Dutch Delight - Book 3 E-Book

Chain Emily

• Herausgeber: So Romance - INT
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Serie: Aux Délices d'Amsterdam
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 250

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

Will Tess be able to win Nolan back?

Tess is more motivated than ever to save Aux Délices d'Amsterdam and prove to Nolan that she is not complicit in the takeover of his confectionery. Tomás's invaluable help surprises her and brings them closer than ever... Nolan, meanwhile, returns to Amsterdam with Lily to rediscover his roots and the origin of his passion for Christmas and his sweet creations. He embarks on a daring project to show Tess his true motivation... Will they be able to identify the trustworthy people in their circle? Will they be able to make themselves understood by each other? Because this time, it's their last chance...
 
Dive into the final volume of Délices d'Amsterdam, with the sweet scent of Christmas, and discover Tess and Nolan's past. A magnificent volume that perfectly concludes this delicious saga!

EXCERPT

“Is everything okay, Nolan?”
Lily places her hand against my cheek, and I close my eyes. My heart races, just like hers. A fire boils inside me, ready to erupt and consume us.
“More than ever,” I reply without looking at her.
Instead of her face, I imagine Tess’s. I don’t even ask myself for permission to indulge in such a shameful ploy. But my mind allows me to capture her mouth and vibrate at her touch.
She moans and bites my lower lip in a passionate kiss.
I feel the scent of her tearing at my insides, and I push Lily into the room to calm my ardor.
“Wait,” she breathes.
I realize she’s running out of oxygen when she steps back, her cheeks flushed with tension. I take the opportunity to draw the curtains of the huge window, plunging the room into semi-darkness. This way, I can let my mind wander and imagine a completely different woman by my side.
“Come back,” she pleads.
“With pleasure, Tess…”
My whisper is inaudible to her, but allows my body to react immediately. Like in every dream I have about her, I'm ready.

WHAT THE CRITICS THINK

About volumes 1 and 2...:

"This story really touched me" - Miss Rosélia from Between the lines of Miss Tinker Bell

"A sweet Christmas romance with hints of oranges and gingerbread. With protagonists as effective as they are studied, the author treats us to a moment of pure relaxation and fusion and invites us to discover the rest of our couple's adventures..." - Jacinthe from Sourp of Romance

"I found the author's writing captivating and gentle, full of promise." - All Over the Books

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emily Chain has always written and in diverse styles: from fantasy stories to thrillers and, of course, romance. After the successful series The Intern, she returns to So Romance to put stars in our eyes with her saga Aux Délices d'Amsterdam.

Leseprobe

Cover

Title page

PROLOGUE

In a hibernating Amsterdam, Tess, curled up by the fireplace, seeks to help Nolan and to clear her name in the whirlwind created by Bill Maas and the Kuyper clan.

Beside her, Tomás, gallant for the first time, assists her fervently, taking advantage of the dim light from the fire to occasionally steal glances at her.

He hadn’t been close to her for years. Ever since he had turned their marriage to dust for his own personal success… she was so beautiful.

And stubborn.

Their marriage had hardly been annulled when she charged headfirst into Rotterdam to start her life anew. To cleanse her professional honor and build a new life. What a surprise it had been to see her arrive in Amsterdam with the intention of becoming a partner in a company as large as Maas Holding.

An achievement. It made him as jealous as it did proud, and that feeling only grew with the arrival of Nolan Wells. Young and talented confectioner, a heartthrob according to the ladies, and undoubtedly a nice guy.

A nightmare when viewed from the perspective of the competition.

Tess, lost in thought, contemplates the artisan in an entirely different light.

She envisions herself going to join him in Stockholm after a year of misunderstanding. A long and painful year without him by her side.

Everything would have been perfect if…

There it is again, those words pop up again in their story. They always catch up with them.

Barely reunited, they have already been pulled apart…

Looking up at Tomás, she still feels fortunate to have a friend like him. He hasn’t let her down. Even after witnessing her fall back into Nolan’s arms. Perhaps he doesn’t have such a bad heart, despite his mistakes.

A little further into the center of Amsterdam, Nolan thinks the exact opposite. At his window, he imagines the sly face of his rival. A hatred simmers, and the months gone by have only stoked the flames. Even though he had managed to find warmth in Tess again, it didn’t last. It was just a lie, and his heart still bleeds…

But then, will the suffering finally come to an end? Will they find the answers to their questions?

