Page 74 of The Cornish Cream Tea Bookshop
‘It sounds like you want to impress him,’ Liam said.
‘What if I do? Max is a lovely young man, as you said, and I don’t think it would do to get on his wrong side. Not because of how he’d react, you understand,’ she added quickly, ‘but there are those people who draw you to them, aren’t there? People you want to know, because they radiate warmth, somehow. Max is one of those.’
Ollie grinned. ‘I know exactly what you mean. Perhaps we should agree to dial our adoration down a notch tomorrow night, though, or we might make him uncomfortable.’
‘Good idea,’ Marion said, taking a cookie. ‘But I’m still going to bake biscuits. Let him see just how good I am.’ She nodded decisively, then strode out of the room.
Ollie bit into her second cookie, and returned to her typing. It was comforting, she thought, to know that she wasn’t the only one who had fallen for Max’s charms so completely. She remembered that day in Sea Brew, all those weeks ago, when Lizzy had accused him of bewitching everyone. Was he the type of person to end up as the subject of a legend, breaking hearts across the land, being remembered as an ethereal, almost magical human being, perfect but ultimately unreachable? But, Ollie told herself, as she moved another page of Liam’s manuscript to the ‘done’ pile,shehadreached him: she had grabbed hold of him, and she didn’t want him in a legend – not when they all had tragedy, loss or hopelessness at their core.
No, she decided. Max Holden was real, not mythical, and she wanted him by her side for as long as possible.
Chapter Thirty
‘Tell me what Christmas treats you and Beryan have cooked up.’ Ollie’s voice was still sluggish with sleep as she lay in Max’s arms in bed the following morning.
‘She’s making cranberry scones,’ Max said, ‘and cinnamon and brandy butter doughnuts. Turkey and stuffing rolls, to go alongside the usual sausage and cheese, and miniature chocolate Yule logs encased in salted pastry.’
‘Uhhh. It’s the last one that’s blowing my mind. Rich, chocolatey Yule log inside crisp, salty pastry. When can I try them?’
‘Monday, but you can’t buy them all up, because I want my other customers to enjoy them, too.’
‘One of each won’t be too many, though?’
‘Of course not. I’ll get Beryan to do a special batch, just for you.’
‘Charmer.’ She kissed his arm, and he laughed gently.
This was something she could get used to. Already, having Max in the barn felt completely comfortable. The kitschgarland with its rainbow baubles shimmered along the headboard, the living space now boasted a huge real Christmas tree that she and Max had bought and then decorated together, and the radio in the kitchen, that she’d put on when she went to make coffee, seemed to be playing Michael Bublé’s Christmas album in its entirety.
Ollie wasn’t sure if it was words or emotions clogging her throat. She knew how she felt about him, she wanted to tell him how much she had come to care for him, but she didn’t want to put him under any pressure. He was already having to face Liam and Marion for dinner later, and even though they weren’t Ollie’s parents, they were a sort of surrogate pairing, and she knew that Marion, especially, wouldn’t hold back with questions now that she and Max were together. Ollie wanted to be honest, but she didn’t want to scare him off by being too full on. Besides, he was working so hard, and even though he’d been as fun, as attentive, as always, she could tell he was tired.
‘I think we should do as little as possible today,’ she said.
‘Sounds good to me.’ Max turned onto his side, so he was facing her. ‘Whatlittle as possibledid you have in mind?’
‘TheMuppet Christmas CarolandCon Air, then take Henry for a walk in the afternoon before we go to Liam’s.’
‘Con Air?’ Max’s brows drew together. ‘I’m trying to remember something Christmassy about it, but I’m coming up empty.’
‘It’s just a great film. Ridiculous, but great.’
‘Can I pick a film too?’
‘Of course. As long as it’s not miserable: I don’t have time for miserable.’
Max smiled. ‘In films, or life in general?’
‘I try for both,’ she said, wrapping her arm around his waist. ‘It’s not always possible, of course, but at the moment it’s working out OK.’
‘OK, huh?’ Max pulled her closer. ‘Good to know.’
She rested her head against his chest, and felt his heart beating against her ear. It was fast, a hurried rhythm, as if he could feel the emotion that hung between them, too. ‘Definitely not feeling miserable right now.’ She kissed his warm skin.
‘Ollie, I …’ He pulled back, so he could look at her. His brow was furrowed, a mess of dark curls falling over his forehead. Her breath caught, and she wasn’t sure if it was because he was so gorgeous, or because of the hesitation in his voice.
‘If you’re about to end things,’ she whispered, ‘then don’t.’
‘What?’ His eyes widened. ‘No! I wasn’t! I was … I don’t know if I can—’ Henry’s loud bark drowned out Max’s words, and the next minute the dog’s front paws were on the bed covers.
