Page 16 of Second Chance Summer
‘Oh, I do,’ she said, clutching her brownie as if it was treasure. ‘See you later.’
CHAPTER FIVE
Lily hadn’t been quite straight with Sam when he’d asked if the cottage was OK. Her throwaway ‘fine’ didn’t do justice to the beautifully finished interior.
While she lounged on the huge bed with her tea and brownie, she cast a business eye over it.
It was obvious the cottage had been renovated to a very high standard, with exquisite finishes and natural materials in keeping with its age – two hundred years old at least. There was also some interesting contemporary art on the walls. Mixed media, using sand and shells …
There was a coffee-maker but she’d already decided on the Cornish tea – who knew that was even a thing? While she made the drink, she investigated the mini-hamper of treats: shortbread, cheese nibbles, a local beer and a small bottle of Scilly gin. All of them nestled in a cute canvas mini-bucket that was obviously hand-sewn, and rather beautifully at that.
It was exactly the type of item she would have been proud to offer through Lily Loves. As were the mugs and crockery, obviously artisanal with the stamp of a Scilly Island pottery on them, and there was a pretty shell-decorated trinket box where Lily placed the dress ring andnecklace she wore every day. The pendant had once been Cara’s.
As a boutique hotel suite, she couldn’t fault it – and it had the understated style and rustic character of any small luxury hotel she’d stayed in in the Cotswolds or rural France.
She’d almost nodded off in the copper claw-foot tub, situated in front of a window, which, if there hadn’t been thick mist cloaking the landscape, might have had a lovely view. The toiletries were sourced locally and perfumed with extracts of Scilly flowers.
Wrapped in a fluffy robe, she’d lain on the bed and wished she could get her phone. She wanted to check in with her parents and Étienne, then have a quick scroll through her emails to ensure nothing urgent had come in from Lily Loves today. With a sigh, she sank back against the pillows.
No matter now gorgeous this place was, the difficult access and lack of connection to the outside world would drive her mad if she had to stay here long … and, she had to admit, the comments from the gardener and Elspeth had spooked her.
The idea that she and Sam were alone together on the island, trapped by the bad weather, was creepy.
Sam wasn’t creepy, though; he was the opposite. Even scruffy and unshaven, he was handsomer than most men could manage with the benefit of a Savile Row suit and the services of a top men’s salon. His physical attractiveness was enhanced by the fact he didn’t seem to be aware of it or to give a toss how he looked.
Perhaps if he hadn’t made such extravagant and spurious claims for the resort, she could warm to him more. Admittedly, he had a dry sense of humour, was clearly popular with the locals and he was trying hard with the food. Ah, food … her mouth watered. Lily hadn’t eaten properly since breakfast, being too scared to have lunch with theHell-i-copter ride ahead.
Rain spattered the windows and she was sure she could hear the foghorn of the lighthouse calling and maybe even the waves breaking on the shore as she allowed herself, finally, to relax her exhausted body and mind …
‘Oh my God!’ Lily’s eyes flew open. Something was tapping on her window, over and over, like a ghostly finger … like Cathy trying to get into Heathcliff’s chamber.
She jumped off the bed and laughed in relief to see a branch blowing against the window.
On the bedside table stood a half-full cup of cold tea and the remains of the brownie. The clock by the bed told her she’d been asleep for almost an hour! It was unheard of for her to take a nap in the day. Even worse, it was now a minute after seven and she was late for dinner.
She was the only dinner guest, though, so it probably didn’t matter what time she turned up.
As she made a quick check in the bathroom mirror, Lily thought that at least the woman staring back at her didn’t look quite as exhausted and drawn as the one who’d arrived. The sleep had done her good. Even so, she was shocked by her pale face and the blue smudges under her eyes that she’d normally disguise with an expensive concealer.
Some sunshine and sleep would soon set that to rights. In the meantime, she dabbed under her eyes with the concealer wand, swiped blusher over her cheekbones and added a slick of lip gloss.
She might be the only guest, but she was still on show.
‘Good evening. Welcome – again – to the Stark Retreat.’
‘Er … hi,’ Lily said, taken aback by the sight of Sam holding open the door of the reception hub as if it were the entry to the Ritz. Good grief, he was almost smiling.
‘I thought we’d start again,’ he said, taking her umbrella and stowing it in a stand. Cushions had appeared on the seating area, along with tealights flickering on the tables. Softly lit, it looked cosy and inviting, despite the rain drumming on the roof. A delicious aroma wafted through from a door next to the bar and Lily’s mouth watered.
‘Can I get you a drink? Wine? Beer? A cocktail?’
‘Erm …’ Lily floundered. She wasn’t sure she could cope with this shiny new version of her host, partly because of the way her body was reacting to the sight of him, freshly shaved and rocking a crisp white shirt and black jeans.
‘A G&T would be nice. Please.’
‘Sit down and relax while I pour it.’
Lily was taken aback because he was clearly trying very hard to make an effort, even though she could still see he was tense and uncomfortable with playing the host. Deciding to give him the benefit of the doubt, she perched on a bar stool, watching him uncork the stopper from a green lighthouse-shaped gin bottle.
