Page 100 of Delicious (Delicious #1)

Chapter Four

Kelly

T he cottage is quiet after Ashley leaves, the warmth from the fire crackling in the background. I should feel uneasy having David here after so long, but I don’t. Not really. If I’m being honest with myself, and that’s something I don’t like to do often, I’m more than a little pleased at how jealous he was at the thought of me with someone else.

David McCraig has always been a master at keeping his emotions locked up tight, his face unreadable. But tonight, when he thought Ashley was my boyfriend, it had been written all over his face. The tensed jaw, the clipped words, the way his fingers curled into fists before he could stop himself. I’d seen him like that only a few times before. One of the occasions was in a bakery in London when he had gone to the counter to order me a poppyseed muffin, and a rather attractive man had sidled over to me and asked me for my number. I’d politely declined his request and pointed towards my husband at the counter whose face was like thunder, shooting daggers out of his eyes at the muscled Adonis. If nothing else, it’s proof that I’m not the only one still haunted by the past.

I clear my throat and move toward the kitchen. “I’ll make us both some tea, shall I?”

David doesn’t protest, so I take that as agreement. I retrieve a metal teapot from the cabinet and place it on a floral tray with a silver pot containing sugar with an intricately designed spoon and a small jug of milk. I collect two cups from the neighbouring cabinet which completes the tray. As the kettle hums, I take a steadying breath, trying to collect myself. It’s been over a year since I last saw him, and yet, sitting across from him now, it feels as if no time has passed at all. Which is ridiculous. Time has passed. We are no longer the people we were. And yet, here he is. And here I am, making him tea, like this is just another quiet night between us.

I bring the tray into the lounge, setting it down on the wooden coffee table. The fire bathes the room in a golden glow, the shadows flickering along the stone walls. I press play on my phone, and the familiar strum of an old folk song fills the space. Something soft, something easy. We need easy right now.

David takes the tea with a quiet nod, settling back into the armchair across from me. We sit in silence for a moment, the tension from earlier still lingering, but not as sharp.

"So, what do you do these days?" he asks, finally breaking the silence.

I take a sip of my tea before answering. "Mostly large animal vet work. A lot of farm visits, emergency call-outs. It’s not glamorous, but I love it."

He nods, as if he'd expected that. "Still in Yorkshire?"

"Yeah. Filey’s still home," I say, then add with a smirk, "though you wouldn’t last a week there."

David huffs out a laugh, shaking his head. "Please, I survived estate management at Shropshire. I think I could handle it."

"Mmm. Estate management doesn’t involve fixing a prolapsed cow at three in the morning."

David makes a face. "Fair point… you did wash your hands before making this tea didn’t you?”

I bark out a laugh and make a show of presenting my hands to him on both sides. “Clean as a whistle.”

Silence stretches between us again, but it’s not entirely uncomfortable. We sip our tea, listening to the fire crackle, to the quiet strains of music in the background. "And you?" I ask after a while. "What’s life like in the big, grand world of the McCraig’s?"

He lets out a slow breath, staring into the fire. "Busy. Tiresome. A never-ending cycle of meetings, investments, and dealing with my parents’ expectations."

I hum in response, not surprised in the least. "You always did love a challenge."

"Not this kind." He shifts, looking at me now. "What about you? Any new romances I should be aware of?" The question is casual. Too casual.

I raise an eyebrow. "You mean, aside from my devastatingly attractive boyfriend?" David glares, and I can’t help but laugh. "Relax. Ashley’s just a friend. And no, there’s no one."

Something flickers in his gaze, but he doesn’t comment. Instead, he leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "I never thought you’d come back here."

"I never thought I would either," I admit. "But Liam… he was important to me. I couldn’t ignore this."

David exhales through his nose, nodding. "Yeah. He would’ve wanted you here."

We fall into silence again, and for a moment, I think maybe, just maybe, things between us aren’t completely broken. That maybe, under all the hurt and history, there’s something worth salvaging. But then David straightens, setting his empty cup down. "I should go."

I nod, even though I don’t want him to. I follow him to the door, the cold night air rushing in as he steps outside. He hesitates before turning back to me, something unreadable in his expression. "What do I do to make you stop loving me?" The question knocks the breath from my lungs.

I open my mouth, but before I can answer, the front door swings open, and Ashley steps in, shaking off the cold. "Whew, it’s freezing out there," he says, rubbing his arms. "Oh, am I interrupting something?" His gaze flickers between me and David, and for the first time tonight, I see a brief flash of relief cross David’s face.

David clears his throat. "I should go."

Ashley grins. "Oh, don’t leave on my account. I love a good dramatic reunion."

David just shakes his head, offering me a final glance before stepping outside. He mounts the quad bike, the engine roaring to life, and within seconds, he’s gone, disappearing into the dark expanse of the estate.

I exhale, running a hand through my hair.

Ashley closes the door behind him, shoving his hands into his pockets. "So, that was intense."

I let out a dry laugh, shaking my head. "Yeah."

He tilts his head, watching me. "You okay?"

I should say yes. I should brush it off, pretend that seeing David again hasn’t done something irreversible to me. But I can’t. Instead, I lean against the door, staring at the spot where David had been standing only moments ago. "Maybe coming back here wasn’t such a bad idea after all."

Ashley grins. "Took you long enough to admit it."

I roll my eyes, but I can’t stop the small smile tugging at my lips. Because, for the first time in a long while, I think he might be right.