Chapter Six
Flora was ambling up the high street, lost in thought, when a tall, broad man with dark wavy hair came sprinting towards her.
She looked up and tried to step out of his way just as he moved to avoid her.
He grimaced, and shot her a look that bordered on annoyance, as he swerved to avoid colliding with her.
Flora had been so startled that she had dropped the pink and orange roses for her gran on the pavement.
She glared back at the man now heading onto the beach.
He hadn’t even stopped to help her. How rude.
What was the panic? Was he on the run from the police or something?
She started to wonder whether she should have tripped him up in case he was a wanted man.
She hoped he wasn’t, as Rowan Bay was a village she had always felt safe in.
She bent down to pick up the flowers, muttering with annoyance that he’d made her drop them.
‘Don’t mind him,’ said a voice behind her. ‘His rescue boat pager must have gone off. That’s the only thing that gets him moving that fast.’
Flora turned round to see a woman, about the same age as her, sitting on the bench outside the bakery.
She had curly red hair, pulled into a ponytail, with a few curly tendrils framing her face.
She felt some of her annoyance start to ease when she saw the woman’s friendly smile.
‘That would explain why he was in such a rush then.’ Flora’s voice was curt as she scowled in the direction he’d disappeared.
‘He’ll be mortified that he’s given you a fright. You’re Flora, aren’t you? Iris’s granddaughter.’ She stood up and extended a hand. ‘I’m Gillian. I work in there.’ She was pointing back at the bakery. ‘We met at Christmastime when you came in with your gran.’
Flora thought for a moment and nodded. ‘Oh, of course. I remember, now. That’s right. Wow, you’ve got a good memory.’
Gillian grinned. ‘It’s one of my most redeeming talents. Maybe my only one.’ She giggled, her laughter infectious. ‘Not to state the obvious, but you’re here to see your gran?’
Flora tilted her head. ‘News travels fast.’
‘Yup. You can’t have any secrets in a wee place like this.
’ She rolled her eyes. ‘Don’t worry. I’m joking.
’ She paused and flashed her a wicked grin.
‘Well, kind of. But your gran is super excited about your visit. She was in this morning telling me all about it and getting in treats for you. You’d think a rugby team were visiting given the amount she bought. ’
‘Ah. Sounds like Gran,’ laughed Flora. ‘Which means she’s beaten me to it? I was planning on getting a cake for her.’ She pointed at the bakery. ‘I know she likes your tea loaf.’
‘I can tell you off the record that she did buy one of those already. But you can never have enough treats,’ said Gillian with a knowing smile. ‘Maybe just don’t get any strawberry tarts, either.’ She winked.
‘Right.’ Flora let out a small laugh.
‘Just go in. I’m on my break but Jessica’s in there and she’ll sort you out. And I think we may have some of your gran’s favourite today — the millionaire shortbread? Jess was just putting it out so it wasn’t there when your gran was in earlier.’
‘Oh, the new recipe. I’ve heard all about it. Gran loves it.’
‘Aye. That’s Jessica’s area of expertise.
Apparently—’ she lowered her voice conspiratorially — ‘it’s all in the ratio between the shortbread, caramel and chocolate.
People come from all over to buy it. I personally think it’s crazy.
But obviously I don’t tell Jessica that. ’ She raised a finger to her lips.
Flora couldn’t help thinking how friendly and cheerful Gillian was.
Chatting with her had been the perfect antidote to that near run-in with the stranger.
If that had been her first and only impression of Rowan Bay, as a visitor, then she wasn’t sure she would be very impressed.
He could have knocked her right off her feet.
She frowned. He really ought to be more careful regardless of whether he was in a hurry or not.
Anyway, hopefully she wouldn’t see him again.
That type of bloke — rugged and good-looking — was likely to have a huge ego too.
Massive. Especially if he saved lives. He likely thought of himself as the local hero. Guys like that were all the same.