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  Dora shrugged. ‘And admit my failures to you? No chance. And then I found out I quite liked working in the theatre. Think I’ve decided that’s what I want to do.’

  ‘Oh.’ Mike said it on a long breath, as if realising what she was saying. He stood up, reached a hand down to her and pulled her to him. ‘Always so proud.’ As she shivered against him, he added, ‘You’re cold.’

  ‘Well, if you were more of a gentleman, you’d have offered me your deckchair,’ Dora complained. ‘I’ve been sitting on the damp sand.’

  Mike stepped away, took off his shirt and wrapped it around her. He pulled the sleeves together in a knot, imprisoning her. ‘Better?’

  ‘Slightly.’

  ‘There’s something about you that makes me behave in a very ungentlemanly fashion, Dora.’

  ‘I’m very glad to hear it,’ she replied primly.

  He gave a slight laugh and kissed her.

  When she surfaced, she said, ‘You always kiss me as if it’s the last time you ever will.’

  ‘Another complaint, Dora?’

  ‘Not at all. I think you’d better kiss me again.’

  ‘Truth is, I never know whether it will be the last time I kiss you.’

  ‘Well, I’d better put you out of your misery, then,’ she said softly. ‘I’m definitely not going back to the States, Mike.’ She felt relief drain through him. ‘Was that what you were worried about?’

  He nodded. ‘Wasn’t sure if there was anything to keep you here.’

  ‘There’s you.’

  ‘What, a washed-up alcoholic theatre director? Am I good enough for you, Dora?’

  Dora nuzzled his stubbled chin. ‘A very talented theatre director and the only one I’ve ever wanted.’

  ‘I’m not easy to be with,’ he warned.

  ‘I don’t think I am either. But we’ll muddle through somehow. I hope your house in London is big enough,’ she added. ‘I appear to be homeless.’

  ‘Think we’ll muddle through somehow.’ Another firework shot over their heads. ‘How are you going to pay your rent, though?’ He grinned wickedly. ‘As well as being homeless, you appear to be unemployed too.’

  ‘Ah. Thought I’d sleep with a director I happen to know. I hear he’s putting on The Taming of the Shrew. Quite fancy myself as Katherina.’

  Mike pulled his arms around her more tightly. ‘Thought I might try out for Petruchio. I hear the leading lady is a right diva, but I reckon it would be fun sparring with her.’

  ‘Are you going to take me to London, then, Mike?’ Dora sighed as she snuggled into him.

  ‘Well, there’s one condition.’

  ‘What’s that?’

  ‘That you tell me you love me.’

  Dora sighed happily, the glow from a thousand shimmery firework stars illuminating her love. ‘Release me from this ridiculous shirt,’ she said, ‘And I’ll not only tell you but I’ll show you as well.’

  As they kissed, the fireworks soared above and beyond them and Dora was sure some shot right through her very being. She was lit up with love.

  ‘I love you, Mikey, Mike, Michael Love. And this is definitely not the last time you’ll ever kiss me. Not any more.’

  ‘Not any more, Dora,’ he said as he kissed her again. ‘Definitely not any more.’

  Chapter 48

  Millie stood on the edge of the terrace watching Mike and Dora kiss in the light of the fireworks. She was happy for them. A chill wind scurried around her bare legs. Shivering, she hugged her arms around her, determined not to feel lonely. Everyone else was coupled up. Arthur and Biddy, Albie and Ellie. Even Kirstie and Phil seemed to have forgotten their differences and were sitting in a dark corner, kissing.

  She wondered if she was in shock. She’d been functioning on auto-pilot ever since the phone call the other night. Ever since she’d made her decision.

  ‘Hello, Millie.’ It was Jed.

  Turning to his familiar form, she couldn’t help but reach out and wrap her arms around him. Although when he heard what she had to say it might be the last time she ever held him.

  ‘You’re freezing. Here, have this.’ He took off his jacket and placed it around her shoulders. ‘Good party. As always.’

  She nodded. ‘Thanks. Dora and Mike are really appreciative of all you’ve done. They said you haven’t stopped.’

  He gave her a sharp glance. ‘Not bad for someone who doesn’t know the meaning of hard work.’ Then he softened. ‘Sorry. Don’t want to pick an argument. Loved it all, to be honest. Think I might look into fund-raising for the new theatre. The Arts Centre too.’

  ‘Sounds great.’

  ‘Maybe we can join forces? Hold some events at the café?’

  ‘Maybe.’ Millie backed away from him a little to give her space. ‘Um. The thing is, I’m not sure I’ll be around.’

  ‘Why, where are you going?’ Then he saw her expression. ‘Jeez, Millie, what’s going on?’

