Chapter 7
Nate avoided eye contact as he grabbed her hand. ‘Come on, let’s get out of here.’
‘Oh, my god!’ The last thing Lili wanted was an altercation with the old man. As they made for the stairs, Lili said, ‘Wait!’ She let go of Nate’s hand. ‘Bella!’ The dog was still sitting by the window.
Bella ran over.
Lili looked down the wooden staircase, hoping the dog could climb down. She started down the stairs, calling to her. Bella put a tentative paw on the top step and made her way down behind Lili. Nate brought up the rear.
Lili looked about her. They were back in the open-plan living space. ‘Now what?’
Nate stood there listening before he whispered, ‘There are two entrances. We came in up the outside metal fire escape straight into this room. I wonder which way he’s going to come in?’ He’d just hurried over to the door through which they’d entered the property when they heard a door opening below.
They both exchanged a glance. ‘That answers that question,’ remarked Nate in a whisper. ‘Come on.’ He opened the door to the outside stairs. They’d just stepped out on to the small metal landing area at the top of the stairs, when Nate said, ‘Where’s the dog?’ He was about to close the door and lock it.
‘Bella!’ Lili called in barely a whisper. She could see Bella moving towards the internal stairs, ears standing on end. The dog had heard the movement downstairs. She growled.
They heard footsteps starting up the internal stairs, and a man’s voice calling out, ‘Joss – is that you?’
Bella was creeping towards the stairs, head low, looking as though she would pounce if the old man appeared. Nate launched himself inside, grabbed her collar, and dragged the surprised dog outside, shutting the door a little too hard. They heard the old man calling out again. Nate fumbled with the key to lock the door and dropped it.
Lili looked at him. ‘Never mind that! Just put it back where you found it!’
Nate put the key under the mat by the door and clambered down the stairs, wincing at the noise their shoes made on the metal tread stairs. They’d just reached the car when the old man appeared at the door, calling out, ‘Who’s there?’
He stepped out and look down at them as they climbed into the car. Nate sped off, the tyres skidding on the gravel as he swung out on to the road.
‘That was a close thing,’ Nate exclaimed, grinning.
Lili folded her arms and frowned. Her heart was still thumping in her chest.
Nate glanced at her. He caught the unamused look on her face.
Lili turned to him. ‘I wouldn’t have come if I’d known we were trespassing. It’s not right, walking around someone’s home without their permission.’
Nate looked contrite. ‘Sorry. I wanted to show you the lighthouse. The guy I know said his uncle wouldn’t be back for hours.’
‘That’s no excuse, Nate. He should have checked with his uncle that our visit was okay. You should have told me.’
‘Sorry.’
They sat in silence as Nate drove along the coast road that led into Southwold. Looking down at the beach, Lili saw the rows of pastel-coloured beach huts, some sitting on the beach, others on the long promenade that led to Southwold pier. She glimpsed the pier in the distance. It had been restored to its former glory. Lili liked that it had lost none of its charm and character from yesteryear when the Victorians would stroll up and down its long wooden promenade. There were no tacky shops along the whitewashed pier, just lovely tearooms and cafés. Lili had visited in the past, but she had never once stopped for tea and a scone in one of the little establishments that had views straight out to sea.
Nate caught her staring in the distance. ‘What are you looking at?’
‘The pier. I’ve heard the cream teas in the café are delicious.’
Nate smiled. ‘Look, I want to make it up to you. Let’s go there now and have—’
‘No thanks.’
Nate’s smile faded. He’d blown it.
Lili sat looking out of the car window. She’d known the outing was a bad idea. She hadn’t thought of it as a date, but when they’d got to the lighthouse, she’d realised that was what it was. Nate had wanted to take her somewhere memorable for their first date. What had she been thinking? She was on the rebound from Alex, but the problem was that she was attracted to Nate. She knew he wanted her to stay. She remembered the shop festooned with bunting and theWelcome home, Lilibanner that Nate and William had put up, hoping that after breakfast at the hotel, she and Maisie would return to the flat above Joseph’s shop.
Lili was intending to hang on for the rest of the summer, but what would happen after that? A return to London was inevitable.
They drove on in silence for some time, before Nate said, ‘How about dinner?’ He knew what she was going to say, so he hastily added, ‘Look, I want to make it up to you, so please let me prepare dinner for you and Maisie. No strings attached, I promise.’
Despite her best efforts, the offer of someone cooking her supper was too good to refuse.
Nate must have caught her expression as she turned from the window. ‘Is that ayes?’ He grinned at her.
‘Oh, all right,’ Lili said, trying not to appear too keen. How could she resist that smile?