‘I better go, I need to get home and have a shower before I meet Melody and Isla at eleven,’ Tori said, stroking Aidan’s face as they lay in bed together. They had spent another five hours picking fruit the night before. They’d come back to the farmhouse where there was no question of her going home when Aidan had suggested she joined him for a shower. She was pleased to find out that shower sex with Aidan Jackson was just as good as she had imagined it was going to be. They’d ended up sleeping together in Aidan’s bed, wrapped in each other’s arms, woken early and made love again. She was never going to get tired of this.

‘You could have a shower here,’ Aidan smirked, before kissing her again.

She grinned. ‘You’re such a bad influence on me. You’ll make me late. And even if I did, I don’t have any clean clothes here to get changed into after, so I’d end up going home anyway.’

Aidan sighed theatrically. ‘You have a point. You’ll come round later for our nap though?’

‘Wouldn’t miss it.’

She got out of bed before she was tempted to stay there any longer and quickly got dressed.

Aidan got dressed too and then she followed him downstairs.

‘When am I going to see this boat that you’re sailing on in this weekend’s festivities?’

‘I can show you now if you like?’ Aidan said, grabbing an apple and throwing one to her, before taking one for himself.

‘Oh yes, I’d like that.’

He gestured for her to go out the door ahead of him and then she followed him to a nearby barn.

‘You should sail with me actually, as you are part of Heartberry Farm, even if it is temporarily.’

‘Is that not against the rules? I thought it was supposed to be men only, so they can declare their love to the woman of their dreams by presenting them with a piece of the coveted heartberry cake.’

‘It’s quite relaxed actually. Plenty of women have sailed in the race and if they got a slice of the cake they’ve presented it to their men. It’s true that men do use this boat race to make their feelings for their object of affection known, but there are many men who take part in the boat race to prove their boat-design skills or boat-handling skills and will just eat the cake themselves if they win it. Leo’s boats are more about being elaborate and extravagant and crowd-pleasing than trying to win a woman’s hand. He usually gives his winning slice of cake to Emily or Marigold. He’s never given it to any other woman. Although this year it might be different.’

‘Oh?’

‘Well, he might give it to someone else this year.’

‘Someone blonde?’ Tori asked.

‘Maybe,’ Aidan grinned.

Her heart filled at the thought of Leo and Isla together. Though as Isla had already turned down multiple wedding proposals from Leo, it might take more than a slice of cake to convince her to give him a chance.

Aidan’s hand hovered on the door handle of the barn. ‘So, want to be my first mate?’

‘Well, I don’t know the first thing about sailing.’

‘You won’t need to.’

‘OK then, might be fun.’

Aidan smiled and opened the door. He stepped inside and flicked on a light switch and Tori walked inside.

The room was largely empty apart from a few tools and machines along one wall, but there was nothing in there that remotely resembled a boat.

Her eyes fell on some wood in the middle of the floor, tied together with bits of rope and string. Her eyes widened as she realised this was the boat. It looked like some kind of haphazard raft that Robinson Crusoe might build.

‘Is this the boat?’ Tori said. What had she just agreed to? This didn’t look capable of going even a few feet in the water before it broke up. Aidan was a big man as well, which meant he weighed a lot. In fact, she knew that he did, having had his body pinning her to the mattress quite a few times now. This didn’t look strong enough to hold him, let alone both of them.

‘Yes, I know it doesn’t look like much, but it should do the job.’

‘Should?’

He laughed. ‘That’s the point of the race, people build water crafts and only the best boats will get to the island safely. Half of the entrants end up in the water. It really is a bit of fun rather than a serious boat race.’

‘I know but I was expecting something a bit more…’

‘Professional?’

‘Boat-shaped.’

He laughed again.

‘How is it going to move anyway? Or are you just hoping it will float in the right direction?’

‘No, I have an oar, I figured I would treat this like a giant paddleboard.’

‘Any other form of propulsion?’

‘Well, that’s where you come in. I’ve adapted these foot pumps. The air pipes are going to be shorter and the end is funnel-shaped, so more air will burst out of them in a kind of V-shaped angle. There’ll be three of them attached to the back. You’ll jump on them alternately to give it a little burst through the water. If we need to turn the raft then you can jump on one of the side ones, depending on which way we want to go.’

Tori stared at him and then back at the boat. ‘You want me to jump up and down on a boat that’s made from oversized matchsticks? I don’t fancy our chances.’

‘There will also be balloons on the sides to help it float.’

‘Oh, why didn’t you say so? Balloons, of course!’ Tori said, dryly.

‘Of course, if you’re too scared…’ Aidan trailed off, clearly knowing she would take the bait.

She was supposed to be trying things outside of her comfort zone after all.

‘Oh, what the hell,’ Tori said. ‘I’m in. But if I fall in, you’ll be in big trouble, Aidan Jackson.’

He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her nose. ‘If you fall, I will catch you.’

‘You’re so smooth.’

‘And you love it.’

She smiled at him, because she really did.

