Mrs Middleton Read online

  First Edition April 2021

  Published by GPC Publishing

  Copyright © 2021 Melissa Tereze ISBN: 9798713007287

  Cover Design: May Dawney

  Editor: Charlie Knight

  Find out more at: www.melissaterezeauthor.com

  Follow me on Twitter: @MelissaTereze Follow me on Instagram:

  @melissatereze_author

  All rights reserved. This book is for your personal enjoyment only. This book or

  any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner without the

  express permission of the author.

  This is a work of fiction. All characters & happenings in this publication are

  fictitious and any resemblance to real persons (living or dead), locales or

  events is purely coincidental.

  ALSO BY MELISSA TEREZE

  ANOTHER LOVE SERIES

  THE ARRANGEMENT (BOOK ONE) THE CALL (BOOK TWO)

  THE ASHFORTH SERIES

  PLAYING FOR HER HEART (BOOK ONE)

  OTHER NOVELS

  BREAKING ROUTINE

  IN HER ARMS

  BEFORE YOU GO

  FOREVER YOURS

  THE HEAT OF SUMMER

  FORGET ME NOT

  MORE THAN A FEELING

  WHERE WE BELONG: LOVE RETURNS NAKED

  TITLES UNDER L.M CROFT (EROTICA)

  PIECES OF ME

  “To burn with desire and keep quiet about it is the greatest

  punishment we can bring on ourselves.”

  - Federico Garcia Lora

  CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Epilogue

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  Also by Melissa Tereze

  CHAPTER ONE

  WELL, THIS WAS IT. THE MOMENT EMMA HAD BEEN DREADING FOR

  months.

  It was one thing to be back in the UK after living a life of

  simplicity in another country, teaching kids’ sports, but to

  have to share a home with her best friend…it was going to

  be painful. Lauren Middleton was everything Emma had

  ever wanted in a friend, but a lot had changed since Emma

  left the UK eighteen months ago. Oh, not with their

  friendship, that could never be broken, but with…

  something else.

  As friends, it shouldn’t have worked. When they met

  back at university, Emma was twenty-one, while Lauren

  was only eighteen. But from the moment they’d met at

  freshers, they’d hit it off. Lauren wasn’t an average

  eighteen-year-old, and it showed. She had her head firmly

  screwed on. Within months of starting their degree

  together, Emma and Lauren had become the best of

  friends, some might even have said sisters.

  Emma had spent the nine-hour flight home from Ghana

  thinking, yet nothing seemed any clearer than the day she

  first left home. She couldn’t wait to see her best friend. She

  was excited to spend some cherished time with Lauren

  before she jetted off to Australia on her own three-month

  adventure. It was the idea of staying in Lauren’s parents’

  home that had her so on edge.

  Because Mrs Middleton would be there.

  Emma braced herself as she walked through the double

  doors at the airport, the temperature quite pleasant

  considering she’d expected it to be colder. After eighteen

  months, she’d gotten used to the African heat. Now, to be

  here in this less intense heat, Emma didn’t know how to

  feel about it…or anything else for that matter.

  Life was about to become interesting.

  Vanessa Middleton was Lauren’s mum. With huge

  crystal blue eyes and a smile that lit up the entire world,

  Emma had foolishly fallen in love with her over the years

  since meeting Lauren at university. And then the family

  dinners started whenever they both went home to visit

  their parents. Except Emma rarely visited hers. Instead,

  she was joined at the hip with Lauren at the Middleton’s.

  Emma was always invited over by Vanessa.

  Then came the summer holidays, more occasions for

  which Emma was present. She’d had a love-hate

  relationship with her own mother since she was a teen,

  and, though she wasn’t looking for another mother, Emma

  would admit that the Middleton’s felt like family to her.

  But it wasn’t what Emma wanted from their relationship

  with one another. From the day she’d met Vanessa, Emma’s

  feelings for her had spiralled. Almost out of control. She’d

  managed to keep those feelings at bay for over ten years,

  but the night before leaving for Africa, Emma had called

  Vanessa in a drunken haze and confessed everything to the

  older woman. Mrs Middleton had been a sweetheart, but it

  had only made everything worse. A part of Emma wished

  Vanessa had told her not to come home again, and if she

  did, not to show up at her door. That would have been

  much easier to deal with. But Vanessa hadn’t said any of

  those things. She told Emma she was flattered and that she

  was very fond of her before wishing her well on her travels.

