Page 8 of Love By Sunset

And here it was again. The looming concern he’d lose the café and his livelihood. He knew he’d never be good at working for someone else. Thanks to Henry Whitchurch, he’d been used to command from an early age and complete control not long after. Fuck! He wished he could just forget it.

‘What’s the problem?’ Emily stopped and turned so she faced him. The low sun shone on her face, lighting her hair, causing shadows from her lashes to veil her eyes.

He braced his shoulders. There were better things to do on a beach as the sun was dropping towards the horizon than discuss his prospects, or lack of them. Even if he didn’t get her into bed, he could damn well kiss her.

Ignoring her question for a second time, Jake placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him. ‘Well, Emily from the beach last night, I’m glad you turned up this afternoon.’ He fixed his golden eyes on her as the breeze stirred the tangle of hair on his forehead, and again pushed his dark thoughts into a corner of his mind, metaphorically slamming a door to banish them, for now at least.

Her hand came up and traced his lips, stroked over the stubble, snaked round to the back of his neck.

Without further talk or thought, he pulled her to him, that last few inches, until their bodies moulded together, and he lowered his head. Slanting his mouth over hers, Jake tasted her, absorbing her, before edging her lips apart with his tongue and deepening their kiss. There was no way she couldn’t realise what he wanted, as his erection had made a rapid return and was now blatantly pressing against her. Their kiss deepened, tongues tangling and dancing, as Jake continued his exploration of her mouth. Even as they kissed, his hands learned the shape of her body, discovering her curves, brushing lightly down her sides, and felt her hands on his back, then tangled in his hair.

Jake pulled back, his breathing harsh as he fought for control. It’d been a while since he’d slept with someone and she, this Emily, was pushing all the right buttons. He gazed at her, shaken, and saw reflected on her face a similar confusion. Okay, he was looking for a diversion, but hell! That had been some kiss.

What had they set alight here? He willed his body to calm down. What thehellhad they set alight?

CHAPTER5

From the momentshe’d seen him outside the café, Emily had known they would move forward with the unexplainable attraction sparking between them.

It had been a shock, she thought, as she changed into a casual dress and ran a brush through her hair, to discover her sexy surfer was Jake Bradstock, of surfing champion fame, and the owner of the café. As they’d talked, and afterwards gone for their walk, she’d detected the occasional darkening of his eyes, the tightening of his mouth every time she mentioned the cafe. He’d been deft at avoiding answering her questions, but she sensed he had concerns, and that took her professional assessment of the company’s possible purchase of the estate to a whole different level. As far as she was concerned, Jake deserved to stay right where he was, which wouldn’t please her partner, Gerry, one little bit. She wasn’t being influenced by her attraction, either, but genuine concern for how their plans would affect him.

Crossing to the window, Emily stared at the sea. He still suffered from having to give up his career. He made that clear by what he’d left unsaid, as well as the way he’d brushed off her sympathy. He’d made the café his focus, and if Approach took the estate over and developed, as they intended, Jake would lose it. She could see how this would affect him, without him answering any of her questions. Every time she’d mentioned the café, the poor guy looked miserable.

Apparently, he’d been feted and at the top of his sport, but was now having to re-invent himself. She got the feeling the surfer’s life had suited him. He’d struck her as a here and now man, someone who was easy-going, taking what came his way, not too worried about what tomorrow would bring. Good that she realised it now. This one wasn’t for keeping. The words long-term had likely never featured in his vocabulary. Just as well, really, bearing in mind why she was here.

But that kiss… it had shaken her. Reaching up, she touched her lips as a shiver ran through her. Emily had never reacted like that to previous kisses from her male friends. It was a great shame she was leaving on Monday afternoon because she suspected sex between them would rock her foundations. Except she had holiday due, and the weather was fantastic for mid-September. Maybe she could come back?

There was a knock on her door. Opening it, she saw Jake. His hair, still wet from a shower, curled over his forehead and nearly down to his shoulders. His lips quirked into a smile as she let her eyes drift over his black shirt, open at the neck, hanging loosely over light-coloured jeans.

‘Will I do?’ The smile changed into a grin, those sinful come-to-bed eyes crinkling, his lids half lowered. Emily felt the tug of his look deep in her belly, especially when he lazily raised an eyebrow, leaning his shoulder against the door frame as he checked her out, too.

‘Nicely, thanks. Where are we going?’

‘You’re looking pretty good yourself. Fish restaurant on the harbour. They do excellent food.’

Emily locked her door, and they walked side by side to the small lift. Once inside, he stood close enough she could feel his warmth. Damn the man… he knew all the moves. She should create a little distance between them, but she enjoyed the reactions of her own body far too much. It had been too long since her heart had raced and she’d experienced this delicious anticipatory tingle. He smelled wonderful, as well. Some very subtle aftershave with a hint of cinnamon and lemon. She closed her eyes and drew in a quiet breath of appreciation.

‘It’s a pity you have to go home on Monday,’ Jake commented, sounding genuinely regretful.

Emily glanced at him, but his head was bent. He was looking down at the floor, not trying to flirt. Okay, so here she was, with some holiday owing and an out-and-out hunk who apparently wanted to spend a week or so with her, and she was contemplating going back to work and her lonely flat instead?

She must be mad. She barely knew him, and he was tied irrevocably to the potential business deal she was here to consider. Even when taking all that into account, what she said next surprised her.

‘I might,’ she said slowly, ‘be able to get some time off and come back. But I have to go back on Monday for at least two days.’

Jake looked up, his face expressionless. Maybe he was regretting saying that, Emily thought. If she was right about him being a bit of a drifter, what she’d just suggested might make him panic. She braced herself for the excuses and closed her mind to humiliation.

A smile broke over his face and his eyes lit up in the way she already loved. ‘Really? That’d be incredible, if you could. Season’s slowing down now and Jenny could cope for a while, on most days. Weekends are busy, though.’

‘Today didn’t seem that busy?’

They exited the hotel, and he took her hand, tugging her to the right. ‘Lunch was busy. And after our walk, and you’d left, we had a rush of people wanting takeout food to go back to their accommodation or onto the beach. Tomorrow, I must be there. The forecast is good, especially for surfing. We’ll get quite a few day trippers. I won’t be able to spend much time with you, unless… hey! You any good at waiting on?’

‘You have to be joking,’ Emily laughed. ‘I grew out of that in my teens. Anyway, I have stuff to do.’

Like driving the coastal length of the Solhaven Estate, going back to the house, studying Gerry’s roughed-out ideas… and considering the impact of it all on Jake, now no longer a name but an actual person who would probably lose his livelihood. She looked down at the pavement, and felt a stab of discomfort about the situation she found herself in, and yet whether it was her firm, another firm, or even a private buyer, Jake’s position was tenuous. He must have known, when Henry Whitchurch had died intestate, he’d have problems about the ownership, as it seemed he’d no security of tenure other than a word-of-mouth, good-will agreement?

Arriving at the restaurant, where the friendly staff greeted Jake by name, they took a few moments to decide what to eat, Jake recommending a white wine to drink.

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