Love By Moonlight: A Small Town Grumpy Sunshine Romance (Solhaven Forevers Book 2)

Claire opened her eyes, unable to bear the feel of cold air on her skin after the smooth warmth of Daniel’s body and the musky smell of him surrounding her. He was kneeling above her and the sheer beauty of his broad chest, the arrow of dark hair on his belly, his long-fingered hands ready to unzip his jeans and release the clearly visible erection shot a bolt of pure lust through her as heat and moisture built inside.

But… he’d stopped and held himself motionless as he stared down at her, his eyes aware and horrified. What…?

With an inarticulate exclamation, he tore himself from the bed and stumbled to the door.

‘Daniel!’ The pain of his rejection wrenched a shocked wail from her.

He looked back once, his eyes dark pools of anguish in the fitful light of the moon, then the door closed behind him with a slam, leaving the room achingly empty except for the hurt of his humiliating rejection.

If Claire had felt distressed before, it was nothing to the pain searing through her now, but if Daniel heard her sobs this time, he made no move to come again to comfort her.

By six o’clock, Claire gave up on any pretence of sleep. She’s spent the last two hours wondering why, when it was so clear he had feelings for her, he’d denied them again. She could understand he’d had a bad time somewhere down the line, probably recently, but surely that’s what happened to everyone at some point, and they all got over it and moved on.

Didn’t they?

As she dragged a brush through her hair, her white face and shadowed eyes appalled her, and she wondered how she could face Daniel this morning. Had she been too pushy when he’d kissed her? He may have been the one to come to her room, but it’d only been because he’d heard her crying. Crying because of tiredness, an aching head, the aftermath of three years of intense work and her job change, moving, meeting Daniel, shock—any or all of those reasons could be the cause. Then, after he’d been so caring all day, more crying because he wouldn’t let himself trust her.

But she was the one who’d blatantly encouraged him when she’d first noticed his butterfly kisses. If she’d held back, told him no, then at least today they could face each other with dignity. As it was, she was afraid Daniel would be angry with her, and the easy footing of the day before would have gone, their tentative friendship lost.

Noticing the door to his room was ajar, she peeked in. He’d made the bed, and it was very tidy. Colour swept over her face as she remembered the feel of his erection under her seeking hands and how she’d shamelessly pulled at his jeans, frustrated by the barrier of cloth between their bodies.

Slowly, she walked down the stairs, a frown on her normally smooth brow. Her head still ached slightly, and her knee was stiff and sore. Definitely time for some of those painkillers the pharmacy had dropped round yesterday afternoon.

But first, she wanted to locate Daniel. Clear the air. Try to make things right between them, because she’d enjoyed Sunday and yesterday so very much.

He wasn’t in the sitting room. Wasn’t in the kitchen.

In a sudden panic, Claire pulled open the French windows and ran onto the patio, scanning the deserted beach. No-one. There wasn’t a figure in sight anywhere. Then… where was he?

Blindly sinking down onto a chair, Claire stared at the sea, dismay sinking into her stomach like a cold lump of ice.

He’d gone out somewhere. Of course he had. She should have realised Daniel wasn’t the type to hang around and try to be polite in the face of what had happened. He’d made it clear he wanted no involvement and yet somehow, he’d let down his guard and allowed the feelings he felt for her to surface. She could guess, oh, yes, she could guess at his anger and his confusion this morning.

She knew he’d walk away from what had happened. The distant look would return to his face as he deliberately turned his back on the warmth and laughter they could have shared, not just as friends but, oh, as lovers as well.

Claire raised a clenched fist to her mouth and bit hard on her knuckles, the sea blurring in front of her eyes. How could Daniel be so stupid? Surely last night had meant something to him? She knew it’d meant something to him. She’d felt his body melt into passionate warmth in her arms.

He’d told her he used women, so why hadn’t he used her last night? Why had he held back? What the hell had happened to him to make him like this, anyway, so… so wounded?

Claire finally stood, gathering a semblance of dignity about her. After a quick breakfast and swallowing two of the prescribed painkillers, she passed the day working. Settling on the settee, she looked through the plans for the garden, making copious notes, and found the nearest local nursery on the internet, finally ordering some bulbs and other plants from a wholesaler. To finish, she drew up some plans for the kitchen garden and was satisfied she’d done her best to earn her wages, fall or no fall. But despite occupying herself with her garden tasks, she couldn’t stop thinking about Daniel. Especially the bombshell he’d dropped about going to America for nearly an entire year. That rather put an end to any future she might have envisaged. Sighing, she stared off into the distance. It really would be best if she let this whole thing go.

