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

does matter. I’ve told you how she harasses me, and you came to the birthday party, pretended to be my girlfriend to put her off.’

‘Didn’t work though, did it?’

‘No, it didn’t. I promise you that I’m really not interested in her, whereas I . . . like you very much. You’re leaving soon and I don’t want us to part on bad terms.’

She liked him too. More than liked him. ‘Neither do I. Let’s forget all about it,’ she said.

He held out his hand. ‘Friends?’

She took it, trying not to notice the familiar tingle coursing around her body. ‘Friends.’

‘Will you let me help you sort all this out? You must still have such a lot to do.’

She did. Too much. ‘The house clearance will take most of it, but I still need to sort through all the cupboards and drawers and make sure there’s nothing important.’ She sighed.

‘So, you’re going back to Bristol then?’

She nodded, too choked up to speak.

‘And is that what you really want to do?’

She licked her lips, gulped and then she shook her head. ‘No. I know you won’t believe this, but I’d like to stay here, in Fisherman’s Rest. I love it in Port Medden and my photography business is picking up, but I’ve got no choice and I shouldn’t be complaining. The money from the sale will help me start a new life.’ She tilted her chin. ‘But please don’t assume that I’m walking away because I want to. I love it here.’

And I love you.

For a moment, she was scared that she had said the words aloud. He was looking at her, his eyes dark, his expression unfathomable. He nodded slowly. ‘I understand. It must be difficult for you, but I’m sure you’ll find somewhere nice to live and be happy.’ His gaze flitted to the box of photos on the floor. ‘I have to go to work soon so I’ll leave you to look through the photos, but how about I come around tomorrow afternoon and help you sort out the rest of the cupboards?’

‘Thanks. I’d love that.’

Chapter Forty-Two

‘You’re not looking very happy tonight,’ Mandy remarked when Marcus walked in to do his evening shift. ‘What’s up? Is it because Hattie’s leaving?’

Marcus looked at her miserably. ‘So much for you and your intuition. The sale will be through in a couple of weeks and she’s going back to Bristol.’

‘Have you told her how you feel?’

‘What’s the point. It’s quite clear she doesn’t feel the same way. Besides, she has no choice. She has to leave.’

Mandy fixed him with a stern glance. ‘There’s always a choice. And even my intuition needs a helping hand sometimes. Tell her how you feel. And if she feels the same way you’ll both sort something out.’

Marcus thought about Mandy’s advice all evening but decided not to take it. It was obvious that Hattie only looked on him as a friend. She said she didn’t want to leave Port Medden, or the cottage, but had said nothing about leaving him. And if she was that fond of Port Medden, or had any feelings for him, she could find somewhere to rent.

Or she could move in with him.

He’d been toying with the thought for a couple of weeks now, he was so desperate for Hattie not to leave. He had never even thought of living with one of his girlfriends before, he liked his own space, his independence. And hadn’t thought enough of any of them to give that up for them. Hattie was different, though. Would she want to? Would it work? If it didn’t, then he would have to ask her to leave and how horrible would that be?

He shook his head. No, it was all too much of a risk.

When he passed Fisherman’s Rest later that evening, after finishing his shift, he saw that the light was on in the lounge. Hattie was still up. He stood at the gate, looking at the window, wondering whether to knock on the door. How had they gone from that easy friendship where he used to pop in on the way home from work to this?

He sighed and carried on to Curlew Cottage. He poured himself a glass of wine when he got inside and sipped it slowly, remembering making love with Hattie, her scent, the taste of her, the feel of her.

He was going to miss her.

The next morning, Hattie was up bright and early. She whisked open the curtains to look out at the sea over the rooftops. ‘I’m going to make the most of the time I have left down here,’ she decided. ‘No more moping.’

So, straight after breakfast, she headed down to the beach for a swim in the sea. She’d promised herself she’d have a swim every morning but hadn’t got around to it. Now, she was determined to find time for it. The beach was empty apart from a few surfers riding the waves. She looked out at them, wondering if one of them was Marcus, but they were too far out for her to see clearly. Well, it didn’t matter if he was there, they had buried the hatchet and were both adult enough to be pleasant to each other for the short time she had left in Port Medden. She was pleased that Marcus was coming around that afternoon to help her sort through the cupboards. She was stupidly really looking forward to seeing him again and was determined to keep it light and pleasant.

She wriggled out of her shorts and vest top, stripping down to the brightly coloured bikini she was wearing underneath, and placed them in her beach bag, then put the bag by some rocks and covered it with a towel. Her phone and door keys were in the bag but there was no one about so they should be safe, she thought. She headed over to the sea, paddling until she got in deep enough to swim and plunged in.

The water was cool and refreshing.