Sunlight over Crystal Sands: A gorgeous uplifting romantic comedy perfect to escape with this summer

by Holly Martin

  Clover showed them the restaurant and some of the smaller function rooms, the boardroom, the swimming pool which Clover said they’d used for a few functions – serving drinks and nibbles at the side, not in the actual pool itself – and then she took them out into the gardens which were blooming with every flower imaginable. The views of the beaches were spectacular and it certainly had a lot of potential for different events to be held here.

  ‘OK, let me show you your office,’ Clover said.

  She took them back into the hotel, chatting away about upcoming functions and events, but Nix barely heard any of it. All he could focus on was Lyra, her scent, the warmth from her body as she accidentally brushed up against him, causing his arm to erupt in goosebumps. His brain was filled with images of the last time they were together. Working with her was going to be torture.

  Clover walked along the corridor, opened the first door and stepped inside.

  ‘This is your office,’ she said, as if showing off a fabulous prize – which in many ways she was. Two large desks sat on either side of a room with the most stunning views over Sapphire Bay. So why did he feel like he’d actually been given the booby prize?

  ‘Well, these files are the events that are happening in the next few months, so you can have a look through them,’ Clover said. ‘Each file has a bullet-point checklist of things that need to be done for each event. You can see what things need to be taken care of and what’s already been sorted. Some you’ll have to outsource, like fireworks for example. Some things, like most of the catering, will be done in house, but if the clients have a specific menu or dietary need, that will need to be tied up with the kitchen, or Skye and Jesse down at Cones at the Cove for any dessert requirements. This wallchart shows all the events this year and this one shows the upcoming events for next year. All the files for next year are in the cupboard in here, in these hanging files, in date order. Most of them are fairly empty right now, they’ll fill up as we confirm different arrangements, but you can have a look through them too. Anyway, I don’t want to overwhelm you on your first day so have a look through the files for the immediate events and I’ll be back soon and we can have a chat about anything you’re not sure of.’

  Clover paused, looking between them to see if they had anything to say. Lyra was silent so Nix just muttered his thanks.

  Clover frowned slightly. ‘Well, I’ll be back in a bit.’

  She left the room.

  Lyra moved over to the window and stared out at the view and an awkward silence fell between them. He had no idea what to say to her.

  Eventually she spoke. ‘I imagine you were hoping you’d never see me again.’

  Nix sighed. He wished he could say he’d hoped for that, but his sad and desperate side had thought about her constantly since he’d last seen her. Although he certainly wasn’t going to admit that.

  ‘This wasn’t exactly how I envisaged my first day in my new job,’ he said, eventually.

  ‘No, quite,’ she said, still not looking at him. ‘Well, it doesn’t have to be awkward. We can divvy up the files between us and then just work on our own projects. That will reduce the time we have to spend with each other, which I’m sure you’ll appreciate.’

  She walked over to the files and started spreading them out on the desk. ‘Here, why don’t I take all the weddings and you can take all the other events – the parties, the conferences. There are twelve weddings this year and ten other events so it’s about even. I’m sure romance isn’t your sort of thing anyway.’

  Lyra piled up half of the files and walked over to him, dumping them in his arms, then went back to the desk and sat down, pulling one of the remaining files towards her. After a few moments she pulled her phone and headphones out of her bag, plugged them in and put the headphones in her ears. A few moments later the faint sound of music filled the air, making it very clear that she wanted nothing to do with him, which was no real surprise after what had happened the last time they’d been together.

  He went over to his desk and sat down. It was going to be a long day.

  ‘He’s here,’ Lyra hissed into the phone as she walked across the lobby towards the restaurant. She’d nipped out under the pretext of getting coffee but, in reality, she just needed some space away from Nix. She looked around to see if anyone could hear her. There was an elderly lady dressed in a satin green cloak with seashells all over it, sitting on one of the sofas tapping away on a laptop, a large white fluffy dog lying at her feet. The lady was engrossed in whatever was on the computer and hadn’t seemed to have heard Lyra talking. There was no one else around; they were probably all outside enjoying the glorious sunshine.