The doctor came at three in the afternoon, raising his eyebrows to find her alone. He accepted Claire’s halting explanation that Daniel had gone for a walk and passed her as fit.

‘Although by fit, I don’t mean go mad, young lady!’ he eyed her sternly. ‘That was some fall and I really think you should take it steady for a day or two.’

‘Okay.’ Claire shrugged. ‘I’m taking my tablets and I can say hand on heart I’ve spent most of the day sitting down.’

‘Good. I don’t need to see you again. But make sure you contact the surgery if you’re worried. Any headaches or dizziness, signs of infection. Although there shouldn’t be. Take care, Claire, okay?’

Claire made a sudden decision. ‘Hang on. Can you spare five minutes while I get my stuff? Then give me a lift back to the hostel? Jake and Emily will be back tomorrow, and if you say I’m okay, there’s no need to impose on Daniel any longer.’

Dr Tranter glanced at his watch, then back at her. He was silent for a moment, one eyebrow raised, before he gave a brief nod. ‘Like that, is it? Okay, but only five minutes, mind.’

Settled back into her hostel room, Claire instantly felt restless and miserable. Stupidly, having just arrived back at the hotel, she now craved a walk on the beach. She could take a buggy down, slip past the cottage and get onto the shore by the hotel gate. Safe enough because she knew Daniel was out.

The day had been another sunny one and now the sun was slipping down in the western sky, spreading a wide pathway across the sea, casting stark shadows of the rocks over the beach. She was blind to the beauties of the evening, but welcomed the stretch of her muscles as she walked mechanically along. Her head was bent, her heart sore, as she tried to work out the enigma of Daniel Morgan, who could kiss her with such sweetness and then recoil from her with such insulting speed.

Why couldn’t he let himself try again? Why didn’t he—

Her spiralling thoughts were abruptly interrupted as she tripped over a small rock half buried in the sand and stumbled forwards into a tidal pool. She slithered about at the edge of the water, her feet fighting for a grip on the sliding sand, before realising there was a solitary figure rapidly approaching. Glancing up, she realised it was Daniel, and her heart sank as she observed the warring emotions of concern, irritation and dismay playing over his features.

Well, she could match those, every single one of them, and why was it him who turned up every time she made a complete idiot of herself?

‘Don’t just stand there!’ Claire exploded. ‘I need a hand to get out of here! It’s sloping down and I’m sliding in! I’ll get my leg wet.’

Moving forward, Daniel held out his hand. Gripping hers, he pulled her firmly away from the edge of the pool, where she stood looking down at her dripping ankles and the water running from her canvas shoes.

A quick glance upwards showed a faint smile unwillingly tugging at the corner of his mouth, and the corners of his eyes crinkling in amusement. Oh, how such humour suited him. Far better than his cool detachment.

As he noticed her gaze, she saw the smile disappear, and he turned to walk in the direction of the cottage, speaking over his shoulder as he left. ‘You seem to be accident prone.’

‘No,’ Claire replied, taking refuge in an arctic voice, the hurt of his rejection last night bolstering her. Whirling, she ran after him and caught him by the arm. ‘I’m no more accident prone than most. You seem inclined to follow me about!’

He stopped, a frown darkening his face. ‘Whoa! I’m not following you. I was walking this way first and went as far as the sea-cave before turning back for home. I saw someone coming along the beach towards me, but you were silhouetted against the sun, so I didn’t realise it was you until you fell in the pool.’

‘Well, okay,’ Claire commented, her irritation subsiding. ‘I suppose there’s not much point in continuing my walk now. I’d better go back and change.’

An uncomfortable silence fell as both of them remembered Daniel’s clearly stated intention he was returning to the cottage. He could hardly walk off and leave her. Equally, Claire didn’t want to force herself on him in view of what had happened last night.

‘I’ll wait,’ Claire began, just as Daniel said, ‘Go on if you like, I’m in no hurry and—’

They both stopped, their eyes locking together as a thousand messages seemed to fly between them.

Claire swallowed and turned to face the way she’d come. She knew she could forgive him for disappearing because she recognised the reason for it. She hoped one day to wear down his resistance and discover what that reason was.

‘Let’s not be silly. Surely we can walk back together amicably?’

