Page 9 of The Big Dip in Crumbleton
‘There you go,’ he said, stepping back and wiping his damp hands on his shorts. ‘All sorted.’
Scarlett peered past him, eyes wide with admiration. ‘That’s amazing! What did you do?’
Pete fought a ridiculous urge to preen under her impressed gaze. The fix had been simple—routine for him—but her reaction made him feel like he’d performed some kind of wizardry.
‘Just needed to build up a bit of pressure in the system,’ he said, leaning against the doorframe. ‘It has to come a fair distance, so it takes time to heat up properly.’ He decided not to add that it was yet another job his dad had bodged “for now”. ‘Once it gets going, it’s actually quite good.’
‘Well, thank you,’ she said with a smile.
Pete was struck again by how lovely she was, even in the harsh light of the bathroom.
‘You’re a lifesaver. I was worried I’d have to go to bed all sticky and gross.’
The image her words conjured made Pete’s brain short-circuit again, and he quickly looked away. ‘No problem,’ he said, suddenly very aware of how small the bathroom was and how close they were standing. ‘I’ll, erm, leave you to it then?’
Scarlett nodded, and Pete watched as a hint of pink stained her cheeks. She tucked a wayward curl behind her ear and then plucked at the hem of her cardigan.
Pete wondered what—if anything—she was wearing underneath it. A wave of panic washed over him as if he’d just said the words out loud. He needed to get out of there before he said something completely inappropriate!
‘If you need anything else, just?—’
‘I think I’m all set now,’ she said, with a grin that had him backing away from the bathroom towards the hut’s front door.
Scarlett followed. Her light floral scent mingled with the wood smoke, and for a brief moment, Pete felt drunk on it.
‘See you tomorrow, then?’ she said as Pete yanked the door open and hot-footed it back onto the porch.
‘Yeah, maybe,’ he muttered. ‘Night then.’
‘Goodnight, Pete,’ she said, shooting him a bemused look before closing the door.
Pete heard the latch drop gently into place and stood there for a moment, feeling oddly bereft.
‘Nicely done, idiot!’ he muttered to himself. He’d practically run away from the woman. She probably thought he was a complete plonker.
The golden light from the hut’s little windows dimmed one by one as Scarlett dropped the calico blinds. Two seconds later, the porch and steps were plunged into shadowy darkness.
Pete shook himself. What was wrong with him? She was just some random swimmer from Seabury. She’d be gone in a few days, and his life would return to normal. Such as it was. So why was his heart beating so hard he could feel it all the way from his scalp to his toes.
‘Get a grip,’ he muttered, stepping off the porch onto the boardwalk.
The weathered wood creaked under his weight. The night seemed darker and colder after the warmth and light of the hut. Time to head back to the van
He trudged along, following the line of fairy lights with his hands shoved deep in his pockets, trying not to think about the cosy fire and comfortable bed he’d just left behind…orthe woman currently enjoying them.
CHAPTER4
SCARLETT
Scarlett surfaced slowly from sleep. For a few long, lazy seconds, she floated somewhere between dreaming and waking, trying to remember where she was. She lay still, blinking up at the curved wooden ceiling, her body loose-limbed and toasty warm beneath the cocoon of the heavy duvet.
The gentle sound of waves lapping against the shore and the muted calls of seagulls drifted through a high, narrow window above the bed, reminding her exactly where she was—the adorable shepherd’s hut nestled in the dunes of Crumbleton Sands.
Stretching luxuriously, Scarlett marvelled at how rested she felt. It had been the best night’s sleep she’d had in months. No traffic noise, no neighbours arguing through paper-thin walls, no early-morning dustbin collections—just the soothing rhythm of the sea and the occasional rustle of wind through the dunes.
Rolling onto her side, Scarlett checked her phone. Nearly nine o’clock! She couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept so late. At home in Bath, she was usually up by six, dashing around and getting ready to leave for work. A sharp pang went through her. She used to love those mornings. It sounded ridiculous, but she did. The fact that she’d never have to rush to the office for that job again made her feel weirdly emotional!
‘Cheer up, idiot,’ she muttered. ‘You’re on an adventure, remember?’
