Escape To Darling Cove | Holly Hepburn

By Allison Hay

Author Holly Hepburn

Read an exclusive extract from Escape To Darling Cove, Holly Hepburn’s latest novel, out Jan 5.

Set in a seaside retreat you’ll never want to leave, Holly Hepburn’s book is a heart-warming story that brings together Eve, who runs a bar overlooking Darling Cove, and Logan, a famous photographer desperate to evade the limelight.

The pair don’t get off to the best start, butting heads over Eve’s adorable but boisterous Chocolate Labrador. But when Logan’s true identity is revealed, Eve realises Logan isn’t quite the man she thought he was. Is it too late to start again or will Logan’s island escape be over almost before it’s begun?

Originally published as four ebook novellas: New Horizons, Hidden Depths, Stormy Seas and Setting Sail – this paperback contains all fours parts of the story from its irresistible beginning to uplifting and satisfying conclusion.

About the Author

Holly Hepburn is the author of seven novels including The Little Shop of Hidden Treasures, Coming Home to Brightwater Bay, and A Year at the Star and Sixpence. Follow her on twitter at @HollyH_Author.

Read on for an extract from Escape To Darling Cove…

Chapter Two – Eve

Eve Darling watched in horror as the man hit the beach with a wet thump she was sure she felt reverberate through the soles of her wellies.

‘Bloody hell!’ she muttered through clenched teeth, aghast at the scene. ‘Huxley, get back here!’

In typically exuberant fashion, the chocolate Labrador ignored her. Instead, he circled around and began to lope back towards the man, who had got to his feet and seemed to be looking for something. Eve started to run. By the time she reached the man, Huxley was bounding around him in boisterous circles, his mouth split into a friendly grin.

‘I’m so sorry,’ she called, slowing to a hurried walk as her cheeks flamed with mortification. ‘Are you okay?’

The man didn’t look up. His attention was fixed on something in his hands, which she now saw was a camera. A big, expensive- looking camera, with a large lens that also had more than a hint of high end about it. Eve felt her heart sink as she realized he must have been carrying it when the dog had hit him.

Is it broken?

He flashed her a dark look. ‘The lens is cracked. I don’t know about the rest of it,’ he said in a curt voice. ‘You should keep that animal on a lead.’

He sounded furious and Eve could hardly blame him. She eyed his sodden jeans and dripping wax jacket and fought the urge to cringe.

‘He’s usually better behaved,’ she offered apologetically and bit her lip. ‘Sort of. Are you hurt at all? It was quite a tumble you took.’

‘I’m fine,’ he snapped before returning his gaze to the camera. ‘Which is more than can be said for this.’

Eve wished the sand would open up beneath her feet.

‘Sorry,’ she said again. ‘I’ll pay for the damage.’

And now the man snorted dismissively, turning his attention to Huxley, who was snuffling happily among a cluster of glistening bladderwrack seaweed.

Are dogs even allowed on the beach?

Eve regarded him evenly for a moment, taking in the dark hair whipping across his face, the almost black eyes framed with long lashes and the unseasonal tanned skin. He’d be quite good-looking if it wasn’t for the attitude, she thought, and wondered who he was. A day-tripper from the mainland, probably, thinking he was David Bailey. Taking in a calming breath, she snapped her fingers at Huxley. ‘Here, boy,’ she commanded sternly. After a few more enthusiastic sniffs, the dog obeyed and Eve exhaled in silent relief. ‘The rules vary depending on the time of year and the beach,’ she told the man. ‘But on this beach, dogs are always welcome.’

He glowered at her. ‘Then they should be kept under control.’

She felt her temper start to slip. Of course, the man had every right to be angry – Huxley had knocked him over and damaged his camera. But it had been an accident; she’d apologized and offered to pay for the damage. Surely a little graciousness on his part wouldn’t go amiss. ‘Point taken,’ she said coolly and drew herself up to meet his glare. ‘Although since you’re clearly a visitor to Ennisfarne, perhaps you don’t know that Darling Cove is actually a private beach. Technically, you’re trespassing right now.’

The man blinked. ‘Trespassing?’ he echoed slowly, raising a black eyebrow. ‘I see. That certainly wasn’t made clear when I booked.’

Now it was Eve’s turn to blink. Booked? What did he mean by that? Unless…

The truth hit her with all the force of the waves crashing against the nearby rocks. He wasn’t a day-tripper at all. This must be the new tenant of Dune Cottage, the man with whom she’d exchanged a dozen or more emails to sort out the terms of his stay, and who’d paid three months’ rent up front to secure the cottage into the summer months. That unexpected income during the off-season had allowed her to employ Petr from the village to patch the leaking roof of the bar, something that would otherwise have had to wait until the money from the tourist season began to flow in. Another hot rush of embarrassment crawled over Eve as she replayed her own words in her head. Had she really just accused her new tenant of trespassing?

She took a deep breath. ‘You’re Mr Cotton.’

Understanding flickered across his face but his tone didn’t grow any warmer as he studied her dispassionately, then gave a short nod.

And you’re Ms Darling. Is this how you greet all your guests? By accusing them of trespassing?

A searing blush travelled across Eve’s cheeks. ‘Of course not,’ she said stiffly. ‘I didn’t realize who you were. Is – is everything okay with the cottage?’

‘The cottage is fine,’ he replied and waved his camera irritably. ‘Unfortunately, the same can’t be said of this.’

The idiot really did think he was David Bailey, Eve realized.

‘I’ve apologized and offered to pay for it to be repaired,’ she said as neutrally as she could. ‘I’m not sure what else you want me to do.’

‘You can keep your dog away from me, for a start,’ he retorted. ‘I’ll send you an invoice for the replacement camera lens.’

With a final withering glance that encompassed both Eve and Huxley, he turned on his heel and stalked across the sand towards the distant dunes. Eve watched him go and puffed out a heavy sigh. If today was anything to go by, it was going to be a long three months.