Chapter 16
‘Wow, I’d have never guessed this was here!’ Hannah gasped as David turned the truck off the narrow lane onto an even narrower path. In fact, it was little more than a goat track.
As they bumped along, low-hanging branches scraped the roof of the truck, and the path slowly became steadily more sandy beneath the tyres.
‘It’s a well-kept secret, this place!’ said David. ‘Probably easier to get to on a bike, if I’m honest… and on that note, I think we’d better walk from here.’
He pulled the truck into a tight layby at one side of the path and killed the engine. Hannah hopped out, instantly wishing she’d done so with a bit less enthusiasm as her thighs twinged in protest. She had a feeling that she was going to regret all the extra exercise in the morning!
‘Ready?’ said David, coming to join her.
Hannah grinned and nodded in excitement.
David led the way between two old stone gateposts. The track was flanked with dried reeds, which rose high above their heads on either side.
Hannah pushed her hair back off her face. She was suddenly surprisingly warm. The reeds created an effective wind block, and the narrow path was remarkably warm and airless.
‘Watch out here!’ said David, edging around a clump of trailing thorns.
Hannah nodded and picked her way around them… which was easier said than done with the white sand crumbling beneath every footstep. She’d just begun to regret her rash decision to agree to this adventure when the path suddenly opened out onto an expanse of white sand.
They’d reached the beach.
‘Oh wow!’ she breathed, staring up and down the stunning cove. There wasn’t a single footprint in the sand. The winding, almost hidden path they’d just followed was clearly the only way on and off the beach.
‘Welcome to Honeypot Cove,’ said David, sucking in a deep breath.
Hannah listened as he let it out again slowly, then watched as a near-blissful smile settled comfortably onto his tanned face. She wandered forwards a couple of steps and promptly lowered herself to the sand.
‘You won’t find any treasures that way!’ chuckled David.
‘Don’t worry,’ she laughed, quickly untying the laces of her boots and stripping them off her hot feet, closely followed by her horribly mismatched socks. ‘Ahhh… that’s better.’
‘Woman after my own heart!’ said David, as she wriggled her toes into the velvety sand, admiring the way it glistened in the sunlight.
‘Right… now I’m ready!’ she chuckled, wriggling around and attempting to stand back up. Unfortunately, her legs had other ideas. ‘Okay, so perhaps sitting down was a bad plan!’
‘Here.’
David held out his hand, and she grabbed it. Before she knew what was happening, he’d pulled her to her feet with so much force that she careened into him. A strong arm wrapped around her waist, holding her steady.
Hannah could feel the solid strength of him, and there was that scent again… honey and cinnamon and… just… him.
‘Thanks,’ she said, her voice a husky rasp.
‘My pleasure,’ he murmured.
Hannah felt the word rumble through his chest. She let her eyes wander upwards until they met his. David grinned at her, small creases fanning at the corner of his eyes—the same vivid blue as the sea behind him.
‘Right,’ she said, swallowing. ‘I’m ready for all your secrets.’
David cocked his head, and for a long moment, he just held her gaze. Hannah felt her knees give another traitorous wobble… though she had a feeling it had nothing to do with the ridiculous amount of exercise she’d done that morning.
‘Well… you’re already off to a good start,’ he rumbled.
‘Really?’
David nodded. ‘First secret of the beach—shoes and socks off. Second secret? Paddle.’ At last, he broke eye contact and, kicking off his shoes, he took off towards the sea without letting go of her hand.
Hannah let out a surprised giggle as he picked up speed, and the pair of them scurried down the beach, sand kicking up behind them as they headed for the shallows.
‘It’s only polite to say hello to the sea before we start!’ David puffed, grinning at her and giving her hand a gentle squeeze as the waves lapped at his ankles.
Hannah nodded, loving the feel of the cold water between her toes. It was clear and blue and perfect. This would be such a lovely spot to swim in the summer… not that she’d ever get the chance to experience it now. She wasn’t ever going to experience a Seabury summer again…
Hannah’s happy little bubble burst, leaving her feeling like a limp balloon.
‘You okay?’ said David, glancing at her.
‘Yeah. Just wishing I’d discovered this place years ago, that’s all.’
‘But you’re here now,’ said David. ‘With me.’
She nodded, trying to swallow the sorrow.
