Page 58 of Best Summer Ever

‘Well,’ I said, unable to picture the scene, but feeling both surprised and grateful that she’d suggested it, ‘we’ll see. We’re only just getting to know each other, but I can tell you, he absolutely loves Wynbrook strawberries.’

‘Does he?’ said Dad, sounding thrilled as he pulled on his work boots.

Any compliment to the estate earned a big tick as far as he was concerned.

‘You’ll have to show him the beach hut,’ he then suggested, which was as much of a seal of approval as anyone was ever likely to get.

I didn’t tell him that I already had or how relieved I was that their idea of me rekindling my romance with Laurence was now finally dead in the water.

‘Were your ears burning this morning?’ I asked Josh as we spread a blanket out on the sand in front of the beach hut later that day.

‘No,’ he said. ‘Not as I recall.’

‘That’s all right then,’ I laughed. ‘I wasn’t sure if you’d know what that meant.’

‘Oh, I do.’ He nodded. ‘I’m familiar with the expression. And why would they be?’

‘Because you were the hot topic at breakfast,’ I told him, flipping open the top of my factor fifty sunscreen and covering my arms in a thick layer.

‘With your parents?’ he asked, wide-eyed.

‘Yep.’ I nodded, rubbing the cream in.

‘What did you tell them?’ he asked.

There was something about his tone that made me look at him. He appeared aghast.

‘Don’t look so worried,’ I nudged. ‘I gave them the bare minimum. You know, country of origin, potential longevity of relationship. Oh, and that you’re a ten in bed.’

He laughed at that and looked relieved.

‘They’re not expecting you to put a ring on my finger,’ I teased, passing him the bottle, ‘if that’s what you were worried about.’

He rolled his eyes.

‘Idiot,’ he tutted.

‘But while we’re on the topic,’ I asked interestedly, ‘what are your views on marriage?’

‘I would need to know the size of your dowry before I got into a conversation about that,’ he teased me back.

‘Fair enough,’ I said, turning over. ‘Will you do my back, please? It’s hot already, isn’t it?’

‘Scorching,’ he said, making me turn even hotter once his hands got to work.

We walked up to the Sunshine Café for lunch and found Penny feeling hot too. All of the outside tables were full and there looked to be uncleared crockery and cutlery from previous customers littering most of them.

‘Oh, crikey,’ said Josh, when he opened the door to let me in ahead of him. ‘I think we’re going to have a bit of a wait.’

The inside tables were also full and there was a snaking queue of customers that we joined the back of. I looked around the side of the person in front of me and could see Penny moving about the kitchen at breakneck speed. She was wearing an expression of calm and control, but I knew her well enough to recognise that wasn’t how she was really feeling.

‘I’m going to go and clear those outside tables,’ Josh told me, before I had the chance to tell him I was going to offer to help too. ‘Why don’t you join Penny behind the counter?’

‘Great minds.’ I smiled, twisting round to kiss him. ‘We can help her through the lunchtime rush, can’t we?’

‘Absolutely,’ he said with a grin.

I felt my heart flutter as I watched him walk out and begin gathering up the trays and dishes.

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