---

‘So, are either of you making a boat for the boat race this year?’ Tori asked Melody and Isla as they wandered around the aquarium. Leo was walking with Elliot a little way ahead as Elliot excitedly pointed out the different animals.

‘The boats are made by all the local businesses and, as I don’t have a job, I’ve been let off the hook,’ Isla said. ‘Leo said I can go on his if I want but then Elliot would want to go as well, and I’d spend the whole time worrying he was going to fall in and drown. So, I think we’ll just cheer him on from the bank. Melody, have you made a boat?’ Isla asked, obviously knowing that she hadn’t.

‘No, you know I’m not the least bit practical when it comes to stuff like that. I’ll stand and cheer everyone else on,’ Melody said.

‘And hope that Jamie will give you a piece of his cake,’ Isla teased.

‘He’s not going to do that,’ Melody said. ‘Though if he offered it to me, I wouldn’t say no.’

Isla laughed. ‘What about you Tori, will you be hoping that Aidan gives you some of his cake?’

‘I’m going to be going on the boat with him actually, representing Heartberry Farm together. It’s very unlikely we’ll get to the island to get the cake, his boat looks like it’s made from matchsticks, but if we do manage to get to the island without drowning, we’ll share the cake,’ Tori said.

‘Oooh, you know what the villagers will make of that, don’t you,’ Melody teased. ‘There’s a lot of rumours about you two already, though I imagine a lot of that has to do with Agatha.’

Tori smiled. ‘I don’t care, they can make of it what they want, and if they want to talk about us, let them.’

‘That’s a very relaxed attitude from you,’ Melody said.

Tori shrugged. Nothing was going to bring down her happiness today.

‘And would there be any truth in those rumours?’ Isla asked, obviously noticing the huge smile on Tori’s face.

Tori hesitated. Would it be right to tell them the truth, when Matthew’s memorial had only happened the day before? She didn’t want to hurt them. But they already knew that she liked Aidan and she couldn’t lie to them. They had seen her hesitate anyway, so they knew that something was going on.

‘We slept together,’ Tori said, quietly.

There was no judgement or anger from her friends, only happiness and excitement. Melody went one step further and squealed with joy, which made both Leo and Elliot turn around with interest. Isla waved them on and Leo took the hint.

‘When was this?’ Isla whispered, though their voices seemed to echo around the glass walls of the aquarium.

‘Yesterday evening.’ Tori cringed over the timing of it happening after Matthew’s memorial. ‘And late last night after the berry-picking and, umm, this morning too.’

‘I’m so happy for you,’ Melody said. ‘So, you… like him?’

Tori smiled at Melody’s hope for a happy ending. ‘I really like him.’

‘This is fantastic,’ Isla said, linking arms with her. ‘You’re always so anti-relationships so I’m glad Aidan has found a way to knock your walls down.’

‘I don’t know if it will amount to anything, I leave in a few weeks,’ Tori said. ‘And he couldn’t live any further away from me. But I’m really happy right now and if there is something worth fighting for when I go home, we’ll make it work somehow.’

‘This is a big thing for Aidan as well,’ Isla said. ‘He hasn’t been involved with anyone since his fiancée ditched him at the altar a few years ago.’

‘Maybe you can help heal each other,’ Melody said, dreamily. ‘And rather selfishly, if it does work out between the two of you, then you’ll be here more often, and I’ll get to see you more.’

‘I want to come down and see you guys more often anyway. Being involved in that film was fantastic but I’ve always loved the freelance stuff and if I take on more of those projects I can do that anywhere. Regardless of what happens with Aidan, I promise I’ll make more of an effort from now on. But yes, being with him does have the bonus of seeing more of you.’

‘So… you slept together three times in less than twenty-four hours. Sounds like it was good sex?’ Isla asked, obviously fishing for details.

‘I’m not giving you a blow-by-blow account,’ Tori laughed. ‘No pun intended.’

‘Oh, come on,’ Melody said, linking her arm through Tori’s as well. ‘Just a few little morsels.’

‘OK.’ Tori paused, wondering how on earth she could find the right words to describe what had happened between her and Aidan. It wasn’t just sex and they both knew that. ‘It was amazing. It was like how sex is supposed to be, like how it is in the movies.’

‘What, passionate, urgent, tearing each other’s clothes off and sleeping with him on the nearest flat surface?’ Isla asked.

‘No, tender and sweet and… full of love.’

She saw their looks of surprise.

‘I know, I know, I shouldn’t be reading into this. It could just be a fling to him. I wasn’t looking for anything when I came here. He knows I’m leaving in a few weeks and he told me he’s not looking for anything serious. Lord knows that I probably shouldn’t be either, I swore off men ages ago. But there’s something about him that I just can’t walk away from. What we shared was something special, I can’t explain it but there was this connection there that I’ve never felt with anyone before.’

‘I can tell you really like him, your eyes are bright with happiness and I can’t remember the last time I saw you smile this much,’ Melody said.

‘I think it’s OK to have some fun and enjoy spending time with him without any labels or worrying about where it’s going,’ Isla said.