Daniel hesitated for a long moment before nodding reluctantly and falling into step beside her.

They walked in silence, Claire unsure how to restore communication without showing how upset she was about the episode during the early hours of the morning. She felt she’d behaved badly by encouraging him. The very thing she’d warned herself against doing. No pressure, friends only. Pity it was so damned hard.

At last, Daniel cleared his throat. ‘How are you feeling?’ he asked gruffly.

‘Me?’ She was startled, immediately wary. ‘I’m fine, thanks. There’s no reason I shouldn’t be, is there?’ Her voice took on a defensive note, thinking he might be referring to last night. A flush crept across her face. Seconds more and they would have —

‘Your head…’ Daniel said hastily, interrupting her thoughts. It was obvious he, too, had realised his initial enquiry was open to misinterpretation. ‘Your leg…’ He gestured downwards with his long-fingered hand.

‘Thank you, but they’re both fine. I had a slight headache earlier, but it’s gone now. The knee’s stiff, but as you can see, I’m walking okay.’

‘It’s a beautiful evening,’ he said inanely.

They walked a few more steps as she sought for a neutral topic. ‘Daniel, do you have family? Siblings, and stuff, I mean,’ she added hastily.

There was a silence. She looked at him to see him frowning, looking down at their moving feet. Oh, hell… was this more stuff to do with his determination to keep women at arm’s length? She really should learn to keep off personal stuff.

Finally, his voice low, he answered. ‘My mother lives abroad with someone. I’ve lost track of who because she gets through them so fast. My father eventually remarried, and they both live in Provence. No siblings, though.’

Claire seized on the word Provence. That was surely neutral enough. ‘Sounds good. I love Provence. I’ve only been twice, but I’m a Van Gogh fan and wanted to visit Arles then went to the Quai D’Orsay museum in Paris to see his paintings. Do you know, I was so disappointed in the starry night one there? Only because I thought it would be much bigger.’

He gave a brief laugh. ‘Yes, it’s a bit of a let-down, isn’t it? The size, I mean. It’s so vibrant you expect an enormous canvas. The St Remy one in New York isn’t much bigger, either. He was a wonderful artist, though.’

They wandered slowly along the beach, talking about Van Gogh and his sad life, Claire telling Daniel about her trip and how she’d loved the Alpilles. Apparently, his father didn’t live far from the strangely shaped mountains and he, too, appreciated them.

They reached the steps up to the cottage. Claire hesitated, wondering if talking about what had happened between them in the early hours of the morning was a good idea now, or not, but then decided to bring it into the open, and apologise. It would clear the air and break the slightly stilted atmosphere between them.

‘Last night… Daniel, I’m sorry. I know events sort of caught us both by surprise, but I’m very aware I behaved rather badly and was encouraging you into things I know you’re uncomfortable with. I understand why you left, and it was the right thing to do, it really was. Can we let it go? Please?’

She saw his startled glance, heard him release his breath as tension seep from his shoulders, his hands leaving the protection of his pockets.

‘I should say sorry, as well. I came in to check on you, and you looked so lovely…’ Looking embarrassed he gave her another quick glance. ‘I can’t give you what you want, but can’t we still be friends? I enjoyed yesterday and the day before. We get on. We enjoy a lot of the same things, don’t we?’

‘Friends. Oh, yes, I could do that.’ Claire fell silent before plucking up the courage to continue. ‘But friends tell each other their pain, talk things through. You won’t open up at all—it was me who brought this up to clear the air, while you would have said nothing, let it fester and retreated to being defensive. I’ve accepted we can be friends, but now I think that’s something you need to work on.’

She saw his look of dismay before she turned to leave, quietly slipping away into the gathering gloom of the night. She’d said enough.

Claire avoided meeting Daniel over the next few days. She couldn’t take any more hurt and enjoyed the peaceful solitude of the gardens. The discovery of old beds in the kitchen garden excited her as she set to work restoring them. She also arranged for someone to dismantle and remove the old greenhouses and replace them with just one, although it was going to be quite large.

As she worked, she veered between hope and despair. Someone had to make the first move to restore their friendship, and she’d had an idea.

She owned a book about Van Gogh, which she wondered whether he might be interested in. Come Friday evening, she’d pop down and offer it to him. Hopefully, he’d offer her coffee and they could talk. He needed her as a friend and seemed happy for her to fulfil that role. Over time, all she could hope for was surely something would grow from that?