by Hannah Ellis
He carried on chatting as he cooked, complaining about his dad and regaling them with stories about work at the law firm.
“James and I aren’t at all alike,” Max told Elizabeth when Conor passed them a burger each.
“Not at all,” Conor agreed quickly. “They’re complete opposites. Dad’s the most boring guy on the planet.”
Max’s face lit up. “There’s a compliment! That must make me the coolest guy on the planet?”
Conor groaned. “No one says cool these days. It’s very uncool!”
“Don’t start making out I’m ancient,” Max said.
“You are!” Conor said cheekily.
“Don’t listen to him,” Max said quietly to Elizabeth. “I’m thirty-three. That’s not old, is it?”
“Not at all,” Elizabeth said. Her mind flicked to Josie calling her middle-aged. Max definitely wasn’t middle-aged, and she was only a year older than him so surely she wasn’t either. But why was she even thinking about that? She shifted her attention to her burger instead.
Max and Conor settled into an easy silence as they ate, and Elizabeth was glad they’d insisted she join them. It was much better than eating alone.
“I should probably hit the road,” Conor said drearily when they’d finished eating.
Elizabeth stood to say goodbye. She felt strangely fond of him, considering she’d only known him for a couple of days. “Thanks for dinner,” she said.
It was a surprise when he embraced her warmly. “You’re welcome. Thanks for helping with the windows.” He kept his gaze on her when he released her. “And I’m glad your boyfriend had to work! It was great having you around.”
“Thank you,” she said shyly, then sat down and picked up her beer, watching as he hugged Max.
“Drive safely,” Max said. “And let me know when you’re home.”
Conor slapped him on the back. “Yes, boss!”
“Thanks for your help,” Max shouted after him as he set off up the beach.
“You’re quite protective of him, aren’t you?” Elizabeth said when he sat beside her. “Wanting to know when he’s home safely.”
Max took a swig of his beer. “He’s my baby nephew. I still can’t believe he’s allowed to drive. How did that happen?”
“Maybe you’re getting old?” she suggested.
“Definitely not!”
They fell into a comfortable silence and watched the waves for a while. As the sun began to set, the air turned chilly.
“Are you cold?” Max asked when she hugged her knees.
“I’m okay.”
“Will you stay for another drink if I build a fire?”
She hesitated. Should she spend time alone with Max? It would be a shame to miss the sunset on the beach, and if Max was there too, that was hardly her fault. She wasn’t sure why she felt the need to make excuses for herself. It wasn’t as if she was doing anything wrong. It was just a drink with a new friend. In the most beautiful setting… with a romantic bonfire. Gosh, she liked to overthink things.
“That sounds good,” she said. “I could also just get a jumper—”
But Max had already gone, seemingly intent on the idea of building a fire. It didn’t take him long to collect firewood, and by the time the sun had disappeared below the horizon the fire was kicking out a good amount of heat.
She wasn’t sure why, but the atmosphere between them had changed. Maybe it was not having Conor there, or maybe it was the romantic setting, but she increasingly felt that she shouldn’t be sitting there with Max. It felt too intimate. The trouble was, she was enjoying herself too much to move.
Idly, Max poked a stick at the fire as they chatted, then used the stick to write Lizzie in the sand between them.
She frowned. “I told you, it’s Elizabeth.”
“I bet your sister doesn’t call you Elizabeth.”
“No,” she said, surprised by his accuracy. “She calls me Liz.” Heat hit her cheeks as she went on. “She once said I’m too stuffy to be a Lizzie, but thinks I can pull off Liz or Beth.”
“Beth’s too gentle,” Max said, underlining the letters in the sand. “Lizzie suits you perfectly.”
“I guess I’m lucky,” she mused. “There’s not much you can do with Max, is there?”
He smirked at her choice of words. “Not much at all.”
She turned away from his teasing eyes and surveyed the tranquil surroundings. The silvery moonlight bounced onto the water, making it sparkle. She lay back on the sand to gaze at the stars.
