Free Lizzie Marshall's Wedding by Emily Harvale

would have thought this was wonderful. Becky had always loved playing in the snow ever since she was a little girl and now she had a daughter to share that innocent pleasure with, she loved it even more. There was something about snow that made the world seem an especially magical place – provided that you didn’t have to actually go anywhere.
    She saw the Range Rover pull up outside and for a split second, panic seized her; she thought it might be someone from the banks – or worse. She felt oddly relieved when she recognised Max Bedford’s athletic frame, almost sprint up the garden path. She opened the door before he reached it and surprised even herself, by smiling warmly at him.
    ‘Good morning! What brings you here in this weather?’
    Max stopped in his tracks as if she’d caught him by surprise. For a moment, he just stared at her and their eyes held then finally, he smiled. ‘Good morning. You look ... very pretty today.’
    Becky felt the colour flood her cheeks as she remembered what she was wearing and suddenly wished she’d made a better choice. Her dad’s old blue cardigan over a faded T-shirt and leggings with a pair of thick wool socks, were fine for lolling about the house in, but not for entertaining visitors and she realised she hadn’t got any make-up on and wasn’t even sure she’d brushed her hair. He was being sarcastic, obviously.
    ‘I wasn’t expecting visitors,’ she said as coolly as she could.
    Max’s brows creased then little gold lights twinkled in his green eyes as the corners of his mouth broke into a grin. ‘I wasn’t being sarcastic! I’m serious; you do look very pretty. May I come in? It’s freezing out here.’
    Becky felt flustered but opened the door wider and stepped aside to let him enter. Was he being genuine, she wondered, or was he just using a line?
    ‘Why is it that you women want us men to pay you compliments but when we do, you never believe us?’
    ‘Perhaps it’s because we women know when we look like a bag of old clothes – or maybe it’s because we’re just so used to your insincerity.’
    She watched his eyes travel the length of her body and her skin began to tingle under his scrutiny. Her breathing quickened and her heart picked up speed. My god, she thought, I’m getting turned on just by his eyes.
    ‘Believe me Becky, you look nothing like a bag of old clothes,’ he said, stepping closer. ‘In fact, I’m having a really hard time stopping myself from just grabbing you and kissing you right now.’
    Becky couldn’t hide her astonishment. She swallowed the lump in her throat and half opened her mouth to speak but she couldn’t think of anything to say – which was just as well – she couldn’t trust her voice at the moment. She tried to look away from him but her eyes wouldn’t let her and they took in every inch of his body, remembering what he had looked like as he had stood, bare-chested in her kitchen only yesterday. It was as if she had x-ray vision and could see straight through his obviously expensive coat, to the tanned, firm body beneath. Her mouth felt suddenly dry and she licked her lips.
    She didn’t even realise he’d moved but she felt his arms encircle her and his mouth covered hers in a kiss as passionate as it was, unexpected. Her head swam and the tingling in her body turned to high voltage shockwaves. She felt as if she’d been hit by an avalanche and her arms reached out for him, desperate not to be swept away.
    This was madness, utter madness. She didn’t even like him, her brain tried to tell her but her heart told her to shut up and kiss him back. And for the first time, in more years than she could remember, she listened to her heart.
     
     
     

CHAPTER EIGHT
     
    ‘OH MY GOD!’ Jess was clearly stunned by Becky’s revelation as they sat at their usual table in The Coffee Cake Café, an hour later.
    Susie, on the other hand, wasn’t so much surprised as she was eager to have details. ‘So ... what