Second Chances at the Log Fire Cabin: A Christmas holiday romance for 2018 from the ebook bestseller. Catherine Ferguson

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      ‘No. But it’s fine. I’ve been online. I now know how to make a basic Victoria sponge cake and an apple crumble. So I should be okay. I’ll just do variations on the basic theme.’

      He nods slowly, studying me with laughter in his eyes. ‘And where is this place you’re working?’

      ‘It’s just along the road there, by the lake. You can see it through the trees.’ I point. ‘It’s that gorgeous chalet-type building over there. The Log Fire Cabin.’

      His eyes open in surprise. ‘You’re working for Poppy?’

      I frown at him. ‘Yes, but how did you—’

      ‘Did I hear my name mentioned?’

      I nearly jump out of my skin at the sound of Poppy’s voice.How much did she hear of my conversation with Alex? I was planning on breaking the news gently about my lack of baking skills but maybe the cat’s out of the bag now.

      ‘Hey, Poppy,’ says Alex, ‘I just scraped your new assistant here off the ice. I think she needs to brush up on her skills a little.’

      He gives me a huge, knowing grin and I flush scarlet. It’s fairly obvious he’s not just talking about the skating.

      But Poppy seems totally unaware. ‘Roxy rescued me in the supermarket when I was weeping over a bag of flour. Thank God. Because she might just have saved my bacon.’

      ‘Or your mince pies,’ points out Alex.

      Poppy nods. ‘Speaking of which, I’ve got the five hundred for tomorrow’s delivery to box up – plus we’ve got two hundred gingerbread men to ice. We’d better get cracking, Roxy!’

      She starts walking off. ‘See you at dinner, Alex!’

      I glance at Alex, perplexed.

      ‘I’m staying at the posh hotel here,’ he explains. ‘But I’ll be over at the Log Fire Cabin most nights. Poppy’s boyfriend, Jed, is one of my best mates from uni. We’re having a sort of Christmas reunion while I’m over here.’

      ‘Oh. Right. Well, I’ll probably see you later, then.’

      ‘You probably will. With a haircut.’ Alex grins as I hurry after Poppy.

      On impulse, I call back, ‘There’s nothing wrong with beach hair,’ and he gives me an impressed thumbs-up as if he totally agrees.

      I’ve been dreading meeting all the guests at the Log Fire Cabin. Having to talk to them and think of something interesting to say. But it feels a little less daunting now that I’ve met Jed’s friend, Alex.

      It will be nice having a friendly face around the place …

       Chapter 6

      Driving back along the road to the Log Fire Cabin, Poppy gives me a run-down of what I’ll be doing during my days here.

      ‘I really feel like I’m dumping you in at the deep end,’ she says, apologetically. ‘If it’s too much, just say so.’

      ‘No, honestly, it’s fine.’ The more hours I can spend at the Log Fire Cabin each day, the less time I’ll have to kick my heels at home, moping about Jackson, so I’ll get over him much faster. That’s the theory, anyway.

      ‘I haven’t spoiled your Christmas plans, I hope?’

      I shake my head and explain about Mum and Dad going off on a cruise. ‘My flatmate, Flo, is away, too, with her family. They’re spending the festive season in New York.’

      ‘Ooh, lucky Flo!’

      ‘I know.’

      ‘So … I thought if you could make the desserts, I’ll concentrate on the main courses and we can do the starter together. How does that sound?’

      ‘Good,’ I say, as my stomach turns several somersaults in quick succession. Isn’t there a dessert called Eton Mess? That sounds right up my street.

      As I park outside the house, I ask her how she first met Jed and her serious expression melts into a faraway smile.

      ‘He phoned me, thinking I was his brother’s girlfriend, Clemmy. He got the wrong number, you see. So he left a message inviting me – well, Clemmy – for Christmas. And, well, I phoned him back and told him he’d got the wrong number and we chatted …’ Her face is glowing just thinking about it.

      ‘So what happened?’

      ‘Well, I thought that was that. But there was something about his voice I really liked. And then I happened to be at the station when he was meeting Clemmy off the train.’

      She shoots me a glance, her cheeks colouring up. ‘When I say I “happened” to be there, I actually went to the station deliberately. I suppose I was curious to see Jed in person. And it all sort of fell into place after that.’

      ‘Did you talk to him?’

      ‘Yes. He found out I was setting up my dinner party business and he just happened to need a caterer for over the Christmas holidays – so that was it!’

      ‘How romantic.’

      She beams at me. ‘It was. I couldn’t quite believe it when we finally got together.’

      ‘And that was two years ago? And you’ve been together ever since?’

      Her smile slips. ‘Two years, yes,’ she murmurs, almost as if she’s forgotten I’m there.

      ‘Do you live at the Log Fire Cabin with Jed?’

      There’s a pause. Then she turns. ‘No, we don’t live together. I have my own flat in the village, although I stay over at Jed’s place once during the week. And most weekends.’

      ‘Lovely.’

      She nods. ‘Of course it makes sense for me to stay here every night until the baking contract ends at Christmas. But after that, it’s back to my own place!’ She smiles but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes.

      As we walk in the imposing entrance, with its modern, oak wood staircase rising up to the first-floor bedrooms, the man himself – Jed Turner – runs downstairs. Seeing Poppy, his handsome face spreads into a beaming smile.

      ‘Hey, you.’

      ‘Hey,’ she responds with a shy smile.

      ‘And you must be Roxy. I hope she’s treating you well?’

      ‘Oh, yes. Very well.’ I smile and we shake hands. Then he takes Poppy into a loose cuddle and plants a lingering kiss on top of her head.

      She relaxes fully into his embrace for just a moment. Then she pulls away. ‘Right. We have two hundred gingerbread men to ice.’ She reaches up and plants a quick kiss on his cheek. ‘Let’s СКАЧАТЬ