Read Online The Love Resort by Faith Bleasdale - Free Book Online Page B

tired, but fought sleep, in case she appeared. However, as images of Marcus flooded his head, he was soon dreaming.
    *
    ‘Abigail, are you there?’ Anne-Marie trilled as she opened the front door to her publisher’s bungalow.
    ‘Hold on,’ Abigail shouted back.
    Anne-Marie tapped her foot as she waited. ‘Oh, gosh, darling, sorry, were you asleep?’ she asked, as Abigail walked out and shut the bedroom door behind her.
    ‘I must have dropped off. You know, too much wine with dinner.’
    ‘Oh, well, share a glass of champagne with me. I want to tell you about our guests.’ Anne-Marie waved a bottle in front of her face; she could have sworn she saw Abigail sigh.
    ‘Of course, let’s go on to the terrace. Tell me all.’ Abigail opened the champagne, and poured two glasses.
    Anne-Marie decided she must have imagined it.
    ‘They are so beautiful and glamorous, and such perfect manners. I cannot tell you how wonderful they are going to be—I mean when they’re translated into my main characters. He’s tall, dark and handsome, with twinkly eyes and a smile that would melt stone. She’s beautiful in a cultivated way. I thought that the story would be the glamorous model that falls in love with the man who wants to live a simple life away from the cameras and the fame. They are opposites. She loves the limelight; he wouldn’t know how to deal with it.’
    ‘I thought he was going to be an actor?’
    ‘No, too much like the real him. No, I thought I would make him a sort of eccentric hermit, but very rich, of course. Family money.’
    ‘Darling, it all sounds wonderful, but shouldn’t you be writing it down?’
    ‘Oh, I will, all in good time. Now the model is a bit hard at first but she softens with love. I mean, she won’t be a bitch or anything, you’ll see her vulnerability from the word go.’
    ‘It sounds super,’ Abigail replied, as she drained her glass.
    *
    ‘They’re here and in their bungalow,’ Ed said.
    ‘Anne-Marie?’ Lily needed to be sure.
    ‘She’s gone to see Abigail.’
    ‘Should give us at least an hour.’
    ‘Then let’s not waste it.’
    Afterwards she lay in his arms, stroking his hair tenderly. ‘How was the couple’s talent competition?’ he asked.
    ‘Horrible. So many couples, so little talent.’
    ‘As usual. So how did you judge?’
    ‘Well, it’s a bit naughty, but the Butlers—you know, that really overweight couple? Well, they did a duet, as Sonny and Cher. I was almost dying with laughter so I thought they deserved to win.’ They both snickered.
    ‘Well, soon we will be away from here and you’ll never have to judge another competition.’
    ‘You know, in a weird, warped kind of way I might miss this place.’
    Ed laughed. ‘Yeah, but not enough to make us want to stay.’
    ‘Jesus, no.’ At that moment she would give everything up in a second for him. Soon she would feel this happy all the time, and she couldn’t believe her luck.
     

 
    9
     
    How To Get To Us
    Direct flights depart from the UK and USA twice a week with two major airlines (see next page for times and prices).
    Transfers will be arranged with your booking. The Love Resort is only a twenty-minute drive from the airport, affording you the chance to admire the island* as you begin your holiday.
    The Love Resort Booking Form
    * If you arrive at night, you may not have enough visibility to admire the island.
    *
    ‘Passports, confirmation letter, insurance, mosquito cream, suntan lotion, after-sun lotion, plasters. I think that’s everything,’ Emily Watts said, as she handed the overstuffed bag to Jimmy Dorsea. The suitcases were already in the car and they were about to set off for the airport. They had to be there at eleven and although Jimmy estimated it would take, at most, four hours from their home in North Devon to Gatwick at that time in the morning, Emily had insisted on allowing five. ‘Just in case,’ she said. He hadn’t argued, mainly because there was little point in