Morgan had inspected the ring yet again. ‘It really is gorgeous. Does it fit all right?’
‘Perfectly.’
‘Better than a wooden ring?’ Last week, she’d pretended to Belle that Nate was going to try making wooden rings and sell them on the stall. As if. She’d almost laughed, especially when Belle hadn’t questioned her measuring around her fingers. She’d done all four so it wasn’t obvious. And then she’d had to keep a straight face when Belle started talking about wooden jewellery and how she didn’t see much of it around.
‘So much better,’ Belle had replied.
‘You do realise I was totally lying about Nate making wooden rings, don’t you?’
‘Well, now I do,’ she’d laughed as they all filed out of the Bookshop Café.
‘You still haven’t told us what the dinner is if it isn’t a thank you,’ Nate had said as Sebastian locked up.
‘You’ll see. You’ll all see.’ And he had led the way along the high street towards the Italian restaurant. More sophisticated than the pizzeria and for a different clientele, it had been dimly lit, with a romantic ambience and as Sebastian had pushed open the door and they’d stepped inside to a cheer, it had all became obvious.
‘This, my darling Belle,’ Sebastian had announced, pulling her to him and into his arms in front of the crowd, ‘is our engagement party.’
Belle had looked about to cry as she covered her mouth, overcome with emotion. And when she’d seen Gillian sitting at the back, Betty and Peter, Trevor, all of their friends and her parents who had flown in from Ireland, she’d rushed towards her family.
Sebastian had hired out the entire restaurant for the engagement party, sure of Belle’s answer, as he rightly should be when they were so perfect for each other. Wine was poured, chatter filled the air, food was shared and good times and at the end, Belle came over to Morgan and Nate.
‘Here…’ She had held something shiny in her hand and Nate had put his hand out because she was holding it out to him. She’d placed a key in his palm. ‘It’s the key to the flat above the Bookshop Café. It looks as though I have another home. So it’s yours, if you want it. I’ll have my things moved out tomorrow, I expect.’ She had been beaming. ‘Rent is due first of the month, it’s a good rate, it’s quiet, food discounted downstairs if you can’t be bothered to cook.’
Trevor had overheard. ‘Oh, thank goodness, you’re getting him out from under my feet. He’s cramping my style.’
‘And you’ve had too much wine,’ Nate had said quietly as Trevor and Jeremy laughed at the joke.
Belle had told him, ‘When me and Sebastian fell for each other, we could’ve easily moved faster but we both wanted time to get used to being together; we wanted to date first, take it slow. And I get the feeling you and Morgan might want that too.’ She had squeezed Nate’s hand with the key in his palm. ‘That’s a spare key, call it a prop for my suggestion, but seriously, I’ll be out quickly.’
The engagement party had ended with toasts to the happy couple, Betty and Peter saying their goodbyes before they closed the bakery and headed off to see family overseas for three weeks, Jeremy declaring he was glad he didn’t have a car and the responsibility of driving home. And as soon as they got the chance, Nate and Morgan had sneaked away back to Forget-Me-Not Cottage for some alone time.
Now, with Branston beside her, Morgan let herself in to Nate’s flat and the dog headed straight for the kitchen for a thirsty gulp from his water bowl. Nate had moved in a couple of days after Belle had handed him the key and he’d been getting sorted ever since.
‘I’m back,’ she called out. She took a sip of her hot chocolate, much needed after a long walk.
Nate emerged from the bathroom in a cloud of steam, his bottom half wrapped in a fluffy, white towel. Morgan didn’t think she’d ever get over quite how hot her boyfriend was. That, and good with his hands. She almost blushed at her own thoughts.
‘Sorry I’m running late.’ He came and kissed her on the lips, moaning at the same time at the deliciousness of it. ‘I had a job for Clover at her cottage. That husband of hers left her, the kids, and a mess with a bodged, DIY shower. The unit was practically hanging off the wall. Sorted quickly but then I had a job for Barbara at the church, or rather an inspection and a quote to sort the heating out.’
‘They’ll need that come winter.’
‘Sure will. I couldn’t turn the work down when she asked.’
‘Of course you couldn’t.’ She watched him approvingly. ‘Good job I made the dinner last night and stashed it in your fridge.’
‘I’d forgotten that,’ he smiled as he dashed to the kitchen and put the oven on. ‘My mouth is watering thinking about it now. Exactly what I need after a busy day.’
She’d made a cauliflower cheese, not for the first time, and it didn’t taste exactly like Elaina’s but between her and Nate, they’d come up with a recipe that was theirs. A quick warm in the oven would get the cheese on top bubbling away and she’d serve it with a salad.
‘You’re staring,’ he grinned, one hand on his towel as though he thought it might fall at any moment.
‘I am not.’ But her sip of hot chocolate barely hid a grin. ‘Well, maybe a little bit. I’m still getting used to seeing so much of you.’
He stepped forward to kiss her again and she almost dropped the hot chocolate, wishing she didn’t have it because she’d like to drag him towards the bedroom right now. His forehead against hers, he breathed, ‘I’m a bit knackered. Please tell me we’re not meeting anyone at the pub tonight.’
‘Not as far as I know.’ They often did, whether it was his dad, or Jeremy, Sebastian and Belle or anyone else. ‘I’m too tired to venture out again. Getting up and out to an office three days a week is exhausting.’ And she’d rather cosy up here anyway.
He put a hand against her cheek before taking a diversion into the bedroom, where he pulled on a pair of jeans. She put a hand on his chest, his skin still damp and warm from the shower, before he lifted a sweatshirt over his head and down over his torso.
