One Summer in Cornwall Karen King (positive books to read TXT) 📖

her flip-flops down on the sand and pulled off her vest, then wriggled out of her shorts. ‘Race you in!’

‘Hey, give me chance!’

She sprinted off as he started to pull off his top, eager to swim in the ocean as she used to do when she was younger, her father always swimming alongside her to make sure she didn’t get into trouble, her mother, not a strong swimmer, watching anxiously on the beach until they both finally came out and joined her on the sand. Her parents had both loved her, even if they had stopped loving each other, she reminded herself as her foot touched the water, its coldness making her hesitate for a moment. She’d forgotten that there was always a chill to the Atlantic Ocean – even in August she’d had to brace herself before she ran in.

‘Too cold for you?’ Marcus teased as he raced past her and dived in, his powerful arms crashing through the water as he did the crawl.

‘Nope!’ she shouted and dived in too, catching her breath as her body hit the cold water, but as soon as she started swimming – the breaststroke for her – she warmed up.

Marcus was ahead but she didn’t care. She was enjoying the feel of the water around her, the sun on her back, the gloriousness of her surroundings. She’d promised herself that she would come swimming every day, yet she’d been here over two weeks and hadn’t been for a swim once. Well, now she had settled in and done the worst of the tidying up, she might get chance to come more often.

Marcus was swimming back to her now. When he reached her, she turned and they both swam back towards the shore, stopping when their feet could touch the sand, and without either of them saying anything, turned to each other and melted into an embrace. As Hattie stood there, wrapped in Marcus’s arms, the sea lapping around her thighs, she thought that she had never felt happier.

‘Shall I pop around tonight after work or are you busy?’ Marcus asked as they sat on the soft sand, Hattie sitting between Marcus’s outstretched legs, her head resting back against his bare chest, his arms wrapped loosely over her shoulders. He kept his tone deliberately casual, wanting to see her but not wanting to sound too clingy, as if he was pressuring her. They both had things to do, they couldn’t spend every minute together.

She tilted her head back and looked up at him. ‘Now, that sounds like a lovely idea.’

He lowered his head and kissed her. ‘Shall I bring supper?’

She edged forward and half-turned towards hm. ‘Please. It’s such a bonus to be dating a chef.’

He wrapped his arms around her and eased her closer. ‘Are you saying that you’re only going out with me because of my cooking skills?’

‘Hmm, I can think of another skill I quite like . . .’

‘Only quite?’

She kissed him deeply, then pulled away, her eyes full of mischief, and stood up. ‘Stop fishing for compliments, we need to get going. You’ve got work in a couple of hours and I have a house to tidy for tomorrow.’

For the potential buyers.

He scrambled to his feet, pushing away the thought of how much he would miss her. It could take months to sell a house, he reminded himself. Their romance would have run its course by then.

Wouldn’t it?

They chatted easily on the short journey home. As he pulled up to park the camper behind the cottages, he saw Winnie standing by her car, boot open, taking out a box. Several other boxes and bags were piled in the boot. She was back.

‘Afternoon, Winnie. Is your sister better?’ he asked as he opened the door to get out. Hattie was already scrambling out of the other side.

‘She is, thank you. I’m afraid I did a bit of shopping whilst I was there too. Very enjoyable but I’m wondering whether it was sensible. I’ve no idea where I’ll put it all.’

‘Let me help you take it inside.’ Marcus walked over to the boot, and Hattie followed him.

‘That’s very kind.’ Winnie’s sharp eyes flitted across to Hattie. ‘And who’s your young lady?’

‘I’m Hattie, your next-door neighbour,’ she said.

‘Oh goodness, you’re Owen’s daughter! You have the same eyes. So pleased to meet you, dear. Albert talked about you a lot.’

Marcus saw Hattie’s eyes cloud over and knew she was feeling guilty again.

‘Albert left his cottage to Hattie and her dad, so she’s come down to sort things out,’ he quickly filled in for her.

‘Well, it’s lovely to meet you, Hattie. And very kind of both of you to help me with my shopping. I appreciate it.’

They all grabbed a box each and carried it over to the gate. Winnie passed the keys she was holding in her hands to Marcus. ‘Open it up for me, will you, dear? If I put this box down I’ll never pick it back up again.’

Marcus bent one knee and balanced the box he was carrying on it, then unlocked the gate, pushed it open and stood back to let first Winnie, then Hattie, through.

‘Just put everything down by the back door, I can take it all in,’ Winnie said, putting the box she was carrying down then holding her hand out for the keys. Marcus passed them to her, winking at Hattie as Winnie opened the door, then followed her inside.

‘Sorry, but I’m not letting you carry all this in. I’ll bring the boxes into the kitchen and leave them there. I’ll put them here, make it easier for you to unpack them,’ he said, placing his box onto the kitchen table.

‘Stubborn as always,’ Winnie said with a smile.

Hattie placed her box by Marcus’s and then they all went back out to get the next batch. A couple more journeys and the boot was unloaded.

‘Thank you both. Will you stop for a cup of tea?’ Winnie was already reaching for the kettle.

‘I’m afraid that I have to