‘I suppose I’m still wary about getting hurt again. I was so scared of getting hurt when I was seeing Matthew and losing him was so painful. I don’t want to get carried away and start thinking it is what it isn’t. If I let myself fall in love with him, I know it will hurt even more when it comes to an end,’ Tori said, hating her cautious heart which was always there, striving to be heard.

‘If it comes to an end,’ Melody said.

‘I’m trying to hold myself back but if I don’t give it my all then that’s not giving this relationship a chance. I don’t know, it’s complicated,’ Tori sighed.

‘Only if you make it complicated,’ Melody said.

‘I agree, this will either work or it won’t,’ Isla said. ‘You might not fall in love with him. If after a few weeks, you realise this isn’t for you, then you can walk away relatively unscathed.’

‘But I don’t want to hurt him either. That’s the very last thing I want. I’d rather end things between us now than do anything to hurt him.’

Leo came over then, with Elliot swinging from his hand.

‘Elliot wants to go to the shark exhibit next. Well, specifically he wanted you to take him to see the sharks,’ Leo said, meaningfully.

Isla obviously took the hint that Leo wanted to speak to Tori without Elliot overhearing. She took Elliot’s hand.

‘Don’t ruin this for her,’ Isla whispered in his ear.

Leo shook his head. ‘I won’t, I promise.’

Isla took Elliot ahead of them, following the signs for the sharks, and Melody went with them. Tori and Leo followed slowly behind.

Tori waited for some kind of warning from Leo to stay away from Aidan or maybe he would make her feel guilty by mentioning Matthew. She wondered idly whether to mention the idea of the prank they wanted to play on Agatha, but it seemed somewhat redundant now that she had slept with Aidan. They were now together, and Agatha was sure to hear anyway.

‘I couldn’t help but overhear,’ Leo said, softly. ‘It echoes in here. So, it seems you owe me fifty pounds.’

Tori laughed with relief. ‘A price I’d happily pay.’

‘Aidan doesn’t get involved with women easily. He’s not a… fling sort of person. He swore off relationships years ago, same as you, so you are both taking a risk on each other. If he’s getting involved with you, it’s because he really likes you, because he sees something special in you. So, if your worry over this is that he might not feel the same way as you do, then I would very much doubt that to be true. Give him a chance, see where it goes. And if you think it doesn’t have a future, then tell him straight away, don’t string him along until the end of your visit. He’s a big boy, he can handle himself. Nothing hurts like being jilted at the altar by the woman he loved. If this was to end after a few weeks, I think he’ll be OK. It will hurt him obviously, but he will survive it. He chose to get involved with you, knowing you would be leaving, so he knows the risks.’

She thought about this and knew he was right.

‘Thank you,’ Tori said.

Leo shrugged. ‘I want him to be happy and I have a funny feeling you’re going to give him that, even if it does only last a few weeks.’

‘I’ll get you your money.’

Leo laughed. ‘Keep it. Besides, if the relationship does end up being a serious one, you’ll need the money to pay off Agatha in a year’s time.’

‘What?’ Tori asked in confusion.

‘Aidan had a bet with Agatha too. She thinks you’ll get married within the year.’

Tori laughed. ‘A year? That’s optimistic even if things do work out between us.’

‘Well keep your fifty pounds, just in case.’

Leo shoved his hand in his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. ‘This is the email Matthew wrote to you. Like I said, I have no idea if he intended to send it or not.’

She felt the smile fall from her face as she held it in her hands, feeling the weight of his words before she had even opened the page.

She unfolded it and stopped walking, so she could read. Leo waited for her a little way off.

---

---

Tori swallowed down the tears clogging in her throat. He was so right. She had no friends beyond Melody and Isla. When Melody had left London, she had been utterly alone. She’d never realised before that she hadn’t wanted to make more friends, that maybe, subconsciously, she was pushing people away.

---

---

Tori was almost sobbing by the time she got to the end of the email. Fear had held her back her entire life and she had let it ruin this wonderful relationship with her best friend, the man she loved. She had missed her chance with him, holding back, just like she’d done with Luc too.

Her dad walking out on her when she was a child, the first and only man she had loved with everything she had, had such huge implications on the rest of her life. But she knew she couldn’t let it affect her any more.

‘Ah come on, don’t cry,’ Leo said, awkwardly, as he approached. ‘Isla will give me hell thinking it was something I said that upset you. And as you know, Isla is not someone you get on the wrong side of.’

Tori laughed through her tears. ‘I’ll tell her it’s hay fever.’

‘She’ll see right through that one. Not too many flowers inside an aquarium.’

She laughed again, wiping her tears away. ‘I’ll put my sunglasses on, she’ll never know.’

‘Oh, like wearing sunglasses inside isn’t obvious,’ Leo complained, but it was clear he was only teasing her. He fell in at her side as they made their way slowly towards the sharks. ‘Did I do the right thing showing you that email?’ he asked, quietly.

She nodded.

‘And has it made any difference to how you feel about your relationship with Aidan?’

‘Actually, it has.’

Leo cringed. ‘That’s the last thing I wanted.’

‘No, Matthew was right, it’s time to stop running away and be brave for once.’

Leo let out a sigh of relief.