An Unexpected Guest

AN UNEXPECTED GUEST THE ISLES OF SCILLY SERIES: BOOK FIVE HANNAH ELLIS Published by Hannah Ellis www.authorhannahellis.com Postfach 900309, 81503 München Germany Cover design by Mario Ellis Copyright © 2023 Hannah Ellis All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. 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 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Bonus content A note from the author… Also by Hannah Ellis About the Author CHAPTER ONE The guy in the aisle seat didn’t react to Sylvie standing over him. Not even when she uttered a friendly “hello”. With only nineteen seats on the small aircraft the plane felt cramped to say the least. There was no way he could have missed her looming there. She smiled politely when he finally looked up at her. “That’s my seat,” she said, pointing. He twisted, grimacing as his knees scraped along the back of the seat in front before they were dislodged into the aisle. Sylvie tilted her head as she took in the space he’d created. Depending on which way she manoeuvred herself, she’d either have her boobs in his face or her bum against his chest. Maybe that was his plan but given his scowl she didn’t think so. “I’m fairly petite,” she said cheerfully, “but we’re still going to know each other pretty intimately if I try and squeeze in there.” His features didn’t change as he released his seatbelt and unfolded himself from the chair. For a moment his broad chest blocked her view entirely, then he took a step back along the aisle. “Thanks,” Sylvie said as she shuffled to her seat, noting as she glanced back that he’d not yet said a word. His silence continued when he returned to his seat and immediately buckled his belt again. With some difficulty, Sylvie managed to wedge her handbag under the seat in front of her before turning her attention to her seatbelt. She found one end easily enough, but the other disappeared beneath her neighbour. “Sorry,” she said, tugging on the strap. With a sigh, he shifted his weight so she could free the seatbelt. “Thanks!” He cast her a sidelong glance just as the plane jolted and set off at a crawl along the tarmac. Intrigued as to whether he was mute, Sylvie was about to attempt to draw him into conversation when the captain’s voice drifted through the cabin. By the time he’d given his spiel about flight times, weather conditions and safety instructions, they were poised at the end of the runway. Sylvie gazed through the window while the plane hurtled along. A fizz of excitement stirred in her stomach as they ascended shakily into the air. “Have you ever been to Scilly before?” she asked as her gaze returned to the cabin. Her silent friend was fixated on the floor, and Sylvie couldn’t tell if he was purposely ignoring her or if he hadn’t heard over the noise of the plane’s engines. Instinctively, she leaned a little closer, getting a whiff of his aftershave, which made her want to inhale deeply. “Have you been to Scilly before?” she asked again, louder this time. His gaze snapped up to her and he blinked as though bringing her into focus. “Once or twice,” he said, the softness of his voice taking her by surprise. “What’s it like? I’ve never been but I’ve always wanted to. In photos it looks stunning.” He curled his upper lip. “It’s quiet.” “I’m not sure quiet is really my thing,” she said with a laugh. “Sorry. I talk a lot when I’m excited … or nervous. Actually, I think I always talk a lot. But I’m excited now so I’m kind of in overdrive. I might be a bit nervous too.” She was wittering, that was for sure. “Sorry, I’ll just …” Pinching her index finger and thumb together she ran them across her lips in a zipping motion. “I have family on St Mary’s,” he said unbidden. Sylvie took it as an invitation to continue the conversation. “Do you visit often?” It took him a moment to reply. “It’s been a few years.” “I’m visiting family too,” Sylvie said wistfully. “My cousin. We haven’t seen each other for years. We were really close as kids, but we drifted apart as adults.” Her eyes slid over to check if he was even listening. The slight hitch at the corner of his mouth was enough of an acknowledgement that she continued. “He doesn’t know I’m coming. I thought I’d surprise him.” Her stomach twisted and her previous excitement fizzled away. She’d tried to call Lowen a couple of times. When she couldn’t reach him, she decided it was a sign she should track him down in person, but now she wondered if she should have left him a message or tried to contact him through another channel. “Surprises are fun,” she said, not sure why she was seeking reassurance from the stranger beside her. “Maybe,” he murmured. “I think it’ll be good.” She had an image of tracking Lowen down in his pottery studio. He’d stop the pottery wheel when he caught sight of her, and his face would break into a wide smile as he wiped his hands on a rag before crossing the room to embrace her. She’d seen videos of him working the pottery wheel on his social media accounts, so she