Page 36 of The Big Dip in Crumbleton
‘Come on, Jack!’ she called over the music. ‘Someone’s got to get this party started!’
Brian’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. ‘That’s the spirit, Caroline! Ladies and gentlemen, let’s give it up for our first brave couple!’
The man looked like he wanted the floor to swallow him whole, but there was something about him that was oddly familiar. Something in his reluctant smile and the set of his shoulders as he finally gave in and twirled his enthusiastic partner.
‘Give us a slow one, Brian!’ yelled the woman. Brian gave her a thumbs-up and smoothly switched to a slow ballad.
‘Hang on,’ said Scarlett, still squinting across the room at the man, who now had his arms firmly around the woman’s waist. ‘Is that...?’
‘It is, isn’t it…?’ said Lou, still staring.
‘Jack Jones? Yep,’ said a voice at her side as Pete returned, carefully balancing a tray laden with drinks. Libby appeared right behind him, carrying another.
‘The movie star?’ gasped Lou, her eyes widening. ‘What’s he doing here?’
‘Living his best life, apparently,’ chuckled Libby, setting down her tray and stepping back quickly as the eager Chilly Dippers descended on it. ‘He lives in Crumbleton Sands, just above the beach.’
‘And the woman?’ said Scarlett, accepting her wine with a grateful smile.
‘Caroline Cook,’ said Libby. ‘She’s the editor of the local newspaper. She couldn’t stand Jack when he first arrived. You should have read some of the stuff she wrote about him! Anyway, turns out they were made for each other. Complete whirlwind romance… and the rest is history.’
‘How do you know all this?’ Scarlett laughed, impressed despite herself.
‘Small town,’ Libby and Pete replied in unison, then grinned at each other.
‘Plus, Libby is the biggest gossip in the county,’ Pete added, earning himself an elbow in the ribs from his sister.
‘I prefer “information specialist,”’ Libby sniffed.
When the music shifted from the slow, smoochy number to something a bit more upbeat, Pete turned to Scarlett with a nervous smile.
‘May I have this dance?’
‘Erm… sure,’ she said, ‘but I should warn you, I’m not much of a dancer.’
‘That makes two of us,’ laughed Pete, offering her his hand. ‘But I reckon we can muddle through.’
Scarlett’s heart fluttered as she took his hand. There was something so reassuring about his touch—warm, strong, and somehow already familiar despite having known him for such a short time.
As Pete started to lead the way toward the dance floor, Doris from the Chilly Dippers caught Scarlett’s arm, pulling her back.
‘Is that really Jack Jones?’ she whispered urgently, her eyes wide with excitement.
‘Apparently!’ said Scarlett.
‘Can you get his autograph for me while you’re up there?’
‘I’ll see what I can do,’ laughed Scarlett, gently extricating herself from Doris’s surprisingly strong grip.
She turned back towards the dance floor. Pete had already made it to the middle and looked like he was waiting for her… but something was off. He was standing frozen to the spot, staring at the door.
‘Oh shit,’ muttered Libby, appearing at Scarlett’s side.
‘What’s wrong?’ said Scarlett, her stomach dropping at the look of genuine alarm on Libby’s face.
‘The great white shark is here,’ said Libby, her voice tight.
‘Huh?’ Scarlett frowned in confusion.