Chapter 1

Tess January 22, 2021

Tomás watches me out of the corner of his eye. He knows that around 3 a.m., my eyes start to close. And then the nightmares begin. I haven’t told him anything. He doesn’t know what I see, what I feel, and what I imagine. He’s simply aware that my nights are restless. Slumped over the dozens of papers surrounding me, I move, groaning. Retracing the last few months and all the emotions I’ve experienced.

My return to Amsterdam for this exciting new professional adventure, the reunion with Tomás. My desire to help that young prodigy whom my sister seemed to cherish so much. Zoé.

The urge to get closer to her and have a solid relationship had unknowingly carried me into Nolan’s arms. And what an adventure it was! I even ended up joining him in Stockholm, convinced that love could conquer any conflict. That it was possible to move past it because we wanted to.

Sitting on the floor, the fireplace providing a silent yet comforting presence despite the rising temperature outside, it quickly spreads warmth throughout the cold room. I found this little apartment rather quickly. I didn’t really have a choice. How could I have thought of living in Nolan’s house when he had just returned? Tomás had wanted to suggest I move in with him. Zoé too.

I refused. I believe it was time for me to think about myself. For the past two years, I had devoted myself to Nolan, to my work, and my personal life had been set aside. I was convinced I would share my future with them.

A mix of work and Nolan, a tidy and relatively happy life.

Instead, here I am, sitting here, fatigued in every part of my body.

I don’t even know how long we’ve been at it. One, two, three weeks… the hours and days pass too quickly. We search tirelessly for a solution, but nothing conclusive emerges.

I’m truly impressed by how invested Tomás is. Like me, he is present, body and soul, in finding a solution. This isn’t in his interest. Helping Nolan recover part of his assets, his shop, won’t bring anything good to his family business; it could even be frowned upon and set his career back.

Zoé isn’t quite sure if she should trust him. Usually, she quickly takes his side. But for some time now, she hasn’t been taking sides. In her eyes, I should distance myself from these two men. When I look at Tomás’s face in front of me, focused on lines and lines of laws, contracts, and numbers, I’m touched by his dedication, moved as well. My heart flutters. Very slightly, just enough for me to notice.

I want to… and it stops there. My reason forbids me from having any desire. This isn’t new; ever since I left Stockholm, it’s been like this. This latest argument and the lack, even the void of discussion with Nolan has shattered something once again. He, too has betrayed and abandoned me without real explanation, leaving me feeling helpless once more.

I was convinced that with my failed marriage and the deception it entailed, I couldn’t suffer anything worse. Why do we think we’ve already experienced the worst? How can we truly imagine that nothing can annihilate us any further? Because that’s it, I believed I was invincible, that love held no secrets because I knew the bitter taste of betrayal.

But is it really that simple? No, on the contrary. I feel like I’m suffering ten times more. As if the previous betrayal, instead of preparing me, had weakened me for the next one. I wanted to get up, first thing in the morning, and forget him. I was rather convinced it would work. And then I saw his face, his eyes, and his gaze on the threshold of his own home. It was his expression that struck me the most, as if the situation truly attested that I was the cause of it all. Impossible to defend myself; he had already judged without seeking.

And I realized it had always been like this between us. One against the other, with him taking note of the facts without an ounce of communication or understanding. Except that instead of fleeing this time, he came up to fight at the front. He is determined, but without us, he won’t win. Hatred occupied my mind for a moment, giving me a desire for revenge. I’m not used to being like this. Even after my failed marriage, the betrayals that followed, I’ve never gone this far. Revenge wants to creep into me, but it brings nothing good. To turn the page, I must help him. I know it and I feel it.

Tomás helps me with that.

Perhaps he hopes we’ll get back together. Aurore seems to believe so. We’ve never talked about his confession again, and I’m grateful to him for not bringing it up.

“Tess, are you okay?”

I blink, trying to understand the black lines written on the paper I’m holding. It must be nearing three o’clock, and I’m starting to feel quite tired.

“You should go to bed.”

