One Summer in Cornwall by Karen King (best books to read for success .TXT) 📕

are fixed on tight, and I’m not over the weight,’ she retorted, then checked herself. Marcus was only offering to help. ‘But thanks for the offer. Actually, I did want to pick up some big tubs for the back yard tomorrow and they’d be difficult to carry on the bike. Don’t worry if you’re busy,’ she added quickly.

‘I’m not and yes I’d be happy to take you. I might even get some for my back yard,’ he told her. ‘You’re making my cottage feel a bit shabby with all your refurbishments.’ He walked over to the gate and unbolted it for her so she could wheel the bike in. ‘Want help unpacking that?’

She shook her head. ‘No, I’m good thanks. I’m just taking it inside and then I’m off to see Ellie and Reece; they’re back today and want to discuss some things with me.’

‘I’m working tonight – want to share a nightcap when I come home or is that too late for you?’ he asked.

‘I’d love to; it’s going to be quiet without Nick.’ She hadn’t been on her own much in the two weeks she’d been here, she realised. First Mali and Lou had come to stay, then Nick. Now she would be on her own until the end of next month when Mali and Lou broke up from school for the summer and were planning on coming down again. Mali had offered to cancel this as the cottage would be on the market with people viewing it, but Hattie had assured her it wouldn’t be a problem to have them there.

‘I’d love that. See you later, then. About ten thirty?’ She knew that the last meal served at the hotel was nine thirty, then Marcus always tidied up the kitchen.

‘See you!’ he set off down the hill.

It was comfortable, this friendship with Marcus, Hattie thought as she watched him walk down the hill, hands in his pockets. He was a nice guy. Thank goodness they’d got past that awful hiccup at the beginning. Her thoughts went back to how they had been planning on going back to Marcus’s cottage after the garden party. If Nick hadn’t turned up, they might be more than friends now, they might be lovers. Her pulse quickened at the thought of Marcus’s hands caressing her body, his mouth on hers . . . She shook the thought away. It was a good job Nick had turned up; she didn’t need the complications of a love affair, not when she had to find herself a new home. But right now, she had half an hour to unpack this stuff and get to Gwel Teg.

She unlocked the back door and took everything into the kitchen, said a quick ‘hello’ to Buddy then grabbed herself a yoghurt out of the fridge to tide her over. She thought about getting changed but didn’t want to keep Ellie and Reece waiting. It wouldn’t look professional.

Hattie finished the yoghurt, and, after a quick check of her make-up, set off.

Mandy looked up from the computer screen at the reception desk as Hattie walked in. ‘Afternoon, lovey. Go straight through to the private quarters. Ellie and Reece are in the garden.’

‘Thanks.’ Hattie indicated her shorts and top. ‘Do I look all right? I’ve been shopping and didn’t have time to change.’

‘You look gorgeous,’ Mandy assured her.

Hattie threw her a grateful smile and walked through into the garden. Ellie and Reece were sitting at the green ornamental metal table drinking lemonade. They both stood up as she came out and Hattie was relieved to see that they were both wearing vests and shorts too.

‘Did you have a nice honeymoon?’ she asked.

‘It was wonderful.’ Ellie gave her a hug, and Reece kissed her on the cheek. ‘Would you like a glass of lemonade?’ he asked.

‘I’d love one, thank you.’

They chatted for a while about the honeymoon, and how Hattie was settling in, and then turned the conversation to the wedding photographs. ‘They are all gorgeous, it was hard to make a selection,’ Ellie told her. ‘And there are a couple I really like but I don’t like my expression on them. I wonder if you can do anything about that?’

‘Yes, I can swap the faces. Can you show me which ones you want replaced, and the ones you want them replaced with?’

When all that was sorted out, they chose the album they wanted and then Sue came out too with a plate of sandwiches and cakes. Sue wanted a few photographs as well so Hattie made a note of her choices.

‘There’s something else I wanted to ask you, Hattie,’ Sue said. ‘We’re updating the hotel website and adding a “Meet our Staff” page. I wondered if you would be interested in taking the photos of the staff for us?’

Hattie was delighted. Her photography work was certainly taking off since she’d come down to Port Medden. She was beginning to think she might make a success of it, after all.

‘I’d love to,’ she said. ‘What timeline did you have in mind?’

Then she realised Marcus was a member of staff there – she would have to take a photograph of him. The thought of his sensual mix of tawny and hazel eyes staring into the camera lens made her heart flip.

He’s just a friend, she reminded herself. And that’s the way it’s staying.

The hotel had been busy this evening and Marcus had been rushed off his feet. A couple of guests had come into the dining room at twenty-five past nine, wanting a three-course meal. ‘I know it’s past last orders, but can you do it, please?’ Sue had asked, so Marcus had agreed. It had meant he was late cleaning up, though, and it was almost eleven before he was knocking on Hattie’s door, bottle of cava in his hand. He’d texted her to say he’d be late, of course, saying it was fine if she wanted to cancel, but Hattie had replied swiftly to say he should drop by, she wasn’t going