Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Pippa shut her bedroom door and set the suitcase on the bed.
Thankfully, Rose had packed her a dressy blouse that would look perfect with her jeans.
She held it up in front of her and looked in the mirror before pulling it over her head.
The neckline sat well and the sleeves were just the right length.
She did a little turn to the side and grinned.
This would do for The Sea Glass Restaurant. It wasn’t flashy, just … right.
She sat at the small dressing table and put on a dab of concealer, a bit of blush, and some lipgloss. Simple and classic.
Hair next. She twisted and plaited sections from both sides, pinning them up with a butterfly clip she dug out of the depths of Rose’s rucksack.
She checked the back of her head using her phone camera, studying her reflection in the dressing-table mirror as she fixed a rogue strand that refused to cooperate.
Then she reached for her perfume, a small bottle that had been tucked in the pocket of her wedding dress.
With two sprays on her wrists and one just below her collarbone, she was ready.
Just then her phone buzzed, and she saw it was Rose FaceTiming. She answered immediately, her best friend’s face filling the screen.
‘There she is,’ Rose declared. ‘My runaway bride.’
Pippa laughed.
‘You look nice.’
‘Thank you. I’m going to the Sea Glass Restaurant for dinner,’ Pippa flopped onto the edge of the bed and lowered her voice. ‘And … I need advice.’
Rose’s eyes sharpened instantly. ‘Oh. This is serious advice. I can tell by your voice.’
‘I’m going with Theo and today,’ Pippa said slowly, ‘I overheard something.’
‘About?’
‘Theo.’
‘Go on.’
‘He … he’s separated from his wife.’
Rose’s eyes widened.
‘I’m sorry. What?’
‘Separated,’ Pippa repeated. ‘I didn’t know. He didn’t tell me. I overheard him say it in a conversation with someone else.’
Rose stared at her. Then grinned. A dangerous, delighted grin. ‘Oh my God. This is it.’
‘This is not it,’ Pippa said quickly.
‘This is fate.’
‘It is a coincidence.’
‘You ran away from your wedding and landed on an island where you’re stuck in a tiny cottage with the man you secretly fancied at university.’
‘I did not secretly—’
‘You absolutely did.’
Pippa groaned. ‘Rose.’
‘This is meant to be.’
‘Don’t be daft. The timing couldn’t be worse. I’ve just ended things with Rob. I’m emotionally fragile. Possibly unstable.’
‘You detached yourself from Rob ages ago,’ Rose said gently. ‘You just took a while to admit it to yourself and everyone else.’
Pippa was quiet.
Rose softened. ‘Tell me,’ she said. ‘Do you want to bring it up tonight?’
Pippa picked at the edge of the duvet.
‘I don’t know. He hasn’t told me. What if it’s still really raw? What if he doesn’t want to talk about it? What if I make it awkward?’
‘You might,’ Rose admitted. ‘But you might not.’
‘Helpful.’
‘I’m serious, Pip. You’re both single now. You’ve always liked him and it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks – not me, not Rob, not the entire population of Britain.’
‘That’s quite a lot of people,’ Pippa muttered.
‘It’s between you and Theo,’ Rose went on. ‘No one else. If you want to ask, ask. If you don’t, don’t. But don’t talk yourself out of something just because you’re scared.’
Pippa stared at her reflection in the mirror. ‘Is it too soon?’ she asked quietly.
‘No,’ Rose said without hesitation. ‘It’s honest. There’s a difference.’
Pippa let out a breath. ‘You make everything sound so simple.’
‘That’s my gift.’ She smiled, then added, ‘You look beautiful. Go. Eat delicious food. Be charming. See what happens.’
Pippa laughed. ‘I hate that you’re probably right.’
‘I know.’
‘Right, I need to leave!’
She headed downstairs and found Theo by the hearth putting the fireguard into place. He turned at the sound of the creaky stair.
He looked at her for a second; properly looked. ‘Wow,’ he said. ‘You look lovely.’
‘Thank you.’
‘And your hair…’
‘I thought I’d get rid of the rain-limp look,’ she said, fiddling with the ends.
He leaned in a fraction, not touching her, but just close enough to catch her scent. ‘Is that … the same perfume from university? My guess is Ana?s Ana?s.’
Pippa was amazed. ‘You remember that?’
He nodded. ‘You wore it in the library and in that awful seminar room with the flickering light. It was always a distraction.’
‘I can’t believe you remember, and that you remember that seminar light.’