Even though he says this to be kind, I feel like a defenseless little kitten being spoken to that way, and I don’t like it. I’ve been a bit on edge lately.

Learning not to always be perfect, that’s what the psychologist I’ve been seeing on my sister’s advice told me.

When she suggested I meet with a specialist, I thought she was joking. My sister, who is all about yoga, sophrology, and other little ways to resolve internal conflicts, was suggesting I consult a woman who studied psychology. While she has been telling me for years that it’s just a pseudoscience.

“I know… normally, I wouldn’t advise you to do that. But I think it would do you good. Just to talk, not necessarily to listen to her or follow all her advice, ” she told me last weekend over a cup of tea.

“How is it smart to pay a fortune to talk to a psychologist without accepting any of her advice? ” I replied.

Zoé then immediately tried to explain to me that she had never seen me in such a state. That after the annulment of my marriage, even if I hadn’t handled the situation properly, I had at least found a lifeline. Whereas now, it seemed to her that I was drifting.

At that moment, I wasn’t going to admit that I thought she might have a point. Besides, she doesn’t even know that I’m seeing a psychologist. Mainly because it would be counterproductive. My sister wants to make an effort for me. Nevertheless, she wouldn’t believe in the advice of the doctor I’m consulting. I found her through my job. I’m not sure it’s really a good idea. Because the secretary who I asked for her contact details, could easily spill everything to my colleagues. And I really don’t want Bill to know that his right-hand woman, the person he relies on the most, is losing it, working against him behind his back.

Because that’s the reality; by working to help Nolan not lose everything and especially to absolve myself of the situation, we are working against our two companies. That’s what I think when I look at Tomás tonight. He’s taking reckless risks for me. His family wouldn’t forgive him for such a thing.

And yet he works late into the night, comes to my place every evening after work. And as if nothing were amiss, he gets back to work daily on lines and lines of paperwork. I don’t even know in the end what he stands to gain from this situation. Sometimes, I fear he imagines things, that he hopes for a shared future. Not that his presence bothers me; on the contrary, it calms me and does me good. I’ve found the man I wanted to marry all that time ago. Our moments spent together, our repeated coffee breaks in the middle of the night, our lies to our families and friends have brought us closer lately. Nevertheless, I don’t see myself starting something with him again, not yet. Maybe one day.

“Do you want us to stop, or should I prepare something? ” Tomás kindly suggests.

“I don’t know. Have you made any progress on your end?”

He shrugs. That’s been our daily routine for days. Searching in vain for a clause, an article, or some little loophole.

Zoé isn’t quite sure if Tomás is being straightforward; after all, it’s his family and my boss who initiated hostilities. From an outsider’s perspective, it seems inconceivable that either one doesn’t bear some responsibility for the events, and knowing that I’m not to blame, Tomás appears suspicious in her eyes.

“Maybe. There’s this little line… you told me you had a notary friend, right?”

“Yes… I’m not sure we can call him a friend, but yes, I know someone… I know someone.”

“You should call him, I think. I’m not sure what I saw or how to interpret it, but it could help us a lot to get his opinion.”

“Okay… I’ll call him tomorrow then.”

I suddenly get up. Too quickly, the fatigue and the speed of my movement cause me to feel dizzy. This situation shouldn’t drag on, risking my health and perhaps more.

Chapter 2

Nolan 04: 07 – January 22, 2021

“It’s been a long time since I’ve done this. I stopped because I found it pathetic. I imagine you looking down at me from your pedestal, surrounded by those who love you. I don’t want you to think I’m foolish. But I think about you often, perhaps too much. They say it’s normal. That I shouldn’t worry. It’s kind of them to say that, but it doesn’t change anything. When I close my eyes, when I define love, when I think about the future, it’s a version of you, Flo, distant and almost forgotten, that appears before me. You know, when I left on a whim, I threw everything away. I wanted to turn the page definitively, to erase everything and start anew elsewhere. I didn’t think about what would come next. At that moment, it felt good; I thought it was the right solution because I no longer wanted to look at us, and I couldn’t. I was in so much pain… and then suddenly, everything darkened, and I realized how foolish it was. Because of my stupidity, I was left with just one photo, a single proof of our shared existence, of those wonderful months and years spent by your side. I was convinced that memories would continue to exist indefinitely in my mind. But the truth is, one day, even if we don’t completely forget, we start to doubt. I can’t remember if your eyes were oval, large, if your nose was a bit too short or a bit too long. I remember you often said you were imperfect and that’s what made you beautiful. But what were your flaws? The more time passes, the more I see you as perfect. As if my brain wants to remember a different version of you. It’s a bit silly, but I want you. The real you. The one with the strange smile and the awful laugh. I want the one from my old life, not the model image that appears to me in the present. What I see now in my thoughts, in my dreams, it isn’t you anymore. My mind is incapable of changing you around realistically. It knows you can never age, so instead of adding a few wrinkles, a few curves that life might have brought you with a family by my side, it erases your imperfections, making you less real, less tangible, less present. It makes me sick. This way of doing things makes you even more absent. I’m not well; I miss you so much… learning to live without you is complicated. But I…

