Charlie waved as he left the bus, Marmite looking at her quizzically from his crate.
‘You wouldn’t understand, puppy,’ she said quietly, as two wetsuit-clad women came down the stairs to pay, their long hair still dripping.
Her customers lingered, all laid-back now the competition was over, and it was after six when she drove Gertie back to Porthgolow.
The sun was kissing the cliffs, and the glass of Crystal Waters shone like an oversized diamond. Charlie thought of Daniel and what Juliette had told her. She wanted to know why he’d dropped her friend so quickly, and with no real explanation. And there was something else that was drawing her to him, something that she hadn’t felt for a long time, not since her relationship with Stuart had been good. But it had been a while, and it was only normal to crave some intimacy. Trust her to have those feelings about the most irritating man she’d encountered in months.
When she and Oliver had parted ways at St Agnes Head, she had told him she would be in touch about her – much smaller – festival. He was fun and friendly, so why couldn’t she conjure up the same level of interest for him as she could for Daniel? Maybe it wasn’t attraction, but an inner competitiveness that didn’t want to see Daniel get the better of her. Perhaps, once she’d outsmarted him, she’d stop thinking about him.
As she hopped down from the bus, she saw Anton push open the door of the B&B, his head down, his dark suit smart, but somehow too severe for the sunshine. The door slammed, echoing in the quiet. Myrtle appeared in the doorway of the pop-in, and their eyes met.
‘Been at the bank, has Anton,’ Myrtle said, as Charlie crossed the road to greet her. She reasoned that any contact with the older woman, however frosty, was a step closer to getting her on side. ‘Bet they’ll be as tight as bleddy always.’
‘Stella and Anton aren’t doing well?’ Charlie asked, dropping her voice.
‘Got some fancy ideas about revamping the B&B, but it isn’t going to compete, is it?’ She gestured towards the cliff. ‘Not with pools and spas and eight-course menus.’
‘Not everyone can afford Crystal Waters,’ Charlie said. ‘Of course there’s room for them both in Porthgolow. I would have thought a cosy, affordable B&B would be busier than the spa, if I’m honest.’
‘Shows what you know,’ Myrtle said, giving her a wry smile. ‘Think your festival’s goin’ to fix it all? Perk this village up till it’s shiny and new as Daniel’s boots?’
Charlie folded her arms. ‘It’s a start. And it’s more than anyone else seems to be doing.’
‘Don’t see the need for it meself. Do what you will, maid. I’m too old to stand in your way.’
It wasn’t the most gracious acceptance Charlie had ever heard, but she was touched, nonetheless. ‘Thank you, Myrtle. I won’t let Porthgolow down, I promise.’
Myrtle’s benevolent expression evaporated, but Charlie couldn’t resist hugging her.
‘Get off,’ she muttered, squirming in Charlie’s embrace. ‘Idiot cheel.’
Charlie released her, ‘Goodbye, Myrtle, see you later!’
‘Make sure you warn ’em all ’bout Crumblin’ Cliff, up above Reenie’s place,’ the old woman called after her. ‘You fill Porthgolow with cars, it’s an accident waitin’ to happen.’
Charlie waved to let Myrtle know she’d heard, and then went back to Juliette’s to get the dust-buster and rid her bus of the surfers’ sand.
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.