“I never do this,” she said. “Just sit under the stars and enjoy the moment.”
“It’s pretty special here.”
“I should do this more often,” she murmured.
She lay watching the stars for a while and then reluctantly decided she should probably get to bed.
Once Max had covered the fire with sand, they were plunged into darkness. The light from the moon was not enough to see by, and Elizabeth stumbled walking up the beach.
“Here,” Max said, moving closer and offering his arm.
With him guiding her, they reached her cottage quickly.
“Thank you,” she said, switching the kitchen light on and lingering at the back door.
“No problem,” he replied. “I wanted to make sure you got the right house.”
She couldn’t help but chuckle.
“What do you think of this place?” Max asked, glancing over her shoulder into the house.
“It’s fine.”
“You sound unimpressed.”
She frowned. “Your place is nicer, that’s all.”
“I might lock the doors tonight. I’m worried you’ll creep back in!”
“I promise not to,” she said. She was about to say goodnight when she caught a strange look in Max’s eyes. “What?” she asked.
“Nothing,” he said, but seemed embarrassed, as if he’d been caught out. “I keep thinking that we’ve met before.”
Her eyebrows dipped. “I don’t think so.”
“No, we haven’t. I meant like déjà vu or something.” He paused. “Do I sound really creepy?”
“A little,” she said lightly.
“Sorry!” He backed away. “I’ll blame it on the beer. Thanks for helping today.”
“You’re welcome.”
She watched him slip through the hedge and disappear from sight. For a moment, she stood, thinking about what he’d said.
It wasn’t quite déjà vu, but she did feel a strange connection to him.
Chapter 14
Elizabeth was still in bed when Karen called her on Monday morning.
“Do me a massive favour,” Karen said, sounding fraught. “I’ve forwarded you an email from Heidi. Open it quickly and tell me what you think. I’m having a meltdown here.”
“No!” Elizabeth said. “I’m not falling for that. I told you I’m not working this holiday.”
“I can’t believe you’re actually doing it.”
“It’s only Monday morning – it’s not a massive achievement yet.”
“I know, but you can’t usually manage to go a weekend without working so it’s quite surprising. Should I be worried?”
“No. I’m fine.”
“Good. Anyway, I really do have an issue with Heidi. She sent the horoscopes on Friday. You should see them – they get worse every month.”
“Don’t talk shop to me,” Elizabeth said. “I told you I’m not working.”
“Fine,” Karen said. “But, as a friend, can you listen while I vent?”
“Go on, then…”
“She sent me three words for Gemini. Three words! Don’t look back. That’s creepy, isn’t it? Then for Pisces she’s written a huge essay about the sun being in Venus and Mars being on Jupiter or God knows what. It’s garbage! And she genuinely believes all this stuff. I’m going to talk to her today.”
“Don’t,” Elizabeth said, staring at the ceiling. “I’ll deal with her when I get back. You sometimes forget
to be tactful with Heidi.”
“That’s true. I’ll wait for you; you’re definitely better with people. That’s why I hired you. For your tact and diplomacy.”
“Along with my many other skills and qualifications, I’m sure.”
“Possibly, but mainly because you seemed like someone who’d drink wine with me in my office.”
“An often overlooked topic in job interviews!”
They laughed together. Karen was the main reason she enjoyed her job so much. She could be scarily serious when she wanted to be – especially approaching publication deadlines – but she was also lots of fun.
“So how’s the holiday?”
“It’s okay,” Elizabeth said. “It’s been a bit weird, actually.”
“Have you been checking out more naked men in showers?”
“No. But I do keep seeing the naked shower guy. Fully dressed, but we keep bumping into each other.”
“Are you grinning?” Karen asked suspiciously.
“No!” It was a lie. How did Karen know? Could she hear it in her voice? And why was she grinning?
“Are you hanging out with the hottie to get back at Phil for ditching you?”
