Page 45 of Coming Home to Sturcombe Bay
She had knocked him slightly off balance. She was stunning, of course — the sort of woman that most men could only dream about. And she was quite definitely interested in him. Which was very flattering to his ego — not that that had ever been something he’d been bothered about.
But he didn’t feel entirely comfortable about it. If she was looking for a relationship, he suspected that she would have high expectations, and he really didn’t have time for that.
* * *
“Fancy coming down the pub?”
Cassie glanced up from the newspaper as her brother strolled into the sitting room. “What’s up? Been stood up by . . . what was her name?”
“Chanelle.” He shrugged in casual unconcern. “Oh, we’re not seeing each other anymore.”
Cassie laughed, shaking her head. It was hardly a surprise that that affair hadn’t lasted long. “Lisa said you change your girlfriends as often as you change your socks.”
Paul put on a hurt expression that would fool no one. “That’s not fair. I change my socks every day.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” their mother remarked on a note of dry humour, turning her head briefly from the quiz show she was watching.
Cassie tossed the newspaper aside and rose to her feet. “Anyway, yes I’ll come to the pub. Just give me five minutes to get changed.”
“Okay.” He grinned and picked up the newspaper, and flopped down in her place on the sofa. “See you in about an hour.”
“Huh!” She hurried up to her room. She had showered earlier, after her swim, and had changed into clean jeans. All she had to do was brush through her hair, throw on a fresh top and slick on a little mascara and lipstick.
But . . . she wanted to look her best. Maybe her white jeans, and that pretty silky top she had bought in Wellington — white, with a pop of green flowers over one shoulder. And a touch ofgrey eye shadow and kohl liner to bring out the colour of her eyes . . .
Of course it had nothing to do with the possibility that Liam Ellis might be there. Of course not.
“Right, I’m ready,” she announced in triumph from the doorway of the sitting room. “Seven minutes flat, and that includes running up and down three flights of stairs.”
“Wow!” Paul feigned exaggerated surprise. “Must be a world record.”
She picked up a cushion and threw it at his head, but he dodged neatly.
“Okay, come on then, sis.” He leaned over and dropped a kiss on their mother’s cheek, raised a hand to his dad, and dropped his arm around Cassie’s shoulders. “See you, folks.”
The sun was sinking as they strolled down the hill. A soft lilac mist lay along the horizon, the sea was silvery grey, the waves were whispering over the beach. A single sailing yacht was scudding across the bay.
If she stayed . . .
No, dammit, that question was a constant niggle in her brain, like a grain of sand stuck between her toes. There was no point thinking about it yet anyway. She would stay for Tom and Vicky’s wedding, then make up her mind.
And what would be the deciding factor?that annoying little voice in her head taunted.Are you still hoping Liam will want you after all?
She huffed out an impatient breath. Paul slanted her a questioning glance. “What’s up?”
“I . . . Uh . . . I just remembered it’s the bank holiday weekend.” She gestured towards the Esplanade, crowded with people milling around outside the pub and the chip shop and the amusement arcade. “We’ll be lucky to get anywhere near the bar.”
The glint of sardonic amusement in his eyes suggested that he didn’t quite believe her, but he didn’t pursue it. He just laughed. “Don’t worry — leave it to me.”
He was as good as his word. As soon as they entered the pub he caught Wes’s eye. The landlord nodded, and by the time they got through the crowd around the bar their drinks were waiting for them. “They’re on your tab,” Wes said as he pulled a beer for another customer.
They took their drinks and moved back through the throng to a table near the back, close to the dartboard. Debbie was already there, with a pleasant-looking young man with russet hair that sprang from his forehead like a scrubbing brush.
She shuffled up to make room for Cassie to sit down. “Hi. Do you remember Bill?”
“Yes of course. I saw you at the cricket. And weren’t you in the same class in school as my sister Lisa?”
He nodded, his smile shy. “That’s right.”
