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Authors: Ariana Hawkes
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tonight though? I only live a few minutes away.”
“That would be lovely. If we’re not troubling you?” Raven said, worried about how much Lauren was putting herself out for two people that she didn’t know.
“Not at all. My husband is away at the moment, so I’d be very glad of the company,” Lauren said. “See you at 7.30?” She gave them the directions and left them with a cheery wave.
“She’s lovely isn’t she?” Caitlyn said as she drove off.
“Yeah, she’s amazing. We’re so lucky to have her looking out for us,” Raven replied happily. In that instant she dared imagine a happy future for herself in Hope Valley.
A few hours later, as dusk was falling, making it difficult to see the track among the trees, Raven and Caitlyn drove over to Lauren’s place. It was a very elaborate cabin, made from a cherry-colored wood, with gables and a gingerbread trim. It had two stories and a wrap-around porch. A spicy, tomatoey smell wafted out of the door as Lauren opened it to greet them.
Willow was hurtling around the house, evidently rejuvenated by her afternoon nap, but she stopped to greet them, surprising Raven by giving her a fierce hug.
“She’s always been very affectionate,” Lauren said, looking at her daughter fondly. “And energetic!” she added as Willow took off again. “She took her first step when she was eleven months old, and it’s been non-stop ever since!”
“She’s adorable,” Raven said, looking at the huge-eyed little girl with a flicker of envy. She was so broody, it was unreal. She’d always wanted kids, but had pushed the thought to the back of her mind, thinking that she had enough trouble finding a man, never mind creating a family. But in the past few weeks, the urge to have a baby had risen up in her, from nowhere, and she couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Lauren opened the bottle of wine that they’d brought and poured out three glasses.
“Thank goodness I’m not breastfeeding any more,” she said. “I need to relax a little after spending a whole day chasing around after this one.”
Raven took a sip of her wine, but she didn’t like the taste. Weird . The same thing had happened when they’d had beers a couple of days earlier. She’d swallowed a couple of mouthfuls of beer, but it had tasted sour and she’d ended up leaving it.
While they were chatting, there was a knock on the door.
“It’s open!” Lauren hollered. A very attractive man walked in, with golden brown hair and eyes almost the same shade. He was tall and well built, and had a commanding presence. Raven thought there was something feline about the way he moved, like a graceful lion or tiger.
“Hey,” he said with a grin.
“Hey, Magnus. This is Raven and Caitlyn. They’ve just moved to Hope Valley.”
“Great to meet you.” He shook hands with them with a confident smile.
“Do you need something, Magnus, or is this just a social call?”
“Well, both. It’s lovely to see you, as always. And I was wondering if I could borrow a cast iron pan? I’m cooking dinner for Andrea tonight, and I can’t find one anywhere.” Lauren flashed him an indulgent look and dug one out of the back of her cupboard.
“Clean it with salt as soon as you’re done with it,” she told him sternly.
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied.
“He’s hot,” Raven said when he’d left.
“He looks like a fashion model,” Caitlyn agreed.
“Hope Valley is kind of known for its good-looking guys,” Lauren said, and a secret smile flashed across her face, as if a pleasant idea had just popped into her head. Maybe it’s time I stopped thinking about Timo, and see what else Hope Valley has to offer, Raven thought to herself.
The food was ready soon, and Lauren ladled out steaming bowls of chicken pasta arrabiata.
“I hope you don’t mind having a pasta dish. It’s just that Connor is such a meat freak that we end up having roast or barbecued meat every day, and when he went away, I felt
“That would be lovely. If we’re not troubling you?” Raven said, worried about how much Lauren was putting herself out for two people that she didn’t know.
“Not at all. My husband is away at the moment, so I’d be very glad of the company,” Lauren said. “See you at 7.30?” She gave them the directions and left them with a cheery wave.
“She’s lovely isn’t she?” Caitlyn said as she drove off.
“Yeah, she’s amazing. We’re so lucky to have her looking out for us,” Raven replied happily. In that instant she dared imagine a happy future for herself in Hope Valley.
A few hours later, as dusk was falling, making it difficult to see the track among the trees, Raven and Caitlyn drove over to Lauren’s place. It was a very elaborate cabin, made from a cherry-colored wood, with gables and a gingerbread trim. It had two stories and a wrap-around porch. A spicy, tomatoey smell wafted out of the door as Lauren opened it to greet them.
Willow was hurtling around the house, evidently rejuvenated by her afternoon nap, but she stopped to greet them, surprising Raven by giving her a fierce hug.
“She’s always been very affectionate,” Lauren said, looking at her daughter fondly. “And energetic!” she added as Willow took off again. “She took her first step when she was eleven months old, and it’s been non-stop ever since!”
“She’s adorable,” Raven said, looking at the huge-eyed little girl with a flicker of envy. She was so broody, it was unreal. She’d always wanted kids, but had pushed the thought to the back of her mind, thinking that she had enough trouble finding a man, never mind creating a family. But in the past few weeks, the urge to have a baby had risen up in her, from nowhere, and she couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Lauren opened the bottle of wine that they’d brought and poured out three glasses.
“Thank goodness I’m not breastfeeding any more,” she said. “I need to relax a little after spending a whole day chasing around after this one.”
Raven took a sip of her wine, but she didn’t like the taste. Weird . The same thing had happened when they’d had beers a couple of days earlier. She’d swallowed a couple of mouthfuls of beer, but it had tasted sour and she’d ended up leaving it.
While they were chatting, there was a knock on the door.
“It’s open!” Lauren hollered. A very attractive man walked in, with golden brown hair and eyes almost the same shade. He was tall and well built, and had a commanding presence. Raven thought there was something feline about the way he moved, like a graceful lion or tiger.
“Hey,” he said with a grin.
“Hey, Magnus. This is Raven and Caitlyn. They’ve just moved to Hope Valley.”
“Great to meet you.” He shook hands with them with a confident smile.
“Do you need something, Magnus, or is this just a social call?”
“Well, both. It’s lovely to see you, as always. And I was wondering if I could borrow a cast iron pan? I’m cooking dinner for Andrea tonight, and I can’t find one anywhere.” Lauren flashed him an indulgent look and dug one out of the back of her cupboard.
“Clean it with salt as soon as you’re done with it,” she told him sternly.
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied.
“He’s hot,” Raven said when he’d left.
“He looks like a fashion model,” Caitlyn agreed.
“Hope Valley is kind of known for its good-looking guys,” Lauren said, and a secret smile flashed across her face, as if a pleasant idea had just popped into her head. Maybe it’s time I stopped thinking about Timo, and see what else Hope Valley has to offer, Raven thought to herself.
The food was ready soon, and Lauren ladled out steaming bowls of chicken pasta arrabiata.
“I hope you don’t mind having a pasta dish. It’s just that Connor is such a meat freak that we end up having roast or barbecued meat every day, and when he went away, I felt
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