Chapter Two
January 2015
Mallory awoke to a bright, January Saturday morning. She blinked a few times to acclimatise her eyes to the sun streaming through the ridiculously thin curtains. Sam was wrapped around her, his naked limbs tangled in the cotton sheets and one buttock peeking out. She suppressed a giggleandthe urge to spank him quickly to rouse him from his slumber.
Stretching her arms above her head, she thought back to last night’s delicious lovemaking. Sam had been even more attentive than usual, which was saying something. He was averyattentive lover under normal circumstances, but last night she had felt as though he was on some kind of mission. Or was he thanking her for agreeing to ‘think’ about the move to Scotland, to their dream cottage? Maybe he was trying to convince her. But who was she kidding? She needed no convincing. Truthfully the more she thought about it the more excited she became. She knew for a fact that they’d be moving, lock, stock and barrel if they could only secure the deal before some other lucky so-and-so beat them to it. Maybe she should speak to Josie – her voice of reason – before telling Sam to go ahead and book an appointment to see the house.
Realising she needed to go to the bathroom, she slid out of bed, as carefully as was possible considering she was pretty much wearing a six foot two male about her person. She grabbed her fluffy robe and shrugged it on, tiptoeing across the floor and out into the hallway.
When she returned to the bedroom, Sam was gone, but there was the distinct sound of out-of-tune wailing and whistling coming from elsewhere in the little cottage. She giggled and grabbed her mobile from her bedside to text Josie.
Hey hun, Sam has finally lost the plot. Will fill you in later.
A reply came immediately.
Haha! It’s all that maple syrup he chugs!
Rolling her eyes and smirking to herself at Josie’s comment, she drifted down the stairs to find her gorgeous man clattering around the kitchen with serious intent.
Caterwauling, as only Sam could, along with the sounds of Radio 2, he was oblivious to Mallory’s presence in the room. She stood silently watching him as he danced around and sang into the coffee scoop along with Bon Jovi’s ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’. He really was a delight to behold. His grey checked ‘lounge’ pants – he wouldn’t be seen dead in pyjamas, he had once told her – hanging low around his hips and his unruly bed-hair, sticking out at all angles. She sighed and suddenly felt the need to hold him.
Wandering over silently and standing behind him as he waited for the kettle to boil, Mallory slid her arms around his smooth skin, kissing his back as she did so. Through the kitchen window she could see Ruby outside chasing and yapping at any bird that dared to land in her tiny patch of territory.
‘Well, good morning, Miss Mallory Yorksher.’ The pet name had stuck from their very first encounter, even though they had been engaged for a while and she was soon to be Mrs Sam Buchanan. ‘Did ya sleep well?’
‘How could I not sleep well?’ she replied with a raise of her eyebrows.
‘Oh, I just wondered if you had maybe been lying awake, you know, thinking about little Highland cottages, or maybe mentally setting out your new workshop.’ He turned to embrace her and gently kissed the top of her head.
Although the decision was all but cemented in her mind she knew Sam would run ahead full pelt if she let him know. No, she would talk things through with Josie first. ‘I said I’dthinkabout it Sam, but that’s all,’ she reminded him sternly.
‘I know, I know,’ he sighed, turning around as the kettle clicked off.
She felt a pang of guilt at his obvious sadness. What could it hurt, really? It was something they had dreamed about since they visited Scotland the first time. Admittedly she never expected they’d be able to fulfil the dream until later in life, but hey, as Sam had said, why wait?
Okay, so it would mean a totally different lifestyle and a fresh start. Ruby had loved the beaches up there and the open spaces would be ideal for the little dog. No doubt initially they would be overrun with guests, maybe for the first year, until the novelty wore off for family and friends travelling such a distance. But it would be their very own little piece of paradise. Maybe it wasn’t everyone’s idea of paradise. Scotland wasn’t renowned for its tropical weather, but that really didn’t matter a jot. It was their dream location –theirs.
The mountains reminded her of her father and the lochs reminded Sam of the great lakes – albeit on a smaller scale. Sam had dreamed of writing a book since before he met Mallory; he had a head full of amazing ideas, but never had the time to get them down. Plus, it wasn’t as if they couldn’t afford to take the leap. But it was scary. It was a huge change. But the more she thought about it, the more the butterflies in her tummy danced the soft shoe shuffle. She was excited. She wanted to do it, but there were so many things to consider. Railway Terrace had been a gift from her parents and parting with it would be hard. And what would Josie and Brad think about her moving so far away? Would Josie even want to runLe Petit Cadeau?
They sat at the little kitchen table munching on toasted bagels and cream cheese, drinking freshly brewed coffee, as was their weekend ritual. Sam was chatting away, keen to plan the day ahead. Mallory, on the other hand, was finding it hard to concentrate on Sam’s suggestions to jump in the car and take a trip to the seaside for some fresh air and good old Scarborough fish ’n’ chips. She was consumed with toing and froing over the minutiae of the possible move in her mind. Josie and Brad were her best friends in the world. They would want whatever made her happy. And being with Sam made her happy. She knew deep down that they would completely understand.
‘Penny for ’em?’ Sam finally gave up on his one-way conversation when he realised that Mallory’s eyes had glazed over and she sat in an almost trance-like stupor.
Suddenly Mallory jumped up. ‘We should go see it,’ she blurted out the thoughts in her head.
‘Are you saying what I think you’re saying, Mally? You want to go and view the cottage?’ Sam’s eyes danced like fiery green amber. His excitement expressed throughout his whole body.
‘Yes!’ she gasped and lurched over to him. She flung her arms around his neck, knowing that he had only ever wanted the best for her. ‘A million times, yes! Get the phone quick, ring the agent.’
‘You know you’re going to fall in love with the place, don’t you?’
‘Just ring the agent before I come to my senses.’
Sam grasped Mallory in a strong embrace and covered her face with kisses. She laughed uncontrollably, almost hysterically, at the realisation of what they had just decided. It was only the first step. But it was immense.
‘Have I told you how much I love you, Miss Mallory Yorksher?’ he whispered breathlessly into her hair.
‘Yes, but tell me again.’ She stared into his loving gaze, eager to hear his words.
