The Secret Cove in Croatia

by Julie Caplin

  His shoulders ached slightly from yesterday’s windsurfing but it was worth it. Those years windsurfing on the windy reservoir at Kielder Water had paid off. He was still relishing wiping the smug smile off Beresford’s face and his cocky assumption that someone like Nick had never windsurfed.

  Gathering up his stuff, he packed it all into the backpack, ready to run back along the pine promenade, and took a few shots of the deserted beach, the view of the steep rocky hill, the town in the distance, and shared them on the Hadley Massive family Whatsapp group.

  The beach this morning.

  So jealous. Raining here. That was Gail.

  What Billy no mates, where is everyone? asked Dan.

  He’s frightened everyone away, quipped Jonathon

  Looks lovely. I do hope you’re having a wonderful time and enjoying yourself. Give our love to Tara.

  Seeing the message from his mum, Nick pulled a face. He’d hoped this trip would give them a chance to spend more time together, but it felt as if Tara was as elusive as ever. She was a night owl, he was a lark. Perhaps today he could suggest that the two of them went out to lunch together, spend some quality time together, away from everyone else.

  Pleased with this plan, he set off back to the yacht at a steady jog, the wind ruffling his short damp hair as he pounded along the pine-fringed walkway.

  The harbour was a little busier when he slowed to a walk, breathing hard. It was still only just after seven. A few crew members were up and about on the yachts moored near the Avanturista, cleaning decks, laying tables for breakfast, polishing the wooden rails. Everyone looked very industrious. All with a job to do. He thought of the farm, the morning routine. Dad would be up doing the rounds with Rex, probably already up on Starbridge Fell. Nick looked at the closed, covered portholes of the yacht. No sign of life, and there wouldn’t be for at least another hour and a half.

  With a sigh he dropped to sit on one of the low walls, wondering whether to keep walking and explore, when he spotted Maddie lowering the gangplank, her wicker basket on her arm.

  ‘Morning,’ he called.

  She jumped, startled. ‘Nick …’ She looked from the gangplank to him. ‘I didn’t know anyone was up.’

  ‘Didn’t want to wake anyone.’

  ‘Fair enough.’ She eyed his hair. ‘You been for a swim?’

  ‘Run and swim. Went down to Zlatni Rat. I took a few photos.’

  ‘If you’d gone that way –’ she tried to hide her smile and failed miserably as she pointed the opposite way ‘– there’s a nice little beach only a short walk away.’

  Why did she always make him feel like a complete idiot?

  ‘I fancied a run but I’ll know for next time. Where are you off to?’

  ‘Market and butcher’s.’

  Both sounded more interesting than sitting on the yacht on his own.

  ‘Mind if I tag along?’

  ‘Going to buy me coffee again?’

  ‘Isn’t it your turn?’

  ‘I’m just a poor deckhand.’

  He rolled his eyes. ‘All right then.’

  ‘You can carry my basket again, if you like. You seem to like carrying heavy things.’ Yeah, she was smirking again, looking at his biceps.

  ‘I think Tara would be highly pissed off if she caught you referring to her as a heavy thing.’

  ‘I’ve no idea what you mean.’ Maddie walked past him and headed up the short sharp hill to his left.

  Nick gave a strangled laugh and followed her.

  The market was a mass of colour, with several stalls bursting with a rainbow array of fruit and vegetables. Baskets piled high with plump green grapes spilling over the edges were lined up next to bags of fresh figs, trays of nectarines, peaches and oranges and open carboard trays of the most brilliant scarlet tomatoes perfectly juxtaposed with the deep green of beans in a box next to them. Arranged on a shelf above were tall slim bottles of local olive oil and bunches of lavender. Croatian voices surrounded them, chatting, haggling as purchases were bundled into crisp brown paper bags.

  Maddie darted forward. ‘Gosh, look at those tomatoes; I’ve got to get some of those. And the watermelon. Do you like watermelon?’

  Nick shrugged, coming to stand alongside her, eyeing the display of unwieldy-sized oval green striped watermelons which were enormous and the equally large slices that had been pre-cut. It wasn’t something he had ever tried before but he wasn’t going to admit it to Maddie. No doubt it would elicit another one of those smirky smiles she seemed to reserve just for him.

