Epilogue
December 19th – one year later
Camaro89: You nearly done? Dee has fresh baked almond croissants on her stand. They smell gooooooood…
Leo grinned as he read the message, phone propped up on the kitchen counter while he finished his late and hurried lunch. He wrote back, If you keep feeding me croissants, I’ll never fit into my party clothes.
Camaro89: So? Go naked. No one will mind.
He laughed, shaking his head. Sean and Tejana will mind!
Camaro89: Just get your cute butt up here, Novak.
Rolling his eyes at Alfie’s impatience, Leo crammed the last of his sandwich into his mouth, stuck his plate in the dishwasher, and went upstairs to layer up.
After the success of last year’s Christmas market, Dee had decided to run it again this year—only bigger and better. Which meant Leo would be standing around in the cold for hours this evening. Not that he was complaining; it would be great for business. This year his stall had a beautiful wooden sign, which Alfie had made for him, and he’d gotten bookmarks printed to hand out. He was looking forward to the market, proud of what he’d achieved with Bayside Books over the last year and keen to show it off. Once Alfie had started taking a look at his accounts, and Leo had started taking advice from Dee and other local business owners, he’d seen a steady month-on-month increase in sales. But more than that, he felt happier about his business, more confident that he could succeed—with a little help from his friends.
His phone buzzed as he pulled on a long-sleeved base layer, dragging a t-shirt over it, followed by a light micro fleece. He glanced at his phone, now sitting on the bed.
Camaro89: Hurry up. Wentworth’s getting impatient xxx
Fondly exasperated, Leo pulled his heaviest wool sweater over everything else and hurried down to the entryway to get his boots and coat. But he paused there, his attention snagged by the narrow bookcase Alfie had built back in January. Seven books sat in a very particular order on its top shelf—A Christmas Carol, Les Misérables, Pride and Prejudice, Portrait of a Lady, Maurice, Emma, and Persuasion.
Leo smiled.
“You won’t be able to sell them now,” Alfie had said last year, on one of those lazy days between Christmas and New Years when they’d barely left the house, or each other’s arms. “You ruined your stock writing all over them. It’s not good business, Novak.”
Leo had kissed him. They’d been in bed, he recalled—of course they had. He’d kissed Alfie and said, “They’re yours, now. They’re a love letter. You have to keep them.”
Alfie had grinned and kissed him, and then one thing had led to another and they hadn’t talked about the books anymore. But a couple days into January, when Leo was still moving his stuff in box-by-box, he’d found Alfie building the bookcase in the entryway and the books had been on display there ever since.
He reached out and touched them, running his fingers along their spines, before he sent a quick reply to Alfie: On my way. Then he pulled on his heavy boots, coat, hat, scarf, and gloves and opened the door.
Outside, the winter snow-scape glowed a frosty blue in the twilight, pretty as a Christmas card. Eager, now, to see his boyfriend—such an inadequate word for all Alfie meant to him—Leo hurried along to Main Street and past Bayside Books. The little Christmas tree he’d got last year had been back in the window since December first, and he smiled, as he always did, when he saw it and remembered the day he and Alfie had bought it together.
Up ahead, a much larger tree stood resplendent in the Church parking lot, its rainbow lights brilliant against a darkening sky. Leo’s smile broadened. The market looked amazing, with more stalls than last year, more lights, more snow—and they’d even sourced a real Santa Claus and sleigh for the kids. No reindeer, though. Maybe next year.
He spotted Alfie right away, standing halfway between Leo’s stall and Dee’s, his face lighting up when their eyes met. Alfie’s affection never dimmed, and Leo knew it was mirrored in his own eyes as he made his way through the milling stall owners toward Alfie. But before he reached him, Leo was intercepted by another eager greeting—from Wentworth, their gorgeous, six-month-old golden retriever who was dancing in excited circles at the sight of him.
“Hey!” He crouched down, ruffling Wentworth’s silky fur. “Have you been a good boy for Alfie?”
“He’s been great,” Alfie said, keeping a firm grip on the leash nonetheless. “Haven’t you, Wentworth? You’ve been a good boy today.”
Leo looked up, caught Alfie’s smiling brown eyes, and grinned. Pushing to his feet, he leaned over Wentworth and kissed Alfie lightly on his cold lips. “Stall looks awesome,” he said, casting his eyes over the table with the display stands he’d bought and the wooden sign painted in red and gold. “I love the sign, Alfie.”
“Yeah, the whole market looks great, huh?”
“Like something out of A Christmas Carol.”
“Hmm.” He lifted a doubtful eyebrow. “Maybe the Muppet version.”
Leo laughed and made his way behind the stall. He perched on one of the chairs, rolling his eyes at the vanilla latte and almond croissant waiting for him. “I wasn’t kidding about my party clothes, you know.”
“I wasn’t kidding about you going naked,” Alfie said with a grin. “Besides, today’s a special occasion. We’re celebrating.”
“Are we?”
“Sure.” He looked a little…odd, suddenly. Nervous? “Today’s exactly a year since we met at the Whiskey Jack.”
Ugh. Leo grimaced. “Why are we celebrating that disaster?”
“Hey. That was the day everything started. Imagine if we hadn’t met?” He performed an exaggerated shudder. “We could have carried on living next door to each other forever and never have known.”
Leo gave a reluctant smile. “I guess, but you know I hate to remember what an ass I—”
“Shh.” Reaching over the stall, Alfie squeezed his shoulder. “It wasn’t a great night for either of us, but we started a journey that day. It got off to a rocky start—”
“To put it mildly.”
