Page 84 of The Mended Hearts Bookshop

Ash shrugged. “George will teach me. I’ll learn. Change is a good thing.”

And Pen was reaching up for her, pulling her in, and then hands were too busy moving and lips were too busy kissing and hearts were too busy beating for any conversation to happen for a long, long time.

IT WAS MID-MORNING by the time they both came down the stairs. Pen, who had been expecting a cold, dark kitchen, was surprised to see all the lights on. An alarm went off on one of the ovens and Lucy bustled in. Pen could hear voices out in the shop.

“Ah, there you are,” Lucy said, pulling a tray of croissants out of the oven. “Wondered when you’d get around to getting up.” She looked at Ash. “You two get everything sorted out then? All loved up?”

Ash smirked and Lucy rolled her eyes.

“Thought we’d better open for you,” Lucy said to Pen. “George is running the till, and, well, things are a bit busy out there.”

“They are?” asked Pen, because the bakery really shouldn’t be busy at half past ten on a Thursday morning.

Lucy nodded through the doorway, and Pen and Ash walked through, only to be greeted by what looked like half the town. When they saw Pen there was a flurry of conversation and a smattering of applause. Pen found herself being hugged and doted upon and only escaped when Ash pulled her away to the counter.

“What’s all this?” Pen asked George.

“They were worried about you,” he said. “And I told them that if they wanted to help, the best thing they could do was support your business, so that’s what they’re doing. Oh, and I’ve got a half dozen catering orders as well.”

“Hold on,” said Ash.

“It’s all under control,” George said. “Lucy’s staying on to help fill the catering orders. And I’m here behind the counter. Well, at least I am as long as my new boss doesn’t turn out to be quite as grumpy as the old one.”

“Hey, watch it,” Ash said. “I haven’t promoted you to full manager yet.”

“Mmm, but you will,” beamed George.

“I don’t understand,” said Pen. “Why were they all so worried about me?”

Ash shook her head. “Because they love you, Pen.” George turned away to make coffee and Ash pulled Pen in close enough that she could whisper in her ear. “But not as much as I do.”

Pen laughed and the sound lifted her heart and for the first time in a very long time she felt absolutely complete.

Epilogue

The alarm clock buzzed in the darkness and Ash turned over, her arm finding Pen’s waist automatically.

“You don’t have to get up now,” Pen whispered.

“I’ve got no intention of getting up now,” Ash said, rolling over so that her leg could wrap around Pen’s. She nuzzled into Pen’s neck and was rewarded with a sigh as Pen pressed her body against her.

“Are you starting things you can’t finish?” Pen giggled.

“Would I do that?”

Ash felt Pen’s hands creep up along her back, felt the delicious shiver of anticipation as Pen pulled her in and slid a thigh between her legs. Pushing herself up, she began to kiss down Pen’s neck as she rubbed against her warm thigh. Her lips found Pen’s nipple and she began to suck as Pen’s breath started to come harder.

She was just about to continue her trip downward when something launched itself onto the bed, bouncing off her backside and making her screech.

“Fabio!” she shouted, sitting up.

Pen dissolved into laughter. “He’s just reminding you that if you’re going to be getting up early, he can easily eat an early breakfast.”

“That cat is some kind of birth control. Maybe that’s why lesbians don’t get pregnant,” Ash grumbled, settling back down into bed and pulling up the covers.

Pen leaned over and kissed her. “I have to get to work,” she said. “But hold all those thoughts until I get back.”

Ash pulled her in closer, giving her a proper kiss. “Just so you remember and hurry back,” she said when she pulled away.

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