Page 33 of A Cornish Wedding Retreat
‘Sure. Anytime. I’d enjoy meeting the lucky lady too.’
Chad began to tell him about Maggie and found he couldn’t stop, needing Josh to understand how special she was to him.
‘Okay, I get it,’ Josh laughed, ‘she’s beautiful, intelligent, sexy, can cook and for some wacky reason thinks you’re the greatest thing since sliced bread. The woman obviously doesn’t have an atom of sense,’ he teased.
‘Thanks. Now I remember why I’ve missed having you around,’ Chad joked, but his voice broke. ‘I’d better go. Things to do.’ He needed to get off the phone before making a complete fool of himself. After he disconnected Chad laid back on the bed, smiling and biting back tears.
Chapter Nineteen
Maggie plastered on another bright smile. It’d taken every ounce of self-control to get through the last ten days and if it hadn’t been for Chad she suspected she’d have been carted off in a straitjacket. For someone who’d declared she wanted a simple wedding Emily was being very picky. Six more days — that was all she had to get through.
‘Youpromisedyou’d come with me for the fitting,’ Emily wailed, ‘I know the dress is going to be too tight. My stomach isenormous.’
She glanced over at her sister and sighed. Even at four months pregnant she was still sylph-like compared to Maggie and barely showing at all. They’d returned the extravagant white tulle ball-gown Emily originally chose and replaced it with an elegant knee-length champagne silk dress.
‘I can come if you change the time to four o’clock but I have to be here at two because that’s when the shrimp and scallops are being delivered.’
‘Sorry for butting in,’ Chad interrupted, ‘but I could fish sit if necessary. I’m guessin’ I can recognise a decent shrimp when I see one.’
Maggie hated taking advantage of him again — the poor man had been run ragged between doing things for her and cheerfully running errands for Emily. She’d insisted on him taking a few sightseeing trips, but he’d refused most of her suggestions saying he’d rather be with her. He did track down an antiques shop in Redruth specialising in all things Art Deco. It’d been recommended by Audrey and he’d immediately rushed off afterwards to show her godmother everything he’d bought. They’d struck up a curious friendship consisting of a lot of good-natured bickering mixed with a deep mutual respect.
‘You’re an angel.’ Emily flung herself at Chad and gave him a big hug. ‘If I wasn’t marrying my wonderful Jonathan I’d snatch you up myself.’
‘I’ll take care of your fish on one condition.’ Chad explained. ‘In return your sister gets the next twenty-four hours off.’
Before Maggie could protest Emily happily agreed.
‘But there’s so much to do, I can’t possibly . . .’
‘Yes, you can,’ Emily insisted. ‘I’ve been taking advantage of your good nature. I can do more myself with Jonathan’s help and the other stuff can wait a couple of days.’
This wasn’t the first time her sister had been thoughtful and she needed to acknowledge the fact. All brides were picky — it came with the territory and Emily wasn’t behaving any worse than the other girls she’d designed cakes for who’d made her want to throw up her hands in despair.
‘Thanks, Ems.’ If she said any more she’d cry. Maggie watched her sister’s eyes mist up and knew they were on the same shaky emotional page.
‘I’m going to take a nap before lunch. It’s one of the few perks of pregnancy. I’ll leave you two to do whatever.’ Emily laughed and breezed out of the room.
‘So kid, you fancy some . . . whatever?’
Chad’s raised eyebrows and quirky smile made Maggie relax for the first time in days. He held out his hand and she quickly went over to him and snuggled into his lap.
‘Do you have plans for our mini-holiday?’ Maggie asked and a wicked smile accentuated his handsome features. ‘Apart from . . . you know, the obvious.’
He kissed all the way down her neck, stopping only when her clothes got in the way. ‘And what might “the obvious” be, honey?’
‘Stop cross-examining me,’ she half-heartedly protested, sighing as he slipped one hand under the hem of her blouse and stroked her bare skin, heating it on contact.
‘Guilty as charged.’ Chad’s fingers carried on their searing explorations. ‘Your wonderful Great Aunt Audrey has gone to visit some poor cousin in Wales and she’s offered us the hospitality of Holland House for the night.’
Maggie stared in disbelief. ‘You’re joking?’
‘Nope.’
‘But we’re not married and she’s really strict about, you know,’ she mumbled.
‘Is “you know” the same as “the obvious”?’ Before she could answer he kissed her again making her head swim. ‘I’ve been informed there are two guest bedrooms available for our use. Audrey gave me a very arched look and said that as we were both over the age of majority what we did with them was up to us.’
‘I dread to imagine how you replied.’ Maggie shuddered, certain he’d been his usual outspoken self.
