Page 11 of Sun, Sea & Strawberry Shortcake
With a sigh, I dive into the interesting-smelling bin (‘eau-de-old-haddock’might best describe it) to fish out the pieces. It hasn’t exactly been thebeststart to our holiday. I know it was an accident, but she could at least havesaid she was sorry...
The door opens and for a second, I brace myself, imaginingit’s the narky cleaner back again.
Maybe she hasn’t used up her quota of abruptness for theday!
But it’s Hudson, back with the keys and a big smile, and Irelax. He’s holding up a bottle of champagne.
‘Ooh, lovely.’ I smile at him as I install a fresh bin bagand deposit the broken crockery inside. The champagne makes up a little bit forthe mug catastrophe.But only a little bit...
‘What are you doing?’ He frowns at the bin.
I shake my head. ‘Nothing. The... cleanerforgot to replace the bag.’
‘That angry-looking girl? I saw her coming out and stormingalong the street. What on earth happened?’
I shrug. ‘No idea. And anyway, I’m far more interested inthat bottle of champagne you’re brandishing.’
He grins as he slips the bottle into the fridge. ‘Well, youcan’t do the hot tub thing on your first night without a celebratory glass offizz, can you?’
‘Absolutely not.’
‘I’m going to get changed,’ he calls from halfway up thestairs.
‘Hey, wait for me.’ I hurry after him, wanting us to explorethe rest of the cottage together.
It turns out to be just as lovely upstairs.
‘We could try out the bed.’ I smile at him in what I hope isa seductive manner.
‘We could.’ He throws himself backwards onto the bed andpulls me on top of him, and I shriek as the bed wobbles beneath our weight.
Grinning, Hudson reaches over and gives the headboard ashake. ‘Not the firmest of constructions.’
‘We could try out the hot tub first.’ I lever myself up. ‘There’ssomething quite exciting about delayed gratification.’
‘You mean it sharpens the appetite?’
‘Exactly.’
‘I like the sound of that. Hot tub it is, then.’
Rising from the bed, he pulls me against him and kisses medeeply, which instantly makes me want to change my mind and do the hot tubafterwards. But before I can say anything, he pulls away from me and I hear himthundering down the stairs.
‘I’ll go and take the cover off,’ he calls. ‘The sooner weget in that hot tub, the sooner we can see to your – erm –gratification.’
‘Strawberry shortcake here we come,’ I call back. ‘I’ll beout in a sec.’
I get into my bikini and grab a towel. As I run downstairs,I pass Hudson on the way back up and we grab a quick kiss.
‘Hurry up and get changed,’ I call after him. ‘I’ll bewaiting for you.’
‘Give me two seconds,’ he shouts back, and I hear the soundof him unzipping his case. ‘I’ll bring you a glass of champagne.’
‘Lovely!’
Out in the little back garden, the hot tub is bubblingnicely. Stepping in, I feel for a seat and sink down, submerging my whole bodyup to my shoulders and sighing with pleasure. Closing my eyes, I rest my headback, feeling the sun on my face and letting the frothy water gently relax me.
It’s so sad about the mug, and it was a bit weird, that encounterwith our cleaner. But I’m not going to think about that now. Instead, I’m goingto let my thoughts drift away and concentrate on the glorious feeling of the soothingbubbles and the idea of lots of blissful ‘alone time’... justme and Hudson, the odd bottle of champagne... and a whole lotof heavenly strawberry shortcake.