  ‘It’s OK,’ he hedged, looking at the pink flesh dotted with dark pips, clueless as to its flavour.

  ‘Yeah, I’m with you on that. Looks delicious but doesn’t taste of much, apart from water.’ She gave him a speculative glance. ‘I bet Tara likes it. Probably low in calories.’

  He laughed. ‘She’s got a pretty healthy appetite. I’m not sure she needs to watch the calories.’

  Maddie narrowed her eyes, opened her mouth and then snapped it shut before turning away abruptly. He was surprised by her unusual circumspection. She hadn’t held back before. It was clear that she had no time for Tara; they were the original chalk and cheese. You couldn’t get two more different women.

  There was silence as Maddie devoted herself to a careful and thorough perusal of the fruit under the watchful eye of a young Croatian woman who seemed to be manning about three different stalls at once.

  He took advantage of her preoccupation to study her. She was only a few inches shorter than he was, but, despite being broader, with wide swimmer’s shoulders and long limbs, she was all in proportion. She certainly wouldn’t blow away in a strong gust of wind, he thought, staring at the baggy company T-shirt and unflattering knee-length cargo shorts, which looked suspiciously familiar. He gave her legs, already a light golden colour, the faint tan shown off to advantage by her white tennis shoes, a second look. They’d look good in short shorts. And where had that thought come from? He tried to wipe the image from his brain. He was not interested in seeing her in that way, he thought hurriedly as she turned to face him, feeling a little caught out.

  ‘You OK?’ asked Maddie.

  ‘Yes, fine,’ he said, his voice ever so slightly strangled. And then it clicked. ‘Nice shorts.’

  Stiffening, she frowned at him as if he were taking the piss, and then looked down at his and then laughed, sticking out a leg to compare her navy shorts with his sand-colour ones.

  ‘FatFace?’

  ‘I think so,’ he said.

  ‘I nicked mine from my brother.’ With a swift move, she lifted her T-shirt to show the fabric bunched around her waist and cinched in with a sturdy leather belt. No wonder she looked a bit bulky around the middle.

  ‘I’ll make sure I don’t leave any clothes lying around.’

  ‘Don’t worry, no one’s going to want to borrow those shorts you had on the other day.’

  He groaned. ‘You’re just never going to let that one go, are you?’

  She thought for a minute and then her eyes twinkled. ‘Nope.’ She shook her head, her curls dancing with devilment. ‘Now, some of us are here to work. Come on, I need to stock up on fruit as we’re due to set sail tomorrow to another part of the island. To Pučišća – I think I’m saying that right.’

  ‘Where the stone for Diocletian’s Palace came from.’ Nick grinned as her eyes widened.

  ‘You’re well informed. Swallow a guidebook? I avoid them. Rather discover things for myself. Makes it more of an adventure.’

  ‘There is that,’ conceded Nick, amused by her defiant attitude. ‘I’m easy either way; it’s my brother and sister-in-law who are the TripAdvisor addicts.’

  ‘Ah yes, Dan and Gail.’ She turned, cocking her head, the sun catching at the red lights in her curly dark hair, the corners of her mouth twitching in secretive amusement and mischievous triumph.

  Nick stopped dead and turned to her, a little wrong-footed. ‘I’d forgotten. You know Nina.’

>   ‘I know Nina.’ Her wide mouth curved into a smile that filled her face. When Maddie smiled, she really smiled. In spite of himself, he laughed, until she added, with a sly wink, ‘You should be grateful I didn’t take a picture of you in those shorts and WhatsApp it to Nina. I bet you’d have got some stick on the Hadley Massive family group.’

  ‘You’re obsessed with them – sure you don’t want to borrow them?’

  ‘No, but I wish I’d got a picture now.’

  He gave a theatrical shudder. ‘That would have been mean.’

  ‘Yeah, but funny.’ She grinned at him.

  ‘I can see why you’re mates with Nina. Cruel and heartless.’

  ‘I have brothers.’ She gave an exaggerated long-suffering sigh. ‘We learn to get our shots in when we can.’

  ‘And I bet you give as good as you get,’ said Nick, nudging her with his elbow.

  With a wicked look, she nodded. ‘Hell, yeah,’ and they both burst out laughing.

