Page 26 of The Big Dip in Crumbleton
‘Everyone’s invited,’ said Pete. ‘It’s pretty relaxed—a proper knees-up. Good food, local musicians, dancing and a few drinks, that sort of thing. Come with me. I mean us. It’ll be fun.’
‘Okay,’ said Scarlett, her chilled lips spreading into a broad smile. ‘I’d love to go with you.’
‘Cool!’ said Pete, doing his best to reign in the temptation to fist-pump in triumph. She’d not said “catch a lift”. She’d said she wanted to gowithhim. Pete did his best to swallow his grin.
‘Erm… do you know your way back to the hut? I’d walk you, but I think I’d better go and get changed before bits of me start to drop off!’
‘Just as well I know my way, then,’ chuckled Scarlett. ‘We definitely don’t want that to happen before our date!’
Date?! It was official… Pete was a goner!
‘See you later, then,’ he said, his face feeling like it might crack in half with the effort of not grinning like a total idiot. ‘Pick you up at seven?’
‘Great,’ said Scarlett, turning to head off towards the boardwalk. ‘Oh, wait… your fleece.’
‘Keep it for now,’ said Pete.
‘I owe you one… again,’ said Scarlett.
‘You can pay me back with the first dance later,’ said Pete.
‘Done,’ said Scarlett, shooting him a wink before turning and jogging away towards the gift shop and the little path that would lead her back towards the shepherd’s hut.
‘Right… blimey… right…’ muttered Pete, running his hand through his wet hair and wincing as cold droplets slid down his neck.
‘Oi!’ said Dylan, appearing in front of him looking unusually stern. ‘What did I say about getting warm and dry?!’
‘Yes, boss!’ chuckled Pete. ‘Hey… I don’t suppose you’ve got a spare tux I can borrow, do you?’
CHAPTER10
SCARLETT
Scarlett hummed contentedly as she towelled her hair dry. The shepherd’s hut was warm and cosy. Tendrils of steam escaped from the tiny bathroom and mingled with the heat from the woodburner she’d managed to coax back to life.
She’d spent a ridiculous amount of time in the shower, but it had taken quite a while before she’d thawed out properly. Now she was sitting cross-legged on the bed, wearing her pyjama bottoms, an ancient tee-shirt, and Pete’s fleece…
‘Because it’s warm, not because it smells of him!’ she muttered to herself.
Yeah. Right!
After braving the chilly waves and that brief moment of panic when she’d gone under, this cosy little haven felt even more welcoming than before.
Scarlett had to admit, she’d enjoyed the whole thing a lot more than she’d expected to. If she was being honest, though, the most memorable part had been when Pete’s strong arms had wrapped around her as he’d pulled her to safety.
The memory sent a flutter through her chest, and she found herself smiling like a love-struck teenager.
‘Get a grip,’ she muttered, though she couldn’t quite wipe the silly grin from her face.
Somehow, in the space of less than twenty-four hours, the grumpy, salt-crusted surfer had wormed his way under her skin. It was ridiculous… and it was kind of wonderful, too.
Scarlett hadn’t felt this way about anyone in a long time. She was usually so cautious, so measured in her approach to anything resembling a date, let alone a relationship. But something about Pete made her want to throw caution to the wind.
‘And now we’re going on a date,’ she whispered to herself, her stomach doing a somersault at the thought.
The Big Dip Dance. The idea of spending the evening with Pete was enough to send her pulse racing. Would they dance? Would he hold her close? Would he?—
A sharp knock at the door made her jump, shattering her daydream.
