‘And the main showcasing ring should be further from the steps. Too much foot traffic there.’
Marcus looked where Rowan pointed, following the line from steps to sand to sea. ‘You really do see everything, don’t you?’
Rowan’s gaze stayed on the beach. ‘No. I missed something once.’
The words were quiet. So quiet Marcus almost lost them beneath the waves. He wanted to ask. The question pressed against the back of his teeth. What did you miss? What happened? Why does Atlas look as if he’s still waiting for a command that might hurt him?
But Rowan’s face had closed again.
Marcus had already overstepped once this morning. He would not do it twice.
Instead, he looked out across the sand and forced lightness into his voice. ‘Right then. Quiet zone at the back, stalls on the flat sand, main ring further down, water station by the steps, and absolutely no inspirational trauma tent.’
Rowan glanced at him. There it was again. That almost-smile. ‘Good,’ he said.
Marcus grinned. ‘I can be taught.’
‘We’ll see.’
The words should not have made Marcus’s stomach flip, but they absolutely did.
A shout came from the seafront above them.
‘Marcus!’
He turned and saw Jack leaning over the rail, one hand lifted in greeting. ‘After seeing your poster in Tammy’s, I thought about the location. If you’re serious about holding this down here, come and see me before you confirm the layout. Tide times and access routes matter.’
Marcus cupped a hand above his eyes. ‘Will do, Jack. I’ve decided I’m going to hold the meeting I told you about at the pub tonight. Seven o’clock. Can you come?’
‘Wouldn’t miss it.’
Jack disappeared from the rail, and Marcus turned back to Rowan with sudden hope.
‘You should come too.’
Rowan’s expression immediately shuttered. ‘No.’
‘You don’t even know what I’m going to say.’
‘You just said it.’
‘True, but I hadn’t made it sound charming yet.’
‘Marcus.’
His name in Rowan’s voice did something entirely inconvenient to Marcus’s insides.
He ignored it.Mostly.
‘Just come for half an hour,’ Marcus said. ‘You don’t have to talk to anyone if you don’t want to. You can stand in a corner looking intimidating and silently judging my lack of planning.’
‘I don’t silently judge.’
Marcus lifted an eyebrow.
Rowan looked away first. ‘Fine. I silently judge a little.’
A laugh escaped Marcus before he could stop it.