  ‘Who’s there?’ Michelle hissed back.

  ‘Nix!’

  ‘At the hotel?’ her sister said.

  ‘Yes, and would you believe my bad luck, he’s my new partner in conference and banqueting. And I don’t know what to do.’

  ‘Oh my god, that’s a bit awkward.’

  ‘Just a bit. I want to ask him why he left but I’m not sure if I really want to know.’

  ‘I would ask,’ Michelle said.

  ‘Really? Don’t you think that would make me look pathetic and needy? It was just one amazing night, there was never any talk of seeing each other or starting a relationship. He didn’t give me any promises. I suppose technically he hasn’t done anything wrong.’

  The elderly lady looked up from her laptop, watching her as she walked across the reception. Lyra hurried into the restaurant. It was empty at this time in the morning so she went to the coffee machine and started making two coffees. She’d offered to get one for Nix as she was trying to be polite and professional, when inside she was hurt and angry.

  ‘He left you standing in the middle of a field without having the decency to say goodbye. Do I need to remind you that you had to climb over a gate with your bike to get out? That was hardly a nice thing to do.’

  Lyra had thought about that. It just didn’t make sense. Even if Nix had woken up in the morning and wanted nothing more to do with her, why would he hightail it out of there and leave her locked on his property?

  She thought back to her last boyfriend, Greg, who’d told her sex with her had been really bad. She’d hadn’t had a ton of experience in that department, only two men before him, but she’d always thought the comment about bad sex was just Greg being really spiteful. Had sex between her and Nix been so bad that Nix had run away as fast as Judy would carry him, rather than face her again over breakfast?

  ‘I’m not asking him why he left,’ Lyra said, decisively. Her self-esteem didn’t need to hear that kind of answer. ‘I’m sure the fact that I was looking at him with that stupid loved-up expression was part of the reason why he ran. He doesn’t need me being clingy and desperate now, not when I have to work with him every day.’

  ‘I don’t think it’s clingy and desperate to ask what went on. It’s not like you’re going to welcome him back with open arms even if he apologises and comes up with some feeble excuse. But at least it will clear the air between you, especially if you have to work together.’

  ‘I’m not asking him. I’m going to remain cool and aloof, as if him leaving doesn’t bother me at all.’

  ‘And how long do you intend to be aloof for?’

  Lyra sighed, knowing it would probably take some time for her to stop looking at Nix and feeling hurt and embarrassed. ‘As long as it takes.’

  ‘Come round for dinner tonight and we can come up with a plan of attack, even if that’s leaving a kipper in his desk drawer as revenge.’

  Lyra laughed. ‘OK, I’ll see you later.’

  She finished making the coffee and turned, coming face to face with the elderly lady in the green cloak. She wondered how much of the conversation she’d heard.

  ‘Sylvia O’Hare,’ the lady stuck her hand out. ‘I just fancied one of those nice cappuccinos.’

  Lyra shook it. ‘Lyra Thomas.’

  Sylvia moved to the machine. ‘You an
d that nice lad are the new events co-ordinators, aren’t you?’

  ‘Yes, that’s right. His name is Nix. It’s our first day today.’

  Sylvia watched her carefully. ‘But you and Nix have met before. I saw the way you two were looking at each other on your tour this morning.’

  ‘I, er… briefly.’

  ‘Sounds like it was a bit more than brief.’ Sylvia waggled her eyebrows mischievously.

  ‘Were you listening to my conversation?’

  ‘Honey, you’re not very discreet. Besides, I’m an author of romance stories, I get all my inspiration from watching and listening to people. I’ve also been married six times in my very long life, so I do have some understanding of matters of the heart. Want to talk to me about it?’

  ‘I mean no disrespect but I don’t tend to talk about my private affairs with strangers.’

  ‘Let me guess.’ Sylvia tapped her chin, thoughtfully. ‘You had a one-night stand, you thought it was something more, he clearly didn’t, and he left the following morning before you’d even woken up.’