  Millie took an enormous breath and said in a rush, ‘Look, there’s no easy way to say this, so I might as well come straight out with it. Clare’s parents have offered to buy Millie Vanilla’s off me.’

  Jed collapsed onto the wall. He was silent for a long time. Then, shaking his head in disbelief, he added, ‘When did all this happen?’

  ‘They rang me the other night. I’ve been thinking about what to do ever since.’

  ‘Is this anything to do with our argument? Christ, Millie, this has come out of the blue.’

  A rocket shot over the bay, screaming maniacally. Millie was beginning to hate fireworks. They seemed to be the backdrop to every emotional scene in her life.

  ‘It’s nothing to do with us, Jed.’

  ‘Then why didn’t you talk it over with me?’

  ‘I don’t know, really.’ Millie sighed. ‘We’ve all been so busy rescuing Persuasion that there hasn’t been the time and I suppose it is my business.’

  ‘I’ve never thought otherwise, Millie.’

  Was there an edge to his voice? Millie couldn’t blame him. ‘No, I know.’ She sat next to him and took his hand. ‘The thing is, it could be my chance to get away from Berecombe for a bit. I’ve been thinking it over a lot recently.’ She leaned against him, relishing his solidity. ‘I’ll try to explain, although it doesn’t make sense to me either. For years I thought my parents would want me to carry on the business in their memory. I thought it would have made them happy, but now I’m not so sure.’ Millie frowned out into the night. ‘I’m not happy, Jed. I don’t think I’ve been happy for a long time. And I’m sure my parents wouldn’t want that.’

  ‘What are you going to do?’ Jed’s voice was strained.

  Millie straightened her shoulders. ‘I’m going to travel. Do all those things everyone else I know has done. I’m going to ask Dora if I can borrow her villa in Siena so, to start with, I thought I’d have a holiday.’

  ‘I could have come with you, Millie.’

  ‘I know.’ She tightened her hold on his hand. ‘But I think I need to do this myself. For myself.’ She willed him to say the right thing. If he begged her to stay, she just might.

  After a long pause Jed nodded. ‘I understand.’

  ‘Thank you, Jed.’

  ‘What are you going to do with Trevor?’

  ‘Biddy and Arthur are going to look after him. He loves Arthur.’

  ‘Let me take him, Millie. He loves me too.’

  Millie turned to him. ‘Would you do that?’

  ‘For you? Of course. I’m staying around, Millie. I’ll be here when you come back.’

  Millie felt the tears begin. ‘I can’t promise I’ll know what I’ll want when I come back.’

  ‘Then we’ll work it out,’ he said simply. Lifting her hand he kissed her wrist. ‘We’ll work it out together.’

  Above them a shower of red fired up the sky and then died to black.

  Acknowledgements

  A huge thank you to Julia and Natalie for the seasidey details and putting up wi
th my endless questions. Wendy Lou Jones and Evonne Wareham for talking me through the idea and Bella Osborne for her workshop on plotting with Post-its which started the whole thing off. Margaret Graham for many of Biddy’s sayings. Lynn Forth for all the giggles and the slut-red chardonnay jelly recipe and my Mum for raiding her memory for old-fashioned bakes. Also, many thanks must go to Michele Clack who diligently researched designer fashion. Finally, grateful thanks for the love and support of The Anti-Doubt Crows – and for putting up with me at meetings. I’ll be quiet next time.

  Coming Soon from Georgia Hill

  Christmas Weddings, Millie Vanilla’s Cupcake Café Book Three

  About the Author

  Georgia Hill writes rom-coms and historical fiction and is published by Harper Impulse, the digital-first imprint of HarperCollins.

  She divides her time between the beautiful counties of Herefordshire and Devon and lives with her two beloved spaniels, a husband (also beloved) and a ghost called Zoe. She loves Jane Austen, eats far too much Belgian chocolate and has a passion for Strictly Come Dancing.

  You can find out more about Georgia at her website, www.georgiahill.co.uk, or on Twitter @georgiawrites.

  About HarperImpulse

  HarperImpulse is an exciting new range of romance fiction brought to you from the women’s fiction team at HarperCollins. Our aim is to break new talent from debut authors and import the hottest trends from the US, bringing you the very best in romance. Whether that is through short reads for your mobile phone or epic sagas that span the generations we want to proudly publish romance fiction that gets everybody talking.

  Romance readers, come and meet the team at our website www.harperimpu‌lseromance.com, our Facebook page www.facebook.com/HarperImpulse or follow us @HarperImpulse!

  Writers, we are simply looking for good stories! So, what are you waiting for? To submit, e-mail us at [email protected].

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