Page 23 of Mistletoe Kisses at Cwtch Cove

‘Oh ha ha, Luce. You wait until you’re pregnant. I’ll laugh at you then.’ She burped and placed a hand over her mouth. ‘I’m so sorry, Jack. I can’t help it.’

‘Don’t apologise to me. I’ve heard far worse.’ He reached for his wine and took a gulp.

‘You stay there and relax while I pop the garlic bread in and make the salad.’ Lucy smiled at him. ‘I hope you’re hungry because the lasagne is huge.’

‘Ravenous,’ he replied, holding her gaze, wondering if she knew that he wasn’t only talking about food.

* * *

Lucy loaded the dishwasher then turned it on. She’d had a lovely evening and had been glad to see Jack relaxing. When she’d encountered him on the beach earlier that day, he’d looked distraught and she’d been worried — as she would be for anyone — but over the course of the evening, the strain had gone from his eyes and his shoulders had seemed to drop. She hoped he was feeling better now because she was aware that such a high pressured job would bring all sorts of issues if his mental health wasn’t properly attended to.

He’d talked a bit about his work and though he would never admit it — which she knew from how he constantly waved away her praise as well as Ellen’s — he was a hero. A real-life hero in green. It made her like him even more. Her attraction to him had been physical at first, but it was deepening to other levels. Levels that both scared and thrilled her. And there was the way he looked at her. Like he really saw her. She didn’t think any man had looked at her that way before, and it unsteadied her, like standing on the shore of the beach as the tide sucked at her feet. She wanted to give in to the sensation, to let these new feelings suck her in and yet, she was still trying to fight against them, wobbling as she stood there, wondering if she had what it took to let go.

Could she let go? Could she give herself to this wonderful man and see if she could fall for him; if he could fall for her. How wonderful would it be to stay in Cwtch Cove with Ellen, Billy and their baby, but also, with a man she could love?

She shook herself inwardly. She was getting carried away and didn’t even know if Jack liked her that much. Perhaps he looked at everyone that way. Perhaps it was part of his training to make everyone feel important.

‘Coffee?’ she asked, holding up the kettle.

‘Ummm…’ Jack glanced at his empty wine glass.

‘Or more wine?’ His smile answered her question. ‘What about you, Ellen? Do you want tea?’

Her sister yawned and stretched her arms above her head. ‘Would it be terribly rude of me to take a chamomile tea and head up to bed? Billy said he’d call about nine and I’d like to be settled before he does. I don’t want to seem ignorant, Jack, but I get so tired these days. Plus I know I’ll be restless through the night again because I find it so hard to get comfortable.’

‘It’s not rude at all.’ He shook his head. ‘You go and rest and say hi to Billy for me.’

‘Of course I will.’

Lucy handed Jack the second bottle of wine then made tea for her sister. When Ellen headed upstairs, Lucy and Jack went through to the lounge.

It was warm and cosy with the glow from the fire and the lamps in the corners of the room. She settled on the sofa and curled her feet up under her and Jack sat where he had done earlier.

‘Thanks so much for the food. That was without a doubt the best lasagne I’ve ever tasted,’ he said.

‘You’re too kind.’ She laughed but inside she felt elated. She’d taken extra care with the preparation, hoping that he’d enjoy her cooking. ‘Can you cook?’

‘I can make some things. I’m not as good as you but I’m not bad. Dad taught me.’

‘Your dad cooks?’

‘He’s far better than Mum. Well, having said that, she’s pretty good too but she tends to leave the bulk of the cooking to him.’

‘What’s his signature dish?’ she asked.

Jack knitted his brows. ‘He makes a fabulous roast but also a great mushroom stroganoff, then there’s his raspberry and lemon pavlova that’s so light it melts on your tongue and… well, just about everything he makes tastes great.’

‘Even though I’m stuffed, my mouth is watering now.’ She laughed.

‘You should come to dinner with them one day.’ He met her gaze.

‘I’d like that,’ she said.

‘I’d like that too and I know they would…’ He bit his bottom lip as if he’d said something he shouldn’t. ‘I mean… they’re very sociable and I’m sure you’d all get on.’

They fell silent for a bit and gazed into the fire. The food and wine had made Lucy feel relaxed and she was surprised by how easy she found it being with Jack. She could get used to being around him, but she knew she’d want more than friendship.

‘I um… I’m sorry about earlier.’

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