The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop: The perfect heartwarming summer escape from the Kindle bestselling author. Caroline Roberts

I’ve priced it out, and I was thinking, with say two glasses of prosecco included and all the chocolate-making ingredients, of charging £19.95 a head. That’s similar to a top-end afternoon tea, and quite fair as a glass of prosecco out is usually about six or seven pounds. If the group want to buy any extra bottles, I can charge that on top. It’ll keep the initial cost down per person but if a party are having fun, they can carry on with the bubbly that way.’

      ‘Yes, that seems sound. You’ll just need to keep an eye on your actual costs when you do the first few parties. You’ve got to make it worthwhile for the business too. You’ll be giving up a whole night of your time, remember.’

      ‘Yeah, I know, but I have to keep thinking of ways to improve the shop’s finances, especially with that bloody latest visit from Mr Neil.’

      Max was stroking her hair gently as he spoke. ‘I hate to put a spanner in the works, but it may well be that your landlord has plans to sell the freehold on the shop, Em. There’s definitely something behind his month-on-month lease agreement.’

      ‘Yeah, so he can get out of it quickly, I know. But I’m just trying to pursue everything I can to make this business successful and to be the best chocolate shop along the Northumberland coast. That’s all I can do. There’s no way I’m going to give up now.’

      ‘That’s the spirit, Em. Good for you.’

      ‘Oh Max, if I think too much about the alternatives, the implications of maybe losing this place, it’d send me crazy.’

      ‘I know. But whatever your landlord is scheming is outside your control. Just keep focussing on what you can improve to make the business even better, and if The Chocolate Shop ever did have to move premises, at least your reputation and your business can move with you.’

      ‘Yeah, you’re right.’ But, even though his words made sense, the thought of ever having to leave this place, and maybe the village too, just broke her heart.

      Later, as they sat, cosied up, watching some television, Emma realised Max’s breathing had slowed and looked up from his chest to see that he had fallen asleep. She got up carefully so as not to disturb him and went downstairs to let Alfie out the back yard, before locking up the back door for the night.

      On her return, she gently shook Max’s shoulder. ‘Hey, sleepyhead. Time for bed.’

      ‘Wha—?’ He looked up, bleary-eyed and a bit startled.

      ‘You fell asleep in the middle of Poldark.’

      ‘Oh, right.’

      They were soon settled in bed and within a minute he was off again, breathing heavily beside her. It was the first evening since he had started staying over of a weekend that they hadn’t made love. Emma sighed. He must be totally shattered, she reasoned. But still, she couldn’t help but feel disappointed. There was a time when he could hardly wait until he’d got inside the door to make love with her. And now this … Had things changed so much between them already?