Sunrise on the Coast: The perfect feel-good holiday romance (Island Romance Book 1)

by Lilac Mills

  This was incredibly civilised, and she thought she could get rather used to it. Actually, come to think of it, she already had. There was nowhere more beautiful than sitting on the villa’s terrace with the sun setting behind La Gomera and the smell and sound of the sea all around. Now all she needed to do was cook a two-course meal, add some wine, and top it all off with a cup of strong coffee. There was no need for expensive restaurants when she could create the same thing at home, with a bit of practice on the cooking front. So far she’d stuck to dishes she knew, but maybe she could experiment? And she was fairly sure that Hugo would appreciate some traditional Canarian cooking to balance out all those English meals she’d served him lately.

  It would be rather romantic – if it wasn’t for the fact that she’d be sharing the meal with Hugo.

  And Alex… but she didn’t want to think about him right now.

  The food was delicious, and Dominic was good company. They swapped life stories (as much as she was prepared to share with him, because he really didn’t need to know how traumatic the last few months had been) and he was shocked to be told that she’d moved to Tenerife on what was little more than a quick meeting and a promise of a job and somewhere to live.

  ‘I admire you,’ he said, placing his knife and fork down on the plate. ‘It takes courage to do what you did.’

  ‘I don’t know about that. I don’t think courage came into it. It was more of an opportunity to extend my stay here so that I didn’t have to go back home and start over again.’

  ‘It’s still a ballsy thing to do,’ Dominic insisted. ‘I don’t know if I’d have had the guts to do what you did.’

  ‘Don’t forget, it’s only temporary. I can go back home anytime I want to. Oh…’ She put a hand to her mouth and stared at him in surprise.

  ‘What’s wrong?’

  Sophie blinked, her eyes wide. ‘I’ve just realised that when I said “home”, the image that came to mind wasn’t my mum’s house, or my old flat. It wasn’t even England. It was Tenerife.’

  ‘It does tend to have that effect on you. I remember when we first came over here for a holiday and my mum said she wanted to live here. She dragged me and my dad back the following year and they both said it felt like they’d come home, so it wasn’t that much of a shock when they started talking about moving here.’

  ‘Do you wish they’d stayed in England?’

  ‘Hell, no. If you want cold water, you should try swimming off the coast at Scarborough. It’s bloody freezing. And it rains all the time. There are only about six days of the year when you can sit outside and eat, and even then you need to keep an umbrella handy, just in case.’

  ‘I think you might be exaggerating a bit.’

  ‘A bit,’ he conceded with a grin. ‘Seriously, life on Tenerife is so good, and it’s not solely down to the weather, although that does play a big part. It’s the whole pace of life thing. There’s simply no rushing around as a rule. Take this afternoon – how often do you get to have a two-hour lunch break in the UK?’

  ‘You’re lucky your job allows you to do that,’ she pointed out, somewhat more tartly than she’d intended.

  ‘I am,’ he admitted. ‘But I’m right too. There’s not the same degree of busyness and rush here as there is in Britain. Yet we still manage to get things done. Eventually.’

  ‘I’m going to miss Tenerife,’ she said after a long pause. ‘It’s silly that I’m already thinking about leaving when I’ve only been here a few weeks and there’s ages to go yet, but…’

  ‘Don’t go. Stay.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Live here permanently.’

  ‘I can’t do that!’

  ‘Why not? Loads of people do.’ His grin widened. ‘We’re not all tourists, you know.’

  ‘Now you’re being silly.’

  ‘I’m being serious. You’ve said yourself that you’ve got nothing to go back for.’

  ‘But that doesn’t mean I can just up sticks and move over here.’

  Dominic reached out a hand and placed it on top of her own. He stared at her, his usually sunny and smiling expression sobering. ‘I think you’ll find that’s exactly what you have done.’

  And when she thought about it, she realised he might be right.