“If you wish to modify your message, type…”

“Shut up.”

With my face streaming with tears, I hang up violently before dialing the number again.

It feels natural to reach voicemail. It’s impossible for it to be otherwise.

“In the end, that’s not what I wanted to tell you. I don’t know if you can see from above, but I’ve met someone. You know I promised at your grave that it would never happen. You filled my existence so much, and my happiness with you was so perfect that your departure annihilated me. I sincerely thought, at that moment, that I could never fill that void. But without me realizing it, it happened. In a completely unexpected and devastating way, Tess entered my life. What often makes me smile is that you wouldn’t like her at all. And I promise you, I felt the same way at first. She was so… you know, that kind of woman who only thinks about work and dismisses family. The type I would have loathed, and so would you. Speaking of family, I remember how much you loved your grandfather. You know I visited him until his last day. He always believed you were beside me. Each time I visited, he looked so happy. I’m not sure he really realized you were gone. His mind was already elsewhere, and the day I came to tell him, he only understood that I was leaving. He told me I was right. I never quite understood why he said that. Maybe he grasped the situation better than I thought. In any case, it did me good. I needed someone to tell me I was doing the right thing. That I was making a healthy and rational decision. Even if wasn’t true.”

I stop, straining to listen. The beams creak, and I’m not used to it yet.

Curled up on the small bench beneath my immense window, I lose myself in the contemplation of Amsterdam at night. A streetlamp flickers due to a faulty connection, and I can only see the streets of my city intermittently. The cobblestones on the ground, the low terraced houses with their large windows.

I catch a glimpse of my friend Sergio’s living room, an adorable Italian bassist who particularly loves to open his windows to the slightest ray of sunshine to share his music.

A way to show us the burning passion that drives him. Like me with my confections… if I can manage to save them.

I look up at the sky, thinking of those who cared as much as I did about this little business. Those who watch me under a starry sky, the likes of which I haven’t seen in a long time. Wasting time observing what surrounds us, to only cling to superficial things… that was a bit like my last months.

“Every time I look at the stars, I think of you. You said that one day, if you had money, you would buy one. I mocked you, saying you would give someone a star that wouldn’t even belong to them. I know you wanted the little one, the one we could see from the roof of my room. Here, in my new home, the view seems different; I don’t really know which star corresponds to that, and there are so many in the sky; I see thousands. But I’m convinced yours is there, as bright as the others. You know, I chose to be as far away as possible from our old neighborhood. It’s not to forget you. But I know you would insist that I continue my life, and that’s what I try to do every day. That’s why I’m here tonight, looking at the stars and talking to you. I need you to help me. Because even if this woman has nothing to do with you, even if she is demanding and only thinks about work, I think I’ve fallen in love with her. I never thought that was possible. It’s terrifying. Did you love me at first sight? I don’t know what it’s like to love without reciprocation, without exchange. With you, I was fulfilled from our first glance to the last. I didn’t need to question anything. Even if she doesn’t resemble you, that the situation is different, I would like to find the peace and serenity I had with you. That certainty that everything will be fine, that a future is possible. But I feel like that sensation disappeared the moment your car hit that tree. Who knows if today, if the accident hadn’t happened, maybe we wouldn’t be together anymore. Even if I don’t believe it, life brings unexpected changes; I’m experiencing that right now. But I know I could always have talked to my mother about it. She would try to convince me that I was making a mistake; she loved you so much. She would surely be defending you, saying, “Nolan, what have you done? ” And even if I’m sure that would have annoyed me, today, I would give anything to be scolded by her. To have the chance to win you back. Because know that by your side, I wouldn’t be lost. While with Tess, I understand nothing. Whether it’s her fault or mine, neither of us reacts the right way. Instead of loving each other, we flee from one another. Instead of hating each other, we betray each other. I thought that once we loved someone, we began to understand them. Well, that’s not the case at all. We think we decipher the signs, the attitudes, the words, and in reality, it’s mutual misunderstanding. It’s crazy to love people so much, but not in the same way at all. I realize that’s it. I loved you easily, as if it were obvious. While with her, it’s an emotional rollercoaster. And to be honest, I think I would prefer tranquility. I’m tired of not sleeping peacefully. Of looking at myself shamefully in the mirror. I doubt my future, and I feel powerless against the obstacles.”

