From the Heart (A Valentine's Day Anthology) (29 page)

I’m flipped onto my back, never losing our exquisite connection. His hands find my hair once more, his fingertips massaging my scalp. I’m still catching my breath from my magnificent orgasm. “You glow in the aftermath,” he states. All I can manage is a contented sigh, but a huge grin appears, “and you always look so damn happy.”

“I am over the moon baby; it’s not just the numerous orgasms you give me. It’s you, just you who has made my life so worthwhile - so happy.” I feel his lips touch mine as he begins to move his hips. The thrusts inside me are slow, methodical and fantastic.

“I’m coming baby,” he whispers in my ear.

We explode together. 

One year later

“One espresso, two skinny lattes, and a no fat cappuccino. Two slices of coffee and walnut cake and a chocolate brownie for table two.” I announce the order is ready. It’s the height of the summer season and ‘Jersey Girls’ is buzzing with customers. Coffee to go, cakes being ordered, pensioners demanding their bread and loads of other stuff going on. It’s crazy busy, but I absolutely love my work. My business in its first year is doing really well. Even throughout autumn and winter I have a steady flow of customers. I have four employees: two waitresses, a baker and a barista. We’re one big blissfully happy family.

As soon as we open the doors at 8am, we are flooded with customers needing early morning caffeine. Even Fred pops in from time to time, but he enjoys a pot of tea, a scone with real Jersey cream and jam. He buries his head in his newspaper and doesn’t come out until he’s completely finished his pot of tea. He comes in on a Tuesday and Friday, regular as clockwork. Today is Thursday, so I won’t see him today.

In the last year my life has flipped on its head. Connor is living in Jersey now; he knows I will never move away. I love it here far too much to leave; Connor is just as in love with Jersey as I am. We have a small place of our own, situated on the beach where we spend most evenings watching the trawlers come in with their daily catch and watching the sun go down. He has an office here too, which he works from ninety percent of the time.

I couldn’t be happier.

I have forgiven Lisa, but I will never forget. We see each other from time to time, but our relationship is strained. Her cancer treatment is going well, and even after all the problems she has caused, I am proud of her and the way she’s handling it.

Benny comes in here most days, anything she wants to eat and drink is always on the house. I owe my best friend my life, so giving her a few freebies is not going to break the bank. It’s the least I can do after all she’s done for me. Every time I see her just lately, she has this strange smile on her face, almost as if she’s happy to see me enjoying life and being happy myself.

I still attend AA meetings and my recovery is going well so far, even with the odd day where I still feel the urge to drink, I am reminded of all that I have and all that I could lose if I returned to that way of life. Those thoughts ground me and keep me fighting to stay sober, one day at a time.

The lunchtime rush calms down so I help Dave - my baker - in the kitchen. He’s up to his elbows in cake batter, while I make a start on the bread. I’m making a batch of cottage loaves when I feel arms around me. A familiar scent hits me; I know that smell anywhere in the world. “Hey gorgeous,” I say without turning around.

“How’d you know it was me?” He whispers in my ear.

“Just a hunch,” I say. I hear him chuckle, but it’s a deep, delicious chuckle that awakens my sex drive. I turn in his arms and slap my hands on his cheeks. Flour shaped hand prints adorn his cheeks, making me laugh.

He growls as he lifts me into his arms and starts to spin on the spot, covering my face with kisses. “I missed you,” he lowers me so that my feet can feel the floor again.

“I missed you more.” He’s been back in London for conferences, and meetings and all the other boring stuff he does.

I hear a ‘tut’. “Get a room you two,” Dave says while hand beating the batter mix.

“We intend to,” Connor says with a mischievous wink at me. He’s been gone for a whole week; I’m ready for him to do all the heavenly things he does to me. “Come with me, I have a surprise for you.”

“I love surprises,” I squeal and do a happy dance.

“I know you do Jersey Girl,” I’m dragged to the door off the back of the kitchen. There’s a delivery truck. “Go around the back and take a look,” he instructs me.

I squeal again, louder this time. “Oh my God, thank you, thank you, thank you.” There are ten boxes of high performance electric mixers, all suitable for mixing large quantities of batter, dough and anything I need mixing for the cakes and breads. “This will make life so much easier, thank you so much baby.”

“My pleasure, I know how busy you’ve been. These will help, I’m sure.”

“Oh, they will, they’re amazing.” I go to lift one of the heavy boxes. I need to get these babies to work ASAP. “Dave look at this!” I yell as I walk back in the kitchen. “We have ten of them.”

“Fan-bloody-tastic!” His enthusiasm matches mine. “Some days, I think my arms will drop off with all this whisking and beating.” He has been working like a Trojan, but he never complains.

Connor comes back into the kitchen as I’m putting together the mixer, I’m reading the instructions, connecting the whisk to the mechanism and anxious to get it working. “Later,” he says, pulling me out front. The doors have been closed, and the only people in sight are Mr Grumpy, Fred and Benny. My two waitresses are sitting at the table in the window and my barista is cleaning the countertop.

“Where is everyone?” I ask, confused. Connor stands before me, eyes smiling and he looks nervous, “what’s going on?” I look up into his eyes. He pauses for a moment, then begins to speak. His voice is a little shaky, so I know that he’s planning something I might not approve of.

“Since that first night, even when you were blind drunk, I couldn’t escape how you melted my lonely heart. Before you, I thought I was happy, caught up in the world of business. Caught up in a world of money, stocks and shares - but I was wrong.” He drops to his knee, I gasp. “The day I saw you, I realised that there had been something missing all along. That missing part was you, Kat. You’re the one who made me realise that I needed something more, something fulfilling. I need my Jersey Girl, for the rest of my life. Beautiful, will you marry me?” My palms slap my cheeks in shock. I look up and see everyone grinning at me. They were all in on this little secret. I look back down at Connor on his knee. I nod. “Is that a yes?” He asks me. I nod again; the shock of it all has run away with my tongue. “Say the word baby,” he pleads.

“Yes, yes, a million times yes.” I’m gathered in his arms once more, and swung about like a rag doll. He’s kissing my face again, covering me with his love.

I’m the luckiest Jersey Girl in the whole world.

The End

Acknowledgements

First of all I have to show a huge amount of gratitude towards my fellow authors M.B Feeney, LJ Harris, Beverley Hollowed, Sarah Elizabeth, Laura Morgan, Kyra Lennon and RJ Thompson for agreeing to be a part of this anthology. I know I’ve caused many dramas, tears and I’ve cracked the whip on a few occasions, but we got there in the end girls and I am super proud of each of you. None of this would have been possible without you, so from the bottom of my heart… Thank you ♥

To Susan Scott; my amazing PA, blogger (Ladies Living in Bookland), friend and vodka buddy. You my sweet angel have worked so hard to help all of us authors out over this collection of short stories, I cannot thank you enough. You are aware of how much you mean to me ♥

My family; Ian, my fiancé and Shelby, my daughter have been incredibly supportive, and you continue to do so, even when I ramble on about my characters and all things book related. You guys are loved so much ♥

To you, the reader. You have purchased and hopefully enjoyed this collection of little tales and by doing so you have donated money to The British Heart Foundation. All the authors and I are grateful for your time and contribution, so thank you very much ♥

Keep an eye out, as a grand total of all royalties donated to BHF will be announced on our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/From-The-Heart-In-aid-of-British-Heart-Foundation-620915651391140/

For more information from BHF:
https://www.bhf.org.uk/

Look after your heart ♥