  Chapter 19

  Sophie didn’t have time to think about Dominic’s suggestion. As soon as he dropped her off with a double kiss, one on each cheek, and a promise to get together again soon, without the bodyboarding element but with a trip to the beach for a toe-dip in the Atlantic as a prelude to submerging more of her in the sea, she was confronted by Alex. Why the sight of him was such a surprise to her was anyone’s guess, considering he was staying at the villa and it was getting near the time to leave to visit Hugo.

  ‘Good lunch was it?’ were the first words out of his mouth when she bumped into him in the hall.

  ‘Yes, lovely, thanks.’

  ‘Did you go somewhere nice?’

  ‘A little place down by the sea at Alcalá. They do fantastic fish.’

  Alex frowned. ‘I know it. Are you ready?’

  ‘Just let me fetch a few things for Hugo,’ she said, and trotted into the living room to pick up the bag she’d set aside for him earlier.

  ‘Can we go now?’ Alex asked crossly when she reappeared a few seconds later, and she wondered what had rattled his cage. He was behaving as though she’d kept him waiting for ages when, in fact, it had been mere seconds. And she also felt a subtle criticism emanating from him, as though she was being remiss in her duties to Hugo by going out to lunch.

  What on earth was he being so grumpy about, she wondered, as she got into the car and they began the journey to the hospital, when a thought occurred to her. She debated whether to mention the possible impending sale of the villa and the surrounding land, but decided against it. After all, it was none of her business, and if Hugo and his nephew didn’t want to talk to her about it, then she had no right to ask.

  Sophie tried not to stare at Alex out of the corner of her eye as he drove down the motorway, but she couldn’t help sneaking little glances at him.

  He was so different to Dominic, who had driven with some panache, one elbow draped out of the open window, the other merely resting on the steering wheel as he had darted in and out of the traffic. She’d had the feeling that he drove like that all the time and he wasn’t putting on a show for her. Whereas Alex handled the car with the minimum of effort and showmanship, just an understated competence and the occasional flickering glance in the rear-view mirror.

  He slid the car expertly into a parking space, and Sophie slithered out of the passenger seat on unsteady legs. His nearness disconcerted her and made her heart beat a little faster, despite her wish that he’d disappear back to where he came from. She really could do without such a distraction in her life, no matter how handsome the distraction was.

  Hugo, she discovered on reaching his bedside, was just as grumpy as his nephew, but at least he had good reason to be. No one liked being in hospital and Hugo must still be in some discomfort despite the pain medication. He grumbled that he was being forced to do physio, the food was awful, he’d had no sleep last night because of a man snoring in the opposite bed, the nurses were horrid to him… Plus a list of other complaints that Alex didn’t bother to translate. Hugo’s English was pretty good, but he seemed to enjoy grousing in his own language, complete with arm gestures and lots of eye-rolling.

  She hoped his mood would improve once she got him home; otherwise the next few weeks weren’t exactly going to be a barrel of laughs. Maybe having Alex there to share some of the load for a few days wouldn’t be such a bad thing, she conceded.

  Once again she left uncle and nephew to it, and went off to find a coffee and a quiet corner in which to read.

  Unfortunately, though, she simply wasn’t able to concentrate on the novel and her eyes kept sliding across the words without taking them in. When she realised she’d read the same sentence at least three times
, she admitted defeat and put her book away. Clearly her brain had more important matters for her to think about than the romantic comedy she had been vainly trying to lose herself in.

  Dominic was playing on her mind. Or, more specifically, his suggestion that she didn’t have to return to the UK.

  Was she brave enough?

  Maybe. She’d been brave enough to ring a bell and look where that had led.

