GIs and Ginger Beer by Georgia Hill

Author:Georgia Hill [Hill, Georgia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780008519759
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Chapter Seventeen

‘What about here?’ Jake suggested.

It was a hot July day with a cloudless sky and a gentle breeze. With the beach and town heaving, Jake and Ashley had decided to seek some peace and quiet to paint and had wandered along the river to the converted mill. A curve in the river created a pebble beach in the shade of some willows and was the perfect spot. The occasional dog walker passed by or a family on the way to the seafront but, other than that, they had it to themselves.

Jake helped Ashley over the rough ground, set up a couple of stools and then left her to organise her painting kit. As usual, she’d brought only what she could carry in her rucksack so it didn’t take too long. She noted Jake had brought with him a portable easel and grinned to herself. Maybe that’s what divided the professional from the amateur.

The time passed and they didn’t talk much, lulled into a companionable silence by the blanket of heat. Ashley concentrated on painting a corner of the mill, the curve of glistening water, and three willow trees dipping their tendrils into the river.

Eventually she put her sketch pad down and eased a kink out of her shoulder. Taking off her sun hat, she lifted her hair, which lay heavy and hot on her neck. Fanning herself, she became aware of Jake, to her right, drawing furiously. As she glanced over he looked up and scrutinised her in a way that made her sure she was his subject.

‘Didn’t you have enough time to look at me in the studio?’ she asked. She’d sat for him a couple of times more, during which time he’d taken yet more photos on his phone for future reference. He’d said it was nearly finished and wouldn’t need her to sit for him again.

Jake turned his pad around for her to see. It revealed a completely new drawing and showed her stretching out her shoulders, one hand under her hair. It was full of dappled sunlight and sensuous lines.

Ashley laughed in embarrassment. ‘That’s not really me. It’s so sexy.’

‘Don’t you see yourself as sexy?’

She closed the lid of her water-colour tin carefully. ‘No comment.’

‘I think you’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever met.’

‘Don’t.’

‘Don’t what?’

‘Flirt.’

‘I’m not flirting,’ he protested. ‘It’s true. What makes you even sexier is that you’re completely unaware of it.’

Their eyes met.

‘You’re my muse. But I’d like you to be more,’ he said breathily, his blue eyes glinting dangerously through the dark lashes.

‘I’m sure you would, but I have no intention of being added to your list of conquests.’

He laughed. ‘Notches on the bedpost? I’m not like that.’

‘Aren’t you? Either way, I’m not interested, Jake. I like you as a friend, as a painting companion; nothing more. Besides, weren’t you flirting outrageously with Zoe only the other day?’

He shrugged.

‘You can’t turn it off, can you?’

He shrugged again and spread his hands, making her giggle. A man was strolling along the riverside path and the sound caught his attention.

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