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

She swam for a while, making sure not to go out too far, feeling herself relax. When she’d finally had enough, she headed back for the beach and sat down on the sand, drying herself with her towel.

Then she lay down and closed her eyes, basking in the warmth of the sun on her skin.

‘Morning. Have you been for a swim?’

She opened her eyes at the familiar voice. Marcus was standing in front of her, his wetsuit clinging to him like a second skin, his long hair pulled back into a low ponytail, his surfboard under his arm. He looked sensational. She felt her insides do a flip and sat up. ‘Yes, I’ve been meaning to come for a morning swim for ages.’ She tucked her still-wet hair behind her ears. ‘I did wonder if you were one of the surfers out there.’

He sat down in the sand beside her, and lay the board beside him. ‘Did you enjoy the swim?’

She turned her face towards him, then wished she hadn’t as his gaze locked with hers, his eyes dark and mesmerising, and she felt her breath catch in her throat, her hands ache to reach out and touch his face, to feel her fingers on his skin. Damn, why did he always have this effect on her?

‘I did. Thank you. Have you heard how your painting fared in the exhibition?’ she asked, lowering her eyes as she brushed some sand off her legs, trying to give herself a chance to pull herself together.

‘The exhibition ends today, so I should hear soon. Not that I’m expecting to get anywhere but Lady Thomwell said there’s been quite a lot of interest in my paintings so who knows. I may get another commission.’

‘Paintings?’ she repeated, surprised. ‘I thought you were only entering the painting of Buddy?’

‘Er, yes, I was but Lady Thomwell came up to the attic with me to get it and spotted another painting she liked so took that too.’

‘Really? That’s great. When will you get your paintings back? I’d like to see the one of Buddy before I leave.’ It sounded so final saying that. She’d be leaving Port Medden. Would never see Marcus again.

I’ll be making a marvellous new life for myself.

‘Lady Thomwell is bringing it back with her on Monday so I’ll collect it then and you can see it.’

So, he was going over to Thomwell Manor to collect it? Would he be seeing Estelle too? If he was, it was none of her business.

‘That’ll be great. I look forward to it.’ She scrambled to her feet and reached for her bag, then pulled her vest top over her head and wriggled into her shorts, feeling very self-conscious. ‘I’m off now then. See you after lunch. If you still have time to come round?’

‘One thirty be okay?’

‘Perfect.’ She picked up her bag and sandals. ‘Bye.’

She walked back across the beach, forcing herself not to look over her shoulder to see if he was watching her. If he wasn’t, she would be disappointed. And if he was, she would feel sad. There was no future for them, she had to accept that.

True to his word, Marcus knocked on the door at dead on one thirty. Hattie greeted him with a smile, determined to keep things light and friendly. And Marcus seemed of the same mind, holding out a foil-covered plate, saying, ‘I come with cake.’

‘Oh, yummy.’ Hattie took the dish off him, and folded back the foil to take a peep as he stepped into the hall. ‘Oh, carrot cake! Perfect.’ One of her favourites.

‘We had some left over last night, so I thought you might appreciate it.’

‘Definitely. Want some now with a cuppa?’ She opened the lounge door.

‘Please.’

As soon as they walked in, Buddy started whistling and shouted, ‘Where you been?’ to Marcus.

‘I think he’s missed you after spending the weekend with you,’ Hattie said, putting the cake down on the table and going into the kitchen to fill the kettle, leaving Marcus to talk to Buddy. Marcus must miss Buddy too, she thought. He’d been part of his life for years and soon he would be gone, with her.

‘Please come and see him whenever you like. I’m sure you miss him as much as he misses you,’ she said, peering through the arch where she could see Marcus giving Buddy a grape.

‘Thanks. I am going to miss the little fella.’ He glanced at her. ‘I know he will be fine with you, though. He’s really taken to you now, hasn’t he?’

She grinned. ‘Yes and he actually says “Hello, Hattie” now. Listen.’

She stood by the cage. ‘Hello, Buddy. Say “Hello Hattie”.’

Buddy cocked his head at her. ‘Hello, Hattie. Hello, Hattie.’

‘See?’ she said triumphantly. Marcus was smiling but he didn’t look surprised. Then the penny dropped. ‘You taught him last weekend, didn’t you?’

‘Yes. I thought it would be a nice surprise for you.’

Even though he’d been busy painting, he’d spent time over the weekend teaching Buddy to say ‘Hello, Hattie’ as a surprise for her. Did that mean he did care about her?

She suddenly realised that she was staring at him. She pulled herself together. ‘That was lovely of you. Thank you. Now, how about we have this coffee and cake and get cracking?’ she said, turning away to make the coffee and give her chance to compose herself.

It was a pleasant afternoon. Between the two of them, they sorted out the whole dresser, piling the things that had to be dumped in one box, the things her father might be interested in in another, and anything to go to charity shops in a third. Just like they had done when they were sorting out the wardrobes upstairs.

And ended up going to bed together.

She pushed the thought out of her mind and stood up, rubbing her legs. Sitting on the floor had made them ache. ‘That’s that sorted, then. Thanks for your help.’

‘What about the ornaments in the dresser?’ Marcus asked, getting to his feet too.

‘I’ll leave them for