at him, happiness flooding through her. ‘I want a book-worthy kiss then, please.’
‘Happy to oblige.’ He lifted her off her feet with his good arm, spinning her around and then, when she’d stopped squealing, he kissed her, holding her tightly against him. Sophie wrapped her legs around his waist, held onto him and kissed him back as if her life depended on it.
When they pulled apart and her feet were back on the ground, Sophie realized they had an audience, standing on the front steps of the manor. May was in her pyjamas and dressing gown, Fiona and Jazz next to her, and Ermin was waving a ribboned bottle of champagne in the air. Dexter had his arms folded and a grin on his face, and Lucy was jumping up and down, Birdie standing alongsideher wearing a long, purple cloak that did nothing to dispel the rumour that she might actually be a witch. They were all cheering and whooping, and Sophie resisted the urge to bow.
‘What is this?’ she asked.
Harry shrugged. ‘I thought I’d invite a few people round for Christmas. We have enough room, enough food. I’ve realized, over the last couple of months, that this is a good village full of great people, and I wanted them in my life again – if they’d have me. It turns out they did, and now – though I hadn’t dared to hope – I’ve also got the holly on top of the pudding, the angel on top of the tree.’
Sophie waved at her friends. ‘I’d rather be a star on top of the tree.’
‘Angel a bit too pious?’
‘A bit,’ Sophie agreed, ‘especially considering all the ways I’m planning on celebrating our reunion.’