  Eighteen months of long-distance pining had only sent

  Emma’s head into a spin as she stepped onto the plane this

  morning. And now here she was. Unable to comprehend the

  moment she would lay eyes on Vanessa again. In Emma’s

  ideal world, Vanessa would have aged dramatically and

  turned into a cold-hearted bitch. But this wasn’t an ideal

  world, and when Emma’s flight landed forty minutes ago,

  she checked her social media. Searching Vanessa

  Middleton hadn’t been a wise decision. That woman had

  only gotten better with age. Her vivid blue eyes shone back

  at Emma through her profile picture, her once long blonde

  hair now cut into a stylish shoulder length bob.

  Emma was in a lot of trouble.

  But she would manage. So long as she didn’t make

  Vanessa uncomfortable, everything would be perfectly fine.

  It had to be. And if she blotted out the fact Vanessa was

  going through divorce proceedings from her mind, Emma

  wouldn’t crave to comfort her. She’s your best friend’s

  mother. That should be enough to deter you!

  A flash of dark blonde hair caught Emma’s attention.

  She picked up her pace, almost bumping into someone in

  front of the taxi rank. “Oi.”

&nbs
p; Lauren spun, grinning. “You’re actually here.”

  “Unfortunately, yes.”

  “Well, that fills me with joy,” Lauren said, rolling her

  eyes. “And why do you have shorts on? It’s not exactly hot.”

  “I needed everyone to see my tan as I walked through

  the airport.” Emma’s teeth chattered. “You’re just jealous.

  But you needn’t be; you’ll have your own tan soon enough.”

  “It’s like…winter in Australia.” Lauren laughed,

  throwing her arms around her best friend. “It’s so good to

  see you.”

  “It’s good to see you too. But I’m freezing my arse off, so

  can we head to the car?”

  “We can. I had yours serviced last week for you.

  Running like a little cracker again.”

  “Mrs Middleton hasn’t minded it being on the drive all

  this time, has she?”

  Emma hadn’t been given a rollicking by her best friend,

  so as far as she was aware, Lauren knew nothing about her

  outpouring before she left. Vanessa didn’t seem like the

  type to tell everyone about the thirty-something with a

  crush, thankfully.

  Lauren shook her head, linking her arm through

  Emma’s. “You know she doesn’t. And if she hears you

  calling her that, she’ll kill you. Call her Vanessa and save

  me from having to listen to her harp on about how old it

  makes her seem.”

  “It’s…respectful.” And to save me from feeling the

  intimacy of being on a first name basis. Emma cleared her

  throat. “And she’s a teacher, so she’s used to it.”

  “She hates it.”

  “How is she?”

  “Better now. Things have been hard for her this year, but

  she’s getting back to herself. And I’m hoping if you’re free

  now and then, you could swing by and say hi to her when

  you find a place. No rush, by the way, but with me going

  away, I hate the thought of her being alone.”

  Emma bristled. She shouldn’t agree to Lauren’s ask. “I

  don’t think she’ll want me around, but a cuppa and a chat

  are something I can manage.”

  “You know what she’s like. She’ll say she’s fine, but I

  know she gets lonely. When I’m at Rob’s, I hate knowing

  she’s home alone.”

  “She’s a grown woman; I’m sure she does just fine.”

  “Still.” Lauren sighed, shrugging. “I feel bad for

  buggering off to the other side of the world for three

  months. And I know she wants me to go, I do too, but since

  Dad left…she’s not been the same person.”

  “I still can’t believe he was sleeping with another

  woman.” Truly, she couldn’t. In some ways, at least. Mrs

  Middleton was the most attractive woman Emma had ever

  laid eyes on. Perhaps it was the smouldering eyes and the

  power suit, maybe it was the elegance she carried, but

  whatever it was…Emma had been smitten at one time. You

  still are, you complete fool! “Was he having some kind of

  midlife crisis?”

  “They just grew apart.”

  “And that’s fine. But you don’t shag the secretary. You

  explain and then leave on good terms. I mean, when you

  called me to tell me…I was floored. Your mum is so lovely,

  and I can’t believe he did that to her,” Emma lied. She’d

  known for a long time how much of an arsehole Richard

  was, his eyes always straying towards other women. She

  suspected Vanessa knew too, but it wasn’t Emma’s business

  to get involved.

  “I haven’t spoken to him.”

  Emma couldn’t blame Lauren for making that decision.

  “I’m sure you’re still angry with him.”

  “It’s not even anger anymore. It’s disgust. How dare he

  sleep with another woman when he’s been married to Mum

  for thirty years.”

  God, that had to hurt. Emma felt awful for not being

  there when her best friend needed her. To be in another

  country while she was going through divorce proceedings

  with her parents… “I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you.”

  “Don’t apologise. You’ve always dreamed of Africa. I’m

  so happy you took the opportunity. You didn’t know my dad

  was going to do what he did.”

