Page 96 of Suddenly Beck

‘I don’t deserve you.’

‘Yes, you do.’ I smile softly. ‘Believe me, I’m no great catch, but you... you’re the best man I’ve ever known.’

‘You’re perfect.’ He slides his arms around me, drawing me in close until you couldn’t slide a piece of paper between us. ‘Nat, I thought I knew what love was, but what I felt for Mattia all those years ago is nothing to how I feel about you. You’re the love of my life.

‘Beck,’ I exhale sharply as he grazes my lips with his own. ‘I’ve put my flat in London on the market. I want to stay here with you if you’ll have me?’

‘Are you kidding?’ he breathes. ‘I’m never letting you go.’

‘I love you,’ I whisper against his lips.

‘I love you right back.’ He grins, laying a soft kiss full of promise on my lips. ‘You’re coming to live with me at the cottage, right?’ He pulls back and looks at me tenderly.

‘I don’t know.’ I bite my lip. ‘I was thinking about renting a place. I don’t want to ruin what we have by rushing things.’

‘Nat, it’s not going to ruin anything.’

‘You don’t think it’s too soon?’ I frown worriedly, even though my stomach is tightening in anticipation, and my heart is thundering with the thought of living with the man I love.

‘I’ll remodel the kitchen for you,’ he teases.

‘Oh, I don’t know.’ I wrap my arms around his neck and smile as I kiss him again. ‘After two months of cooking in there, I find I’m quite fond of that travesty you call a kitchen.’

‘Come and live with me, Nat,’ he says seriously. ‘Grow old with me in our cottage overlooking the bay.’

I can’t help the smile that curves across my face.

‘Yes,’ I reply simply.

I hear a loud pop and turn to find Jesse, Ryan and Mel holding glasses and a bottle of champagne.

‘I think this calls for a celebration.’ Mel laughs delightedly. ‘Welcome to the family, Nat. None of us are letting you go; you officially belong to us now.’

My heart warms, and everything inside me fills as I stare at Beck and see endless love and possibilities.

Epilogue

Nat

Welcome to the first annual festival of the sea…

‘Hey, baby,’ I croon softly to our little grey kitten. I named her Artemis, after the Goddess of the Wild, and who, at the moment, seems content to just sit on the horrendous beige kitchen counter watching as I wipe down and switch off the coffee machine.

She mewls adorably and butts my hand with her little blunt nose. Once Jesse and Joss had announced the kittens they were fostering were ready to be homed, Beck surprised me by bringing home the gorgeous little grey tortoise shell girl I was madly in love with. I’ve never had a pet of my own before, and although, she’s technically both of ours, we all know secretly Artie’s mine. She follows me around the house like my shadow.

Ursula’s not sure, although she’s great with other animals, I think she’s a little thrown by the new pecking order in the house. Artie maybe tiny, but she’s bossy. There were a rough couple of days when we first brought her home, but now Urse and Artie have come to some sort of agreement… that agreement being that they live in a permanent state of mutual mistrust and suspicion.

‘Come on, Artie.’ I scoop her up with one hand, cradling her into my chest as I head into the mud room and tuck her in her bed.

It’s going to be a long day today with the launch of the festival, so I have no idea what time Beck and I will be home later. I have Joss checking in with Ursula and Artie later on, but as Artie is still so tiny and new to the house, I don’t want to give her free reign while we’re not here.

Making sure she’s got food and water and her litter tray, I back out slowly and close the door. As I turn around, Ursula is sitting there staring at me, her tongue lolling out, and I swear she’s laughing at Artie being locked up while she gets free run of the house.

‘You’re so bad,’ I laugh, stroking her head as I pass, checking she’s also got plenty of water. ‘Joss will be by later,’ I tell her as I grab my hat and slap it on my head at a jaunty angle. Giving her a wink, I head out of the cottage and lock the door behind me.

It’s a glorious day, the sky is as blue as the ocean, the sunlight rippling off the waves and making them shimmer like hundreds of tiny crystals. Although it’s only mid-morning, the air is warm and filled with the scent of brine and summer.

I draw in a deep contented breath, and I can feel the smile etched into my face. This beautiful place is my home. I glance back at the shabby little sea cottage behind me, and my belly warms. Still, I can’t spend all day mooning around like an idiot. It’s the first day of the festival, and it’s going to be a crazy one.