  Lyra didn’t like the way their amazing night together had been summarised to sound so… meaningless. But that was it in a nutshell: they’d had a one-night stand, simple as that.

  ‘Sort of. But it’s in the past, it doesn’t matter.’

  ‘Except you seem to be bothered by it more than you’re letting on. And, judging by the way he was looking at you earlier, I’d say he’s regretting it.’

  ‘He’s probably embarrassed that he has to face me, but don’t confuse that for regret,’ Lyra said.

  ‘You mark my words, he’ll be begging you for a second chance soon enough.’

  ‘He can beg all he wants, he won’t be getting one,’ Lyra said.

  ‘Ah, but if it’s upset you that much, you obviously thought he was special,’ Sylvia persisted.

  ‘And I obviously thought wrong. I’m sorry, I’m a big fan of happy-ever-after romances, but I really don’t think this is it. Now, I must be getting back.’

  ‘I’ll be here for the next two weeks, so if you want to talk, I’m sure you’ll be able to find me,’ Sylvia said, clearly not to be put off.

  Lyra gave her a polite smile and then, keeping that smile fixed in place, she walked back to the office.

  ‘So you’ll never guess who I’m partnered with in my new job,’ Nix said, twisting a paperclip around a pencil as he listened to his brother turn down the TV.

  ‘Who?’ Lucas said. ‘Wait, is it Jennifer Lawrence?’

  ‘In your dreams.’

  ‘A man can hope. I’d definitely be bringing my visit to you forward if it was. So who has got my little brother all worked up? Oh hang on. Is it that woman you fell in love with?’

  ‘I did not fall in love with Lyra.’ Nix was quick to put that rumour to bed. ‘But yes, it is her.’

  ‘I beg to differ. She’s pretty much been the topic of conversation ever since that night,’ Lucas said.

  ‘That’s… not entirely true,’ Nix said, shaking his head. Had he really been talking about her that much? Probably. He was such an idiot.

  ‘So what’s the game plan, beg her for a second chance?’ Lucas said.

  ‘No, that’s not on the list of how to deal with suddenly seeing her again.’

  ‘What is on the list?’

  Nix sighed. ‘I have no idea.’

  ‘In all seriousness,’ Lucas said, losing all his usual sarcasm. ‘You said she was someone special, she’s the first person I’ve heard you talk about since Emily. Isn’t that worth fighting for?’

  ‘It takes two people to fight for a relationship and, after what happened the last time we were together, and seeing how she reacted to me this morning, I can’t see her fighting for me somehow.’

  ‘Is this just an excuse because you’re scared of risking your heart again?’

  Nix twisted the paperclip between his fingers and it suddenly snapped. ‘I guess there’s a tiny element of that.’

  There was probably more truth to that than he’d care to admit.

  He heard footsteps coming down the corridor and somehow knew it was her. ‘I have to go.’

  ‘Is that an excuse too?’

  Nix laughed. ‘No, it’s Jennifer Lawrence.’

  At a wail of protest from his brother, Nix quickly hung up and pasted on a smile as Lyra walked back into the room. It seemed she had a fake smile fixed on her face too.

  She gave him the coffee and without a word went back to sit down at her desk, plugging in her headphones again.

  He sighed. This was going well.

  Chapter Eight

  Lyra was busy working her way through the list of things to do on an upcoming wedding when Clover popped back in.

  ‘How’s it all going, are you two getting on OK?’ Clover said.

  Lyra was fairly sure her boss was asking about the work rather than if the two of them had hit it off. If she wasn’t, Lyra had no idea how to answer that question. She was sure Clover didn’t want to know she and Nix had barely spoken a word to each other since they’d met earlier that morning and that you could cut the atmosphere in the office with a knife.

  Lyra fixed on her polite smile again. ‘We’re fine.’