  He whipped out his phone. ‘Come here.’ Like she’d done earlier, he stuck his leg out next to hers and took a picture of their matching shorts. ‘I’ll WhatsApp this one to Nina.’

  ‘Send her my love.’

  ‘Mmm, I’m not so sure I should. What other gossip has she shared with you? Should I be worried?’

  ‘Possibly, despite the fact she was so desperate to get away from you all, Nina talked about everyone a lot.’

  ‘Did she?’ Nick rubbed at his neck, wondering just what Nina had said about him. That was the problem with sisters; they knew all your secrets and the worst of your humiliations.

  ‘Yeah, she seems to like you the best.’ Maddie paused and then shot him a cheeky grin. ‘Go figure.’

  Unable to help himself, Nick nudged her with his arm, realising it was the second time he’d done it, but there was something comfortable and familiar about being with her. Maybe it was the easy banter which reminded him of home and his brothers and sister. ‘We’re the closest in age and we always got on pretty well. I’m not that bad, you know.’

  ‘Hmm, you have your moments,’ she said, her eyes sharpening. ‘Perhaps I shouldn’t judge you by the company you keep.’ Her candid words brought him up short and irritation pricked him.

  ‘Tara … she’s complicated. You don’t know her like I do.’

  Maddie snorted. ‘I would hope not.’

  ‘You know what I meant. There’s more to her than you realise. She’s quite insecure in spite of the front she puts up.’

  ‘Being insecure also doesn’t give you licence to be a bitch,’ said Maddie tartly.

  ‘And being insecure doesn’t make it right for you to bitch about other people.’ As soon as he said the words, he realised he was being rude and unfair. He had no right to make such a personal comment about her. Tara was prone to make bitchy comments and he was being disingenuous to deny that.

  ‘Who said anything about me being insecure?’ Maddie whirled and put her hands on her hips, cocking her head, giving him an I’m-just-about-tolerating-you look. ‘I’m just peachy in my own skin, don’t you fret. I’m not defined by the lipstick I wear or how many Instagram followers I have. Forty-three, by the way, if you’re interested.’

  Nick burst out laughing. ‘Forty-three – that’s good. I’ve got ten and fifty per cent of them are family. I’m sorry. I was being rude.’

  ‘Forgiven, and I was being a bitch about Tara. I’m sure she has deep-seated issues which make her that way. Doesn’t help if you’re starving all the time.’

  Nick blinked, not sure what she meant but smart enough to grasp an olive branch when it was being held out. ‘Shall we change the subject?’

  ‘Back to fruit. Help me out here. Grapes? Nectarines? Peaches? Bananas? Any preferences?’

  And, just like that, it was over. No sulking, no brooding or pouting.

  Together, they chose a fine selection and Nick took the basket from her as they headed through the market towards the butcher’s.

  ‘There’s Ivan,’ said Nick, pointing up ahead, seeing the captain walking ahead of them up through the narrow street.

  ‘Where?’ asked Maddie, somewhat unbelievably as the captain was only a few yards ahead.

  ‘There, with the girl in the pink dress, walking along the front there.’

  ‘Oh.’

  ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘I wasn’t looking for a couple. They look pretty cosy for this time of the morning.’

  ‘And is there something wrong with that?’

  ‘Yes, he has a wife and child in Split,’ said Maddie, shaking her head. ‘I met them. His wife, Zita, is lovely.’

  ‘Maybe she’s a friend,’ he suggested, eyeing the other man again.

  ‘At this time of day?’ asked Maddie with a touch of tartness in her voice.

  ‘Well, we’re out together at this time of day,’ he replied reasonably.

  She pulled a pitying face at him as if humouring his stupidity. ‘Yeah, but you don’t have your arm around me.’

  ‘You have a point there.’ And the completely unprompted thought popped into his head that it might be quite nice to have his arm around someone like Maddie instead of a tiny delicate little woman a fraction of his size that he spent half the time worrying he might break.

  ‘I hope he doesn’t see us,’ said Maddie, slowing down.

  ‘Why? It would be his problem rather than yours.’

  ‘It’s all right for you, but it would be awkward for me. He’s sort of my boss. I’d rather not know what he gets up to when he’s ashore.’