“No,” Elizabeth said quickly. “And he’s not hot.” She paused. That was another lie. “I’m not trying to get back at Phil. I’m not angry with Phil any more.”
“No, you wouldn’t be, would you?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Oh, calm down. I’m only teasing. Little Goody Two-Shoes wouldn’t do anything inappropriate.”
“I’m not a goody two-shoes.”
“You are, actually, but whatever. I’ve got work to do. Have fun. And let your hair down for once.”
“What?”
“How long have I known you? Ten years? I’ve literally never seen you with your hair down!”
“I thought you were saying I was uptight.”
“That too! Maybe the two things are connected.”
Elizabeth always wore her hair neatly tied up. It was how she liked it. She was half tempted to mention that she’d gone out the previous evening without make-up, but as her mind whirred back to the evening on the beach with Max she realised it wasn’t a conversation she wanted to get into with Karen.
“Leave me alone,” she said. “I’m going back to sleep.”
“Talk soon,” Karen said, ending the call.
But Elizabeth couldn’t get back to sleep, and after a quick breakfast of coffee and toast she set off for a walk. She stopped a few times to sit and admire the view. After an hour or so, she came to a golf course. It had a great location, with the clubhouse sitting high up on the cliffs. A waiter was setting up the terrace, pinning neat white tablecloths onto the tables.
This was why she didn’t like being alone. It was such a lovely place, but there was no way she’d go out for a meal at a fancy restaurant on her own. She considered it for a moment: she could take a book and enjoy the surroundings and good food. It might be fun. She could chat with the waiters and pretend that she ate alone all the time. It was the sort of thing Josie would do – if she could afford to eat at nice places. Elizabeth couldn’t do it; she knew she’d feel awkward and rush through her meal.
Arriving back at the cottage at lunchtime, she grabbed a quick sandwich and pondered what to do for the rest of the day. She was about to put her bikini on when she caught sight of Max. Feeling a sudden need for company, she walked to the hedge and was about to step through when she stopped herself. What was she doing? The poor guy probably wanted some peace, and she kept arriving in his garden. What was wrong with her that she couldn’t spend a day alone? She took a few steps back the way she’d come and then stopped again, dithering. She could say a quick hello. There was nothing wrong with that.
“Hi!” she called. He turned, with a paintbrush in his hand.
“Hi!” he said. “How are you?”
“Fine, thanks. Looks like you’re hard at work again.”
“No rest for the wicked,” he said. “What have you been up to?”
“I went for a walk. Up to the golf course and back.”
“It’s beautiful up there. They do good food too.”
She nodded vaguely, her mouth inexplicably dry. Her gaze moved to the paintbrush. “I could give you a hand if you want?”
“No,” he said quickly, “you’re on holiday.”
She wrinkled her nose. “I enjoyed helping yesterday.”
“You might be crazy, you know?”
“I know,” she said. “It has occurred to me.”
They stood in silence, gazing intensely at each other. Biting her lip, Elizabeth took a step back. “Sorry,” she said. “I’m going to stop wandering into your garden, I promise. I was going to go for a swim anyway … I just thought … I don’t know.” Why was she so awkward? She almost fell over her own feet as she moved away from him. “See you!”
“Lizzie!” he called when she was almost inside. She stopped in her tracks. “Sorry. Elizabeth.”
“Hmm?”
“I could probably do with someone to hold the ladder… If you really don’t mind?”
“I really don’t mind,” she said. “I’ll get changed and come over.”
In her bedroom, she realised she wasn’t sure what she’d planned to change into. Apparently she’d neglected to pack painting clothes.
Chapter 15
She ended up in a pair of knee-length tailored shorts and a plain V-necked T-shirt. Not exactly painting clothes, but the things she was least worried about ruining.
When she joined him, Max gave her a paintbrush. “No stripping today, you’ll be pleased to hear.”
“Is that a promise?” she said, cheekily.
