Josh flicked his key at the pickup truck. "Could you see Tresco?" he asked as he dropped her bag in the cab and waited for her to climb inside.

"Well, I tried to spot it but I couldn't quite-"

"No, of course not. Stupid question."

He slid into the driver's seat and Lucy touched his hand as he held it over the gear stick. "Josh? Are you OK?"

"I'm fine," he said, starting up the engine. "Absolutely fine."

"How's Tally?" she tried later, as they rattled along the road toward Tresco Farm.

"She's fine too."

"Right. That's good, then," said Lucy, her tingle of anticipation having rapidly changed to genuine anxiety. What was the matter with him? Surely he couldn't have changed his mind about asking her to move down here to Tresco with him? For the past three months, they'd talked of little else. Every weekend, they'd met up either in Cornwall or London, planning how they could be together and now that Lucy had finally decided, now that she was here to tell him she'd actually gone and done something, he seemed distant and cold. Her stomach lurched. Oh, please, let him not have changed his mind. Not now.

Josh seemed to be concentrating unusually hard on negotiating the twisting high-banked lanes that led to Tresco and by the time they pulled into the yard of the farmhouse, she was feeling almost sick with tension. He got out of the driver's door and unloaded her bag while she climbed down from the truck. Then he went on ahead to unlock, stepping into the kitchen without switching on the light as she hovered half in, half out of the doorway. From the gloom of the kitchen, a furry bundle hurtled toward her, its tail banging softly against her legs. Crouching down, she ruffled Tally's head, grateful to have a moment to compose herself. "Hi, girl."

Josh had crossed to the countertop and had his back to her, seemingly intent on the mail that was scattered on the counter. After he hadn't said a word for what seemed like an age, Lucy could stand it no longer. She flicked on the light and crossed the tiles toward Josh.

"Please tell me what the matter is," she said, reaching out a hand to touch him.

He flinched. "Nothing. I'm fine."

"No, you're not. I know you too well now. Tell me..."

Lucy almost imagined rather than saw him rub his sleeve over his face before turning to face her and because she loved him and knew he'd die if she let on, she pretended she hadn't seen him crying. And because she loved him she summoned up every ounce of courage and gave him a lifeline if that was what he needed.

"Josh. Please. If you've changed your mind about me moving down here, it's OK. I mean, it's not OK. Not at all! What I mean is, I'll try to understand."

His face crumpled in horror. "I haven't changed my mind."

She searched his face and he glanced away at the window in shame.

"Then why are you acting like this? All cold and... and stiff?"

"Stiff?"

"Well, yes. Not speaking to me. Distant. You know what I mean!" she cried. "Josh, I can't keep this up. Tell me that you still want me to move in here, because if you don't, I take back what I say about it being all right. I've given Lorna a full-time job looking after the London office and I've told all the clients I'm going to be working from down here and I've got tenants for the flat and-"

Josh reached out his fingers and lightly stroked her cheek, making her mouth tingle inside, almost unbearably. "Lucy, my love, I want you with me more than anything in the world. In fact, I want more than that. I'm sick of losing the people I love and I want to make sure, this time, that I don't lose you. You see, I've agonized for a whole damn week, wondering if it was too much to ask you to rearrange your life for me. By the time I saw you get off the plane, looking so... bloody corporate, I'd convinced myself that it was too much to ask. I thought you were going to tell me it was all over."

"All over? Oh, Josh, nothing could be further from the truth!"

"I can see that now but you have to understand. Until now, I've lost pretty much everything I've ever loved and I'm scared that having you is too good for me. You see, I want to-God, I don't know how to say this without it sounding cheesy, but I really want you to spend the rest of your life with me. Make it formal. Jeez, what a mess I'm making of this. Look. I want you to marry me."

What happened next was weird. Lucy felt as if the whole world had begun to turn around her and that neither of them was quite real. But Josh was still talking, running his hand though his hair and stumbling over the words. "I know it will mean putting up with my moods, my cooking, wetsuits in the kitchen, but I really love you..."

It was then that Lucy realized that there are very few moments in life when you knew what you wanted, completely, utterly, and without a single shred of doubt. And this was one of them.

"Josh, I love you. I love the whole messed-up, beautiful package that is you. The answer's yes and just so you understand, I'll keep on telling you until you believe it."

He seemed so genuinely amazed at her answer that she knew, then, she would love him forever. Then a smile spread over his face.

"You know, I don't think telling me will be enough," he said, pulling her toward the farmhouse table. "I think you'll have to actually show me how much you love me, every day."

