Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12
SCARLETT
T he Dolphin and Anchor was nothing like Scarlett had imagined. She’d expected a cute, local pub. The little bar had looked cosy and welcoming on their way past, but the main dining room was nothing short of magnificent.
The huge dancefloor was surrounded by tables topped with white cloths and set with tiny twinkling lights. There was an abundance of floral centrepieces dotted around the room that seemed far too sophisticated for an event she’d originally thought was going to be a casual, local knees-up.
‘Blimey,’ Pete whispered in her ear as they paused in the doorway. ‘They’ve really pushed the boat out this year.’
Scarlett nodded, momentarily speechless.
The room was already bustling with people, all dressed in their finest. There were crisp suits, elegant dresses, and even the occasional bow tie. The Chilly Dippers had claimed a corner of the room, looking like a flock of exotic birds—something that became even more pronounced when they spotted Scarlett and started waving and twittering in excitement.
Scarlett saw Lou in the middle of the excited group. She was standing next to Kathleen, waving enthusiastically. She looked striking in a deep emerald dress, her usually practical ponytail replaced by a sleek updo.
‘I think we’d better go over and say hi before Lou pulls a muscle,’ said Scarlett, shooting a grin at Pete. ‘I mean, if you don’t mind?
‘Lead the way,’ said Pete easily.
‘There you are!’ said Lou, practically bouncing up and down as they drew near. ‘I’ve been keeping an eye out for you guys since we came down.’
‘We’ve only just got here,’ said Scarlett, accepting Lou’s warm hug. ‘We walked over from the carpark.’
‘How romantic!’ sighed Lou.
Pete cleared his throat and fidgeted at her side. Scarlett chanced a glance at him, but he had a broad grin on his face, even if he was obviously uncomfortable.
‘I’m so sorry I didn’t mention the dress code,’ said Lou, completely missing any awkward undertones as she stepped back to admire Scarlett’s outfit. ‘It completely slipped my mind. But you look fantastic! Where on earth did you find that dress?’
‘Libby gets all the credit,’ Scarlett said.
‘Who?’
‘Me!’ said Libby as she bounced up next to Pete. ‘Hi! I’m Pete’s annoying little sister.’
Lou grinned at her, clearly recognising a kindred spirit.
‘She’s my stylist for the night,’ said Scarlett.
‘Nice work,’ said Lou, approvingly.
Libby performed a mock bow. ‘Thanks very much. My talents are vastly underappreciated around here.’
‘Well, you’ve done a gorgeous job on Little Miss Spreadsheet here,’ said Lou. ‘Don’t you think so?’ she added, turning to Pete.
‘I… erm… well…’ stuttered Pete.
Ooh, she was going to kick Lou in the shins the first chance she got!
‘What my idiot brother means to say,’ Libby cut in, is… Scarlett, you’re the most beautiful woman in the world, and I want to ? — ’
Libby’s exaggerated muppet impression of her brother was promptly cut off as Pete dragged her into a playful headlock.
‘Mess with my hair and I’ll make your life sooooo much worse!’ spluttered Libby as she giggled and struggled in his hold.
Scarlett didn’t know whether to laugh or go and find a convenient darkened corner to hide in. Luckily, she was saved the trouble of deciding by a loud screech of feedback followed by someone tapping on a microphone.
There was a collective wince as the whole room turned towards the source of the racket.
‘Ladies and gentlemen!’ boomed a familiar voice. ‘Welcome to the Big Dip Dance!’
Brian Singer stood on a small, raised platform at the far end of the room, wearing an outfit that made Scarlett do a double take. His spangly shirt was open almost to the waist to reveal an impressive display of chest hair.
‘Is that really Brian?’ she whispered to Pete, who was struggling to contain his amusement.
‘The one and only,’ he confirmed. ‘He does this event every year. It’s his big moment.’
‘Once again, I’ll be your DJ for the evening,’ Brian continued, striking a pose that was probably meant to be somewhere between John Travolta and Elvis… but actually looked a bit painful. ‘We’ll be kicking off with a few cracking numbers, so I want to see you all up on the dancefloor!’
There was a smattering of applause, followed by the opening notes of an eighties number… but no one seemed to be that keen on being the first ones onto the floor.
‘Ladies, can I get you all a drink?’ said Pete.