‘If life’s taught me one thing, it’s that you’ve got to enjoy the good stuff while it’s happening. We never know what’s coming next… and worrying about it steals all the magic and joy from the present.’
Hannah nodded. ‘You’re so right.’
‘Things have a habit of sorting themselves out,’ he said, squeezing her hand, ‘and while they’re busy doing that, we search for treasure!’
David suddenly let go of her hand, and Hannah felt strangely bereft. It had felt so natural to stand there with her fingers wrapped in his. But now he was bent low, scooping his hands through the seafoam at their feet.
‘What…?’
‘Close your eyes and hold out your hand,’ he said.
Hannah raised an eyebrow, wondering if she was about to be on the receiving end of something slimy.
‘Go on, you can trust me,’ he chuckled.
Hannah did as he said, and two seconds later, something landed in her palm. Cracking her eyes open, she stared down at a plastic farmyard animal. A sheep.
‘No way?’ she laughed. ‘It’s Bernard!’
It had to be a plant. Did he have this in his pocket all along?
‘You didn’t just find…?’
‘Told you there’s all sorts of treasures down here,’ said David with a little shrug.
Hannah grinned at him, holding out her hand so that he could retrieve his first find of the day.
‘You keep it,’ he said. ‘Something to remember us by.’
‘You doing okay back there?’
Hannah nodded, carefully navigating the thorny bush on the way back up to the truck.
It was a lot harder with her hands full—but there was no way she was going to leave behind her chief treasure of the day.
She glanced down at the beautiful sea urchin shell cradled in her palms and smiled.
Getting this back to the house in one piece was almost worth missing out on the chance of holding David’s hand again…
Almost.
‘You know what the only problem with spur-of-the-moment beach quests is?’ said David, pausing to wait for her to catch up.
‘I do, actually,’ said Hannah, her pockets jingling with handfuls of shells and sea glass. She glanced at her sea urchin again… anything to help her keep her eyes off his bum.
It was a very nice bum!
‘And…?’ said David.
Hannah blinked, trying to drag her mind out of the gutter. ‘No time to pack a cuppa!’
‘Precisely.’ He turned and gave her a crooked smile over his shoulder.
Hannah’s knees wobbled for what must have been the millionth time since they’d arrived at the beach. It was official—Bee Daddy had a funny effect on her. So much so that she’d spent the last hour trying to talk herself out of leaping on the man and kissing his face off.
‘Well, I’ve got a surprise for you in the truck,’ she said, suddenly remembering the bag of cinder toffees she still hadn’t handed over.
‘Sounds promising!’ chuckled David.
‘I don’t want you to get your hopes up,’ she laughed. ‘It’s just a bag of sweets, but you’re welcome to come back to my place if you fancy?’
For some reason, Hannah’s heart was hammering. What was the big deal? It was only a friendly offer to make a cuppa for her neighbour…
It was way more than that, and she had a feeling they both knew it!
Hannah swallowed nervously. ‘If you want to, I mean. I’ve still got some birthday cake… though I have to warn you, the place is a mess. I’m somewhere in between packing, unpacking, and deep cleaning.’
She promptly shut her mouth to stop herself from auto-wittering.
‘I wish I could,’ David shook his head, looking disappointed. ‘I need to head down to the King’s Nose to check in with the bees.’
‘Oh, no worries,’ said Hannah, forcing herself to give an unbothered little shrug, even as her heart sank. ‘It’s a standing invitation, by the way. While I’m here.’
‘While you’re here.’ David echoed, giving her a sad smile. ‘Thanks. And you’ll have to come over to ours too… for Snakes and Ladders… or… something.’
Or something? She liked the sound of that!
Hannah gave herself a little shake. What was she thinking?! David was a lovely guy. Kind… caring… mouth-wateringly attractive…
Another little shake.
None of it mattered, did it? Hannah couldn’t start something with him… she couldn’t lead him on… not when she’d be leaving Seabury for good in two short weeks.
‘Ready to head home?’ he said, smiling at her as they reached the truck.
Was she? Hannah swallowed. Where was home anyway, these days?
As she met David’s sea-blue eyes, for a split second, she had the strange feeling that home was wherever this guy was.
‘Yes,’ she said, blinking as her eyes welled with unexpected tears. ‘I’m ready for home.’