  If only that were the truth.

  “Still, I didn’t like knowing I could only be on the phone

  when the reception allowed.”

  “You’re here now. And I can’t wait to spend the entire

  week with you before I have to take a ridiculous flight to

  Australia.”

  “Honestly, I hate flying.”

  Relieved when she spied Lauren’s car, Emma grinned as

  the lights flashed, climbing inside the second her luggage

  was safely in the boot. Lauren joined her, firing up the

  engine and backing out of the space. “Fancy a takeout and

  catch up tonight?”

  Emma relaxed her shoulders. She’d been tense all day.

  “I can’t wait.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  IF SHE RECEIVED ONE MORE CALL THIS WEEK FROM HER LAWYER,

  Vanessa was going to book a flight to the farthest country

  possible and never return. Richard was playing hardball,

  she had the end of year exams coming up, and her bout of

  migraines hadn’t lessened at all this week. It was Friday;

  she was supposed to be relieved. Instead, she found herself

  slowly climbing from her car, dragging her handbag from

  the passenger seat.

  But then Vanessa stopped mid-stride, glancing at the car

  which had been on her drive for the last eighteen months.

  Emma…was home. I don’t know if I can face her. Vanessa’s

  stomach lurched, the idea of coming face-to-face with a

  woman who had confessed her undying love for her over

  the phone now a reality. Emma Bradley was stunning,

  astonishing even, but Vanessa hadn’t expected a call late

  one December night while Richard was away. Honestly, she

  hadn’t known what to do with any of the information.

  Emma…loved her?

  How? And why? Her own bloody husband didn’t even

  love her, so how could a thirty-something possibly feel the

  way she did towards her?

  But now, standing outside her home, Vanessa ached to

  see Emma. While she had initially been shocked, Vanessa

  secretly shared many of the feelings Emma did. The

  problem was, she’d been a married woman at the time.

  Okay, things hadn’t been great within her marriage for a

  while, but Vanessa couldn’t throw her family away for a

  potential fling. Because that’s all it would have been. A

  fling. Emma Bradley couldn’t have been looking for a

  serious relationship with a woman seventeen years her

  senior. Life didn’t produce those happy endings.

  At the thought of seeing her luscious black hair, those

  grey colour changing eyes, Vanessa felt her heart begin to

  pound. Emma had no idea how Vanessa had felt about her

  over the years, but it didn’t matter. It was far too late for

  them to sit down and talk. Emma had spent eighteen

  months in another country; there wasn’t a chance she still

  felt that way abo
ut Vanessa. The nights Vanessa had lay in

  bed thinking about her daughter’s best friend, how her

  laughter always brightened the house…God, this was a lot

  to take in right now. But then she reminded herself that

  Emma was Lauren’s best friend, and her heart settled. It

  couldn’t possibly work. To think otherwise would only add

  issues to Vanessa’s life that she didn’t need.

  She steeled herself. She should be spending this time

  with Lauren, not worrying about something she had no

  control over. Her daughter hadn’t stopped preparing for

  her best friend’s arrival for over a fortnight, wanting to be

  sure Emma could be as comfortable as possible. Vanessa

  had made up the spare room, the en-suite attached had

  been fully stocked, and now the day had arrived. The day

  when she would see her daughter smile for the first time

  since Rob left for Australia.

  She never had understood why Lauren chose to fall in

  love with someone who often worked so far away, but her

  happiness mattered, and Lauren was elated to finally find a

  man she felt complete with. She’d told Vanessa as much

  several weeks ago when they shared too many bottles of

  wine. A lot of crying had been on the agenda for that night.

  From Richard and his adultery to Rob and his beautiful

  smile.

  Vanessa scoffed, rummaging for her keys in her

  handbag. I hope he doesn’t do to Lauren what Richard did

  to me. The anger and bitterness were beginning to eat

  Vanessa up inside. She didn’t want to always feel this way.

  Rob had done nothing to warrant Vanessa’s incessant

  worries; this was all down to her own experience. And in all

  honesty, Rob was a lovely guy. He held down a steady, well

  paid job, and he still lived at home with his parents. If

  Vanessa could hope for Lauren to fall for anyone, Rob was

  the one.

  The sound of laughter made Vanessa smile as she

  opened the front door. She couldn’t recall the last time

  Lauren had been so carefree. Vanessa knew what it had

  done to her daughter when Richard packed his bags and

  left. She felt resentment towards him more so for that than

  anything else. She could deal with him cheating on her, but

  to hurt Lauren too…it tore at Vanessa’s heart every night

  as she climbed into bed.

  They’d gotten pregnant and married when Vanessa was

  twenty. From the moment, they looked into Lauren’s little