A Perfect Cornish Escape by Phillipa Ashley

Author:Phillipa Ashley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2020-04-22T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

Marina had been wrong about Lachlan – she’d wondered if he’d changed his mind about asking her to dinner, but he called her the very next day after their talk with an invitation to Gabe’s restaurant later that week.

During the meal, they caught a few curious glances from local people. Marina nodded to a few but she tried to focus on her dinner companion. They talked more about Scotland, about her college job and his new business with Aaron, about the food … it was all light and friendly talk, which made a refreshing change from their previous intense conversations.

No one bothered them and it was a relief to simply focus on a relaxed evening out with a friend … maybe this was the moment when their relationship might become more?

After their dinner, they strolled up to her cottage and stopped outside. Lachlan surprised her by immediately asking, ‘Could I tempt you to a wee dram? Unless it’s too late?’

‘Well, it’s a school night … but a very wee one won’t do any harm, so why not?’ Marina said, more than happy for the evening to go on longer, even if she did have an early lecture in the morning. Being invited inside Lachlan’s own place, which must be his sanctuary when the outside world got too much, also felt like a leap forward.

There was no light on in her own cottage as they passed so she concluded Tiff was out and followed Lachlan through the soft green door into his place. She hadn’t been inside that particular cottage since it had been sold by the previous owner, a Porthmellow local, and turned into a long-term let. It was one of the smallest in the whole row; a one-bedroom mid-terrace painted the colour of clotted cream.

He showed her into the sitting room, which was neat and tidy. He made her a coffee and fetched a bottle of single malt and two glasses and a small jug of water. Marina had only had a spritzer at the bistro and Lachlan a glass of red wine; they’d stuck to soft drinks after that with a mind on work in the morning, so she didn’t think a small one would do any harm now.

He brought out two engraved crystal tumblers that might have been a gift from his comrades in the RAF, but she didn’t comment. Leaving the service must have been painful for him – but was it less painful than staying?

‘It’s very cosy in here,’ she said, thinking of the impact Lachlan’s appearance had had on her from the moment he’d walked out of the sea like a Scottish Daniel Craig. ‘I mean, it’s lovely, of course. I haven’t been in for years. Er … how are you finding it?’

He seemed amused so at least her awkwardness had broken the ice.

‘The cottage is big enough … some of the neighbours are scary though,’ he said, deadpan.

She laughed. ‘I see what you mean. Deffo the neighbours from hell.’

He poured a measure of whisky into her glass and offered her a jug of water.

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