Page 61 of Second Chance Summer
‘I also need to ask Sam if he can put up with me for an extra weekend.’
Penny slid a look towards him and smiled. ‘Oh, I think he’ll be more than willing to oblige.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The dull roar of theHydra’s engine had a strangely comforting effect on Lily on the way back to Stark.
Sitting in the seat next to the helm, she had a fantastic view as they bounced over the waves, sending spray flying high into the air.
‘How did you fare with that motley crew?’ Sam asked once they were in the middle of the channel, as if it was now safe to speak without his friends overhearing. ‘I hope it wasn’t too much of an ordeal?’
‘Did it look like one?’ She was amused and quite touched by his concern.
‘No, but together they can be a bit much. I was worried the rowing talk might send you off to sleep.’
‘No, but the local wine and cider might. It was honestly fine – I just don’t like being the centre of attention.’
‘I was worried that it might be a baptism of fire,’ he said.
‘Sam, don’t stress. It was a few drinks in a pub.’ Anyway, she’d be gone soon. Even if she didn’t make a good impression, she’d never have to see them again. Yet she did care what they thought of her, and that had never bothered her before. Why now?
‘Anyway, it doesn’t matter what they thought,’ Sam continued. ‘I don’t want you to have to try too hard.’
‘After the bad press I had, I always have to.’
‘No, you don’t,’ he said, turning away from the sea to look straight into her eyes. ‘Not with me.’
Lily’s stomach did a double flip that had nothing to do with the waves. She knew he meant every word: that she could be completely herself with him. If Sam hadn’t been carefully steering the boat between treacherous rocks in the twilight, she might have done something she regretted: like kiss him.
‘I know,’ she said, keeping her hands firmly on the seat. ‘And that means a lot to me. I confess I wasn’t in love with Stark when I first arrived.’
‘You don’t say?’ he commented with a wry smile.
‘But I am now. It’s beautiful and I’ll be sorry to have to leave.’ She hesitated for a moment. ‘In fact, I want to talk to you about that.’
‘Oh?’ He glanced her way, in between negotiating the safe channel between the rocks.
‘How would you feel about me staying a little longer?’
‘Longer?’ The boat wobbled and he adjusted the wheel. ‘How much longer?’ he said once she was back on course.
‘Only an extra few days. Don’t worry, I’ll be out of your hair after that. You see, Penny asked me if I’d stay and help her launch the craft fair and I said I’d have to ask you. It would mean delaying my flight yet again, and I absolutely donotwant to disrupt anyone else’s plans, but if it is possible and you can put up with me for another weekend, then I feel I ought to help. Actually, Iwantto help. I got my firststart in business at craft fairs and I know how hard it is to build a profile and make a living from your own products.’
‘That’s very kind of you,’ he said.
‘Is it?’
‘Yes, especially after the battering you’ve had at the hands of the press lately. I’m sure Penny and all the craftspeople will appreciate it.’
‘I hope they don’t see me as muscling in,’ she said, experiencing a flutter of anxiety again.
‘They won’t. Not once they meet you.’
The flutter turned into something much more pleasant.
Hoping she wasn’t doing anything as gauche as blushing, Lily went silent while Sam reined back the throttle on the approach to the jetty. He needed all his concentration to steer theHydrathrough the narrow entrance. Perhaps she should have waited to ask him until they were safely on Stark.
With the boat alongside, he jumped off.
