Page 20 of Mistletoe Kisses at Cwtch Cove

‘I don’t, sadly, but could I get a coffee please?’

‘Coming right up. Milk and sugar are over there.’ He pointed at a table in the corner.

‘Thanks.’

Will placed a cardboard cup on the counter with a lid and Lucy paid him.

‘Be careful when you take the lid off as it’s piping hot.’

‘Will do.’

‘You live around here?’ he asked. ‘You look kind of familiar, but I can’t place you.’

‘I’m staying with my sister, Ellen Chenery.’

‘I know Ellen and Billy. Nice couple.’ He nodded. ‘He’s away right now with work?’

‘In Norway. I’m staying with Ellen until the new year.’

‘Well don’t be shy. Come and have dinner here one evening. Our chef is the best.’

‘I will do.’ Ellen reached for her coffee. ‘Thanks again.’

As she walked to the table to get milk and a serviette, she heard Will say, ‘Stella, have you seen my phone?’

‘It’s under the bar,’ a pretty, petite woman with large brown eyes and long black hair had joined Will. ‘You’d forget your head if it wasn’t stuck to your shoulders.’

They smiled at each other as if there was no one else in the room and Lucy wondered if they were together. If not, there was definitely chemistry between them.

When she’d added milk to her coffee, she left the pub, shivering as the cold air wrapped itself around her. One thing with living at the coast was that the breeze was certainly invigorating. She decided to head down to the beach and stroll along the sand while she drank her coffee then she’d go for an explore.

On her way through the village, she passed pretty cottages, a primary school, a library and a GP surgery. There were lots of trees everywhere and while many of them were bare at this time of year, she knew it would look beautiful in spring and summer.

Closer to the seafront, she passed a surf shop and an art gallery and then she reached the rail on the path that overlooked the beach. She had a perfect view of the horizon and the cliffs either side that rose up, hugging the sides of the beach. The water lapped at the shore, dark and uninviting and frothy waves foamed as they rolled in. The sky was gunmetal grey, slightly brighter where it seemed to meet the sea, and seagulls screeched as they circled overhead before swooping down to the water. The air was thick with the scents brine and a hint of something sulphurous, and when she licked her lips after sipping her coffee, she could taste salt from the spray that was carried by the breeze.

Off to the left, cottages perched high on the cliff. She was aware that there were rental properties up there as well as residential ones. To her right was the prestigious clifftop development with houses that enjoyed panoramic views across the beach and out to sea. It must be a wonderful place to live and she wondered what it would be like to have an office that opened out to that incredible view. It would surely be inspirational to live there and she doubted she’d ever be stuck for ideas then.

She finished her coffee and took the cup to a bin that had different sections for recycling then walked down onto the sand. It was wet beneath her boots and droplets of water flicked up onto her stretchy skinny jeans and slowly sank in, darkening the denim. She knew she’d be desperate to change out of them as soon as she got back to Ellen’s.

Walking briskly, she breathed in the air, making an effort to clear her head. And that was when she saw him, sitting on steps that led up to the path and some beach huts, hunched over his knees, head in his hands. She couldn’t be certain, but the man looked like Jack, and she was filled with concern about how he looked like he wanted to fold in on himself. She found herself speeding up, keen to reach him to find out if it was the handsome paramedic. If not, she’d still ask if the man was OK because his body language suggested that he was not.

As she got closer, the man raised his head and stared out to sea, and she saw the familiar face beneath the navy wool hat.

‘Hey,’ she said, waving. ‘You all right?’

He blinked as if surprised to see someone on the beach then wiped at his eyes with the back of his hand. ‘Hi.’ He cleared his throat as she came to stand at the bottom of the steps.

‘You fancy some company or need some time alone?’ she asked, not wanting to intrude if he needed a quiet moment.

‘Take a seat.’ He patted the step he was perched on. ‘But I have to warn you that it’s cold.’

‘I have some insulation on my behind that’ll deal with that.’ She winked as she walked up the steps and sat down. She glanced at him then down at her hands, tugging her sleeves lower then lacing her fingers together. She really should have brought her gloves. ‘I decided to take a plot walk,’ she said.

‘Yeah?’ He raised his blonde brows as he met her gaze and she was startled by how his sparkling blue eyes seemed duller today, as if they’d absorbed the colour of the horizon.

‘I’m a bit stuck with what I’m writing and a walk usually helps.’

‘I like walking too. Have you been along the coastal path?’ He gestured up at the cliff behind him. ‘It has some amazing views and picnic spots.’

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