Page 6 of Love By Sunset

Her hand froze as she reached for a chip, her eyes cast down. Just a momentary and tiny blip before she completed her actions. Mmm… maybe she was married? Come away and left a husband at home? She didn’t strike him as that sort. He took a surreptitious look at her left hand. No ring. No pale circle. Good.

Looking up, he saw Jenny returning, a mug of coffee in one hand and a bowl in the other, which proved to be more chips once she’d put it down.

‘Just as well,’ Emily commented as she reached out and snagged a large chip from the top of his bowl. ‘Otherwise I would have lost half mine.’

‘Thanks, Jenny.’ Jake smiled and sat upright, pulling his chair closer to the table.

‘No problem. Glad you’ve cheered up since this morning. Enjoy.’ She wandered off, straightening chairs, collecting crockery, and giving the tables a thorough wipe.

Watching her, Emily smiled. ‘Pleasant lady. I assume she works for you? Is this your lunch break? And what was making you miserable this morning?’

‘Whoa!’ Jake held up a hand. ‘That’s a lot of questions to take on board.’

‘No rush. I’m not going anywhere.’

He saw her look up at him from under those gorgeous lashes, which he was sure were free from mascara but incredibly long and thick. His heart started a slow pounding as his interest grew. This was going to be an enjoyable week in one way, at least, crossing swords with Emily, and hopefully getting her into his bed. ‘Yes, Jenny’s great. She works hard, she’s reliable, and she gives me a lot of leeway… but in return, I give her good wages.’

‘Leeway?’

‘Long lunch hour… and yes, this is mine. Freedom to surf when conditions are good. But only if we aren’t too busy. Which today, we’re not.’ Jake grinned and took a chip, munching it before licking his lips and wiping his hands on the paper napkin.

‘No surfing today?’

‘Maybe later.’ He stood, shading his eyes as he gazed out to sea for a few seconds. ‘Not great at the minute.’ He hoped he’d diverted her from her query about this morning’s unhappiness. After all, that’s partly why he was chatting her up—so he could distract himself from his worries. He tightened his lips and turned back to the table.

‘You’re good at this surfing stuff. I know very little about it, but you really stood out yesterday evening.’

‘So I damned well should,’ Jake’s voice reflected his bitterness about his injury. Not only had it put paid to his career early, but he’d no-one but himself to blame.

‘I’m sorry.’

Looking up, he saw her staring at him with a look of sympathy in those gorgeous, dark blue eyes. Like the deep sea where the biggest waves gathered up, ready to hurl themselves shoreward. She brushed her hair back from her face before taking a bite of her sandwich and his body responded. This was weird. Okay, he liked the look of her, but he wasn’t normally as quick as this to want more. And get to know her more.

He sighed. ‘Sorry. It’s only just over three years since it happened, and I’m still getting used to it, I guess. I was careless and was pulled too far to one side, on a beach with rocks. Then the wave dumped, and I rolled. Because I was in the wrong place, I hit my back on the rocks and ended up with a few injuries. It’s okay now, but my back’s not as strong as it was. They warned me surfing at a competitive level might cause more problems. I was getting near the end, anyway. Surfers generally retire young. But…’ Jake sighed and looked towards the sea. ‘It still hurts it had to be sooner than I wanted.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Emily repeated.

There were a few moments of silence before she spoke again. ‘Why did Mrs Needham say she was glad you’d cheered up?’

‘Hell, you don’t give up, do you? So… you never said. Are you here on holiday?’

She held his gaze a moment, making it clear she knew he was evading her question, before replying. ‘Sort of, yes. I used to come here a lot when I was a kid. I had some business in this direction and came for a few days to revisit old haunts.’

‘Just a long weekend?’ He could hear his disappointment and knew it showed on his face. A shame. He didn’t think he could get very far in two days with this one, but she was here now, and it would be better not to waste the time he’d got. Different to his usual holiday dalliances, she was more mature and more together. That, with her looks, was quite an enticing package. ‘Okay, how about we go out somewhere tonight? Maybe a meal?’

Emily looked at him, and he could almost see the thoughts running through her head about how she didn’t know him and whether she could trust him. Sensible woman.

A smile lit his face. ‘I can take you round to meet my mum?’

Now where the hell had that come from? His brain raced, considering the implications of what he’d just said. Was she so important he’d consider doing that, just to take her out for a meal? This was beyond weird.

Her expression was one of disbelief and amusement combined. ‘You’re joking?’

‘Not if it makes you feel better about me, no.’

Pushing her plate and bowl away, Emily grinned at him. ‘I am so tempted to take you up on that. And see if you would. But no. I like your Jenny Needham, and she seems to think highly of you. I’ve often found fellow workers excellent judges of character and so, surfer Jake, yes. I’ll have dinner with you. But you realise I’m cradle snatching? You have to be younger than me.’

‘What? Who the hell cares? And not by much, anyway,’

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