Free Let Love Win by Nicola May Page B

today.’
    ‘Really?’
    ‘Really.’ She grabbed his hand and squeezed it tight. ‘Now come on, let’s get to this cottage before it becomes completely dark. I’ve just noticed there are no streetlights here. Where are we anyway?’
    ‘Questions, questions. It’s a little village called Dittisham, in the South Hams of Devon. I can’t wait to show you round tomorrow. Dartmouth is just up the road, well - up the river actually. In fact, the adventure starts here!’
    ***
    ‘That is hilarious,’ Ruby commented as they pushed open the low door into the quirkiest pub she had ever been inside in her life. A soft toy otter whizzed up to the top of the bar on a weighted string and triggered a bell to ring as they approached the bar.
    Her mobile suddenly rang and everyone stared at her. The young, strawberry-blond bespectacled barman pointed to the sign above the air ambulance charity box on the bar. IF YOU RING, THE CHARITY BOX SINGS!
    Ruby dutifully put in a coin and turned off her phone. Pulling his out of his pocket, Michael noticed he didn’t have a signal anyway. ‘What a good idea. Phones off for the rest of the weekend. I don’t want to talk to anyone but you, anyway.’
    After both being convinced the local Addlestone cider was a must, they managed to find a little table near the big window at the front of the pub. The black of the river was paved in light from the full moon and the blinking lights of the boats moored in the Dart estuary.
    After a pint of her cloudy drink, Ruby started to feel a bit tipsy. She was sure the ruddy-faced boating locals were watching her reaction to their local bionic brew.
    ‘Why have the bar staff got FBI on their sweatshirts?’ she asked. ‘Weird.’
    Michael laughed. ‘Not weird at all - the pub’s called the Ferry Boat Inn.’
    ‘Ha! How ditsy am I? I love it here. It’s so cosy with the fire in the corner too.’
    ‘It’s my favourite place in the world. I had a pact with a good friend once that if ever either of us got into trouble, we would just say FBI because it is so out of the way no one would ever find us here.’ The friend was Justin and it suddenly made him feel sad. They had shared such good times.
    ‘That’s cool.’ Ruby broke his train of thought. ‘Well, maybe we should have the same pact too, Michael Bell. Not that either of us will ever get into any trouble. Good girl me.’
    ‘Hmm. When you want to be. But, yes - deal.’ He high-fived her. ‘Another pint?’
    ‘I can’t believe I’m drinking pints and no! If I don’t eat first, I’ll fall into the river walking back along that little path.’
    ‘Do you like the cottage though?’
    ‘You know I do - it’s perfect.’
    Ruby squirmed slightly, thinking back to the amazing sex they had had earlier. They hadn’t even waited to unpack or look around. Just ran up to the bedroom of the estuary-fronted cottage and ripped each other’s clothes off. The tension of earlier heightening their lovemaking.
    ‘I’m hungry too after all that exercise.’ He kissed Ruby on the lips. ‘Check out the blackboard behind you: the grub here is all homemade and very tasty usually.’
    ‘So does a ferry run from right outside here then?’
    ‘Yes. You can get one across to Agatha Christie’s house or to Dartmouth.’ ‘Agatha Christie, we have to go!’
    Michael was pleased at her excitement.‘It is a beautiful house – Greenway, it’s called. It was her holiday home, I believe, but is a National Trust property now. She actually based one of her novels there. Slugger, mate.’ Michael addressed the young barman whom he had recognised from the last time he was here. ‘Is the Dartmouth ferry going this time of year?’
    ‘You best ask old Ron over there. I think it depends what time he leaves here.’
    Michael laughed. ‘OK, thanks.’
    Ruby grinned with pleasure.‘Valentine’s Day with Agatha Christie and you. Maybe you can see if Daphne du Maurier’s free too and then I may just have to marry