Alfie sighed. “Do you mind? I’m trying to say something here.” He cleared his throat and Leo watched, bemused, as he squared his shoulders. “It got off to a rocky start, but it didn’t take long to smooth out, and since then…” His expression softened. “Hell, you called us soulmates once, Leo, and that’s how it feels to me. I love you so much. Which is why I… I want to make this permanent.”
Leo blinked at him. “Permanent?”
“As in—” He smiled, flushing. “Damn. This isn’t as easy as it seems in the books. Hang on.” Walking round to the back of the stall, Wentworth following obediently, Alfie took Leo’s hand and sank to one knee in the snow. Wentworth gave his face a curious snuffle and Alfie batted him gently away. “Sit,” he said firmly. “I’m busy proposing.”
“Oh my God,” Leo laughed, flushing as he felt a dozen pairs of eyes fix on them, the babble of the market dropping to a couple of whispers, a giggle, and the hiss and burble of the coffee machine at Dee’s stall next door. “Alfie, get up, you’ll get wet. And everyone’s looking.”
But Alfie didn’t move, just gazed at him, and the world melted away as Leo lost himself in those dark beloved eyes. “I fell in love with you before I knew your face,” Alfie said. “And now yours is the most precious face in the world to me.” Leo’s heart billowed, so full he couldn’t speak. “Leo,” Alfie went on quietly, “would you do me the honor of spending the rest of your life with me?”
For a moment, Leo couldn’t breathe. His emotions were too high, his heart overflowing. Pressing his lips together, he clutched Alfie’s hand and nodded. “Yes,” he managed eventually, a rasping, laughing word. “Yes, of course I will. I’d love to. I want to.” Alfie grinned and Leo laughed, and then they were both on their feet, locked in each other’s arms, hugging so tight Leo felt his ribs creek.
From all around came whoops and applause and above it all Dee’s delighted voice rang out. “Everyone—drinks are on me!”
Leo didn’t move for a long time, buried in the sure comfort of Alfie’s arms, breathing in the familiar scent of him, struggling to keep hold of his fly-away feelings as Wentworth jumped up, trying to join in the celebration. Eventually, as the kafuffle died down, Leo pulled back far enough to ruffle Wentworth’s head and gaze into Alfie’s smiling eyes. Blinking back tears, he asked, “You really want this?”
“Absolutely, I do. The way I see it, the universe conspired pretty damn hard to bring us together.” He put a gloved hand to Leo’s face, stroking his cheek. “The least we can do is accept our fate with grace.”
Leo laughed. “Our fate?”
“A good fate.” Alfie leaned in and kissed him gently. “The best.”
The very best. Leo constantly marveled at his luck, at the staggering cosmic coincidence of it all. “It’s pretty incredible to meet the love of your life in cyberspace, and then find him waiting just around the corner.”
“It’s not incredible,” Alfie said. “It’s destiny.” And he kissed Leo again, Wentworth jumping up excitedly until they both laughed, joy flowing around and between them like true Christmas magic.
Destiny, indeed.
~ The End ~
Read more in Sally Malcolm’s New Milton Series, available from Carina Press.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CBNSP2N
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DCSHCTW
Find Carina Press at www.CarinaPress.com
***
Perfect Day by Sally Malcolm
“Perfect Day is the sort of book you finish with a heartfelt sigh of satisfaction and a dreamy smile.”
— All About Romance, DIK Review
When Joshua Newton, son of Long Island’s elite, fell in love with ambitious young actor Finn Callaghan, his world finally made sense. With every stolen moment, soft touch and breathless kiss, they fell deeper in love.
Finn was his future…until Joshua made the worst mistake of his life and let his family’s disapproval tear them apart.
Eight years later, Finn has returned to the seaside town where it all began. He’s on the brink of stardom, a far cry from the poor mechanic who spent one gorgeous summer falling in love on the beach. The last thing he wants is a second chance with the man who broke his heart. Finn has spent a long time forgetting Joshua Newton—he certainly doesn’t plan to forgive him.
Drawn together yet kept apart by their history, old feelings soon begin to stir. Back in the place where their romance began, Joshua and Finn finally come to realize the truth: love stays. Even when you don’t want it to, even when you try to deny it, love stays.
This book is approximately 63,000 words.
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!
***
Between the Lines by Sally Malcolm
“I loved this book. It’s a reading highlight of this past year…gentle and lyrical but also engrossing and sexy.”
— Cat Sebastian, author of A Gentleman Never Keeps Score.
Theo Wishart has given up on finding love. Luca Moretti doesn’t want to find it.
A handful of summer days may change their lives forever—if they’re brave enough to look between the lines.
Eyes might be windows to the soul, but for Theo Wishart they’re all shuttered. His dyspraxia makes it hard to read people. He doesn’t do relationships and he certainly doesn’t do the great outdoors. Two weeks spent “embracing beach life” while he tries to close the deal on a once great, now fading seaside hotel is a special kind of hell.
Until Luca. Gorgeous, unreachable Luca.
Luca Moretti travels light, avoiding all romantic entanglements. Estranged from his parents, he vows this will be his last trip home to New Milton. His family’s hotel is on the verge of ruin and there’s nothing Luca can do to save it. He’s given up on the Majestic, he’s given up on his family and he’s given up on his future.
Until Theo. Prickly, captivating Theo.
No mushy feelings, no expectations, and no drama—that’s the deal. A simple summer fling. And it suits them both just fine. But as the summer wanes and their feelings deepen, it’s clear to everyone around them that Theo and Luca are falling in love. What will it take for them to admit it to themselves—and to each other?
This book is approximately 73,000 words.
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!
Now, turn the page to read the first two chapters of Perfect Day...