Jake turned to her. ‘I should. But I need some thinking time. Hey, are you busy this afternoon? Want to take a walk out across the cliffs? Don’t tell Steve, but the pub in the next bay does the best scampi and chips.’
‘I never say no to scampi and chips.’ Effie grinned at him.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
The low-lying grey clouds from the morning had cleared to reveal the most perfect spring afternoon for a walk along the Cornish coast path. The sun had come out and was bouncing across the sea as if to light the way. Jake was an excellent guide, regaling Effie with stories of his misspent youth.
‘Jase had to carry me home after I’d drunk too many beers. God knows how he did it,’ he said with disbelief. ‘I was fifteen, Mum didn’t know whether to tell me off or be glad I made it home.’ Jake laughed. ‘It’s weird coming back and looking at it as an adult. Nostalgic. Maybe it wasn’t all that bad.’
‘Jake, you grew up in one of the most beautiful places in the UK. I can’t understand why you’d be so desperate to leave when everyone else is so desperate to come.’
Jake mulled this over as they began their descent into the next village. ‘Maybe it’s because it’s where everyone comes on holiday. The first time we flew to Spain, I was enthralled. OK, so it might just have been a resort on the Costa del Sol, but the fact there was other places out there fascinated me. To be fair, Mum, Dad and Jase don’t get it either.’
Effie sighed. ‘I’m trying to understand it. Has Cornwall not lured you back with her charms yet?’
Jake stopped and studied Effie. She squirmed slightly under his gaze, and not in an unpleasant way. It was as if she was part of the equation. She didn’t even want to know what that meant.
‘It might be, a bit, well, you’re having a very good go at twisting my arm. What with the sea swimming, the cute bookshop, I’m seeing it through different eyes. I might see if this scampi is as good as I remember before making any final decisions though,’ he joked.
‘Oi! You better not have lured me here under false pretences,’ Effie exclaimed. ‘Scampi is my favourite.’
Effie followed him down the path into an even smaller village than Polcarrow. It clung to the side of the cliffs, balanced almost precariously along the coast. The whitewashed buildings were gnarled with age and fishing boats were scattered across the tiny beach. Effie came to a stop beside Jake, who’d pulled out his camera. She studied the way he framed his shot, searching for the best angle to capture the sunlight glinting off the waves.
‘What do you think?’ He turned the screen to her.
Effie’s head swam at the proximity to him, her face brushing his arm as she leaned over to study the photos. ‘They’re beautiful,’ she said as he clicked through the ones he’d taken on their walk.
‘Hmm, I think they’d be better at sunrise. Looks like there’s an early morning trip in store for me.’ He turned to her, the laughter dropping out of his voice as he took her in.
Effie froze, her eyes hooked on his, neither of them able to step back or close the gap between them. Eventually, Effie stepped back, slightly befuddled. She couldn’t fall for Jake. Or fall for him any further, if she didn’t know what his future plans were.
‘Jake, you have to show some photos at Freya’s exhibition. What’s holding you back?’
Jake put his camera away. ‘I don’t know. Maybe I don’t think I’m good enough? Or maybe I don’t think anyone will be impressed by my photos.’
‘Jake, don’t be silly, you’re definitely good enough – Freya wouldn’t have asked you if she didn’t think so.’
‘True. My posts of Cornwall have been getting a lot of likes online,’ he admitted.
‘There you go! People love seeing photos of Cornwall, and you’re a local and you have an eye for capturing things other people might not notice. You have to do it, Jake, honestly, it’s a fantastic opportunity. For your business, too,’ she said, playing the trump card she knew would sway him.
Jake mulled this over as they made their way towards the harbourside pub. A table with a view of the sea had just become available and they slipped into it.
‘That’s true,’ he admitted as he pulled the menu towards him. ‘So you think I should say yes?’
‘Of course!’
Jake flashed her a smile. ‘Well, there you go, there’s my answer. Scampi?’
‘That’s the reason I came! But I’ll have a lemonade, I don’t want to be all wobbly on the way back.’
‘I’d carry you,’ Jake quipped as he extracted himself from the bench and made his way inside.
Suddenly warm, Effie picked up the drinks menu and fanned herself. It was the sunshine, she assured herself, not the idea of Jake swinging her up into his arms. Definitely the sun.
Chapter Thirty
As well as Polcarrow life, Effie was slowly getting into the swing of things with the shop itself. Running it alone was a huge learning curve and some evenings Effie collapsed into bed, exhausted from trying to do everything alone. Other days, she’d shut the shop and stifle tears that only one customer had been in, and that had only been to ask directions to somewhere she didn’t know. On days like that she didn’t know whether or not to press Clive for an extra member of staff, yet when it was busy she was rushed off her feet.