‘Yes, please!’ Scarlett, Libby and Lou said in unison. Before Pete could make a break for it, there was a chorus of enthusiastic orders from the rest of the Chilly Dippers too.
‘White wine!’
‘G and T for me!’
‘Ooh, I’d love a vodka tonic!’
‘Do they have any of that local cider?’
The requests came thick and fast, each one more specific than the last. Scarlett bit her lip, casting an apologetic glance at Pete, but he just laughed.
‘No problem at all,’ he said, completely unfazed. ‘Libby, fancy giving me a hand?’
‘Sure, as you’re the one buying,’ she said with a grin.
‘I’ll be right back,’ Pete promised Scarlett with a warm smile that made her stomach flutter. ‘Don’t go anywhere.’
‘I’ll make sure she doesn’t,’ said Lou, looping her arm through Scarlett’s as Pete and Libby disappeared towards the bar. ‘So…’ she said, as soon as the pair of them were safely out of earshot. ‘When’s the wedding?’
‘Wedding?!’ said Scarlett. ‘What on earth are you on about?’
‘You. Pete. Heart eyes and smoochy faces!’ said Lou.
‘Honestly, you’re ridiculous,’ said Scarlett with a little shake of her head. ‘I only met him last night…’
‘And I’ve never seen two people look quite so in love so quickly,’ said Lou, her usually mischievous face looking oddly serious.
‘Love? You’ve lost it!’ spluttered Scarlett, doing her best to ignore the fact that her stomach was doing backflips.
‘Have I, though?’ said Lou with a raised eyebrow. ‘Have you seen how he looks at you?’
‘It’s just the dress,’ said Scarlett, doing her best to sound matter-of-fact as she stroked the silk.
‘I’m not denying the fact you look practically edible in that thing,’ said Lou, ‘but it’s not the dress. Mr Cutie Bum was looking at you like that earlier—you know, back when you were coughing and spluttering and looking like a half-drowned rabbit.’
‘Rabbit?!’ huffed Scarlett.
‘Would you prefer chipmunk?’ said Lou, cocking her head.
‘I’d prefer it if you’d stop talking,’ said Scarlett, rolling her eyes.
‘I would… but it’s not just him, is it?’ said Lou. ‘I’ve literally never seen you look at anyone the way you were just looking at him.’
Scarlett chewed on her lip. Part of her desperately wanted Lou to drop the subject, but the other part was desperate to blurt out how she was feeling. But no… she’d better not. Saying anything within earshot of some of the biggest gossips Seabury had ever produced might be a bad idea.
‘Tell me one thing, and I’ll shut up,’ Lou persisted.
‘Now that sounds like a price worth paying!’ said Scarlett.
‘If he asked you to stay in Crumbleton Sands a bit longer, would you?’
‘I… erm…’ Scarlett fidgeted. ‘I mean… I…’
‘I’ll just take that as a yes,’ laughed Lou.
Scarlett was about to protest, but she spotted Pete making his way back across the room, bearing a vast tray of drinks. So instead, she simply nodded.
Lou let out a little whoop of triumph, and Scarlett couldn’t help but grin at her friend. ‘Just… keep it to yourself, okay?’
‘Sure, sure,’ said Lou, sounding so vague it didn’t exactly fill her with confidence. ‘Hey… isn’t that…?!
Scarlett jumped as Lou grabbed her elbow in excitement.
‘What? Who?’ she said, surprised at the lightning-quick change of subject as Lou pointed across the dancefloor.
Scarlett followed her excited gaze to where a woman with a cascade of wavy, auburn hair was dragging a reluctant-looking man towards the centre of the room. The woman was laughing, her face alight with determination as she practically hauled him onto the empty dance floor.
‘Come on, Jack!’ she called over the music. ‘Someone’s got to get this party started!’
Brian’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. ‘That’s the spirit, Caroline! Ladies and gentlemen, let’s give it up for our first brave couple!’
The man looked like he wanted the floor to swallow him whole, but there was something about him that was oddly familiar. Something in his reluctant smile and the set of his shoulders as he finally gave in and twirled his enthusiastic partner.
‘Give us a slow one, Brian!’ yelled the woman. Brian gave her a thumbs-up and smoothly switched to a slow ballad.