  She leant her head back against the wall and closed her eyes. Think logically, she urged herself. What are the pros of staying here? For a start, she loved the island, the way of life, the weather, the language (even though she could only recognise one word in a hundred, and even then she couldn’t be totally sure she’d got it right), the food, the culture. She loved that there were enough expats out here so that she didn’t feel totally isolated and that she could pop into Mrs Tiggywinkle’s if she wanted a blast of Britishness. She loved the mix of tourists and locals, and the many different languages she could hear, from Russian to Japanese, Swedish to French. It made for an eclectic melting pot. She loved the contrast of the many different blues of the ocean with the varying shades of rock, from coal black to russet, and jagged shards through to smooth, striated marble. She also loved the plants that grew wild, their roots burrowing into every nook and cranny, determined to find a foothold. Down here, in the south of the island, and also around the villa on the coast, they were mostly succulents and cacti, but up in the mountains, where rain fell more frequently, she’d noticed other types of plants, some of them sporting delicate flowers in soft pastel shades.

  OK, now for the cons. No job. Nowhere to live. Can’t speak the language, which made getting a job that much more difficult. And without a job, there would be no apartment. Then there were things like healthcare – what if she became ill? How did that work? Did she need a visa or a permit to work here? Was there a time limit on how long she could stay?

  She also suspected she might miss England – the greenness, the soft mists, the snow (not that they usually had much), British TV, hearing a familiar language and accent.

  But what she’d really miss about home – and this was the biggie – was her family. Aunty Anne and Denise were the only family she had left. Could she stay here and not watch those gorgeous twins grow up? Could she be happy with a yearly visit back home; twice yearly, if she saved hard?

  On the other hand, Anne would be understandably wrapped up in helping her daughter care for the twins and would probably have little time to spare, so Sophie mightn’t see a great deal of her, especially once she’d started a new job and her days were taken up with work.

  It wasn’t a decision to be taken lightly, or to be made on a whim. She’d have to have a serious think about it. Make sure it was the right decision for her, and that she wasn’t simply running away and delaying the inevitable.

  ‘Oh, Mum, what should I do?’ she murmured, and she smiled sadly at the thought of what her mother would say. She’d tell her to follow her heart. But that was the problem – she didn’t know what her heart wanted or where it was leading her.

  When she opened her eyes, it was to find Alex standing a few feet away, studying her. She gave a bit of a start and wondered how long he’d been lurking there, spying on her. His expression was inscrutable, but he nodded to her once, then turned on his heel, and she guessed she was meant to follow him.

  ‘I’ll drop you off at the villa,’ he said when she caught up with him as he marched down the hospital corridor. ‘Hugo will be discharged tomorrow afternoon. Someone will visit the villa in the morning to ensure it is suitable and make any necessary adjustments.’

  ‘Like what?’

  ‘A chair in the shower, blocks under Hugo’s armchair to raise it up so he doesn’t flex the new joint too much, bars in the shower to help him sit and stand, the addition of an elevated toilet seat. Please make sure you are in. If they can’t gain access to the property, he won’t be allowed home.’

  ‘I’ll be in,’ she said tightly. There was no need to make it sound as though she spent all her time out gallivanting and couldn’t care less about Hugo’s care. If Alex hadn’t been there this evening, she would have been told all this herself by the doctor. As it was, she thought she was being tactful by giving the two men some time alone. Clearly it had been viewed in a different light by Alejandro.

  For the second time that day, she was dropped off at the villa, but the contrast between the two events couldn’t have been any starker. This time there was no double-cheeked kiss, no hug, just a gruff ‘goodbye’, and a brief meeting of eyes in the rear-view mirror as he drove back up the track. He was probably checking that she wasn’t haring it along the path to meet Dominic, whereas she was feeling an odd mixture of relief and abandonment at his departure.

  A part of her wanted him to stay because she didn’t fancy being on her own this evening – her thoughts were too chaotic and swirling – and the other part was thankful there wouldn’t be any tension and no snide comments. The easy(ish) companionship they’d shared over dinner last night had dissipated, to be replaced by awkwardness and a sense he was watching her, waiting for her to trip up.