  Seeing that Maddie was genuinely uncomfortable, he suggested they took a side street and the long way around to the butcher’s situated in one of the narrow cobbled side streets.

  ‘Wish me luck,’ said Maddie, pushing open the door to the old-fashioned-looking shop. ‘I’m clueless when it comes to buying meat. I only just managed fish and I’d had a lot of briefing from Ivan’s family. But tonight’s recipe is for grilled meat kebabs. So this could be interesting if they don’t speak much English.’

  Nick smiled but didn’t say anything. Perhaps he could show himself in a better light for once, he thought, as he followed her into the white tiled shop.

  When they emerged ten minutes later, Maddie exclaimed, patting him on the arm, ‘The coffee’s on me. My hero! You just saved my bacon.’ She laughed at her own pun. ‘You knew what you were doing.’

  ‘That would be on account of being a farmer,’ he said gravely, with a twinkle in his eye as he took her shopping basket from her. ‘Occasionally I have my uses.’

  ‘Yeah, today you did good. My hero.’ She linked her arm through his with cheerful friendliness, reminding him of his sister, Nina. ‘Come on, there’s a great coffee shop up here; I found it yesterday. It has an awesome view.’

  Unable to resist her natural, easy familiarity, Nick allowed himself to be pulled along. If he were being completely honest with himself, her unselfconscious, cheery company made a refreshing change.

  When they returned to the boat, Douglas was on deck, sitting studying something on the table, but there was no sign of anyone else.

  ‘Morning, Maddie, Nick. Another gorgeous day,’ he greeted them, looking up from his charts. ‘Don’t suppose you know when Ivan might be coming back?’

  Maddie exchanged a quick look with Nick. ‘No, I’m sorry, I don’t. Why, is there a problem?’

  ‘No, no,’ said Douglas, but despite his denial there was a world-weary air about him.

  ‘Shall I take this down to the kitchen for you?’ asked Nick, his arms still full of her shopping.

  ‘You mean the galley,’ said Douglas, with nautical precision. ‘Kitchen is a galley on board.’

  ‘That would be great, thank you,’ she said. ‘Douglas, would you like coffee while I sort out breakfast?’

  ‘That would be bloody marvellous.’

  She gave him a curious glance but Douglas had ducked his head down and was studying his charts again. Worry and a touch of anxiety had r
eplaced his usual affability and cheerful bonhomie. Something wasn’t right. She wondered what could have happened overnight to upset him.

  As she stowed the shopping, Nick prowled around the area, opening drawers and poking into cupboards.

  ‘Do you want something?’ she finally asked, hands on her hips, waiting for him to leave. ‘I’m grateful for your help this morning but I do need to get on with some work now.’

  ‘Do you want some help?’ he asked, pulling open another drawer.

  ‘No, I’m fine, thanks. Besides, you’re a guest; you’re not supposed to be down here.’

  ‘Yeah, but I’m sure I could help, do something.’

  ‘Thanks, Nick, but seriously, you shouldn’t be down here.’ Pushing past him, she started to load up a tray with crockery and cutlery.

  ‘I could take that up for you.’

  She turned and fixed him with a stern stare. ‘Thank you but no thank you.’

  He shrugged and sighed. ‘Only trying to help.’

  ‘Help is forbidden. It’s in the crew manual rules. Thou shalt not let guests into the galley, so you’re already breaking cardinal rule number one. What do you want, Nick?’

  ‘Bacon butty?’ he asked with boyish hopefulness.

  She rolled her eyes. ‘Aha, so that’s why you’re hanging around.’

  ‘Busted.’

  ‘Why didn’t you say so?’

  ‘Didn’t want to make extra work for you, but I’m starving and the girls won’t make an appearance for ages. I’ll be ready for a second breakfast by then.’

  ‘Poor baby,’ she teased, patting his hand, before adding with a roll of her eyes, ‘Just give me a minute. I’ll just make Douglas’s coffee and lay the table.’ She reached for the large insulated cafetière.

  ‘I could do it,’ he said, giving her the full benefit of a plaintive, puppy dog look.

  Damn, he looked … He looked too flipping handsome for his own good with those big blue eyes and the curve of his wide mouth. All the better for kissing with. No. Nick Hadley was not her type. And she certainly wasn’t his. He clearly preferred flighty, high maintenance stick insects.