Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Frankie was tucking into her celebratory/soothe your nerves Guernsey ice cream – banana flavour for the win – when a voice made her nearly deposit the whole thing into the nearest dune.
‘There you are.’
It was Jake. Before she could respond, he plonked himself down on the sand beside her and wrapped his arms around his knees, mirroring her.
She was instantly self-conscious about licking and tried to take a ladylike bite of the creamy, soft ice cream instead.
Instant brain freeze, but at least it meant she didn’t have to talk.
‘I’ve been looking for you,’ he said in a low voice. He had a cap pulled down over his blond hair, and his tanned face was handsome in the sunshine, all clean lines and angles.
She raised her eyebrows, hoping that was a sufficient response.
‘He’s gone, then?’ said Jake.
This time she nodded, her ice cream wobbling precariously.
He cleared his throat. ‘Well, good riddance, I say. This is hardly the place for someone like him.’
When she still didn’t reply he turned and regarded her for a long moment. ‘Aren’t you speaking to me?’
‘I’m eating,’ she mumbled. ‘Surely that’s obvious.’
‘Just checking,’ he said, holding his hands up, his eyes on her mouth as she ate. Her cheeks warmed.
‘What do you mean, someone like him?’ she said, not really wanting to hear the answer.
‘Well, you know. Famous. Rich. He’s a celebrity, Franks.’ She shuddered at the nickname. It had never bothered her before but now, for some reason, it made her cringe.
‘Wait a minute,’ she said. ‘Did you know this the whole time?’
Jake shook his head. ‘Not the whole time, no. Sally told me in the pub. I wouldn’t have known him from Adam, to be honest. Not really up on my celebrity gossip.’
She crunched the last shreds of the cone between her fingers.
‘Still, you knew he was the bloody lead singer in a bloody band and you didn’t tell me?’
Jake rubbed the back of his neck. ‘You didn’t give me the chance. Why are you scowling?’
‘What do you mean, why am I scowling? He told me who he was and I legit didn’t believe him. I thought it was all a big wind-up. And now I find out you were all in on it.’
‘Not all. Only me, I think. And maybe Michael. Though we weren’t in on anything, I should add. I thought you were just playing it cool. We were all just playing it cool. That’s what you do, isn’t it? With celebrities? Act normal.’
‘How would I know?’ said Frankie miserably. She worked her jaw, trying to ease the tension.
Jake frowned at the sea. The sun was going down behind the island, sending sparkles across the waves.
The last remaining families were bickering as they packed up their things and made their way towards the boat.
One little girl squealed as she left her flip-flop in the sand and ran back to retrieve it, giggling.
Then all was quiet. They were alone.
‘Anyway, I think I just didn’t want to big him up too much, you know?’ said Jake eventually.
Frankie frowned. ‘No, I don’t know. What do you mean? Why wouldn’t you want to big him up?’
‘Well, he’d get a big head for one thing.’
She snorted. ‘I think that ship has sailed.’
He seemed to give this some serious consideration. ‘You’re probably right. I don’t know, Franks. I don’t think I wanted you to…’
‘To what?’ She blinked at him as she realised too late what he was getting at.
‘Well, did you?’ he prompted.
‘Did I what?’
‘You know.’
She bunched her fists in the sand. ‘No, I don’t. What?’
‘Get it on.’
A little bark-laugh escaped from her lips, along with, for some unknown reason, a snot bubble. She grabbed the napkin from her ice cream and hastily wiped at her nose, ignoring the fizzing in her belly at the question.
‘Get it on? Don’t be ridiculous. He was here for like five minutes.’
Jake shook his head slowly. ‘He was here for a night.’
She scrambled to her feet, wiping the last of the crumbs from her fingers. ‘What exactly are you implying?’
‘I’m not implying anything. I’m saying it outright. You could have slept with him. A famous, rich, handsome guy like that? Most women would have jumped at the chance. Are you saying you didn’t? Because you’re blushing.’
Her hands flew to her traitorous face. ‘But you saw me at the Manor last night, Jake.’
‘You could have gone back down the hill. Hell, you might have been coming from his room. Maybe I was too late to stop you.’
‘I don’t get this, Jake. Why would you care if I had?’
‘So you did?’ said Jake, eyebrows raised.
She shook her head. ‘I didn’t say that.’
‘You haven’t said you didn’t either.’
‘This is the most annoying conversation I’ve ever had,’ said Frankie, backing away. ‘And that’s saying something given the last twenty-four hours of my life. What business is it of yours, anyway?’
Jake stood up too, all six feet two inches of him towering over her. He crossed his arms across his substantial chest.
‘You’re absolutely right. It’s none of my business,’ he said, glowering at her.
‘So why the grilling?’
‘I’m just looking out for you, that’s all. You could end up in the papers. He could… hurt you. If he hasn’t already.’
Frankie remembered Dylan’s words. Was Jake in love with her?
‘Not jealous, are you?’ she ventured.
His eyes flashed. ‘I do have green eyes,’ he said, his mouth curling up in a grin.
‘So?’ said Frankie, watching him carefully.
‘The green-eyed monster? Don’t tell me you’ve never heard that expression before.’
