Read Online Sealed with a Christmas Kiss by Rachael Lucas - Free Book Online Page A

the cushion she was hugging for a moment. There had been a point a few months back when they’d come seriously close to walking away – when the
stark reality of being responsible just seemed too much for Roddy to cope with. The repair bill for the roof lining had been so steep that they’d both seriously considered giving it up,
starting afresh somewhere else, leaving the house to become a tourist attraction and not a home. Kate had been the one to talk Roddy into staying when he’d wanted to sell up, walk out, and
have a normal life. She’d reminded him how many families relied on the estate for their livelihood, the tenant farmers who’d lived there all their lives, the workers at the fishery and
the forestry. If they had given up, they’d have been making a choice for everyone.
    Knowing when to keep quiet, Susan reached across, topping up Kate’s glass as she stared into the flames.
    Susan had a point – all right, several of them, really. Kate had spent so many nights here when she’d first moved to the island, texting Emma back home in England, desperately trying
to disguise her homesickness. Then, as the months had moved on, she’d settled into island life, and to coming home in the evenings to this little sofa where she’d sat, curled up with a
hot chocolate, watching DVDs or re-reading her favourite books. It seemed so tiny in here now, compared to the vast sitting room at Duntarvie House. That room’s fireplace alone would take up
half the wall in here. It had been a real shock to the system, moving from such a tiny cottage into the big house.
    ‘Did I ever tell you about my wedding day?’
    Kate shook herself out of her thoughts, focusing again on Susan, who was leaning back against the cushions, fingers linked together, her arms stretched out above her head. She looked like a
cat.
    ‘I’ve seen photos. It looks like it was a gorgeous day—’
    ‘Ah, the camera lies. My dad got drunk and flirted with one of the bridesmaids. I cried all morning because the flower arrangements weren’t perfect. Tom cut himself shaving and had a
piece of loo roll stuck on his chin for half the getting-ready photos – his best man thought it was so funny he didn’t tell him. It was a total nightmare, if I’m
honest.’
    ‘You’re not really selling the idea to me.’ Kate gave half a smile.
    ‘No, but it’s the first time since I got here I’ve seen your face crack.’ Susan clinked her wine glass against Kate’s.
    ‘You don’t think I’d be taking a massive risk?’ Kate swirled her wine, watching the liquid whirlpool round, talking half to herself.
    ‘You only get one life, Kate. You took the leap and moved up here in the first place. Don’t bottle it now.’
    Kate put down her glass, taking a deep breath with closed eyes. She’d given up her old life and moved to the island of Auchenmor. There was a gorgeous man standing in a castle right now
who happened to love her. A bloody
castle.
And a Christmas wedding would be really quite gorgeous . . .
    ‘Right. You’re right. What’s the worst that can happen?’
    ‘That’s the spirit. I’m going to text Tom, tell him to let Roddy know you’ve not hijacked a rowboat to make your way back to the mainland.’
    ‘I should probably text him myself . . . ’
    ‘Let him sweat a bit,’ said Susan, authoritatively. ‘Keep him on his toes. Meanwhile, I’ve got a leave pass for tonight and we’ve got a ton of wine and chocolate to
get through – we can call this an impromptu hen night.’

5
Moving Backwards
    Kate woke as the low morning sun hit her in the face. Opening her eyes, she felt the light burn into her head like a hot knife. She screwed them closed again, groaning. Her
mouth was dry as sand and her back completely rigid. This wasn’t bed. She tried to turn around, but instead of Roddy’s sleeping form, there were the back cushions of the sofa. The
cottage sofa – where she’d – oh, God.
    The fire was a pile of cold grey ash