Page 19 of A Cornish Wedding Retreat
Maggie didn’t know where to start without blubbering. Chad wanted pleasant, undemanding company for a few days not all the angst filling her life dumped on him. But the way he’d looked at her earlier had thrown her sideways. No man had ever done that before.
‘No, you haven’t done anything wrong.’ Except be a lovely man who’s out of my reach.
Chad gave her a shrewd, sweeping glance. ‘Yesterday we got on well and I was looking forward to getting to know you better. I thought you felt the same, but maybe I was mistaken?’
She shook her head and swallowed hard.
‘We both know I’m leaving on Wednesday, but that doesn’t have to stop us . . . does it?’ He picked up her hand, idly stroking her trembling fingers. ‘Maggie.’ His soft drawl lured her in again. ‘Don’t assume anything about me.’
‘One beef and one lamb.’
Maggie jerked her hand away and struggled to pay attention to the waitress, holding out two plates and waiting for them to speak. ‘The lamb is mine.’
For the next few minutes they had to tolerate being fussed over while sauces were fetched and glasses refilled until they were finally left alone again.
Chad tucked into his roast beef. ‘This is delicious. British food is obviously much maligned.’ A mischievous grin crept across his face. ‘Well, except in the case of Scotch eggs.’
‘Emily told me you weren’t a fan.’ Maggie smirked.
‘That’s an understatement, honey.’ He put on a fake shudder and she found herself laughing again. ‘That’s much better.’
‘What is?’
Chad rested his hand on her cheek. ‘I love your laughter. It’s so unrestrained and full of life.’
‘You mean loud and common.’
His broad smile warmed her all the way down to her toes. ‘Oh, Maggie Taylor, there’s nothing common about you. You’re unique.’
‘I meant common as in uneducated and badly brought up,’ she protested. ‘You are such a lawyer, tying me up in knots.’
Chad’s tawny eyes glowed and she couldn’t make herself look away from him. ‘I want you to be honest with me, whether it’s by laughing at something you find funny or telling me why you’re upset.’
She laid down her knife and fork. What did she have to lose? Her dignity. They wouldn’t see each other again after Wednesday so what difference did it make?
‘Emily’s pregnant.’ Maggie blurted it out and watched his eyes widen. ‘She hasn’t told Jonathan because she doesn’t want him to come back to her out of pity. I don’t know how I’m going to cope. Emily’s acting differently towards me, nicer I suppose I’d say, and I’m not sure about that either.’ She sucked in a deep breath. ‘My life has enough complications without the fact I really like you.’ Her voice trailed away and she wished she could crawl under the table and hide.
* * *
‘I’ve always been one for complicated, and I really like you too so it’s all good.’ Chad lowered his voice. He couldn’t resist reaching across and pressing a soft kiss on her flushed cheek, the hint of vanilla and warmth rising from her skin making him ache for so much more. ‘How about we finish lunch and take our coffee out in the garden?’ He gestured subtly towards the older couple at the next table flagrantly listening to their conversation.
‘Oh, yes, fine.’ She caught on and started to eat again.
‘What’s this?’ Chad prodded at a crispy, golden-brown puffed object on his plate and Maggie grinned.
‘It’s a Yorkshire pudding and traditionally served with roast beef. It’s made with a batter, rather like pancakes.’
He took a bite and was relieved to find it light and delicious so it didn’t have to join Scotch eggs on his list of British foods to be avoided. ‘It’s good.’ Maggie launched into a long explanation about its origins, describing how in Yorkshire it would be baked in a large tin instead of individual servings.
‘You’d get a square of pudding served with gravy before the meal, it was supposed to fill people up when there wasn’t much beef to go around.’
‘Makes sense. Southern cornbread served pretty much the same purpose I’m guessin’.’ Chad glanced over to see their table neighbours had lost interest and winked at Maggie. ‘I think we’re safe,’ he whispered.
They chatted happily and finished their meals.
‘Dessert? Or should I say pudding?’ he teased.
‘You can call it what you like but I don’t want any, thanks,’ Maggie insisted. ‘That was delicious but I’m stuffed.’
