‘That’s very kind of you, thank you.’
‘Now about this flour everywhere,’ she said, turning to Clemmie. ‘What happened? You looked a little flushed when I came in. Are you feeling okay? I know it’s my day off, but I don’t mind stepping in.’
‘I thought the same,’ Oliver added.
Clemmie shot him a warning look. He smiled, tucking into his breakfast as if he belonged there. And, annoyingly, it felt like he did. Clemmie could bloody kick herself for letting him in for that one moment as they danced. If she wasn’t careful, Oliver Lockwood would more than likely break her heart for a second time.
Chapter Six
The afternoon sun glinted off the turquoise waves at Blue Water Bay. Clemmie was sprawled on a pastel chequered picnic blanket, her floppy sun hat shielding her face from the sun as she sipped from her water bottle. Next to her, Amelia was stretched out with a paperback novel, pretending to read but mainly staring at the waves. Dilly, their other best friend and owner of the Puffin Island lighthouse, who was having a couple of hours free time from her twins, was carefully assembling an elaborate cheese board for their picnic.
‘This,’ Amelia sighed, gesturing vaguely at the scenery with her book, ‘is what Sunday afternoons are made for. Sunshine, snacks and absolutely no drama.’
Clemmie smiled and watched her friends, knowing the news she was about to share would bring all the drama. ‘You mean, aside from the fact that I nearly kissed Oliver Lockwood in my kitchen yesterday?’
Amelia dropped her book and Dilly froze mid-grape-placement, their eyes wide and locked on Clemmie.
‘Say that again,’ they chorused.
‘It wasn’t intentional! He let himself into the café before opening and caught me mid-flour disaster, then…’
‘Then?’ pressed Amelia.
‘I let him get under my skin and we danced to our old song.’
‘Wait, wait, wait,’ Amelia interrupted, waving her hand frantically. ‘Back up. You danced?Like, actual dancing? With music?’
‘Yes, with music,’ Clemmie admitted. ‘The radio was on, and… oh, it’s too embarrassing!’
‘Please tell me it was something cheesy. Like Whitney Houston,’ chipped in Dilly.
‘No!’ Clemmie laughed. ‘Anyway, we were just about to kiss when Granny walked in and ruined the moment… which, looking back, could have possibly done me a favour.’
‘Oh my, this is brilliant! I told you he’d come back for you.’
‘Although you did tell us that you would never go anywhere near that man even if he was the last man on earth,’ Dilly added.
‘I know, and I could kick myself, but it just happened. I was totally stupid.’
‘It’s clear you two have unfinished business,’ said Dilly.
‘I’m not proud of myself for almost giving into temptation so easily, and it definitely can’t happen again. I need to focus on the competition and not get distracted because the last thing I need is Fiona Fairweather taking the crown.’
‘Who is Fiona Fairweather?’ Dilly leaned over, grabbed a grape and popped it into her mouth.
‘I don’t even know why I keep this in my bag, but…’ Clemmie muttered, guiltily fishing out the magazine she’d taken to carrying around with her. ‘I’ve read the article so many times I could probably recite it verbatim.’ She turned to the article and tapped the page as she handed the magazine to Dilly. ‘Fiona Fairweather is my competition.’
‘In more ways than one,’ Amelia teased. ‘She turned up at the pub with Oliver the other night.’
‘Apparently she’s a friend of the family,’ shared Clemmie.
‘Never mind Fiona, what was it like to almost kiss him again after all this time?’ asked Amelia.
‘The blooming butterflies were back, fluttering around my stomach at a hundred knots.’
Dilly and Amelia exchanged glances.
‘I know what you’re thinking.’ Clemmie propped herself up on her elbows, staring out at the glittering water as the tide inched closer to their spot on the shore. She could hear the faint cries of gulls overhead, their calls mingling with the chatter of children playing farther down the beach. She looked back towards her friends. ‘I can’t let it happen again. Kissing him would be…’ She trailed off, pressing her lips together.
