‘Thanks,’ Tammy said, relieved that Breda wasn’t going to see her attempts for all kinds of reasons. Breda was a very talented mixed media artist who specialised in local landscapes. She’d won tons of awards and got to the finals of a prestigious TV show.
‘I also heard a rumour about Davey getting some teenager in to help out. I told him he could have asked me. I really wouldn’t have minded.’
‘I don’t think he wanted to bother you when you’re busy with your own work,’ Tammy said, trying to be as diplomatic as she could. It was up to Davey to explain why he hadn’t asked for Breda’s help. ‘Um. Do you want me to tell Davey you’re here?’
‘Not if he’s that busy and stressed out. I wouldn’t want to interrupt him,’ she said haughtily while glancing at the open door that led through to the studio. ‘I can hear the wheel going from here. Actually, I mainly dropped by to deliver the landscape of Sennen Cove that a French customer ordered. It only came back from the framer today. I know Davey usually arranges for the courier to send them but if you’re both up against it, I could do it. I’d need all their details though.’
‘That’s really kind of you,’ Tammy said, feeling sorry for Breda and annoyed with Davey for having put her off.
Breda shrugged. ‘It’s no problem. I have errands in town anyway and it’s never a wasted journey to drop into the gallery. You say Davey’s super busy?’
‘He says he is, but why don’t you speak to him? I’m sure he’d be disappointed to miss you,’ Tammy said cheerfully, though she was by no means certain of Davey’s reaction. She didn’t care. Breda was lovely and deserved his attention.
‘Well, I was going to see if he’s interested in some photographic collages of Porthmellow I’ve been working on.’
‘I’m sure he will be. Your work practically flies off the walls and he’s been working since breakfast, so he’ll need a break.’
At that moment, Davey’s own voice boomed from the hall that led into the gallery floor. ‘Tammy, have you been to the post office yet? Because I have another order that I promised to send today.’
Spotting Breda, he stopped, wiping his hands on an old towel and looked up guiltily. ‘Oh,’ he mumbled. ‘It’s you.’
Tammy winced. There was no helping him.
Breda fixed him with a glare. ‘Hello, Davey. I was beginning to think you’d been hiding from me.’
He laughed out loud. ‘Now why would I do that?’
‘No idea, but I haven’t been able to get hold of you. Tammy says you’re tied up with this hotel commission, but I’d started to worry you’d lost your phone …’
‘No, I’ve er – just been so wrapped up in work.’
‘So I hear. You need a hand in the shop too, accordingto Tammy. Why are you relying on that inexperienced lad when I could help out?’
‘I think I’ll put the kettle on,’ Tammy piped up. Davey could fight his own battles. ‘See you later, Breda.’
‘Thanks, Tammy.’
Avoiding Davey’s eye, Tammy scuttled into the studio kitchen, deciding it was a good thing that Davey finally had to confront Breda and explain.
At the same time, she dreaded what might come of the conversation. What if he and Breda had split up? Was that why Davey had been losing sleep – because he wanted to end their relationship? She was sure Breda wanted to carry on – maybe she even wanted to take things a stage further? Until he’d met Breda, Davey had been a confirmed bachelor, despite the efforts of several local ladies.
Then again, she was hardly Ms Commitment herself, as Lola would testify.
Tammy heaved a sigh and sipped the coffee she hadn’t really wanted. She had enough on her own plate without worrying about Davey’s love life.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Ruan turned up at the beach Tammy had suggested a quarter of an hour early. He hated being late for anything and wasn’t sure how long it would take him to walk from the nearest parking to the remote cove, so had allowed far too much time.
It was a good job because, from the path above, he could see she was already on the sand, which was partly in shadow from the cliffs that protected it. She seemed to be scoping out the beach but hadn’t started the design yet.
The last section of the ‘path’ required a scramble over rocks so he transferred his focus to clambering down safely and soon he was dropping on to the soft sand.
The constant boom of the surf masked his arrival in the cove, where he and Tammy were the only two people. She had her back to him, hands on hips. She was barefoot in her hoodie, a tan line peeping out from the hem of her denim shorts.
With her hair scooped messily on her head, there was something so natural about her, such unawareness of her own magnificence, that Ruan’s heart rate soared to a new level.
The need to swing her into his arms and kiss her surged through him so strongly that he thrust his hands in the pockets of his jeans and held back. Finally, she caught sight of himand her brow puckered as if annoyed that he’d broken her concentration.
