Blind Faith

  First published in 2019 by:

  Britain’s Next Bestseller

  An imprint of Live It Publishing

  27 Old Gloucester Road

  London, United Kingdom.

  WC1N 3AX

  www.bnbsbooks.co.uk

  Copyright © 2019 by Emma Nichols

  The moral right of Emma Nichols to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  All rights reserved.

  This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. Except as permitted under current legislation, no part of this work may be photocopied, stored in a retrieval system, published, performed in public, adapted, broadcast, transmitted, recorded or reproduced in any form or by any means, without the prior permission of the copyright owners.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Song lyrics: Show Me Heaven, by Maria McKee (1990)

  Also available as a paperback - ISBN: 9781081091781

  Other books by Emma Nichols…

  The Vincenti Series:

  Finding You (Book 1)

  Remember Us (Book 2)

  The Hangover (Book 3)

  Beyond Borders Series:

  Forbidden

  Summer Romance:

  Ariana

  Duckton-by-Dale Series:

  Summer Fate

  Historical Romance Series:

  Madeleine

  To keep in touch with the latest news from Emma Nichols and her writing please visit:

  www.emmanicholsauthor.com

  www.facebook.com/EmmaNicholsAuthor

  https://twitter.com/ENichols_Author

  CONTENTS

  Thanks

  Dedication

  1.

  2.

  3.

  4.

  5.

  6.

  7.

  8.

  9.

  10.

  11.

  12.

  13.

  14.

  15.

  16.

  17.

  18.

  19.

  20.

  21.

  22.

  23.

  About Emma Nichols

  Other Books by Emma Nichols

  Thanks

  Without the assistance, advice, support and love of the following people, this book would not have been possible.

  Bev. Thank you for your insight, wit, and considered thought throughout. You know your shit, chicky.

  Valden. Thank you for your instructive feedback. It’s always fun and I learn every time. I’m glad you loved it.

  Mu. Thank you for your on-going support, creative ideas and nailing yet another brilliant cover. We should hire your services out.

  To my wonderful readers and avid followers. Thank you for continuing to read the stories I write. I have really enjoyed writing the second romcom in this series – Drew’s story – and I hope you enjoy another spin with the quirky villagers – and of course – slightly edgy, hot, summer romance. Did somebody mention buns?

  With love, Emma x

  Dedication

  To Mum. Still laughing.

  x

  1.

  Drew sprayed the surface of the café table and wiped it down with lazy movements. Market day always felt longer, bustling with visitors eager to take advantage of the locally sourced artisan produce, handmade crafts, and the recent addition of Delia’s potions and predictions stall. She ambled back to the counter, unhooked the coffee filter, knocked out the grains and rinsed the equipment under the tap. The roaring noise from the road outside attracted her attention and she looked up to see a bright red Ducati motorbike easing to a stop at the curb. The rider switched off the engine, climbed off, and leaned the bike onto its stand. Drew watched the stranger; the slim figure in black leathers and black helmet. The rider seemed to assess the surroundings, looking across the square and down the street in both directions as if taking in the village – as most visitors did. Then the rider turned to look at the sign above the café and peered through the window as they undid and removed the helmet. Drew’s mouth became suddenly dry as she watched the woman shake out shoulder length jet-black hair in a funky cut.

  ‘Who the fuck is that?’ she mumbled to the empty café.

  The woman stepped confidently toward the door and Drew’s heart skipped rapidly as she watched her approach. Shit, she’d locked the damn door already. She dove out from behind the counter and ran to unlock it. This was one sale she didn’t want to miss.

  She fumbled to open the door with a racing pulse, and her cheeks flushed as she stared wide-eyed at the attractive biker. ‘Hi,’ she said, stumbling over the short word, the air compressed in her chest, her heart pounding to escape.

  ‘Sorry, are you closed?’ The woman held Drew’s gaze.

  The voice had a slightly husky tone to it that resonated through Drew in a flow of warmth that settled in her core and it took a moment for the question to register.

