‘And this Cooper? You don’t fancy him too, do you? Because it’s never a good idea to mix work and pleasure.’
‘I do not fancy Cooper,’ insisted Verity. ‘But what do you really think? Am I just dreaming? I only turned up here because of the postcard.’
‘And how is the search for the long lost lover going?’
‘The search is over. Mystery solved. Betty, who has lived here on the island all her life, remembers my granny. She came for the summer and stayed with her. It turns out Joe Wilson, aka “W”, was Sam’s granddad and he and Granny were close and possibly had a holiday romance. I think the secret mentioned in the postcard was the fact that my granny was engaged to my granddad while she was on the island, but never told anyone. She came to the island to sort out her feelings for him after he proposed suddenly.’
‘Keeping it in the family…’
‘Ava! She apparently returned home and chose my granddad over Joe. But I’m not sure of all the ins and outs.’
‘And how has the grandfather aged? You’ll be able to see how good Sam’s gene pool is.’
‘His grandfather was killed in a tragic accident at sea, just after my grandmother left the island.’
‘Gosh, does that mean you have to stay to keep Sam safe? We certainly don’t want history repeating itself.’
‘Ava! It’s not something to joke about. It’s been fifty years since his death and there’s a vigil being held in his memory soon.’
‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend.’
‘You didn’t. It’s just all going on here. There’s the vigil, plus the island’s vote on safety barriers to stop idiots trying to drown themselves on the causeway, and we finish the puffin count tomorrow.’
‘That all sounds…actually, it sounds like you’re living your best life, just like me. Which reminds me, I’m due back at work in five. Anyway, tonight I’m off to a wine bar with my new work colleagues.’
‘All glam and glitz.’
‘And yours sounds…all very wholesome and community-minded.’
‘Enjoy your evening.’
‘Stay out of trouble.’
‘Always.’
Verity sniffed her armpit and then her hair, and then checked the time. As she had forty minutes until Sam was due to pick up Jimmy, she decided to use the time taking a much-needed shower. After a night of passion and a morning of sliding along the ground she didn’t smell pretty at all. Glancing towards the garage she saw it was shut for lunch, according to the sign swinging outside in the light breeze. She waved at Pete as he drove past her and realised that with Nathan and Pete gone for a while, she would have ample time to use her pet shower in privacy. She simply couldn’t meet Sam smelling and looking like this.
As soon as the container was full of water, she propped the shower head over a branch of a nearby tree and pumped the container, before slipping into a white bikini and flip-flops. She switched on Spotify on her phone, and the first song on her playlist sounded out. Pressing the nozzle on the shower head, she stepped under the cold water.
‘Brrr!’ She shivered, wetting her hair and rubbing shampoo into it. She smiled as a Britney track finished and she immediately thought of Kev. Even though it was only a few days since she’d driven away from her street in the early hours, it felt like a lifetime ago. Standing there, letting the cold water fall over her body, she didn’t feel any desire at all to go back. It was strange, knowing she’d outgrown the place where she was brought up.
The next song played out. ‘Where you from, you sexy thing?’ she sang at the top of her lungs, jiggling her backside as she lifted her arms above her head and twirled around. Still singing and jigging, she rinsed off the shampoo. As the song came to its end and the water ran out, she squeezed the water from her hair and spun around – only to meet an amused smile. Sam! She nearly jumped out of her skin.
‘Woah! Where did you come from?’
‘You like Hot Chocolate?’
‘Massive fan!’
‘You in a bikini singing along to my favourite song was not a sight I was expecting to see in my lunch hour, but it’s very welcome.’
‘I aim to please.’ She pointed towards a towel draped over the camping chair.
As he turned to grab it for her, she admired his attire. He was dressed for work in a crisp white short-sleeved shirt that clung to his torso, and tailored navy trousers. And there it was again, that uncontrollable tingle, the goosebumps and flutters that gathered in her stomach every time she laid eyes on him. He made her nervous, but in a good way.
Sam handed her the towel. Verity was relieved; things didn’t seem awkward between them at all. Maybe this morning she’d been overthinking the situation. Maybe Sam had started to see things differently.
‘A welcome sight, did you say?’ Verity knew she was pushing it but she wanted to gauge his reaction. She pulled the towel around her body.