‘I remember a lot of things,’ he said, holding her gaze, causing Pippa’s heart to race just a little bit faster. ‘I’m glad to see you didn’t opt for your wedding dress tonight.’
She laughed. ‘I think the odds of me wearing a wedding dress again are not very favourable.’
‘Just depends if the right man comes along.’
That look passed between them again; steady, quiet, familiar, and a little charged. Pippa tried not to read into it, but part of her couldn’t help wondering if his words meant something more.
‘If you want my opinion – not that you ever did, but for what it’s worth…
’ Theo took his coat down from the hook in the hallway.
‘Rob was a fool. He should have been proud to be with someone who gets excited about clocks and stories and strange little details. The right person doesn’t roll their eyes at that.
The right person would have married you under a clock tower. ’
Pippa swallowed. ‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘That means a lot.’
‘It’s true.’ He cleared his throat, shifting the mood back to light.
‘Now, I’m starving. I can’t wait to sit down and have a peaceful meal, especially after today.
’ He took her coat from the hook and held it open for her to slip her arms into it.
She felt his presence so close and took in his aroma.
Just like he’d recognised her perfume, she recognised his.
The smell of Theo Blake hadn’t changed since their uni days, and somehow, that felt strangely comforting.
After pulling on their boots, they headed for the door. He did the gentlemanly thing and held it open for her, then locked up behind them. He opened an umbrella over them and offered his arm so she could cosy up to him. She slipped her hand into the crook of it without hesitation.
They walked a few paces in comfortable quiet. Rain misted the air and slicked the pavement beneath their feet, puddles rippling as they walked. Pippa noticed he adjusted his pace to match hers. She liked that.
They stopped at the end of the jetty and took in the view. The Sea Glass Restaurant looked spectacular. Fairy lights were strung along the jetty leading out to the boat, which glowed warmly against the dark water, its reflection shimmering with every drop of rain.
‘If this was a date, it would be very romantic.’ The words had left Pippa’s mouth before she could stop them. ‘I don’t want you getting any ideas,’ she added quickly.
‘Oh, I won’t. You’ve made it pretty clear what you thought about me in the past. But I’m glad we’ve called a truce for the time we’re stranded together. You can go back to disliking me with a passion when we leave the island.’
‘Well, we could just stay here forever to make sure that doesn’t happen.’
Theo looked at her and grinned. ‘For a moment there, I got the impression you might actually like me.’
‘I can neither confirm nor deny.’
Pippa couldn’t stop the smile spreading across her face as Theo opened the door for her. They were greeted immediately by a waiter in a crisp white shirt and navy waistcoat.
‘Booking for Doctor Miriam Bowes,’ Theo said. ‘But she won’t be joining us this evening due to the storm. It will just be the two of us.’
The waiter nodded, all smiles and efficiency. ‘Of course, sir. Right this way.’
Pippa followed Theo inside and her eyes widened.
The Sea Glass Restaurant wasn’t just a restaurant; it was a proper boat moored on the harbour.
Inside was even more beautiful than she’d expected.
The place gleamed with polished wood and brass details, a blue-and-white colour scheme running through everything from the napkins to the curved walls.
Glass lamps hung low, throwing soft light across the tables.
Someone was quietly playing a grand piano in the corner and, at the bow, a private terrace with floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over the lighthouse, the ocean, and the harbour.
As the waiter led them through the dining room, Pippa noticed the glass-bottomed floor. Spotlights glowed softly in the water below, lighting up silver fish that darted back and forth under their feet. It was like walking on light.
Sea glass had been set into one of the walls, the shades of green, turquoise, and pale blue catching the light every time the boat shifted. It was elegant without being overdone; the kind of place where every detail had been thought through.
‘This is incredible,’ Pippa said quietly as they followed the waiter to a table near the window.
Theo nodded, also clearly impressed. ‘Absolutely stunning.’ Theo’s eyes landed on her when he said those words, and as he held her gaze Pippa felt herself blush.
Their table overlooked the harbour, and Pippa could see the reflection of the lighthouse beam sweeping slowly across the water outside. Despite the continuous torrential rain, it felt peaceful, and just a little magical.
The waiter handed them menus and filled their glasses with chilled water before taking their wine order.
He returned a few minutes later, uncorked the bottle, and poured a small measure for Theo to taste.
Theo nodded his approval, and the waiter filled both their glasses before stepping back with a polite smile.
‘This looks very fancy,’ Pippa said as she held up her glass. ‘Let’s toast to good food and good wine.’
‘And good company,’ Theo added. ‘It’s been a while since I’ve done this.’