Page 118 of The Village Inn of Secret Dream

‘I’ve had a brilliant idea,’ he said, coming to stand next to her in the bar.

‘Was it to give me a kiss?’ she asked.

‘Always,’ he told her, taking her in his arms and bending down to kiss her. She would spend the rest of life wanting one more kiss from him.

‘Mmm,’ she said, when they finally drew apart. ‘So what was your great idea?’

‘I want to run a weekly lunch club for the most needy in the community,’ he told her. ‘I thought that it would be a bit more sociable for those that would like to get out a bit more. What do you think?’

Belle was thrilled. She flung her arms around his shoulders. ‘I think it’s an amazing idea,’ she said, giving him a kiss. ‘You’re wonderful.’

‘You’re not so bad yourself,’ he murmured, drawing her in to kiss her again with a fierce hunger.

‘Just think,’ said Belle, her mind whirring with ideas. ‘We could do a monthly dinner club as well…’

But Pete was nibbling on her neck, kissing along her jaw to her ear and back again and after that it was hard to think straight for a few minutes.

‘Hey, it’s time to open,’ she whispered before allowing herself one more of his sweet kisses.

‘Later,’ he murmured, looking deep into her eyes.

‘Definitely later,’ she replied, before giving him a playful shove. ‘Go on. Or our customers will be lined up outside.’

‘Yes, ma’am,’ he told her with a grin.

She too was smiling as she watched him head across the inn floor.

She loved the inn and Cranbridge but felt strong enough now to embrace change and was ready to face whatever life threw at her because it wasn’t to be feared. Cranbridge was her home, but Pete was her life. She trusted in love now, with all the wonder and joy that it could bring.

She watched Pete turn the sign over to Open and The Black Swan was ready for another busy day.