One Summer in Cornwall by Karen King (best books to read for success .TXT) 📕

was a ‘just got out of bed’ kiss. And if the kiss didn’t prove he had just got out of bed, his tousled hair and half-naked body certainly did. How could he?

She parked her bike up in the back yard and let herself in, expecting to hear Buddy squawk ‘Where you been?’ as soon as she stepped foot into the lounge, then realised Marcus had him. Damn, that meant he’d be bringing him back soon and right now Marcus was the last person she wanted to see. She felt such a fool, there she’d been, thinking of him all weekend, missing him, wishing she wasn’t leaving, whereas he hadn’t given her a moment’s thought, he was too busy bedding Estelle.

You don’t own him. You both agreed to be ‘friends only’, remember. And now he isn’t working for the Thomwells, Estelle isn’t the daughter of a client any longer, so perhaps he’s decided to date her. And he had every right to. He was single. He could date who he wanted.

She had to forget about him. She had her own future to work out. And she wasn’t going to waste a moment of it thinking about Marcus, that was for sure!

What was she going to do, though? She felt lost. Adrift.

She looked up as she heard a knock on the front door. That was probably Marcus bringing Buddy back. Well, she was going to keep cool and not let on that it had bothered her seeing him kiss Estelle. Not that it had; she was over it.

‘Hi, Hattie. Glad to see you back.’ He was holding the travel cage with Buddy inside it, and looked a bit awkward. ‘Look, sorry about that with Estelle . . .’

‘You don’t have to explain, you’re perfectly entitled to kiss your girlfriend.’

‘She isn’t my girlfriend.’ He sounded frustrated.

‘Oh, of course she isn’t, you don’t have girlfriends, do you? You just have friends that you sleep with now and again . . .’ she retorted.

Marcus recoiled as if she had slapped him across the face. ‘Lady Thomwell came to pick up my painting for the exhibition. I managed to get it finished in time and Estelle—’

She cut him short. She knew what she’d seen and didn’t want to hear his lies. ‘I don’t want to know. You don’t have to explain to me. I’m just a friend. And I won’t be here much longer. When this cottage is sold, I’m going to France, so you can see who you want. Fill your boots.’ She held out her hand. ‘I’ll take Buddy. Thank you for looking after him.’

‘Hattie, you’ve got it all wrong,’ Marcus protested.

‘It really isn’t important. If I could just have Buddy.’

‘At least let me transfer Buddy into the big cage for you.’ Marcus walked past her and carried the cage into the lounge. Hattie watched sulkily as he opened the cage doors and Buddy hopped into the big one. Then he put the travel cage down and turned to Hattie. ‘If you’d just let me explain . . .’

‘I don’t want to hear it. Please go.’

His eyes held hers and she saw the spark of anger in them, the tight set of his jaw. Tough, she didn’t want to hear his excuses. He could do what he liked with his life.

‘If that’s what you want,’ he said.

‘It is.’

She showed him out and shut the door behind him. Then she went back into the lounge, curled up on the sofa and cried.

Finally, her tears spent, she got up, wiped her eyes, and put the kettle on for a coffee. After Adam, she’d promised herself that she would never let a man break her heart again, and now look at her. Marcus wasn’t worth it any more than Adam had been. She was going to pull herself together and get on with her life.

She’d just sat down with her cup of coffee, when her phone rang. It was her mum; Hattie guessed she must be back from the cruise now.

‘Hello, darling. How are you? I’ve been dying to call you but the reception on the ship has been terrible,’ Caroline said. ‘Have you managed to sort out somewhere to live? You know that you’re welcome here.’

‘I know, Mum. Thanks. Dad said that too.’

‘Really? Are you both on better terms, then?’

‘I guess we’ve had to have more contact because of selling the cottage. And Nick came over to help me.’ She filled her mother in on what had been happening the last few weeks while she had been sailing around the Caribbean.

‘I’m pleased that you’re both getting on.’ There was a pause, then she continued, ‘I’m sorry if you felt that you had to take my side when we divorced and that’s why you didn’t see more of your dad. That wasn’t fair of me. I was just so hurt.’

That was a first, her mother apologising! ‘It’s okay, Mum. I was angry with him too.’

‘Well, it was all a long time ago, and I’m happy with Howard, so time to let it all go. I’d be delighted if you wanted to come and spend some time with us while you sort yourself out, but I won’t mind in the least if you decide to visit your father instead. I promise you. I want you to do what’s best for you. I want you to be happy.’

Hattie swallowed the lump in her throat. ‘Thanks, Mum. Now, tell me all about your holiday.’

They chatted away for a while, exchanging news.

‘Call me soon, let me know how you’re getting on, and what you’ve decided to do,’ her mother said as she ended the call.

‘I will,’ Hattie promised.

That was her priority, deciding what to do. And, as her mother said, she had to do what was best for her. This was her life.

‘Hello, Hattie!’ Buddy suddenly squawked. ‘Hello, Hattie!’

Hattie spun around in surprise. He’d actually learnt to say it. ‘Hello, Buddy!’ she said.

She got up and walked over to the cage. Buddy was hopping along the branch, squawking, obviously happy to