Page 46 of The Cornish Cream Tea Holiday
Chapter Thirteen
When the time came for them to leave, Thea found she didn’t want to. It was close to four o’clock and the heat was, if anything, more intense. The light was bright, the sun caressing her skin, and the water looked blue and inviting. She wanted to take off her top and shorts – she had her costume on underneath – and go swimming. The make-up of the crowd on the beach had changed, families disappearing to go back to holiday homes or caravans, teenagers and groups of older friends taking their place.
‘We need to head off,’ Meredith said. ‘We’re going to Laurie’s house for dinner, though how we’re supposed to fit anything in after that cream tea, I don’t know.’
‘We can blag it,’ Finn said. ‘Want a lift? Laurie’s coming to get us as soon as I call her, and I’m sure she’d drop you off.’
Ben glanced at Thea. ‘I think I’ll stay for a bit,’ he said. ‘Thea?’
She grinned. ‘It seems a shame to waste such a perfect afternoon.’
‘OK then,’ Finn said. ‘I’ll ask Laurie to bring Scooter, as long as you don’t think he’s going to get in the way? Three’s a crowd and all that.’ He raised his eyebrows, and Ben laughed.
‘No, that would be great, thanks.’
When Laurie arrived, Ben went with Finn to get Scooter, leaving Thea to say goodbye to Meredith.
‘Have a lovely time,’ she said, her grin like a cat’s, her cheeks rosy from their afternoon spent in the sun.
‘I’m sure I will,’ Thea said. ‘It’s scandalous that I’ve been here a whole week and I’ve not done any reading on the beach yet.’
‘That’s what you’ll be doing, is it?’ Meredith asked. ‘Reading your book?’
‘I might go for a swim,’ Thea said, ‘but I don’t know if Ben will be up for it.’
‘He loves swimming, as long as the water’s warm enough. Enjoy yourselves,’ she added, leaning in for a suncream-scented hug. ‘Ben’s a great guy.’
‘I know that,’ Thea said lightly. She didn’t need anyone else adding weight to the time they were about to spend in each other’s company, because she was doing that very well all on her own.
Ben returned from the car park with Scooter on his lead, and a jug of Pimm’s and two glasses. Thea had removed her T-shirt and shorts, and was lying on the beach towel she had brought with her.
‘Hey.’ Ben’s gaze flickered down the length of her body, the blue and white polka-dot one-piece she was wearing,then back to her face. ‘I didn’t know if you fancied a drink, but this seems like an afternoon for Pimm’s, and the queues were relatively short, so …’
‘I love Pimm’s,’ Thea said. ‘And we deserve it, after all our hours of hard work.’ She grinned and Ben laughed.
He knelt on the sand, pulling his own beach towel out of his rucksack and laying it out alongside Thea’s. ‘So much hard work,’ he agreed. ‘All those impressive, intricate sand sculptures that came off so well. I’m almost sad it’s over, that all we have left to do is lie here and enjoy the beach.’
Scooter turned in several small circles, then lay down at their feet, his head on his paws. Ben took the metal bowl out of his bag, and poured water into it from a bottle he had with him. Then he did the thing that Thea had been wishing for and also dreading: he pulled off his T-shirt.
She swallowed, suddenly in desperate need of the Pimm’s to quench her dry throat, as she let her eyes wander from his tanned arms to his toned chest, the dusting of brown hair that trailed towards the waistband of his shorts. His muscles were defined but not obscene; he looked healthy and fit, almost tailor-made for this perfect, early-evening beach scene. His skin glowed in the amber sun.
He noticed her looking, and glanced away self- consciously.
‘Shall I pour?’ Thea asked, holding up the jug.
‘Go ahead.’
They clinked glasses, and Thea took a moment to appreciate the sweet drink that tasted entirely of summer. ‘This,’ she said, lying back and resting her head on her folded-up T-shirt, ‘is bliss.’
Ben copied her posture. ‘One of the very best things about being in Cornwall,’ he agreed. ‘The Lakes are great in summer, but Cornish beaches are something else. I’m glad you’re getting a taste of how good it can be, especially after your knock-back the other day.’
‘It wasn’t that bad.’
‘It sounds like the guy was brutal,’ Ben said, his voice hardening. ‘Which, in any situation, is unnecessary. You can’t let it stop you.’
‘I won’t.’ Thea studied his profile while he gazed up at the sky. And then, because she didn’t know how to deal with the emotions rushing through her, or how to say thank you again, in a way that would convey the extent of her gratitude, she said, ‘Do you fancy a swim?’
‘Yeah, I really do.’