‘Hang on,’ said Scarlett, still squinting across the room at the man, who now had his arms firmly around the woman’s waist. ‘Is that...?’
‘It is, isn’t it…?’ said Lou, still staring.
‘Jack Jones? Yep,’ said a voice at her side as Pete returned, carefully balancing a tray laden with drinks. Libby appeared right behind him, carrying another.
‘The movie star?’ gasped Lou, her eyes widening. ‘What’s he doing here?’
‘Living his best life, apparently,’ chuckled Libby, setting down her tray and stepping back quickly as the eager Chilly Dippers descended on it. ‘He lives in Crumbleton Sands, just above the beach.’
‘And the woman?’ said Scarlett, accepting her wine with a grateful smile.
‘Caroline Cook,’ said Libby. ‘She’s the editor of the local newspaper. She couldn’t stand Jack when he first arrived. You should have read some of the stuff she wrote about him! Anyway, turns out they were made for each other. Complete whirlwind romance… and the rest is history.’
‘How do you know all this?’ Scarlett laughed, impressed despite herself.
‘Small town,’ Libby and Pete replied in unison, then grinned at each other.
‘Plus, Libby is the biggest gossip in the county,’ Pete added, earning himself an elbow in the ribs from his sister.
‘I prefer “information specialist,”’ Libby sniffed.
When the music shifted from the slow, smoochy number to something a bit more upbeat, Pete turned to Scarlett with a nervous smile.
‘May I have this dance?’
‘Erm… sure,’ she said, ‘but I should warn you, I’m not much of a dancer.’
‘That makes two of us,’ laughed Pete, offering her his hand. ‘But I reckon we can muddle through.’
Scarlett’s heart fluttered as she took his hand. There was something so reassuring about his touch—warm, strong, and somehow already familiar despite having known him for such a short time.
As Pete started to lead the way toward the dance floor, Doris from the Chilly Dippers caught Scarlett’s arm, pulling her back.
‘Is that really Jack Jones?’ she whispered urgently, her eyes wide with excitement.
‘Apparently!’ said Scarlett.
‘Can you get his autograph for me while you’re up there?’
‘I’ll see what I can do,’ laughed Scarlett, gently extricating herself from Doris’s surprisingly strong grip.
She turned back towards the dance floor. Pete had already made it to the middle and looked like he was waiting for her… but something was off. He was standing frozen to the spot, staring at the door.
‘Oh shit,’ muttered Libby, appearing at Scarlett’s side.
‘What’s wrong?’ said Scarlett, her stomach dropping at the look of genuine alarm on Libby’s face.
‘The great white shark is here,’ said Libby, her voice tight.
‘Huh?’ Scarlett frowned in confusion.
‘Pete’s ex,’ Libby clarified grimly. ‘The one that cheated on him.’
The song came to an abrupt end, and for a moment, the room fell into an uncomfortable silence as Brian struggled to queue up the next track.
Muttering broke out around the edges of the dance floor as people started to nudge each other, staring at Pete as he watched his ex.
The moment stretched out painfully, seconds feeling like hours as Pete remained rooted to the spot. The woman looked oddly smug, clearly relishing all the attention, but Pete looked a bit like he was going to pass out. His face had gone from pale to ashen, and Scarlett could see his chest rising and falling with rapid, shallow breaths.
‘We’ve got to do something!’ muttered Libby.
Without a second thought, Scarlett rushed forward, weaving between gawping people until she was on the dance floor. She reached Pete, and in one fluid movement, she stepped directly in front of him, blocking his view of his ex.
Scarlett placed her hands gently on either side of Pete’s pale face, drawing his gaze down to her. His eyes, wide with shock, gradually focused on her instead of whatever memories were threatening to overwhelm him.
‘Scarlett?’ he whispered.
She simply rose onto her tiptoes and, heart hammering, pressed her lips against his.
For a heartbeat, Pete was still—too still—and her chest clenched in panic. But then his hands came up, one settling on her waist, the other cupping the back of her neck as the rest of the room dissolved. The tension in Pete’s body melted as his mouth moved with hers—hesitant at first, then surer, like he’d been waiting for this kiss for years.
Cheers erupted around them, but Scarlett barely heard them. All she could focus on was the thrum of Pete’s pulse against her fingertips and the way he was holding her like she was his anchor in a world that had just shifted beneath his feet.