Page 81 of Second Chance Summer
After asking for an update on Morven and the Teagues, she showed Lily inside. The first surprise was how new and spacious the building it was. The second was finding Damon and a couple of other teens playing pool.
He glanced up and away again quickly. By now, he’d have realised that everyone knew his part in helping Morven spook Lily.
She focused on the task at hand. ‘The hall’s much larger than I expected,’ she said. As well as the pool table, a young family were hitting balls on a table tennis table and there was still room for chill-out spaces around the sides and ends.
‘We managed to nab a small Lottery grant,’ Penny explained, ‘though we raised most of the funds to build it ourselves. Prince William opened it,’ she added proudly, showing Lily an area at the rear with bookshelves and bean bags. ‘Everyone can use it, holidaymakers as well as islanders. There are books, DVDs and toys to borrow – and loos, of course. We just suggest a small donation in return. It’s used for weddings and parties, and we hold a doctor’s surgeryhere once a week,’ she went on. ‘Rhiannon used to do a weekly clinic too … before she left,’ Penny added.
‘Oh?’ Lily hoped to nudge her into further comment but she either didn’t take the hint or decided to move the conversation on. ‘In a place this isolated, we have to be as self-sufficient as possible.’
‘I can see that,’ Lily said, not daring to push the topic further.
‘There’s a kitchen too. If it’s fine, we can move some of the stalls outside. There’s a man who grows exotic plants for sale.’
‘How many stalls have you got?’
‘Thirty-four at the last count.’
‘Thirty-four! I’d no idea there were that many craftspeople on Scilly.’
Penny beamed. ‘We’re a very talented bunch and since word got round that you were coming, every maker across the islands wants to be here. With such a big turnout, we’re going to charge a two quid entrance fee.’ Penny gave a wry smile. ‘You were right that notoriety sells.’
‘Unfortunately. Let’s just hope everyone is disappointed that I’m not the ogre they’re expecting.’ Lily covered her nerves with a smile though her stomach was churning. ‘At least I’ll have my brother-in-law and nieces for protection. They’re coming over to Stark for the weekend.’
‘How lovely,’ Penny said. ‘Let me show you the playground. If your nieces are little, they’ll love it.’
After finishing her mini-tour with Penny, Lily took the shortcut behind the post office store on her way back to HellBay House. The view from there over most of the Isles of Scilly was panoramic. She had a reasonable idea of all their names now: St Mary’s, Tresco, St Martin’s, and even St Agnes to the west, with the Bishop Rock lighthouse marking the far western edge of Britain.
Her stomach tightened as she thought of leaving these huge skies and shimmering seas for the claustrophobic London streets. Or perhaps the decision she had to make about the supermarket deal was making it seem more claustrophobic. She’d had another email from the company that morning, asking her to set up a meeting where they’d discuss it with her team. She hadn’t even told her team a deal was on the horizon.
Parking the dilemma for the time being, she walked straight off the path into the rear garden of Hell Bay House. Morven was in the kitchen window, chopping an onion – apparently preparing a recipe from TikTok, judging by the sounds coming from her phone. She didn’t notice Lily who went round to the front of the house where a loud buzzing sound led her to Sam.
He had his back turned, giving Lily ten seconds to admire his tanned thighs and the way his biceps flexed as he skimmed a powered cutter along the hedge. His T-shirt was sticking to his back and perspiration glistened on his neck.
Already warm from her walk, her body went into meltdown.
He cut the power and lowered the hedge cutter.
‘Hey there,’ Lily said, her voice seeming loud in the sudden silence.
He turned, lips parting in surprise, eyes hidden behind Ray-bans. ‘Oh … hello. I didn’t know you were there.’
‘I only just got here. Didn’t want to scare you in case I caused an accident.’
With a smile, he laid the tool on the grass. ‘I should keep your distance, I’m very hot and sweaty.’
I can see that… ‘Same,’ she said. ‘I’ve just walked over the hill from the café.’
His gaze, even through the shades, seemed to burn into her. ‘Hot and sweaty suits you.’
A tingle of desire shot through her. ‘You too,’ she murmured, fighting an urge to leap on him. ‘Um … I saw Morven cooking in the kitchen.’
Sam rubbed his forehead and seemed thrown off kilter. Had he been fighting the same urge?
‘Yeah. She’s, er, making dinner for us. Do you mind staying another night here? I don’t want to leave her on her own.’
‘No, of course not,’ Lily said, filled with relief that she wouldn’t be alone with him on Stark. With the raging hormones he was stoking in her, she wasn’t sure she could contain herself.
‘Actually, I’m making dinner for me and my mates.’ Morven appeared behind them, her T-shirt spattered with bright green pesto. ‘Sorry to disappoint you but Auntie Elspeth said I could have them over for dinner. She’s going to her Zumba class and then coming over to stay with me afterwards.’