A taxi passes under the moonlight, and I think back to my arrival three weeks ago. The phone still in hand, I decide to say goodbye before hanging up. I hope I won’t have to go through this strange routine on a fictional voicemail again.

“I’m going to let you go. I have a feeling that tonight, I’m going to be overwhelmed by memories. You won’t be part of them, I can feel it. I’m so sorry for that. I was convinced you would have that place for the rest of my life. And that you would the one keeping me up at night. I was wrong. Now, it’s Tess who causes most of it. I promise you I wish it were different. But it’s impossible. She haunts my nights and…”

“Nolan? What are you doing here all alone in the dark?”

I jump, even though I know I’m not alone in this apartment. She watches me with her big round eyes. Reluctantly, I discreetly turn off my phone. Then I get up, leaving the tranquility of my little corner, this small architectural alcove of the house that had so captivated me when I bought it. If I were honest with myself, I would have returned from Sweden alone, and not with a supposed fiancée. Except I was apprehensive about finding Tess with Tomás. And unfortunately, against all odds, that’s exactly what happened.

3 WEEKS EARLIER – January 1, 2021 – 1: 45 PM

With my head resting against the doorframe, the icy glass keeps me awake.

My cheek is almost numb from the cold. My mind wanders, trying to figure out what else awaits me in Amsterdam.

The taxi driver is rather discreet, and I appreciate that.

The only downside to my trip is her incessant chatter. Since we left Stockholm, she hasn’t stopped giving her opinion on absolutely everything. She’s never been here, yet she acts as if she knows everything about my life. She constantly criticizes, making inappropriate comments about my relationships, my friends, and even my country. I’m not in the mood to hear her egocentric prattling.

I want to open the window and take in the scent of snow and cinnamon mixing together. I want to hear my mother’s laughter at my exaggerated reaction to the end of the holidays, seeing me wide-eyed in front of the city hall staff taking down the Christmas decorations. A sacrilege in my opinion. I always said they should keep them up for at least a year to keep the sparkle in our eyes and the magic of Christmas in our hearts. My father always replied that if I wanted to prolong the magic of Christmas, all I had to do was bake those treats every morning, as if the celebration never ended. That’s what Amsterdam makes me feel. Even weeks after that special day, my heart still beats to its rhythm; the charm still works.

“We’re staying at a hotel, right?”

“No. I told you I already have a house here.”

“But it’s going to be super cold inside… ” she protests.

Sometimes I regret the good manners instilled by my mother. She forces me, far too often, to hold back what I really think. And that’s how, instead of responding to her sharply and acerbically, I offer her a small smile.

Surprisingly, Lily is the first to get out of the taxi. I pay the fare and see her fidgeting with impatience to see my house. No matter how much I decided as an adult to have her here, I already regret my weakness. I accepted her company simply to avoid being alone. Without being completely selfish, I didn’t want to relive my last arrival in Amsterdam, where once again I would come back here, awaited by no one at an airport, crossing the city in an empty taxi, returning home as if I were a stranger.