They got to work painting the downstairs windows at the front of the house first, then Elizabeth held the ladder while Max made a start on the upstairs. When she got bored of holding the ladder they swapped places.
“Careful,” Max said when she leaned precariously off the ladder to reach the furthest part of the window.
“I am.”
“No, really,” he said.
She glanced down. “I’m really being careful.”
“Let’s swap again.”
“I’m fine,” she insisted, reaching out to paint the last corner.
“But I can reach further than you.”
“It’s all done!” She stretched her arm out and leaned back from the ladder. “Ta-da!”
“Please hold on properly.”
Slowly, she made her way down, stopping halfway and shaking the ladder.
“It’s not funny,” he said. “You’re not going up the ladder again.”
“Oh, I see. You used to be a lawyer, didn’t you? You’re worried I’ll break my leg and sue you!”
“No.” He held out his hand to her when she neared the bottom. “I’m just worried you’ll break a leg.”
She caught the concern on his face, and felt bad for teasing him. “What next, then?” she asked. “The back windows?”
He nodded. “Let’s stay on the ground for a while.”
The sun beat down on them as they worked on the windows at the back of the house, and the atmosphere was relaxed. Elizabeth hummed along to the radio that played in the kitchen. If someone had told her a week ago that she’d end up painting a neighbour’s house while she was on holiday, she’d have been horrified, but she was having a great time. The afternoon was punctuated by light chatter and amiable silences, and time flew by.
Max wore a look of concentration as he painted the final window frame. Elizabeth had just finished the window next to him. She surveyed Max. His faded jeans were dotted with paint and smeared with dust. His dark T-shirt clung to his toned body, and his arm muscles flexed as he worked.
“You okay?” he asked.
She averted her gaze. “I was thinking it might be time for a beer.” Setting down the paintbrush, she wiped her hands on her shorts. “I’ll nip to the shop.”
The walk along the windi
ng path into the village was exhilarating. The sea breeze caught her hair, pulling strands from her clip and whipping them all around. Her arms ached from the painting but she felt a wonderful sense of achievement.
At the seawall in Hope Cove, she gazed out over the bay. A couple of children kicked a ball on the sand. Seagulls squawked, boats bobbed, waves lapped, fluffy clouds floated in the bright blue sky. It was picture perfect and Elizabeth was mesmerised. It reminded her she still needed to collect her painting from the gallery.
A voice caught her attention when she was about to enter the shop and she saw the middle-aged waitress in the apron outside the café.
“When are you coming for that cream tea?” she called happily.
“Tomorrow!” Elizabeth replied. “Definitely tomorrow.”
The village really was charming and she felt perfectly content as she did her shopping.
“Doing a spot of decorating?” the cashier asked when she paid for her items.
Elizabeth had been lost in a daydream and snapped her head up, confused.
“My other job’s a detective,” the woman said brightly, nodding towards Elizabeth’s clothes. Elizabeth noticed her shorts were flecked with white paint. “Oh,” she said, embarrassed, “yes, we’re doing a bit of decorating.”
“At Seaside Cottage?”
“Yes!” she said. “How did you know?”
“Lucky guess! It’s a beautiful place. How are you getting on?”
“Fine,” Elizabeth said. “Just giving the window frames a lick of paint … and me, apparently.”
“How’s Charlotte these days? I haven’t seen her in so long.”
“Charlotte?” Elizabeth said.
The cashier gave her a puzzled look. “The owner.”
“Oh, right. That Charlotte! I only know her son, Max. Actually, I’m just—” She stopped. It was too complicated. “Never mind. I think Max said Charlotte’s fine.”
“Glad to hear it.” The cashier glanced at the customer waiting behind Elizabeth. “All the best with the decorating.”
She picked up her shopping bag. “Thank you.”
Outside, she peered at her reflection in the shop window. It wasn’t just her clothes that were splattered with paint, but her face and hair too. She frowned for a moment, then her features relaxed and she set off back along the path.
