He didn’t reply straight away, but indicated right, slowing the car before turning down what seemed like a short lane. Even before they parked, Tasha saw they were right by the sea.
‘Is this one of those bays?’ She looked to her left, noticing a round granite tower painted with thick red and white stripes.
‘This is Archirondel,’ he said, getting out of the car.
He took her hand and walked to the edge of the pebbly beach with bright flowers in planters and palm trees next to a seating area for a small, but busy café to their left.
‘It’s magical down here.’
‘I’m glad you like it.’ He led her to a free table and pulled back one of the heavy wooden chairs, waiting for Tasha to sit before sitting opposite her. Callum pointed out to the sea. ‘Look, a couple kayaking. We could do that if you like?’
She recalled trying that sport once before while on holiday with her ex. ‘I don’t think so.’
‘Something tells me you might have tried it before.’
‘I did. Not only wasn’t I very good, but I also got seasick, and the instructor had to take me back to the shore past all the other kayakers. I was mortified.’
Callum reached out and took her hand, giving it a light squeeze. ‘That’s not why I brought you here anyway.’
‘That’s a relief.’ She saw the waiter carrying three plates of food that looked delicious. ‘I was hoping we were here to eat breakfast.’
‘And that’s what we will do.’
The waiter spotted them and took their orders.
‘This is one of the prettiest spots I think I’ve ever been to,’ Tasha said, after finishing the last mouthful of her full English breakfast. She took a sip of tea before gazing at him.
‘And there are so many more I plan to show you now we have time to see some of them.’
She smiled. ‘I love that idea.’
‘It’s getting hot,’ Callum said. ‘And I might have the perfect way for us to walk off our large breakfast and stay cool at the same time. Do you fancy visiting St Catherine’s Woods?’
‘I’d love that.’
After paying for their meal and not wishing to take up the small amount of parking when they would be moving on from Archirondel, Callum drove a short distance away to a small parking area before walking with Tasha past tall Jersey pines on one side and the beach on the other as they made their way to the pretty woods with its stream running through it.
‘This is beautiful,’ Tasha said as they stood in the dappled shade holding hands, as she took in the space around them.
‘I’m glad you think so.’
‘Do you come here often?’
He shook his head. ‘I’ve just realised I haven’t been back here. My parents used to bring Erin and I here for walks after Sunday lunch sometimes. We’d run around climbing on fallen tree trunks and paddling in the stream while they strolled and chatted.’
‘Your childhood sounds idyllic.’
He nodded. ‘Looking back, I now realise how lucky I was. I love living here. I know a lot of my friends moved away, preferring big cities, and I did try that for a time but couldn’t wait to come back.’
‘And I’m lucky enough to get to stay here for a bit longer.’
He looked down at her. Tasha felt that immediate flip in her stomach. He was so hot and she couldn’t believe how lucky she was to be seeing a man this decent and gorgeous.
He slipped his arm around her shoulders and kissed her. ‘For as long as you want.’
Tasha beamed up at him. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever been happier,’ she admitted.
‘I don’t think I have been either.’