  ‘No, it’s okay, come in,’ Drew croaked. She held the door open with a welcoming smile, her gaze lingering on the dark green eyes that had touched her with respectful interest.

  The woman’s smile was warm, inviting, and she seemed to respond openly and without reservation to the eye contact. She followed Drew to the counter, resting the helmet on a table as she passed.

  Drew felt the woman staring at her back, causing the hairs on her neck to rise in a wave of pins and needles that tingled down her spine. This was crazy! She moved behind the counter, faced the coffee machine and tried to breathe. She watched her hands shaking, confused, as she plucked up the courage to turn and face the attractive biker. What the fuck was going on with her?

  The woman waited, pondering the few remaining cakes in the cabinet.

  As Drew turned and held the woman’s gaze again, she struggled to ask her what she wanted to drink and instead blurted, ‘What’s a gorgeous woman like you doing in a place like this?’ She felt the cringe sweep through her body. What the fuck? What possessed her to say that? It was like a bloody line out of Casablanca! Heat flushed her cheeks and she tried to smile away her embarrassment, turning her attention to the two iced buns with cherries on top in the food cabinet. That didn’t help. She felt her throat constrict and the desire to bury herself beneath the counter overpowered her and then her cheeks darkened further with the carnal images that lingered as the buns transformed in her mind’s eye.

  The woman smiled at Drew.

  Drew stood, transfixed by the sparkle in the dark-green, almond-shaped eyes, the fine lines that graced her engaging smile. Her throat was desert dry and all rational thought evaded her. Who the fuck was this woman? She cleared her throat and managed to speak. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend.’ Drew worked hard to maintain eye contact and continued with a more appropriate line of conversation. ‘Welcome to Duckton-by-Dale. I’m Drew,’ she stuttered. That was more like it. ‘What can I get you?’ Excellent, well done, Drew. And breathe.

  ‘None taken,’ the woman said in an easy-going tone. She seemed to assess Drew with a quizzical gaze for a moment before responding to the question. ‘Cappuccino, please,’ she said and considered the cakes again then looked up. ‘I’m Faith,’ she said.

  Drew swallowed as the woman looked directly at her and smiled softly.

  ‘Are you on holiday?’ Drew said and turned towards the coffee machine. The grinding noise was a welcome distraction and she took her time to prepare the coffee, imagining Faith’s eyes assessing her from behind, a shiver teasing down her back.

  ‘No,’ Faith said.

  Shit! Drew felt the disappointment sink in her stomach and said, ‘Just passing through.’ It was a statement rather than a question since she couldn’t think of any other reason the woman would be in the middle of nowhere at 6 pm on a Friday evening. Surely, someone this hot had better places to be?

  She drifted in thought, wondering how old Faith was. She looked young, vibrant, with beautifully clear eyes and a fresh, slightly tanned complexion. She pitched her at twenty-nine, secretly hoped she was closer to thirty-five then wondered what the hell she was doing imagining anything to do with this stranger. Sexy stranger. Worse still, a sexy stranger who was just passing by. The machine hissed and coffee trickled into the waiting cup and she poured milk into the jug and held it under the steamer. She hadn’t been aware of the woman removing her jacket, and when she turned to face her across the counter she literally stopped breathing.

  It wasn’t the beautifully crafted tattoos running the length of the fine, muscular arms exposed by the black short-sleeved well-pressed shirt that caught her attention. It wasn’t the way the firm breasts carried that shirt and revealed the delicious woman that she clearly was. It wasn’t even the attractive smile that graced her finely shaped lips that stopped Drew’s breath.

  It was the narrow white strip that passed just under Faith’s chin that had Drew staring with a wide-eyed, open-mouthed, look of sheer horror. Faith was wearing a dog collar. Holy fucking shit! Faith was the new Vicar.

  ‘Fuck!’ Drew blurted and the flames of Satan engulfed her and she felt utterly lost for words. ‘Shit, I’m so sorry.’

  Faith chuckled at the outburst. ‘It’s okay. It probably wasn’t what you were expecting.’