  She glanced over at Nix and saw him suppress a smile, obviously knowing that fine covered a multitude of sins. She suddenly wanted to let out a giggle herself, because this was ridiculous. Of all the people she could have been landed with on her first day of work, why did it have to be him? Nix had said that he was a firm believer in fate and destiny, that he always trusted he was where he was meant to be. She wondered what he thought of fate now for bringing them back together.

  ‘You’ve made this very easy for us,’ Nix said. ‘Your lists of what to do are very detailed. It’s hard to go wrong really.’

  Lyra suppressed the urge to roll her eyes at Nix sucking up to Clover. Why was she finding everything he did so irritating?

  But she knew why. Because he genuinely seemed like a nice guy. She’d heard him on the phone earlier to an elderly lady who’d had concerns about her upcoming eightieth birthday party and he’d just been so lovely and patient with her, despite having to repeat himself several times. Lyra had expected him to roll his eyes when he came off the phone or laugh at the lady but he hadn’t. And not forgetting he’d sold his house, and almost everything he’d owned, to help some beavers and support a project he was passionate about. She wanted him to be an arse so she could hate him more easily but he was lovely and that pissed her off no end.

  And annoyingly, Nix was right about the work that Clover had left for them, he wasn’t just being nice. It must have taken weeks to make sure all of this was ready for them to pick up so easily.

  ‘All of this is incredibly straightforward to follow,’ Lyra said.

  ‘Oh, I wanted to make it easy for you. I’m pregnant with my first child and me and my husband have decided we’re going to do a bit of travelling before the baby arrives. We leave at the end of next month so I wanted to make sure everything was in order for you before we left. And then when I come back I’ll probably be going on maternity leave. That’s why we got two of you – so you could support each other. You both come with so much experience, I know you’ll fit in perfectly. Do you have any questions, anything you’re not sure of?’

  Nix looked through the files on his desk and shook his head.

  ‘Only one for now.’ Lyra rifled through a file on her desk until she found what she was looking for. ‘This wedding, Jack and Heather – they want to hold the reception in Cones at the Cove. Is that viable?’

  ‘That wedding has come in very last-minute, and they want to get married as quick as possible,’ Clover said. ‘You get those sometimes; they get engaged and want to walk down the aisle the next day. They actually met in Cones at the Cove, when she was here for the day and he was here on holiday. They were sitting at tables next to each other and just hit it off, one of those instant, love-at-first-sight-type moments.’ Clover smiled and shook
her head as if she didn’t believe in that kind of thing.

  Lyra couldn’t help glancing over to Nix and his eyes locked with hers. She quickly looked away.

  ‘The call about using Cones at the Cove for the reception came in yesterday and I haven’t actually checked with Skye yet,’ Clover said. ‘To answer your question, I’m not sure and I’ve said that to Jack and Heather. I think a lot of the tables and booths are fixed so we might not be able to accommodate a party, and I don’t know if we’d have room for any kind of dance floor. Alternatively, we could set up some ice cream machines in the main restaurant here, but I think the newly engaged couple have their hearts set on holding their reception there. Why don’t you give my sister, Skye, a call – or better still, pop down and have a chat with her? Then you can see the place for yourself.’

  Lyra nodded. ‘Good idea.’

  ‘Well, I have a dance class shortly, so I’ll leave you to it. But please come and find me if you have any questions, or phone through to my office or drop me an email. I’m happy to talk through anything if you’re not sure. The contacts list is in your top drawer, that has all the extension numbers and emails for the different parts of the hotel.’

  Lyra smiled and Nix nodded his thanks as Clover left.

  She glanced over at Nix and realised he was watching her.

  ‘Your clients sound interesting,’ he said.

  ‘They sound foolish,’ Lyra said.

  ‘You don’t believe in love at first sight?’

  ‘No, I think it’s nonsense. You can’t really fall in love with someone after only a few hours. You have to get to know the person first – the good, the bad, the ugly – before you can fall in love. Lust at first sight is much more likely but real love takes a lot longer.’

  ‘I agree that you have to get to know a person before you can really fall in love with them. But sometimes you meet someone and you have an instant connection and you just know that that person is going to change your life.’