‘Yeah, I thought it was best we left that as a one-time experience.’
A little boy sped past them on a push bike, quickly followed by his rather exhausted-looking dad.
‘Because let’s be honest, even that kid is going faster than you were.’
‘Hey!’ Olivia gasped. ‘In mydefence, that was my first time ever on a moped, and I had a sick patient with me. I had to drive carefully.’
Jacob’s jaw fell wide open. ‘Don’t you dare use me as an excuse. If anything, the adrenaline rush would have helped keep me alert. Riding with you was like being rocked to sleep in a pram.’
‘You are such a shit, you know that?’ Olivia tried to free her hand from his, but Jacob held on tighter, lifting it to his mouth and kissing it.
‘It’s so sweet when you compliment me like that.’
‘What can I say? I’m too kind.’
The further they walked along the beach, the quieter it became. Save for a few dedicated sun worshippers, they seemed to be the only people not crowded into a restaurant or a bar. Olivia’s stomach rumbled impatiently.
‘Can I ask where we’re going for dinner yet, or are you still keeping it under wraps?’
Jacob stopped still. ‘Well, Miss Jackson, funny you should say that, because if you’d care to look right there’ – he pointed ahead – ‘then you’ll find our table for the evening.’
Olivia followed the direction of his finger.
‘You’re joking, right?’
She looked back to Jacob.
He couldn’t be serious.
‘Nope.’
‘That? That right there?’
She was looking at a large white-cloth table positioned in the sand, midway between the ocean and a bustling seaside restaurant. Hundreds of tea lights had been placed around it, twinkling like hidden jewels in the sand. Rose petals, scarlet red and mother of pearl pink, lay scattered in between.
‘The very one.’
‘But—’
‘Come on, I’m getting hungry.’ Jacob pulled them closer. ‘Ah look, there’s my guy now!’
A rather compact-looking man, with a shining bald head and a beaming face, came rushing out to greet them.
‘Mr and Mrs Jackson!’ he called eagerly.
Olivia snapped her head around so quickly her neck jarred. ‘What did he just call us?’
‘About that …’ Jacob kept his eyes forward, face fixed with a smile, ‘Imayhave told them we were celebrating our first week as a married couple.’
‘You told themwhat?’
‘That we’re newlyweds. Hence all the fancy decorations.’
‘Jacob!’
‘What? I wanted it to be special.’
‘So you lied?’
