‘Yes.’
Effie relaxed and took a massive bite of her scone, eyes closed in pleasure at the taste of the jam and cream bursting on her tongue. Just as she did, the camera clicked. Her eyes snapped open. ‘Hey!’
Jake was laughing. He turned the camera to Effie and Maddie. ‘It was too good to miss.’
They burst into laughter at the blissful look on Effie’s face as she bit into the scone.
‘Right, I better be off. I’ll leave you ladies to it. Effie, I’ll see you soon.’ He drained his coffee, waved goodbye to Freya and headed out the door.
Effie watched him go. When she turned back, Maddie was looking at her. ‘What?’
‘Oh Eff, he’s dreamy, no wonder you like it so much down here.’
‘Only just broken up with his fiancée, remember,’ Effie sighed. She took a long drink of tea and wondered how much Jake was contributing to her enjoyment of being in Polcarrow. Would she be so keen to stay if he wasn’t around?
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Effie found herself settling into the rhythm of Polcarrow life. Now that the bookshop was open, she had a little more spare time in the mornings for her swim. The bracing water setting her up for the day. Back home in Penzance, her swims had been more occasional so it was bliss being able to indulge her passion every morning.
Effie wasn’t the only one to brave dipping a toe. Although she was drawn to the solitary aspect of sea swimming, she had been thrilled when other villagers had turned up to have a go once the spring sunshine was a more regular occurrence. The hot chocolate and coffees they shared afterwards, sitting outside Lola’s café, further embedded Effie into the little community.
Effie had almost given up on Jake joining her until one Sunday morning, still yawning, she made her way across the road and saw him lingering on the sand, a towel around his shoulders, wearing only a pair of swimming shorts and a brave smile. She stopped in her tracks, taking in his toned, lightly bronzed body. Following his admission he was on a break with Tara, Effie had shoved her romantic hopes to the back of her brain and focused on their blossoming friendship instead, but it was hard to deny that she was still very attracted to him.
‘Hurry up, Eff, I want to get this over with,’ he called.
‘You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to,’ she told him, remembering him saying he was a summer-only swimmer.
‘No, it’s fine, I want to. I’ve been thinking about it for a while. I’ve just been summoning up the courage. Come on, before I chicken out.’
Laughing, Effie dropped her dry robe. ‘How did you grow up by the sea and not swim in all weathers?’
Jake just shrugged as he followed her towards the water’s edge. ‘I guess I did as a kid.’
‘How do you want to do it?’ she asked. ‘I recommend just going for it.’
Jake sucked in a breath as the cool water eased over his toes.
‘Just keep breathing and follow me.’ Effie turned to him and as an afterthought, held out her hand.
Jake glanced down before taking it. His hand engulfed hers, but their palms fitted together perfectly, their fingers entwining like tentative roots. Effie relaxed into his touch. It was going to be increasingly difficult not to fall for him further at this rate.
‘Ready?’ She stepped forward, the sea lapping up over her ankles.
Jake nodded and followed her. Hand in hand they waded into the waves until they were up to their knees.
‘How’s that?’ she asked.
‘Cold—’ Jake’s teeth chattered ‘—but actually, yeah, it feels good.’
‘You don’t have to go any further if you don’t want to,’ she told him. ‘I know it’s not nice when people try to force things on you.’
‘Yeah, but I want to give it a proper go.’
‘You do?’
Jake smiled at her. ‘I do.’
‘OK.’ Effie reluctantly let go of his hand. ‘You can get out whenever you’re ready.’
