‘A what?’ Effie growled, tugging off her swim cap, blonde waves flying everywhere. There was something familiar about him.
‘A mermaid,’ he gasped before catching her thunderous look.
Effie glared at him, realisation dawning on her that this was the same man who’d disturbed her sleep the night before. Up close he was attractive in a tousled, unshaven, rugged way, as if he’d just leapt out of bed to catch her. His pyjama bottoms and bare feet gave this away.
‘Look, I’m sorry, really I am, I didn’t mean to cause offence. I thought you were a seal,’ he explained, turning his camera around to show Effie the screen.
Effie looked at the photos. They were a bit blurry. If she squinted, she could see how he might mistake the grey blob for a seal. ‘Did you not see my robe?’ She held it up, almost shoving the neon pink interior in his face. A very good-looking face she realised as her heart skipped an inconvenient beat. He smelled of sandalwood and interrupted sleep. Effie pulled herself back from leaning in.
Flummoxed, the man glanced from the robe to the camera and then to Effie. Even though she was glowering at him, even though anger flashed through her body at having her peace interrupted, she couldn’t help but take in his sandy curls, pushed back from a kind, tanned face, bright eyes sparkling as blue as the Cornish sea. The intrusion was worse because he was so good looking: tall, broad and blond, like a Viking warrior. Effie huffed internally, crossing her arms, suddenly aware of the wetsuit clinging to the curves of her body.
‘I’ll delete them,’ he offered, showing her as he erased the images, ‘is that better? I didn’t mean to be weird, I honestly didn’t think I was photographing a person.’
Effie shrugged, still rattled by the situation and his good looks, by the way he’d ruined her sleep. ‘Yes, thanks.’ Her voice was clipped. ‘First you wake me up in the middle of the night, and now you disturb my swim.’
‘I didn’t . . . I wasn’t,’ he began as it dawned on him that Effie was the same person who’d shouted at him for waking her up. ‘I explained. I’m sorry, I apologised, and last night too. I didn’t realise anyone lived in the flat.’ He grappled for something. ‘Is this the wrong time to say nice to meet you and introduce myself?’
Effie huffed in response as she shoved her feet into her flip-flops. Hugging her robe to her she strode past him. ‘It’s fine,’ she called, her voice tense, ‘just don’t do it again.’ She needed some time to process what had happened. He’d made a genuine mistake, he’d apologised and still she found herself aflame with anger towards him.
Effie strode across the road and pushed open the café door. It was early, but Lola was busy setting out the day’s wares. The scent of freshly baked scones hung temptingly in the air.
‘Good morning, my lovely, what can I get you? Oh, are you OK?’ Lola’s brow furrowed as she took in Effie’s wet, slightly distressed state.
‘I don’t know,’ Effie said. ‘I went for a swim and when I got out, that man was taking photos of me.’
Lola darted out from behind the counter and peered through the blinds. ‘Jake?’ There was a suspicious hint of delight in her voice as she threw Effie a glance to gauge her response.
So that was his name. Effie nodded. Jake was rooted to the spot, eyes flicking between the sea and the café, as if wondering whether or not he should follow her. Effie saw Lola give a quick shake of her head and Jake slinked off.
‘You know him?’
‘Of course, he lives in the flat above the café, has done for a couple of months since he moved back home. He’s a photographer, out and about a lot, used to be big on social media. His mum, Jan, is a part of the village committee.’
Effie’s fists balled with anger. ‘He woke me up in the middle of the night having a phone call between our flats, now he’s taken some photos of me,’ she said through gritted teeth as she followed Lola back to the counter.
‘Oh dear, looks like you’ve got off to a bad start, which is a shame. Jake is a sweetie, honestly, I’m a very good judge of character.’ Lola smiled encouragingly as if she knew something Effie didn’t. ‘I’m not one to gossip but I will say he’s been through a bit of a tough time according to his mum.’
‘Hmm,’ was Effie’s response. She didn’t feel in the mood to grant him any graces due to a so-called ‘bad time’ after her encounters with him. Glancing down, she saw she’d trailed sand all over the floor. ‘I’m so sorry, I’ve made a mess.’
‘Oh, don’t fret about that, you’re not the first or last to walk sand in here. What can I get you?’
‘Hot chocolate, please, marshmallows but no cream. It’s always my post-swim treat.’ Effie managed a smile. ‘It was the only thing the sports centre vending machine did that was half decent.’
With a smile, Lola turned towards the coffee machine and the sound of milk being frothed filled the air. Effie basked like a contented cat in the morning sun that streamed into the café, whilst Lola whipped up her drink.
‘Any more?’ Lola asked.
Effie turned her attention back to Lola to see her hovering over her hot chocolate with the bag of marshmallows. A generous amount of the pink and white sweets had already dropped onto the foamy top, oozing the drink over the edge of the cup.
‘Thanks, but that’s probably enough,’ she said smiling, as she paid with loose change from her pocket.
Effie picked up the cup and moved to the table by the window. She was just settling down to enjoy her drink when the café door opened, and Jake walked in, his pyjama bottoms swapped for jeans and desert boots. Their eyes met but Effie pulled hers away before she could be drawn any further into his swirling blue depths.
Chapter Nine
Indignation fuelled Effie for the rest of the day as she channelled the complicated feelings Jake has arisen in her into angrily sanding down the dark shelves that lined the shop walls. By the time the sun dipped towards the horizon, she was exhausted and aching, but in a good, productive way.
Hands on hips, catching her breath after whipping the vacuum cleaner round, pride swelled in Effie’s chest as she took in what she had achieved. Once everything had been cleaned down, the shop would be ready for painting. With the paint arriving the following morning Effie was pleased that not only was she on track, but that she’d managed to do it all by herself.
