Page 6 of Riding the Waves

Her brain, which had never functioned at full capacity around Damian, seemed to power down entirely. Slowly, she dropped her fingers to his wrist. With her heart thumping against her ribs, she came to her senses and started to move her hand away, but his fingers curled, hooking hers.

There was only a second before the moment was broken by the boys’ excited shouts as they ran back over to them.

But that second was long enough for her to know that her first love was one she’d never recover from.

Though she supposed it was something she’d known for a long time.

CHAPTER 3

Luck had definitely been on Amy’s side when she’d searched for accommodation in Hope Cove for the summer. She’d been certain there must be something wrong with the bungalow she’d found to rent at the last minute. The owners had told her there’d been a cancellation, but she’d still been expecting some ramshackle abode which bore no resemblance to the photographs.

Thankfully, it was exactly as described, and she spent a pleasant evening with a glass of wine on the patio on Sunday evening once she’d unpacked and got settled. From its elevated position, the property offered a perfect view of the craggy coast and the English Channel. Watching the sun set over the sea soothed Amy and left her more relaxed than she’d felt in a very long time.

It might have been the relaxed state that made her oversleep the following morning and subsequently had her rushing for her appointment at Hope Cove Press.

When she’d found the small company online she’d been impressed. It was owned and run by three women, and the website described their backgrounds in the writing and publishing industry that had led them to set up their own publishing house. They weren’t taking over the world, but they appeared to be a professional outfit, doing good things. It was a team Amy was looking forward to being a part of, even if it was only on a voluntary, part-time basis.

With a bit of hustle, Amy arrived at the office block in Salcombe exactly on time.

The woman who answered the door was dressed in a pair of well-fitting jeans and a bright white shirt, open at the collar to show off an expensive-looking necklace in a teardrop shape.

“I’m Lizzie,” she said, smiling as she offered her hand. “You must be Amy. It’s great to meet you.”

Another woman appeared in a soft, cotton summer dress that emphasised her rounded belly. She introduced herself as Emily. “We’re really excited to have you here,” she said brightly.

Automatically, Amy wiped her shoes on the mat before moving further inside. “When are you due?” she asked, then felt a momentary panic that she’d misjudged her belly.

“I’ve still got ten weeks to go,” Emily said.

Relieved that she hadn’t made a massive faux pas, Amy offered her congratulations while following Emily down the hall.

“I’m afraid we’re slightly short on space,” Lizzie said, opening the door on the left to reveal a light and airy room with two large desks. “That’s the only proper office space, but we also use the living space, depending on who is working on what and who needs quiet. We’re also flexible about working from home, so this works fine for us.”

Continuing along the hall, they came to a casual living/working space. At one end of the room was a kitchenette with a coffee machine, a kettle and a small fridge. At the opposite end was another desk with computer monitor and a stack of papers beside it.

“Make yourself at home,” Emily said, gesturing to the two yellow couches in the centre of the room.

“It looks like a great setup,” Amy remarked, smoothing her skirt at the back of her legs as she took a seat.

“Ideally, we could do with something bigger,” Emily said, sitting opposite her, while Lizzie headed to the kitchen area. “But the location is convenient, and we’re trying to keep the costs low while we’re still starting out.”

“How long have you been up and running?”

“Just over three years,” Lizzie said, “but only in these premises for a few months.” She moved to the kitchen area and asked what Amy wanted to drink.

She opted for a black coffee, definitely needing a caffeine fix after her rushed morning. “There are three of you who own the business, is that right?” She was certain that’s what she’d read on the website and had thought she’d meet all three of them that morning.

“Scarlett should be here any time,” Emily said, with a nervous glance in Lizzie’s direction. “She tends to run on her own schedule. Which in no way reflects her dedication to the job and the company.”

“She probably works more than the two of us put together,” Lizzie said. “She just has a chaotic way about her sometimes.”

“Anyway,” Emily said, apparently keen to move the conversation on. “We were really excited to get your email. We haven’t had anyone working with us before, except for freelancers. We have a couple of regular cover designers and graphic designers who we work with. That’s always been piecework and all online, so this is new for us.”

“I’m really interested to see how a small press works,” Amy said. “I had some time this summer and you’re in such a beautiful spot, so I thought why not combine a holiday with some work experience?”

Lizzie handed her a coffee. “Did you say in your email that you’ve spent some time in the area?”

“Yes.” She lowered her gaze. “Years ago. When I was a student, I spent a couple of summers around here. I’ve always had fond memories.”

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