  Well, she’d show him. She hadn’t spent years caring for her mum to not know what she was doing now. She’d show him just how professional she could be, despite not having any formal qualifications. BTECs and NVQs were all well and good, but they weren’t a substitute for experience, and she had that by the bucketload. She also had compassion and empathy, and she really did care for Hugo. She’d get him on his feet and mobile again in no time, just you wait and see, she thought at Alex, as the car pulled out onto the main road.

  Then, once Hugo was more capable of taking care of himself, she’d have a good long think about whether she could stay on this beautiful island, or even if she actually wanted to.

  One thing was certain, though. The next few days, until Alejandro left, were going to be interesting.

  Chapter 20

  ‘Are you OK?’ Sophie asked Hugo, possibly for the fourth or fifth time that evening. He’d only been home from hospital for a couple of hours and she couldn’t help fussing around him. It was nice to have someone to look after, and even nicer to know that he’d eventually recover. She was looking forward to playing a part in that and anticipating a job well done.

  True to their word, a couple of people from the hospital had visited earlier and had made the necessary adjustments to the villa, but Hugo still needed some help in getting about until he was a little steadier on his feet.

  ‘I can do it myself,’ he protested when she leapt to her feet in order to help him get to his, and he tried to shake her off as she put a supporting and steadying hand on his elbow.

  ‘You might well be able to,’ she said, ‘but this is one of the reasons I’m here, remember? Not just to wash your clothes and walk Paco. I’m here to help you recover and make sure you don’t do too much, and that’s what I’m jolly well going to do.’

  Ignoring his scowl, she brought his walking frame closer and held onto him while he caught his balance, then hovered behind him as he shuffled out of the living room, anxious in case he slipped on the marble-tiled floor.

  It was only when he was safely tucked up in bed, with a glass of water on the bedside table next to him and his glasses on his nose as he prepared to read for a few minutes, that she allowed herself to relax.

  After promising that she’d check on him in the night whether he liked it or not, and reminding him he was to shout for her if he needed anything at all, she headed for the fridge and the white wine chilling in it. She’d have one glass while sitting on the terrace watching the stars, and then go to bed herself.

  The moon was still full, although beginning to wane, and the light it cast on the sea made the wavelets glitter and shimmer. The evening was an especially calm one with hardly a hint of breeze, and the surface of the ocean was smooth. The smell of briny water was strong and she took a deep breath, allowing the tang, along with the first sip of fruity wine, to ease
the tension in her shoulders. The usual crash and pound of the waves had been replaced by a gentler rhythm as the sea splashed on the nearby pebbles and sucked them back down the shore, and tonight she found it even more soothing. For once her soul was at peace and her heart was filled with quiet serenity. She wasn’t happy exactly – she still felt the loss of her mum too keenly for that – but she was contented with her lot for the moment. The future was some weeks away yet, and she vowed to try to enjoy every minute she was here.

  The changeable nature of the view that she loved constantly amazed her, and she didn’t think she’d ever tire of looking at it, whatever the weather was doing. Although, to be fair, it tended not to vary that much. Certainly not to the same degree that it did in England. Some days were cloudier than others here, and some days were windier than others. She hadn’t seen any rain yet, although Hugo had informed her that the higher in the mountains you went, the more likelihood there was of a shower or two, and the north of the island had more precipitation than the south.

  Then there was the difference in light between the early morning and midday, and between mid-afternoon and sunset. Not to mention how dark and mysterious the sea looked at night, and how even a sliver of moonlight could transform the whole scene.

  She had no idea how long she’d been sitting there letting the calm tranquillity of the seascape wash over her, but when she heard the rumble of a car trundling down the track towards the villa her mood soured.

  She debated whether to disappear off to bed, but she hadn’t finished her wine yet and she’d be damned if she was going to let Alex drive her from the terrace. She had as much right to be here as he did. More, maybe. She mightn’t be family, but at least she actually lived here, which was more than could be said for His Gruffness. She wasn’t sure who was the more irritable – him or Hugo – but Hugo did have a valid reason. She wondered what Alex’s excuse was.