praising my talents to one of the customers.
‘What?’
Izzy cleared her voice. ‘Next week. You know I’ve been feeling restless.’
I nodded. Donuts & Daiquiris earned more than my boss could have ever imagined and now Izzy, being a straight-A student, needed a new challenge. She’d been university material but couldn’t ignore her passion for food and now those grey cells clearly needed stretching some more.
‘I’ve decided this place needs a makeover. Plus, I need to take a trip—to get inspired by food. I’m thinking of expanding the menu.’
‘Wow. When did you decide all this?’
‘A couple of weeks ago. I didn’t want to say much in case I couldn’t book everything in time, but I’ve managed to find a decorator who gets my new concept, and found a last-minute holiday deal online—I’ve booked a gold lodge at a spa resort. Quite a bargain it was, for a summer booking.’
‘So, no work for two weeks from next Monday?’
‘You’ll get paid of course.’
My smile widened. ‘Well, that is a good piece of news. It’ll give me chance to carry on looking for a new place and, while I’m disappointed about the Stanley Hotel, I’m determined to find another regular gig. Plus—’
‘Or—’ her eyes sparked ‘—come with me, Kate. You deserve a treat. ‘
I gasped. ‘Izzy, that’s really kind, but I couldn’t possibly afford to share the rent.’
Izzy folded her arms. ‘When I say a treat, I mean exactly that—my shout. All you’d need is spending money. I’ll drive.’
‘Izzy, that is so kind, but—’
‘Go on … even if it’s just for one of the weeks. And, if you don’t find a flat in time, when you get back, you can move in with me.’
‘I don’t need charity,’ I said and folded my arms. ‘I appreciate the offer but—’
‘Kate Golightly! Lose the pride! I’m your friend. You could stay with me permanently for all I care—but a few weeks, that’s not charity, it’s just a mate being a mate.’
I thought for a moment and then grinned. ‘OK.’
‘And you deserve a holiday. We both do. Plus, I’d enjoy the company.’
We stared at each other.
‘It’ll be fun,’ she said softly. ‘Saunas, facials, walks—it’s just what we both need. The outdoor life. Plus …’ Her eyes sparked more strongly, like a poker player who knew his hand of cards couldn’t be beaten. ‘All your Poldark talk got me thinking and I figured there is nowhere more inspiring for food, in Britain, than the South-west, what with pasties, scones, ice cream, fudge, and the White Rocks holiday resort just happens to be really close to … Port Penny!’
My heart raced. ‘Guvnah! Oh my days!’ A comforting chat with her was just what I needed. We’d not seen each other since Christmas. ‘Oh, Izzy, really?’
She nodded.
My mind raced and I clapped my hands. ‘You know what else this means?’
Izzy chuckled. ‘You seem almost more excited at the prospect of a holiday than me.’
‘Yes! Because this break couldn’t have come at a better time. It gives me the perfect opportunity to meet a genuine Cornish Poldark. All it will take is a few days scouting fishing villages or—’
‘For goodness’ sake.’ Izzy gave a belly laugh and shook her head. ‘And there was me thinking you were simply so thrilled about going away with a good mate.’
‘No. Yes. I mean of course.’ I felt my face break into a huge grin. ‘The best of mates.’
‘Here’s the brochure,’ said Izzy and pushed a catalogue across the table.
I grabbed it and my eyes devoured the photos of cliffs and seashores and romantic skylines. I pictured them in my mind as I drove home, a couple of mock Mojitos later, having phoned my very excited gran.
The earlier heaviness in my chest had lifted. Good friends meant everything. I was one lucky woman. And hopefully by the end of two weeks in Cornwall, I’d be even luckier and would have bagged one authentic hot guy with dark brooding looks and a killer seductive smile to bring women to their knees.
‘Wow,’ I mumbled, as we drove into White Rocks resort.
‘Looks great, doesn’t it?’ said Izzy and shot me a sideways smile from the driving seat.
I loved her Beetle car, with a bobbing pink rubber flower stuck to the keyboard. Katy Perry blared out from the CD player and a sherbet-scented air freshener swung in time, dangling from the driving mirror.
I smiled back. ‘Can you tell it’s a while since I’ve been on holiday? These bags under my eyes are because I couldn’t get to sleep last night for imagining coastal walks, pasties and ice creams. Talking of bags, what on earth have you packed? I’ve brought one black Speedo swimsuit, compared to your three fluorescent bikinis. Plus a few pairs of pedal pushers and—’
‘No one calls them that any more!’
I chuckled. ‘OK, three-quarter length trousers, plus some T-shirts and a couple of dresses—how many have you brought?’
Her cheeks tinged pink. ‘Almost as many as my different pairs of sunglasses.’
We both laughed and I gazed around the resort. A girlie break in the sunny South-west? Bring it on … Cute lodges. Greenery. A spa signposted in the distance. So far this holiday park was living up to the brochure, except … I peered closer at one accommodation as we drove by. It could have done with a lick of paint. The decking at the front was worn and the surrounding grass needed a mow. Not that it bothered me—I was just grateful for the vacation—but it surprised me, seeing as White Rocks marketed itself as de luxe. And the cars parked outside each lodge weren’t the BMWs and Audis I’d been expecting, but old family saloons and budget hatchbacks.
We parked up outside reception and a group of parents and young screaming kids bustled past, carrying inflatables and towels.
‘I thought this place was for adults only?’ I said.
Izzy switched off the ignition and gave a big yawn. ‘I know. Weird. It was advertised as luxury online, although I did think the price was a bit low.’ She pulled the brochure out of the glove compartment, turned to the right page and squinted at some small print. ‘Ah.’
‘What is it?’
She shrugged. ‘Something about the possibility of the park being at the beginning of a rebranding period.’
‘Who cares—it’s a holiday, right?’
‘Absolutely!
