His eyes lift to look at mine and he gives me the smallest shrug. ‘A bit.’
‘You can knock on my door for a cuppa anytime. Or pop down to Seaglass – I’m never far.’
His lips tilt up at the edges. ‘Thanks.’
My attention keeps getting drawn back to his toned forearms and I almost jump out of my skin when Amy calls, ‘We’re here!’
Her eyes rove between Tom and me. She looks like the Cheshire Cat.
‘Hello!’ I slide out from the table as Dan appears.
Tom stands up and waits to be introduced while I quickly hug my friends.
‘Guys, this is Tom. Tom, this is Dan and Amy.’
‘Hi!’ Amy gushes, standing on her tiptoes to embrace him. She shoots me a look of pure glee as she withdraws.
Before we can sit down, Rach and Ellie arrive, so we go through another round of introductions.
‘Fucking hell,’ Rach growls in my ear as I give her a brief squeeze.
I flash her a warning look before greeting Ellie.
Ellie is so pretty. She’s not much taller than Rach at about five foot five and she has dead-straight jet-black hair, courtesy of her Japanese heritage on her mother’s side.
For a long time after she and Rach started going out, Rach looked as though she wanted to pinch herself every time she glanced at her new girlfriend.
Ellie gets a similar look on her face when she watches Rach surf. My friend is spectacular on the waves.
She’s spectacular always.
We take our seats. I forgot to warn my friends not to delve too deeply into Tom’s reasons for coming to Cornwall, as he’s seemed reluctant to talk about it, so I’m on edge as they ask him about what he does and why he’s here. He gives themmore or less the same explanation he gave me, managing to avoid a more in-depth interrogation. By the time our burgers arrive, we’ve all relaxed into our usual casual banter.
Eventually the quiz master’s voice comes over the sound system to welcome everyone and the loud chatter around the restaurant quietens to a hushed murmur. Tom is opposite me and gives me an amused smile that zips straight down my spine.
Amy has her pen poised. The bar falls quiet as the first question is read out.
‘What is the sinus node and what is its function?’
Everyone around the table stares at each other blankly, except for Tom, who leans forward and whispers to Amy: ‘It’s the heart’s natural pacemaker. It generates electrical impulses to set the rhythm and rate of a healthy heart.’
She furiously scribbles it down.
‘How did youknowthat?’ Dan asks Tom with astonishment.
‘You pick up things when you work in search and rescue,’ he replies with a shrug.
‘I’m sorry, buthowhot?’ Amy asks aloud when Tom and Dan have gone to the bar to restock our drinks during the break.
She gives me a meaningful look. ‘You need to tap that, right now.’
I snort. ‘I don’t think so.’
‘Why not? The man is sex on legs –andhe’s smart. I think this might be the first time we’ll ever get into the top three.’
‘Heissmart, isn’t he?’ I wriggle with pride.
‘I mean, a search and rescue fucking helicopter pilot, Liv?’ Rach interjects. ‘Could therebea sexier job?’