&nbs
p; Fuck, fuck, fuck! Drew felt her insides groaning in torment as she turned from the new Vicar, closed her eyes, tried to rewind the past five minutes, and released a long slow breath. She picked up the silver jug with trembling hands and poured the milk unable to concentrate on the frothing liquid, the only white in her mind’s eye – the dog collar! Fuckety, fuck. She had just made a pass at the Vicar. ‘I’m so sorry, Vicar,’ she said again.

  ‘I’m the replacement for Elvis,’ Faith said to Drew’s tense back.

  Drew looked over her shoulder, strained a smile and nodded. She was still struggling for words as she handed over the drink. ‘Can I interest you in my buns?’ she said then closed her eyes until the cringing sensation had passed.

  Faith smiled, studied the cakes. ‘Yes, thank you.’

  Drew picked up the tongs with trembling hands and juggled a bun onto a plate.

  ‘I’m sorry for your loss,’ Faith said, taking the plate.

  Drew looked at Faith vacantly, then the words registered and she nodded. Elvis’s sudden death had come as a shock to the village, and so soon after the glorious summer fete they had all enjoyed together, but right now the bigger issue was the woman standing in front of her, with those stunning green eyes and that gorgeous smile, and that fucking white dog collar. ‘Thank you,’ she croaked.

  ‘How much do I owe you?’

  Drew smiled and shook her head. ‘It’s on me.’

  ‘That’s very kind, thank you.’ Faith took the cup and plate to the table.

  Drew inhaled a deep breath, released it slowly and poured herself a double Espresso, hoping the effect of the coffee would overpower the visceral response that had taken control of her mind and body in the presence of Faith.

  *

  Grace groaned at the loud banging on the front door.

  ‘Ignore it,’ Harriet mumbled and continued kissing her, more firmly, and encouraging another guttural moan of pleasure from her lover.

  The banging came again, louder and more urgent this time. Grace eased Harriet from her lap and held her dark, tempting gaze. ‘We need to get to the meeting, anyway,’ she said, her voice hoarse. Harriet helped her to her feet and she placed a kiss to Harriet’s nose and swept the hair around her ear.’ You’re so irresistible.’

  ‘Hmm,’ Harriet said and smiled.

  Grace smiled at the ever so slightly wonky front teeth. So, adorable! She leaned closer, placed another kiss to Harriet’s lips, breathing her in and released another moan.

  The banging came again and she pulled away. ‘Coming,’ she shouted. She bolted to the door and opened it to Drew’s pale, wide-eyed look of alarm. ‘What happened? You look like you’ve seen old Hilda Spencer alive.’ She chuckled. ‘Come in, come in.’

  Drew paced into the kitchen and Harriet studied her. ‘Hey, what’s up?’ she said with a look of confused concern.

  Drew looked from one woman to the other and clasped her head in her hands. ‘I just made a bloody pass at the new Vicar.’

  Grace frowned and then tried to hold back a chuckle and failed.

  Harriet assessed Drew with enquiring eyes. ‘What?’ The only thing that sprang to mind was the fact that Elvis had been well into his eighties and she’d not known any vicar to be under the age of fifty-five. The thought wasn’t appealing!

  ‘The new Vicar just showed up at the café and I made a fucking pass at her.’

  Harriet frowned. ‘Her?’ She’d never seen Drew flustered, let alone close to hysterical and grinned at her rattled state. She watched her friend pace frantically around the kitchen, amused by the fact that, one: Drew had actually made a pass at a woman, at last, and: two, of all the potential contenders who had frequented the café over the years, she had chosen to make that approach to the new Vicar.

  Harriet smiled as she continued to observe Drew grappling with her emotions. She’d always suspected a woman would come along at some point and turn Drew’s eye, but never had Drew openly made a play for anyone. The irony of the situation bubbled inside Harriet and she stifled a laugh. Yes, Drew had joked with her about having decent eye-candy to look at when Grace arrived. She had even said that if things didn’t work out with Grace to let her know, but Harriet had known she had been teasing about Grace. Drew looked positively shocked, distressed, and completely taken aback. Harriet couldn’t work out whether those things were down to what Drew had said to the new Vicar or the fact that Drew had experienced genuine feelings of intense lust for another woman.

