His Horizon by Con Riley

Author:Con Riley [Riley, Con]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Figment Ink
Published: 2020-06-29T16:00:00+00:00

Jude hesitated before crossing the threshold into the bar, taking a moment to process the sight of the critic in person. Online, he’d looked rakish, his goatee and crow’s-wing dark hair, dashing. His expression as he took the glass Susan passed across the bar was almost genial, Jude noticed. Then, it turned calculating as he asked her a quiet question. The chuckle he let out after she answered must have sounded genuine to her rather than forced, but Jude saw his hand stray to his phone maybe as if to record her answer.

“Did you want to make a call?” Susan asked, perhaps not as oblivious as either of them had thought. She tapped the edge of the critic’s phone case. “There’s barely any signal in the village.”

“Really?” he asked. “That’s got to make life tricky.”

“Makes it easier, you mean,” Susan said, certain. “No one bothering you when you’re having a nice time? That’s what makes a good vacation. You’ll have to find another way to keep busy if you’re staying.” She took a sip of her drink. “Are you?” she asked. “Staying? Because you really should after Lou and the boys put so much work in. It’s been a real labour of love for them. Especially for Rob. He’s such a treasure.”

“We’ll see.” Guy Parsons was reserved in the face of Susan’s gushing.

Jude took a small step back into the hallway as the door to the harbour opened. A younger man came in holding a camera, his cheeks ruddy and wind-flushed.

“Caught some fabulous shots of waves from the end of the sea wall, Guy!” He took the stool next to the man whose smile now was so much warmer. “Look!” He held the camera close so they could both see what he’d captured. “Very French Lieutenant’s Woman. Terribly atmospheric.” He scanned the bar tables. “Maybe you could eat outside. Put one of these tables at the far end. Nothing behind you but waves crashing and seagulls soaring.” His voice softened. “With the wind in your hair—” he pushed a chin-length strand back from Guy’s forehead “—you’d look magic.” Some kind of sorcery came into play as he tucked that strand of black hair behind Guy’s ear and leaned in to whisper. Like a storybook character, Guy Parsons thawed in front of Jude’s eyes, becoming sweetly flustered.

It was a good moment to witness, recognisable from Jude’s hidden perspective.

These two might be new lovers as well.

“Welcome,” Jude said. He held out his hand in greeting. “I’m Jude Anstey. You must be Guy, and…?”

“I’m just the photographer.” He took Jude’s hand after Guy and Jude shook. “No one important. Just pretend I’m not here.”

Guy looked as if that no one important statement rankled, his brow furrowed until Jude said, “I remember you. It’s Ian, isn’t it?”

“That’s right.” Ian’s pleasure added even more pink to his cheeks. “You remember me from the contest?”

“Yes,” Jude nodded, very aware that Guy listened intently. “You made everything I cooked look delicious. Later, I crewed on a yacht and I had to take pictures for the website.

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