Though, with a bit of hindsight, it’s obvious that being alone is often better than being in poor company. I should have known that her presence would bother me. Now that she’s with me, there’s not much I can do. I can’t very well send her back right away, barely an hour after arriving in Amsterdam. I take a deep breath of the pure air of my childhood city before turning to her, a somewhat strained smile on my face. She sees right through it, as usual. What’s good about her is that she only sees what she wants to see. And I, beside her, tend to ignore what I hear and what’s in front of me. At least, that’s the conclusion I’ve come to upon realizing who she really is. I understand better why Lucas and his wife deeply hate her, not understanding my decision.

I walk past her, ignoring her, heading toward my house.

Memories flood back in droves at the sight of the brick-colored facade. A short time spent here, yet so many attachments. This city remains an anchor for who I am; I can’t deny it.

My friend Gustave, who is also my notary, told me that the tenant is a charming woman, taking care of the plants and maintaining very good relations with the neighbors.

I’m grateful she agreed to host me during my stay here. She assured me it didn’t bother her in the least. She wasn’t obliged to, but she seems to live alone, and sharing a moment with guests seems to please her greatly. Moreover, assigning us a room in such a large house is no problem for her.

A bit embarrassed, I ring the bell at my house. The sounds of footsteps tell me I will soon meet the person who has been living in my home for almost a year.

The door glides open as easily as the first time. I raise my eyes to a face more than familiar. My mouth opens slightly as I search for air. At first, I think it’s a hallucination.

My eyelashes blink several times to make sure I’m not dreaming.

Tess’s face remains impassive in the face of my confusion. If she’s shocked to see me, she hides it very well.

She bites her lower lip as she steps back to invite me in.

I remain stoic on the threshold of the door, unable to cross the threshold of my own home.

Chapter 3

Tess January 1, 2021 – 1: 47 PM

The doorbell rings, certainly the visitors the notary told me about. I open the door and am almost paralyzed at the sight of two unfortunately familiar faces. I hang up on Zoé, my eyes fixed on Nolan. He looks paler than during our last encounter. The image I have of him remains that of an enigmatic, almost cold face that observed me strangely in that park, questioning whether I loved him or not. A loaded question. Whatever my answer, he wouldn’t have believed me. At the time, I didn’t know that otherwise, everything would have been different.

“Tess…”

My brain takes a moment to realize that the voice I hear isn’t that of my visitor; it’s Tomás behind me. He sizes up Nolan and places a hand on my shoulder. I don’t move, paralyzed.

Did Gustave tell him I was the tenant? From his stunned expression, I doubt it. Unless it’s due to Tomás’s presence in his house. I press my lips together. It’s really not a good idea to show up like this, unannounced. But if I had known Nolan would be among the guests, would I have accepted?

I regret not having answered my sister earlier; I could have anticipated this awkward situation by finding myself alone here for…

A slimmer silhouette appears behind him. I widen my eyes. Lily, clad in faux leather that suits her perfectly, throws little glances over her shoulder.

I boil inside at the sight of her. Nolan sees my change in demeanor but says nothing. He remains silent while I feel the urge to violently press my hand against someone’s face. I take a deep breath to control all the fury within me.

He dared to come with her. After what he did to me just a week ago, he’s here. The heart-shaped mouth accompanied by this… I stop my thoughts there, not wanting to insult such a ridiculous woman. That would be wasting time, energy, and mental space on nonsense.

Worse than a green plant, Lily is a dandelion. If only a gentle breeze would carry her away so I’d never have to see her again. But she doesn’t seem to understand that, and if I have to turn into a hurricane to avoid laying my eyes on her, I’ll gladly do it.

I’m about to say something foolish when Tomás squeezes my shoulder. That’s all it takes. Just that for me to understand the meaning. We agreed not to say anything about what we’ve done in the last few days. To anyone.

“To make sure nothing slips, Tess, we have to talk as little as possible to those sensitive to the matter. This concerns Bill, my family, but also Nolan, ” he explained on the first night.

“I have no intention of speaking to him again.”

“Really?”

I interpret his astonishment as a lack of trust. What could be more ironic than seeing him doubt me after all the lies he told me? Nevertheless, he was right. Anger consumed me at that moment, and my response was far from definitive, even if I didn’t realize it.

“Yes, ” I replied, looking him straight in the eye.

My confidence seemed to convince him. And his curiosity took over.

“Then why do all this?”

“So I can hold my head up high, and because I’m partly responsible for this situation.”

I flinch. Am I holding my head up?