Claws clattered on the tiles as Tally shot out of the kitchen.

"Every day?" whispered Lucy as her head bumped softly against the tabletop.

"Three times at least," said Josh, lowering his mouth to hers.

Acknowledgments.

This book was a terrible struggle to write... no, I can't lie, it was great fun from the first word to the last. Here's my chance to thank some of the people who made it such a pleasure, especially Claire Baldwin at Headline, Deb Werksman and Sourcebooks, and my fantastic agent Broo Doherty. I'm also indebted to Rosy Thornton, Annette, Julie Haggar, Izabella Gawarecka, Duntay, Ania, Liz Fenwick, Janice Hume, Catherine Jones, Lorelei Mathias, Barbara Whale, and to Sue Jackson and Lynn Logan at Heart of the Lakes.

Most of all, to John and Charlotte. ILY x.

About the Author.

Phillipa Ashley studied English Language and Literature at Oxford University before working as a freelance copywriter and journalist. She lives in an English village with her husband and daughter. Visit www.phillipa-ashley.com.

Carrie Goes Off the Map.

by Phillipa Ashley.

Just when she thinks she knows where she's going...

Carrie lets her best friend talk her into a scenic European road trip as the perfect getaway from a nasty breakup. Unexpectedly along for the ride is the gorgeous Matt Landor, MD, who sorely tests Carrie's determination to give up men altogether. Careening through the English countryside, these two mismatched but perfectly attuned lonely hearts find themselves in hot pursuit of adventure and in entirely uncharted territory.

"This tale has its own, Bridget Jonesstyle appeal."-Booklist.

"Quirky and Fun"-RT Book Reviews.

"Ashley's charming prose makes the journey enjoyable."-Publishers Weekly.

For more Phillipa Ashley, visit:.

www.sourcebooks.com.

Wish You Were Here.

by Phillipa Ashley.

Beth Allen has moved on...

It's been eight years since she and Jack Thornfield met on an exotic holiday and sparked up a seriously promising romance. But then he disappeared without a trace, and Beth's life got dreadfully busy, demanding, and altogether complicated.

Then Jack and Beth run into each other again...while she's applying for an exciting new job in London-at his company. For necessity's sake, but against her better judgment, she takes the job, and from that moment on, complicated doesn't even begin to describe it...

"A lively romance... I really enjoyed this tale of two star-crossed lovers who find their way back to each other."-Long and Short Reviews.

"This is an entertaining second chance contemporary romance starring a strong cast."-Midwest Book Review.

For more Phillipa Ashley, visit:.

www.sourcebooks.com.

Nadia Knows Best.

by Jill Mansell.

The bigger the mistake, the more tempting it is...

When Nadia Kinsella meets Jay Tiernan, she's tempted. Of course she is. Stranded together while a snowstorm rages outside... who would ever know?

But Nadia's already been together with Laurie for years-they're practically childhood sweethearts. Okay, so maybe she doesn't get to see much of him these days, but she can't betray him.

Besides, when you belong to a family like the Kinsellas-glamorous grandmother Miriam, feckless mother Leonie, stop-at-nothing sister Clare-well, someone has to exercise a bit of self-control, don't they? I mean, you wouldn't want to do something that you might later regret...

Praise for New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Mansell:.

"Mansell crafts a lovely story."-USA Today.

"A master storyteller who creates characters with unique personalities that captivate the reader's imagination and heart."-Long and Short Reviews.

For more Jill Mansell, visit:.

www.sourcebooks.com.

To the Moon and Back.

by Jill Mansell.

The hardest part of love is moving on...

It's been a year since Ellie Kendall's husband, Jamie, was killed in an accident, but she's still haunted by his memory. In fact, she finds herself talking to him regularly. At the urging of Jamie's successful actor father Tony, Ellie moves to London's glamorous Primrose Hill, where nobody knows her past...

But even in her new home-with her new friends and new suitors to distract her-Ellie can't seem to leave Jamie behind. Will Ellie stay stuck in the past? Or will she realize the man of her dreams is flesh and blood-and right in front of her eyes...

Discover why readers across the globe can't get enough of Jill Mansell's poignant, funny love stories. You'll laugh and cry-often at the same time!.

"Each and every facet of this wonderful story comes together to offer readers a tremendous look at friendship, hope, romance, and second chances. An unforgettable, entertaining novel!"-RT Book Reviews, 4 stars "Absolutely, positively an outstanding story."-Night Owl Reviews Reviewer Top Pick, 5 stars.

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