‘It’s a lovely place you’ve got here for the next few weeks.’ He paused and took both of Bea’s hands. ‘You do know I’ll be leaving after the River Festival? I don’t want you to get your hopes up and—’
‘Of course.’ Bea swallowed. ‘I know exactly what the score is here, and just for the record, you’re definitely punching.’ She was trying to make light of the situation but she could feel her heart racing.
‘I agree.’ He grinned. ‘And yesterday was a great day. You made me feel special, thank you.’
Bea wasn’t expecting him to say that. ‘You don’t have to thank me. You’re the one who made me feel like me again, alive and free,’ she admitted.
They stared into each other’s eyes. ‘I would love to spend some more time with you,’ he said, ‘but I appreciate you have come here to sort out your life, and me hanging around may not be—’
Bea stood on tiptoe and kissed him in mid-sentence. ‘Shut up,’ she murmured. ‘You can hang around as much as you want. Anyway, we have a case to solve.’
‘That we do, and by the way, the necklace suits you.’ Nolan touched the seahorse and turned it over in his hand. ‘This must have been special for a reason.’
‘If we find Patsy, we can find out what it was and give it back to her. But in the meantime, I’ll enjoy wearing it.’
‘Maybe we should do our own message in the bottle when we sail off in our separate directions,’ suggested Nolan.
‘Maybe we should,’ she replied.
Nolan tilted her face towards him. Bea had never been attracted to anyone in this way. She was experiencing feelings that she’d never had before.
He checked his watch. ‘Fifteen minutes of your lunch hour left.’
‘And I know exactly how to spend that time.’ Taking his hands in hers, she lowered herself onto the bed and pulled him on top of her. She had never wanted anyone so much as she wanted him now. Pressing her body against his she gasped with desire, the electricity sparking between them. Her eyes locked with his as she reached for his belt. Never in her life had she ever done anything like this. Bea was always the one who weighed up both sides and worried about the consequences, but not since arriving in Heartcross. No, now she was living life in the moment and enjoying every second of it. Embracing the tingling pleasure that was flooding through her, she sighed as Nolan kissed her again, stealing the breath from her body.
ChapterTen
‘How was your lunch hour?’ asked Julia, waltzing back through the door just after 2pm. ‘You look flushed. Are you okay?’
Bea knew exactly the reason she looked flushed – she’d just spent the last fifteen minutes wrapped in the arms of a drop dead gorgeous man! ‘It must be the weather and the fact I am high on life.’
‘I absolutely admire how you’ve pulled yourself around so quickly. I think I would have locked myself away, feeling sorry for myself.’
‘But then I had the perfect opportunity fall at my feet when I walked into the B&B. From now on, I’m definitely going to take every opportunity that crosses my path. A change of scenery and being away from my normal routine have already shown me that there’s a whole new world out there.’
‘Good for you, girl, and how are you getting on?’
‘All of Roman’s excursions are sold out for today. The kayaks are hired for the majority of the afternoon and there’s only a couple of rowing boats still free,’ replied Bea, looking in the book. ‘And I’ve even sold several paintings.’
‘You’re Superwoman! Flynn will be pleased his profits are soaring! I’m going to get some paperwork finished and then I’ll show you how to cash up at the end of the day.’
Julia disappeared inside the staff room and Bea leaned on the open hatch, looking out at the river. She breathed in the fresh air and watched the hustle and bustle all around her. Over at The Hemingway she could see Nolan standing on the deck chatting with a man on the boat next to his. She wondered what they were talking about. On the one hand she wanted to know everything about him but on the other she didn’t want to get too emotionally attached.
‘Put on your big girl’s knickers,’ she reminded herself. Nolan had been honest that after the River Festival he would be sailing to his next destination and whatever was going on between them was temporary. This was a here-and-now thing with no future. Just a bit of fun.
Hearing her phone beep, she checked and saw it was Emmie, asking how her morning had gone.
‘All good, really enjoying my shift.’She took a quick photo of the spectacular scenery in front of her and pinged it across to her sister.‘No filter needed,’she quickly added.
‘Carl has been to see me’came the instant reply.
Reading that text, Bea rolled her eyes. She didn’t want thoughts of him flooding her perfect day. She was surprised by how quickly she was getting over him and moving on with her life.
Her phone pinged again.‘He’s sorry for what he’s done and wants you back. If you just come home, you could talk and put this sorry mess behind you.’
Bea was frustrated. Why didn’t her sister want better for her? She didn’t want to appear rude by telling her to mind her own business but she had to say something.
‘I deserve to find somebody who makes me feel like I’m the only girl in the world.’Bea typed back her reply, knowing that was exactly how Nolan made her feel.‘I’m at work, can’t talk now.’