‘I’ve never heard it.’
‘Well, anyway, the point is, don’t be ridiculous. And also, can I walk you back?’
Frankie stared at him. ‘So, you’re not jealous?’
He pulled the peak of his cap down, shading his eyes. ‘Of that guy? That one-hit wonder? Not a chance.’
‘You cocky bastard.’
‘You know me too well. Come on.’
She contemplated storming off ahead of him but what was the point? Sure, it was beautiful, but the problem with Herm was, if you wanted to escape, you had to sprout wings. Or hire a helicopter.
As they walked back up the hill towards home, she resisted the urge to check for any messages.
She knew in her heart there was no way Dylan could have replied so quickly, he was literally about to go on stage, after all.
Apparently. Not that she’d stared at the post so long it was burned into her retinas or anything.
‘You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?’ said Jake after a while.
‘Thought you weren’t jealous.’
‘I’m not. He’s not worth it, though. Just saying. He’s absolutely definitely got a girl in every town he plays in. And a few for luck. Trust me, I know the type.’
She raised an eyebrow at him. ‘And you’re so experienced, I suppose?’
Jake shrugged. ‘I’m a one-woman kind of guy. Whereas I’m not sure Dylan would even understand the concept of monogamy.’
‘When you say one woman, you mean one woman at a time.’
He had the grace to colour a little. ‘I mean, one woman. When I find her, that is.’
She tried to concentrate on the road ahead but she could feel his eyes on her.
‘Not much chance of finding her here, is there? Basically, it’s Sally.
Or my mum, to be fair. She’d shag you in heartbeat.
’ Frankie clamped a hand over her mouth.
‘God, I can’t believe I told you that. Please don’t shag my mother, as if it needs saying. ’
To her relief, he laughed. ‘That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.’
Frankie glanced at him. ‘Come on, she’s hot. Also, oh my God, why am I still talking? I should never be allowed to talk to people.’
Jake laughed. ‘That’s the first sensible thing you’ve said all day. She may be beautiful but that is very much not the point. She’s your mum. And she’s married to your dad, or she was, the last time I checked.’
Frankie winced. ‘My poor father. There’s long suffering and then there’s my dad. I can’t believe I even joked about it. Now I feel sick.’
‘Oh charming. The idea of me having sex makes you feel sick, does it?’ said Jake.
‘Not you, no.’
As they reached the farm buildings at the top of the hill, Jake put a hand on her arm and turned her towards him.
His green eyes flashed as he looked down at her intently, the smile gone from his lips.
‘There. That right there. The way you’re feeling about me shagging your mum – also, can we never say that phrase again, please – that’s how I felt about you and Dylan. ’
‘What?’
‘You asked me. On the beach. Why I didn’t go on about Dylan being famous and whatnot. That’s why. Because I didn’t want you to fall in love with him.’
‘Because you’re jealous?’
He shook his head. ‘Because it would be weird.’
‘How is that the same as you… doing the thing we’re not going to mention anymore?’
‘I don’t know. It just is, all right? Go with it.’
Frankie returned his stare. ‘This is bizarre, Jake. One minute you say you’re not bothered about who I sleep with, and the next you’re saying it makes you feel icky to think of me with someone else.’
Jake shifted his feet. ‘We’ve known each other for so long, Frankie, it’s like…’
She watched a muscle feather in his jaw and her stomach dropped. ‘Please don’t say I’m like a sister to you.’
He shook his head. ‘Not a sister… no.’
‘What, then?’
He never had a chance to reply. Before either of them could say anything else, Frankie was bowled over by a gigantic blonde labradoodle.
‘Blondie!’ She giggled, lying on her back on the floor while the dog licked her all over. ‘Where the hell did you come from?’
Blondie replied by wagging her tail even faster and licking Frankie’s face again.
‘You would have loved my ice cream,’ she said to Blondie, giving the dog an extra hug for saving her from that excruciatingly tense conversation.
‘You never offered me any,’ came a deep voice. Jake was watching them both, his eyes soft. Not for the first time she wished he’d take his cap off so she could see his face properly.
‘You never asked,’ said Frankie, clambering to her feet.
‘You okay?’ said Jake, scratching Blondie’s ears as the dog turned her attention to him in a slightly less crazy manner.
Frankie laughed, brushing herself down. ‘I’m fine. She does that at least once a day.’
‘She’s the best dog,’ said Jake.
‘She is.’
‘I’d better–’
‘We’d better–’
They both began speaking at the same moment, then started to laugh.
‘I’d best be off,’ said Jake, almost shyly, throwing a thumb over his shoulder.
‘Yeah, me too,’ said Frankie, her heart beating a samba in her chest. It was the dog. It was to do with the dog, she told herself.
‘See ya,’ said Jake, giving her a little salute, then he spun on his heels and practically jogged down the hill towards the village.
Frankie watched him go for a few minutes, trying to slow her breathing. What just happened? She turned, phone back in hand, towards her house. Time to check those messages, she told herself, tutting at Jake’s words, though they had stung a little. A girl in every town, indeed.
If he hasn’t hurt you already…