  ‘And now, I’ve got to go and sit in a bloody meeting with the hottest woman in the village.’ She stopped talking, suddenly aware of the two-pairs of attentive eyes on her and said, ‘I said that out loud, didn’t I?’ Grace and Harriet nodded with amused smiles and Drew continued pacing around the kitchen, head in hands and pulling at her hair. Then she stopped and looked from Grace to Harriet and slumped into the kitchen chair. And then a grin slowly appeared. ‘Yes, alright, I think she’s hot.’ She started to chuckle.

  ‘Well, I never,’ Grace said, grinning. ‘A hot Vicar, eh?’

  Harriet started to laugh. ‘What did you say to her?’

  ‘I asked her what a gorgeous woman like her was doing in a place like this,’ Drew said, and cringed.

  ‘Corny,’ Grace said with a tilt of her head.

  Harriet elbowed her in the arm. ‘Doesn’t sound too bad.’

  Drew tilted her head and screwed up her face. ‘Thanks. I feel so much better for that,’ Her tone was dripping with sarcasm, then she grimaced. ‘I couldn’t stop staring at her, and when I asked her if she’d like one of my buns she looked at me oddly.’

  Grace couldn’t hold back the laughter anymore and burst into a fit of hysterics and then Harriet joined her.

  ‘Much fucking help, you two are, not!’ Drew said and then started laughing. ‘I know. What am I going to do? I can’t face her at the meeting.’

  ‘You have to go,’ Harriet said. ‘It’s about Elvis’s funeral arrangements.’

  Drew started to pace the room again and Grace looked at Harriet, a furtive grin spreading across her face. Drew had got it bad, that much was clear. Who was this sexy Vicar? Grace was intrigued.

  ‘Fuck!’ Drew said, scratching her head.

  She was looking decidedly hot under the collar, eyes searching the room and then shifting between the two women who were staring at her.

  ‘I’m sure she’ll just be flattered,’ Grace said. ‘Who doesn’t love having a pass made at them?’ Then she blushed. Harriet nudged her in the arm, flashed a mock-stern look, and Grace smiled sheepishly. ‘I mean,’ she started to explain.

  Harriet tilted her head and with raised eyebrows, said, ‘Don’t dig any deeper missy,’ then she smiled and pressed a thumb to Grace’s lips.

  Drew released a long slow breath and gazed out the kitchen window. ‘I feel weak in her presence,’ she said, oblivious to the seductive glances passing between Harriet and Grace.

  Harriet looked at Drew. ‘What?’

  Shit, she must have voiced her thoughts aloud again. ‘Err, nothing,’ Drew said and turned towards the door. She watched another look pass from Grace to Harriet and said, ‘Are you two coming, or what?’

  Grace cleared her throat in what sounded like a groan of pleasure.

  Drew tutted and hurried out the door.

  ‘You’re a dreadful tease, Grace Pinkerton,’ Harriet said, and planted a languid kiss that elicited another groan, this time from her own lips. Easing out of the kiss, ‘Come on, we’d better get going,’ she said.

  They caught up with Drew, linked arms with her, and strode in silence towards the village hall next to the church.

  As they turned up the lane towards the hall, Grace spoke. ‘What are the rules on Vicars being lesbian?’

  ‘Grace!’ Harriet said.

  ‘Well, I think it would be good to know,’ Grace said and shrugged. ‘You know, before Drew gets too invested.’

  Too late for that, Harriet thought, shaking her head at her girlfriend.

  Drew was shaking her head too. She couldn’t identify with her own thoughts and feelings on the matter. At some level, it felt wrong to have lustful thoughts about a woman of the church, other than in the world of fantasy maybe. But that level of integrity had failed to register with her body, which was still reeling from the after-effects of setting eyes on Faith. Christ, even thinking her name brought a shudder of pure desire to parts of Drew that she hadn’t realised existed.